Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Boundary Adjustment Act of 2004

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2457, the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Preservation and Education Act; Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Boundary Adjustment Act of 2004.

The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is the oldest existing permanent seacoast fortification in the continental United States. This is not only a unique National Park, but also a national treasure.

This 16th Century fortress is the most complete and unique historic fortification in the United States.

The star-shaped fort, surrounding moat, and earthworks were constructed between 1672-1756 to protect Spanish territory in Florida and the shipping routes along the Florida coast.

This National Monument was the focus of the struggle between Great Britain and Spain for regional supremacy during the 17th and 18th centuries.

It was also the site of a British garrison during the American Revolution, and was last employed for defensive purposes in 1898 during the Spanish-American War.

Madam Speaker, more than 1.5 million tourists visit this National Monument each year. This 16th Century fortress, that has never been conquered, is straining under modern day requirements to accommodate its growing visitors' population.

I have been working with the Colonial St. Augustine Preservation Foundation, the City of St. Augustine and the National Park Service to improve and expand educational resources and public accommodations at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.

As you can imagine, adapting a 4-century old structure with adequate public facilities, meeting handicap and disability standards, and visitor educational facility standards are not an easy task.

H.R. 2457 authorizes Federal funding for both museum, educational and visitor facilities to compliment and serve this 16th Century fortress without destroying a historic structure.

For the first time, this legislation appropriately authorizes federal funds to construct a visitor and educational resource center for the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.

Not only will this new visitors center assist the fort in maintaining its historical integrity, but it will accommodate visitors' needs and provide a great educational experience.

In addition to this bill, the National Park Service is expected to complete a General Management Plan in the following months which will include design, planning and construction options at a required facility at the National Monument.

This legislation will properly authorize a long overdue major infrastructure improvement for the National Park Service.

Finally, this bill will preserve for future generations this historic fortress and will add to the enjoyment and education of both visitors and local citizens.

I would like to thank Chairman Radanovich for his support of this bill. I also would like to thank House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo for his support of this much needed measure.

Madam Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 2457.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2457, the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Preservation and Education Act. It is also entitled the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Boundary Adjustment Act of 2004. I thank the gentleman for taking me out of order at the beginning as sponsor of this legislation to explain it for a second and speak in support.

The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is the oldest existing permanent seacoast fortification in the continental United States. This is not only a unique national park, but also a

national treasure. This 16th century fortress is the most complete and historic fortification in the United States. The star-shaped fort, surrounding moat, and earthworks were constructed between 1672 and 1756 to protect Spanish territory in Florida and the shipping routes along the coast.

This National Monument was the site of a British garrison during the American Revolution and was last employed for defense purposes in 1898 during the Spanish-American War.

Madam Speaker, more than 1.5 million tourists visit this National Monument each year. This 16th century fortress, while it has never been conquered in battle, is straining under the modern-day requirements to accommodate its growing visitors' population.

I have been working with the Colonial St. Augustine Preservation Foundation, the City of St. Augustine and the National Park Service to improve and expand educational resources and public accommodations at this national park site.

As Members can imagine, adapting a four-century old structure with adequate public facilities, meeting handicap and disability standards and visitor educational facility requirements is not an easy task. This bill authorizes funding for both the museum, education and visitor center facilities to compliment and serve this important 16th century structure.

For the first time, this legislation appropriately authorizes the use of Federal funds to construct this visitor center and educational resource center for the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Not only will this new visitor center assist the fort in maintaining its historical integrity, but it will also accommodate visitors' needs and provide a great educational experience.

The Park Service is expected to complete a general management plan in the following months which will include design, planning and construction options at the facility. This legislation will properly authorize a major infrastructure improvement for our National Park Service.

Finally, this bill will preserve for future generations this historic site, and will add to the enjoyment and education for both visitors and local citizens.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), the gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo), and others on both sides of the aisle for their help in pushing this legislation forward and urge its adoption.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Madam Speaker, a new general management plan which will guide this National Monument called the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument for the next 10 to 15 years is currently being developed. As with the development of any new GMP, this is an extensive process which relies heavy on input from local communities as well as interested parties from around our country. Clearly, one of the most important issues to be resolved in this new GMP is the need for a visitor facility at the monument.

As introduced, we were concerned that H.R. 2457 effectively prejudged the issue of a visitor facility by mandating that one of the options on the table would be selected before the GMP process identified a preferred alternative. However, working with the sponsor of the legislation and the National Park Service, the bill before us today has been amended to simply provide the NPS with the funding and authorization necessary to implement whatever the GMP identifies as the best option.

Madam Speaker, we appreciate the cooperation of everyone involved, and urge our colleagues to support H.R. 2457.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2457) to authorize funds for an educational center for the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Energy Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2457 and the Senate proceed to its consideration in conjunction with Calendar No. 653, H.R. 3785, en bloc.

I ask unanimous consent that the bills be read a third time, passed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements be printed in the Record.