To reauthorize the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission.

I thank the gentleman from Alaska for recognizing what a fine piece of legislation it is and appreciate his support of this legislation as well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3476. It is a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Citizens Advisory Commission through the year 2018. And both Representative Carney and I believe that this citizen action group serves as an important liaison between the National Park Service, their officials, and the neighbors in the area.

Many of my constituents have asked me to extend this commission, and I am pleased to have worked with Representative Carney on this legislation to do just that. Communication is the key to addressing and resolving citizens' concerns, and it's clear that the residents and the park users value the opportunity to respond to the park decisions as well as propose alternatives when they come up with those.

The Delaware Water Gap region has a turbulent history, if you know of it. One was marked by improper government interference and Federal invasion of rights of private property owners.

Back in the mid-1950s, the Federal Government proposed a plan to build a

dam across the Delaware River. This was the Tocks Island Dam Project, and it required the use of eminent domain, and the government seized many properties. Well, the project fell through and the property that was taken away is now known as the Delaware Water Gap Recreational Area. And residents in the area were upset by the creation of this recreation area. As a result, Congress passed legislation that established a citizens advisory commission, and that was back in 1988.

Now, this advisory commission was reauthorized for an additional decade back in 1998; and it's basically served as a forum, if you will, for the public to interact with park officials. Due to the combined efforts of the various commission members and park officials, the recreation area has now increased in popularity over the years, and we see literally millions of visitors each year. In fact, out of nearly 400 parks in the National Park system, the Delaware Water Gap was just named one of the top 10 most photogenic parks for fall foliage.

And I am confident that the Citizens Advisory Commission will continue to play a valuable role in preserving its splendor in this area and others for future generations.

It's the ability of local residents to communicate with Federal agencies that has been one of my main focuses here in Congress; and I call upon my colleagues--and I am glad that the gentleman from Alaska joins me in this effort--to join with Representative Carney and me to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, on October 13, I was unable to speak in favor of or cast a vote in support of H.R. 3476, a bill I introduced with the gentleman representing the congressional district to the east of Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District, Representative Garrett.

H.R. 3476 would reauthorize the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission for another 10 years.

The Citizen Advisory Commission, CAC, was first proposed in 1988 by Congresswoman Marge Roukema in an effort to establish a more open dialogue between National Park Service, NPS, employees working the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, DWGNRA, and the surrounding local communities. Communication between these two parties is valuable in maintaining a healthy DWGNRA for generations to come.

The CAC allows the communities' experiences in--and knowledge of--the Delaware Water Gap to strengthen National Park Service decisionmaking in the National Recreation Area. Park officials are provided with a unique perspective on issues as varied as sustaining or preserving historic structures, to protecting wildlife and forests, to improving public safety and preventing or mitigating flooding along the river.

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area preserves almost 70,000 acres of land along the Delaware River's New Jersey and Pennsylvania shores. This majestic area is popular not only with local residents, but also for tourism due to activities such as hiking, fishing, camping, swimming, and boating.

Part of ensuring that this beautiful area straddling the border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey is preserved for future generations is reauthorizing the CAC, which plays an invaluable role in assisting the NPS to protect, preserve, and expand the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3476) to reauthorize the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation, sponsored by Representative Garrett, will authorize the Citizen Advisory Commission for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area for the next 10 years. The advisory commission has provided two decades of guidance and input that has assisted in the management of the national recreation area and should be allowed to continue its work.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3476.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is the National Park Service's largest outdoor recreation area in the Northeastern United States. This recreation area includes 67,000 acres along 40 scenic miles of the Delaware River in the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. With 5 million recreational visits each year, it is our 10th most visited national park.

Our colleague, Mr. Garrett, introduced H.R. 3476 to enhance citizen participation in the administration of the park by extending the recreation area's Citizen Advisory Commission for another 9 years to the year 2018. I am pleased to join Mr. Garrett in support of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett), the author of this fine piece of legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I was unable to be present in the Capitol for three votes on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.

However, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 3689, providing for an extension of the legislative authority of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. to establish a Vietnam Veterans Memorial visitor center; ``yea'' on H.R. 3476, reauthorizing the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission; and ``yea'' on H. Res. 659, congratulating Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. on 98 years of serving local communities and enriching the lives of collegiate men throughout the Nation.