Herb Kohl: “I wanted to speak today regarding a bill I am introducing to establish the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway National…”

“I wanted to speak today regarding a bill I am introducing to establish the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway National Heritage Area. The Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway would cut diagonally across Wisconsin through parts of 15 counties following the Fox River from Green Bay to Portage and the Wisconsin River from Portage to the Mississippi River. This parkway marks the route taken in 1673 by explorers Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet through Wisconsin. The Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway concept was created in 1991 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce with the purpose of highlighting and enhancing the unique heritage of the State of Wisconsin. The Fox and Wisconsin rivers that serve as the pathway of Wisconsin's first explorers will increase heritage and recreational tourism to sites within the 280 mile Parkway and create awareness of this region's contributions to United States history. A National Heritage Area designation would revitalize the Parkway as an economic, environmental and recreational resource and ensure it for future generations. This project has the strong support of local towns, cities, businesses and non-profits that are located within this proposed parkway. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress on this National Heritage Area designation. ______”