Barbara Cubin: “Mr. Speaker, this bill would establish the National Historic Trails Center and Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming.…”

“Mr. Speaker, this bill would establish the National Historic Trails Center and Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming. H.R. 2186 was introduced in an effort to preserve and interpret several historic trails which crossed western America during the 1800s. These historic trails represent valuable historic and cultural themes that help shaped the West. This bill is the result of a cooperative partnership with Federal and non-Federal interests which will help fund, construct, operate and maintain the trails center. The partnership includes the Bureau of Land Management, the City of Casper, the State of Wyoming and the nonprofit National Historic Trails Foundation, which have been invaluable in their contribution to this effort. The non-Federal partners have made a clear commitment to share approximately one-half of the total cost to construct, maintain and operate the trails center. At this point the design work is done, the land is available, and most of the non-Federal funds have been accrued. Now the actual interpretive center needs to be constructed. H.R. 2186 authorizes the appropriation of funds to complete this construction. This bill really is a showpiece of what can be accomplished as a result of cooperative partnerships between Federal and non-Federal interests. This bill is noncontroversial, Mr. Speaker, and is supported by the administration. I urge my colleagues to voice support for passage of H.R. 2186.”