Reviving America's Scenic Byways Act of 2019

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I am particularly delighted to be here in support of this legislation with the Speaker pro tempore on the rostrum, who understands the value of scenic byways in our beautiful country.

I rise today in strong support of this bipartisan legislation, Reviving America's Scenic Byways Act.

The National Scenic Byways Program was established by Congress in 1991 in order to recognize, preserve, and enhance designated roadways throughout the United States. Since that time, 150 roads across the country have received the scenic byway designation. However, no new designations have been made since 2009.

Under this program, the Secretary of Transportation designates certain roads as all-American roads or national scenic byways based on one or more archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, or scenic qualities that capture the unique characteristics of a region.

The National Scenic Byways Program is a national asset that showcases our Nation's natural grandeur, our history, and our culture, as well as being a very significant economic driver of tourism. It has been identified by Brand USA, the organization created by Congress to promote travel to the United States, as a core element in promoting international visitation to the United States and creating tourism- related jobs.

According to the National Scenic Byway Foundation, State departments of transportation report approximately 60 State scenic byways, and nearly 30 States are interested and prepared to seek designation as a national scenic byway or an all-American road.

For example, in my own State, roadways such as Paradise Avenue on Aquidneck Island in Newport and Route 102 are really excellent candidates for designation and all the benefits that will follow.

This bill will allow those States to once again apply for scenic byway designations and directs the Department of Transportation to announce new designations within 1 year of requesting nominations.

I thank the chairman of the committee and the ranking member for their work. I urge passage of this legislation, and conclude by, again, thanking the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), who is the lead Republican on this legislation, for his partnership, his passion about this issue, his presence here today, and his words in support of the legislation.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the

bill (H.R. 831) to direct the Secretary of Transportation to request nominations for and make determinations regarding roads to be designated under the national scenic byways program, and for other purposes.

Madam 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 H.R. 831.

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

The National Scenic Byways Program was created in 1991 in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act--ISTEA, as it was called--and, since that time, has helped designate and provide funding for 150 scenic roads across the country.

In the consolidation of Federal highways programs in MAP-21, which was enacted in 2012, funding for a separate National Scenic Byways Program was eliminated; however, the authority of the Department of Transportation to continue to designate roads was retained. Unfortunately, the Department of Transportation has not designated any new scenic byways since the dedicated program was eliminated in 2012.

Madam Speaker, this legislation will ensure that there is a process once again for States, Tribes, and Federal land management agencies to request designations for roads that meet the scenic byways criteria.

I thank the sponsor of this legislation, Mr. Cicilline, who has supported efforts to preserve the scenic beauty of our country's natural and man-made environments as co-chair of the Congressional America the Beautiful Caucus for introducing this legislation, and I strongly support H.R. 831 and urge my colleagues to join in passing this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), my good friend and the sponsor of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, you see the bipartisan nature of this bill, and it doesn't require us to appropriate any funds, but we can imagine what States would do with this designation on their own.

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

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 831, and I thank my friend, the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline) for carrying the ball on this one.

Madam Speaker, our scenic byways, the national program, has a few mottos. One of them is: No two experiences are the same. Another one is: Exploring the heart and soul of America.

Madam Speaker, some of the top or most visited tourist destinations in the United States are areas like Central Park and other areas of Manhattan. You have Las Vegas, our own Union Station, Disneyland, Disney World, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

But some of the real experiences in America are in some of these more scenic areas, and we have such extraordinary treasures in our country. There is much more to America.

By reopening the scenic byways designations, we are giving access to, we are bringing attention to some of these great places, some of these great experiences in helping to highlight those and bring tourists to those areas.

In my home State of Louisiana, we have two right now. Number one, we have the Louisiana Great River Road, a scenic byway which goes along the length of the Mississippi River, through my hometown of Baton Rouge; and, also, the Wetlands Cultural Byway that goes through our wetland areas in south Louisiana's Sportsman's Paradise.

Madam Speaker, it really is just incredible. Years ago, the Department of Tourism in Louisiana came up with a motto saying, ``the Atchafalaya Basin, America's Foreign Country,'' and I really think that applies to much of south Louisiana, which is home and where I represent. It is such a unique place in terms of the food, the culture, the people. We need to bring more attention to some of these treasures that America has.

I thank, again, my friend from Rhode Island, for carrying the ball on this.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis).

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

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Graves, for the surprising yielding.

This is a program, and this bill needs to be passed.

My district in central and southwestern Illinois contains numerous scenic byways, and I am excited that this bill is such a bipartisan bill, too.

This bipartisan bill needs to pass because the Department of Transportation has got to undertake a process to designate the scenic byways in my district, in Rhode Island, in Louisiana, and throughout this Nation, designate them under this program. This good fix is a message of bipartisanship that the President delivered last night on this floor, and I certainly hope this bill passes.

Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, February 6, I was not present for Roll Call votes 66 and 67. Had I been present, I would have voted:

``Yea'' on Roll Call 66, on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 831, the Reviving America's Scenic Byways Act of 2019.

``Yea'' on Roll Call 67, on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 66, the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act.