To amend the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Development Act to extend to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Commission.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. Grijalva, for his assistance on this bill and his leadership on so many other important issues.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in rising in strong support of S. 476, a bill to restore the authority of the C&O Canal National Historical Park Commission.

I joined with Congressman Frank Wolf and Congressman John Delaney to introduce companion legislation to this bill in the House and appreciate the work of my friend Senator Cardin in the Senate and Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member DeFazio of the Natural Resources Committee in bringing this bill to the floor of the House today.

The C&O Canal National Historical Park begins just a few miles from this Capitol and follows the old C&O Canal and towpath for about 185 miles to reach Cumberland, Maryland.

Along the way, as Congressman Hastings says, it passes through three States, and it passes through the District of Columbia and many cities and towns in rural areas. It is a treasure of the National Park System, providing a place for visitors to learn about the history of the canal and enjoy the scenic views from the towpath.

The C&O Canal National Historical Park Commission was established along with the park in 1971, an idea of my former boss, Senator Mac Mathias of Maryland, and former Congressman Gilbert Gude of Maryland.

They believed that a park spanning so many diverse communities should have a formal channel through which park management could seek advice and input on park policy from its many neighbors. For years, this model worked well, and then the authority for the Commission expired in 2011.

Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us today would reestablish the Commission, allowing it to resume its critical service. While the Commission would have no authority to make binding park policy, it would serve an important advisory role and strengthen the relationship between the park and its neighbors.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation today and thank the Natural Resources Committee for bringing this to the floor in a bipartisan basis.

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

(Mr. GRIJALVA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, S. 476 will amend the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Development Act to extend the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Commission.

Extension of the authorization date will allow the continued involvement of the park advisory commission in the decisions that affect this National Historical Park. The advisory commission is now more than 40 years old and serves as an important link between the adjacent communities and the National Park Service.

S. 476 is the companion bill to H.R. 2255 introduced by Representative Van Hollen and is supported by a bipartisan group of Members. Representative Van Hollen is to be commended for his leadership and dedication in seeing this bill through.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

With that, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland, Representative Van Hollen, the sponsor of the legislation,

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 476) to amend the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Development Act to extend to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Commission.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, S. 476 would extend the authorization of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Commission for another 10 years. The Commission advises the Secretary of the Interior on matters related to the park which stretches 185 miles through three States and the District of Columbia.

The Commission is intended to provide the diverse governmental jurisdictions a seat at the table on topics involving the canal.

I urge passage, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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