Valley Forge Park Realignment Permit and Promise Act

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for the bipartisan support.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 7952, Valley Forge Park Realignment Permit and Promise Act.

Valley Forge National Historical Park is an important, extraordinarily historical landmark and natural space spanning 3,500 acres of Chester and Montgomery counties; my home.

As the site of the 1777 and 1778 winter encampment of General George Washington and the Continental Army, Valley Forge is a living monument to our national story, where former Prussian officer Baron van Steuben trained the Continental Army, transforming them into a more cohesive, unified, and modern fighting force.

It is a symbol of our Nation's resilience and revolutionary spirit.

As part of a broader effort to develop and enhance the area around Valley Forge National Historical Park, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is working to reassign and repave a road that runs through the Park's entrance. And part of the project involves moving the current utilities under the current roadbed to the new roadbed.

Unfortunately, while the park can permit the movement of other utilities, like electric and broadband, they are barred by statute from permitting the movement of the segment of natural gas pipeline also under the current roadbed. Without Federal intervention, the project could be further delayed, costing the American people time and resources.

That is why this bill is in front of you today. It will allow the Secretary of the Interior to permit the movement of a small piece of approximately 2,400 feet or a half a mile of natural gas pipeline to a new roadbed. Importantly, the bill does not allow for expansion, upgrades, or improvements to the pipeline. It is simply allowing the movement to better facilitate the current construction.

In addition to the straightforward benefits of moving the pipeline segment to ensure it remains with all the other utilities, the move will also allow for the creation of a trail connection. This will better allow people to reach and enjoy this historic park, America's park, further developing the area as a landmark of our past and a place of recreation and community today.

This bipartisan bill, which I introduced with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, and Senators Casey and Toomey introducing the same companion bill on the Senate side, it is a straightforward fix to a technical but important issue facing Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Simply, it is commonsense legislation.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their support of this bill and for moving it swiftly through the Natural Resources Committee and to the House floor.

I also thank my fellow Congress Members from the delegation: Houlahan, Fitzpatrick, Senators Casey and Toomey for being strong allies and supporters and co-leads for America's park.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7952. This is a bipartisan bill that authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue a right-of- way permit to relocate a natural gas distribution pipeline segment in the Valley Forge Historical National Park located in Pennsylvania.

This bill is necessary to allow the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to realign a road at the park's entrance to a new location within the park boundary, which will require moving the utilities in the existing roadbed to the new roadbed. This project is part of a larger effort by PennDOT to improve the area surrounding the park.

The Valley Forge Historical Park is the iconic location of the famous Revolutionary War encampment and contains numerous significant cultural and natural resources, including 40 historic monuments and memorials, as well as several diverse habitats.

This bill's authorization of a responsible relocation of an integral natural gas pipeline demonstrates the important truth that we can effectively balance the energy needs of local communities with our equally important goal of conserving our treasured Federal lands for future generations.

Madam Speaker, I support this bill because it recognizes the necessity of energy infrastructure like natural gas pipelines, and the important role that they serve for communities to meet their needs for dependable, affordable energy.

It is very encouraging to me to see this bill brought to the House floor today, and it is my hope that my friends on the other side of the aisle will support additional legislation to facilitate the timely siting and approval of a pipeline infrastructure consistent with this bill which has been championed by my Democratic colleagues.

H.R. 7952 offers hope going forward that we can pursue additional commonsense solutions to address the significant energy challenges facing our Nation.

We remain committed to this important work, and I encourage all of my colleagues to join us in this effort.

Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this commonsense, bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7952) ``to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue a right-of-way permit with respect to a natural gas distribution pipeline within Valley Forge National Historical Park, and for other purposes'', as amended.

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 the measure under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7952, introduced by my colleague Representative Madeleine Dean. As part of a broader effort to develop and enhance the area around Valley Forge National Historical Park, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is working to realign and repave a road that runs through the park's entrance.

This bill will allow the movement of a natural gas pipeline segment from its current position at the entrance of the park to a new roadbed being constructed east of the current road.

If the pipeline is not permitted to move, the project could be further delayed costing time and resources. Moving the pipeline will also allow for the creation of a new trail connection, which will better allow people to reach and enjoy Valley Forge.

I thank my colleague Representative Dean for introducing this legislation on behalf of her constituents.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean).

Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the legislation. And as Representative Dean said, I thank the sponsors of the legislation. One small thing that only Congress can do in this particular instance affects not only the utilization of this park but makes the situation safer for everyone involved and less expensive, and I thank her for her foresight.

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