Upper Missisquoi and Trout Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2569, the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. That bill would designate those two rivers as Wild and Scenic.

We are pretty excited about this in northern Vermont. As has been said, any landowner along the way is going to give permission in order for it to be part of it. Also, before this even was brought to a legislative committee, town meetings in all of the towns along the designation area had discussions in their town halls and, at town meeting, voted and requested that this designation be given.

So what we have to show that there really is excitement about this in Vermont is a town vote, and then we have got it built into the legislation that the landowner who is directly affected has to give permission. So those are good safeguards, and as the chairman said, it means that there is no Federal coercion. It is a reflection of local desire. So thank you for that.

These rivers are really beautiful. I hope in your time off, Mr. Chairman, when you don't have the burden of this committee and this duty, you might come on up and take a look.

As Mr. Grijalva said, these rivers flow through beautiful farm fields and valley floors in northern Vermont. They go under covered bridges and through small villages on the way to Lake Champlain, and they have served in Vermont as important routes of early trade, sources of water and food for local farming communities, and sites for some of the best recreational opportunities in the country.

The community members just love these rivers. They enjoy the recreational activity they provide, especially canoeing and kayaking. There is a lot of fishing and hunting, swimming and hiking, wildlife viewing. It is a place where folks bring their kids, teach them how to swim, teach them about nature, teach them about fishing.

So they also connect up to a canoe trail that spans the entire northern New England States. Having that web of rivers that flow one to the other accessible is enhanced with this legislation.

The Wild and Scenic designation, as has been mentioned, would recognize that these waterways do have exceptional recreational value, something that local proponents have known since they undertook the designation process 5 years ago.

And the folks involved--it is local farmers, town leaders, river enthusiasts--they have all had to work together, and they have had to talk and knock on doors to the folks who own property along the river. As I mentioned, voters in eight towns within the designation area strongly affirm the plan for their towns' participation in the Wild and Scenic Rivers program.

This designation is Vermont-based and locally grown. It requires no Federal land acquisition or management. It relies on those local and State and regional partnerships.

I want to thank the folks who have helped Mr. Bishop, the chair of the subcommittee. Thank you so much for your work on this and for putting up with my pestering requests. Ranking Member DeFazio, thank you very much for hanging in there. Mr. Grijalva, thank you.

But I also want to especially thank, on behalf of the State of Vermont, the citizens of Berkshire, Enosburg, Enosburg Falls, Montgomery, Richford, Troy, North Troy, and Westfield. They worked hard in this, and it means a lot to them.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I hope I am not violating any rule of the House, but I want to say something personal about the man from Washington, my former colleague on the Rules Committee. I am going to accuse him of being a good guy. He worked hard on the Rules Committee when I was there. He worked hard in his responsibility as chairman of this committee.

You have worked hard for many years serving the people of your district and the people of this country over all your years in Congress, and I want to thank you that one of your last acts is a generous shepherding of this legislation that means so much to the folks in northern Vermont.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2569) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Missisquoi River and the Trout River in the State of Vermont, as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2569 designates in the State of Vermont two segments of the upper Missisquoi River and the entire main stem of its tributary, the Trout River, as part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

In 2009, Congress authorized an evaluation of these rivers; and, while the study endorses the designation proposed by H.R. 2569, it was very clear that the community does not want Federal management or ownership on or around the rivers; therefore, the river segments would be managed in accordance with the management plan prepared as a part of the study with the National Park Service being limited to coordinating administration and the management with the local community.

The management plan repeatedly emphasized that actions should be carried out on a voluntary basis down to the property owner level.

The Natural Resources Committee adopted an amendment to reinforce that this designation be voluntary in nature by requiring that property may only be included into the boundaries with written consent of the owner; additionally, Federal land acquisition may occur only by donation or exchange with condemnation specifically prohibited.

If this proposal is, indeed, locally supported or managed, there is no need for Federal coercion.

H.R. 2569 also excludes several hydroelectric projects from the boundaries of the designation, and the committee-adopted amendment further limits the Secretary of the Interior's influence into the ongoing and future activities of these facilities.

So I urge adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no more requests for time and I am prepared to close now. I will have to close after those last remarks.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I want to thank my friend from Vermont for those nice words.

But let me speak to this legislation, because the gentleman correctly mentioned--and this has always been a concern of those of us that have been somewhat critical of Wild and Scenic designations--that it does impact local communities and local private property rights. And this legislation here, in working with you, the gentleman recognizes that. I think, at least from your debate on the floor, your citizens, your constituents, recognize that also at the town meetings. That is a win- win from my standpoint.

So I think this is good legislation. I hope the other body takes it up intact and we can pass it and sign it into law.

I do want to thank my friend from Vermont for his kind words, and with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2569 would designate segments of the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers as recreational rivers under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

These river segments provide local Vermonters with opportunities to swim, fish, kayak, and hike and are dotted with scenic and historic sites like waterfalls and covered bridges. They would be first designated Wild and Scenic rivers. They would be the first designated Wild and Scenic rivers in Vermont. The designation is widely popular with landowners and local stakeholders.

H.R. 2569 authorizes the establishment of cooperative agreements, including financial assistance with the State of Vermont and other entities to further the long-term protection and preservation of the identified river segments.

Since much of the land along the river is private property, the designation will allow landowners to emphasize the ecological and recreational value of the river while upholding long-established property rights. Any land acquisition associated with the Wild and Scenic designation must be done by donation and accompanied by a written consent from the landowner. The bill also establishes that the river segments will not be managed as part of the National Park system.

I would like to thank and congratulate my colleague from Vermont (Mr. Welch) for his work on this bill and on behalf of his constituents.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch), the author of the legislation.

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

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