Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center Partnership Act

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, at 10 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony on policy options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record may do so by sending it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510-6150, or by email to [email protected]

For further information, please contact Jonathan Black at (202) 224- 6722 or Gina Weinstock at (202) 224-5684.

Mr. President, the Subcommittee on National Parks had previously announced a hearing to be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. In addition to the bills previously listed, the following bill will be included:

H.R. 1287, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a partnership with the Porter County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission regarding the use of the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center as a visitor center for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and for other purposes.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify

by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to [email protected] .gov.

For further information, please contact David Brooks at (202) 224- 9863 or Allison Seyferth at (202) 224-4905.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 1757, to provide for the prepayment of a repayment contract between the United States and the Uintah Water Conservancy District, and for other purposes; S. 1758, to provide for the allocation of costs to project power with respect to power development within the Diamond Fork System, and for other purposes; and S. 1759, to authorize certain transfers of water in the Central Valley Project, and for other purposes.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to [email protected] .gov.

For further information, please contact Tanya Trujillo at (202) 224- 5479 or Gina Weinstock at (202) 224-5684.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1287) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a partnership with the Porter County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission regarding the use of the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center as a visitor center for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and for other purposes.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1287 will allow the National Park Service to share visitor center facilities for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore with the local county's Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission. The bill also allows the National Park Service to construct exhibits at the visitor center, and authorizes NPS employees to work there since the visitor center lies outside the established boundaries of the park.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1287 would clarify the definition of ``contiguous lands'' in the park's original legislation so that NPS could accept donations of contiguous land even if that land is separated by a right-of-way, such as a road, a railway line or a utility corridor.

Mr. Speaker, Congressman Visclosky has been working hard on this bill for a long time and is to be commended for his diligence and persistence. The legislation passed the House last Congress by an overwhelming vote. I ask my colleagues, once again, to support this measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would yield as much time as he may consume to the sponsor of H.R. 1287, Mr. Visclosky.

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

I appreciate the gentleman's yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1287, the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center Lease Act. I am the proud sponsor of this legislation, and as I have in the previous Congress, I thank Mr. Donnelly for joining me as a cosponsor.

I also do want to thank Chairman Rahall, Ranking Member Hastings, Subcommittee Ranking Member Bishop, and especially Subcommittee Chairman Grijalva for all of their hard work in ensuring that this legislation is brought to the floor.

It has been explained and I will simply say that it is my sincere hope that this legislation will enable the continuance of our efforts to protect and to enhance the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and to ensure that all Americans can benefit from the park. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, which was established in 1966, is relatively new, but as it continues to mature, the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center will be vital in helping to provide each lakeshore visitor a complete and rewarding experience.

Mr. Speaker, we should not delay the lakeshore's ability to mature, thus allowing more people to appreciate the natural beauty of northwest Indiana.

Again, I urge my colleagues, as they did in the last Congress, to support this measure.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1287 has been well explained by the majority, and we support this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, if there are no further speakers, then I would yield back the balance of my time.