QuoteChesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act
On Passage
09/10/2009
House Roll Call No. 695
111th Congress, 1st Session
Passed: 311-107 (see complete tally)
The House passed H.R. 965, to amend the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 to provide for the continuing authorization of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network, by a recorded vote of 311-107.
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z276/fayeforcure/waterways.jpg)
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=695&chamber=H&congress=1111
Nay Votes from Florida are out of touch with Florida ( only 7 out of 25 Representatives voted NO), and out of touch with American waterways:
Ander Crenshaw (R-FL)
John Mica (R-FL)
Cliff Stearns (R-FL)
Bill Posey (R-FL)
Jeff Miller (R-FL)
Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL)
Connie Mack (R-FL)
Good to know, how our local Representatives feel about Watertrails Networks in the US! Very significant for Florida, with all our waterways.
Form GOP.gov:
FLOOR SITUATION
The House is scheduled to consider H.R. 965 on Thursday, September 10, 2009, under a structured rule making in order one amendment in the nature of a substitute. H.R. 965 was introduced on February 10, 2009, by Rep. Sarbanes (D-MD) and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, which referred the bill to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands and took no further official action.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
H.R. 965 would permanently reauthorize "such sums as are necessary" to provide federal grants to the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Water Trails Network under the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998. The Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act requires the National Park Service (NPS) to work with State and local governments and the private sector to provide assistance to communities, museums, historic sites, and natural parks around the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
The Chesapeake Bay Initiative was established in 1998 and authorized for five years at a level of $3 million annually. In 2002, the program was reauthorized for another five years at the same authorized funding level.
BACKGROUND
The Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act established the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Water Trails Network. The bill required the National Park Service (NPS) to work with State and local governments and the private sector to provide assistance to communities, museums, historic sites, and natural parks around the communities within the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, known as "gateways." The technical and financial assistance provided by the NPS for these gateways is disbursed through grants and is intended to preserve the Bay's cultural and historic resources, enhance public education and access to the Bay, and create a network of water trails, tour roads, and scenic byways within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
From 1998 through 2008 (when the program's authorization expired), the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Water Trails Network was authorized up to $3 million in appropriations annually to subsidize "recreational, historical, and cultural" projects on the Chesapeake. Under the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act, federal funds provided for the network must not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of any project and the no more than ten percent of the funds contributed may be used for administrative costs. In June, 2008, the House passed H.R. 5540 which would have permanently extended the program, but the Senate failed to act on the bill. In addition to annual appropriations, Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Water Trails Network projects are often funded through earmarks. According to the National Park service, the Network has received $7.7 million from earmarks since its inception. In 2008 alone, the Network received 27 earmarks totaling $1.67 million.
During debate on the same legislation last year, some Members expressed their concern that the bill would make a relatively new federal program permanent and remove the ceiling on the amount of annual appropriations the Network would be authorized to receive. When the bill was considered last year, Rep. Rob Bishop, Ranking Member of the Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee, offered an amendment to the bill that would have restored the authorization limit and required that the program be reauthorized in five years rather than becoming permanent. According to Rep. Bishop's statement during debate, "It is one of the fundamental elements that we have as the concept of good government that Congress should exercise its right of oversight on programs. Even if we authorize a program, however good it should be, there still should be at a regular basis an oversight. It is not threatening to a program. It is the responsibility of Congress." However, the amendment was not adopted.
Some Members may share similar concerns that H.R. 965 would permanently establish a relatively new federal program that has been authorized for five year intervals since it was established. Under the legislation, Congress would no longer periodically review the effectiveness and necessity of the program every time it was reauthorized. In addition, the bill would permanently remove the $3 million cap on annual appropriations for the Network. Some Members may also be concerned H.R. 965 would remove a limit on a program that is a conduit for earmarks.
COST
A CBO score for H.R. 965 was not yet available. However, according to the CBO report for H.R. 5540, the similar bill passed in the 110th Congress, CBO "estimates that implementing this legislation would cost the National Park Service about $5 million over the 2009-2013 period and $1 million a year thereafter."
AMENDMENTS
Rep. Bishop (R-UT): The amendment in the nature of a substitute would reauthorize $3 million in annual funding for the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Water Trails Network for an additional five years, through 2014.
The Chesapeake Bay through the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network â€" a system of over 150 parks, refuges, museums, historic communities and water trails in the Bay watershed.
QuoteNPCA REGION: Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, Northeast Regional Office
Acreage: System of over 150 Parks
Category:
Date Established:
More Info: http://www.nps.gov/cbpo
The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network is a partnership between parks, refuges, museums, historic sites, and water trails to create a network spanning the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. The partnership is coordinated by the National Park Service. The park service also manages ten of the sites within the network. The partners work together to help people understand the importance of the Bay and all the areas that feed into the watershed. Through education and exploration we learn how our actions, even in areas that seem far from the Bay, can contribute to a healthy and vital ecosystem.
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in North America, and has great influence on the Atlantic seaboard. The Bay stretches 180 miles from Southern Virginia to Northern Maryland, over 12,000 miles of shoreline, and a 64,000 square mile watershed that stretches across the Mid-Atlantic coast. The Bay and its watershed span three statesâ€"Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvaniaâ€"and the District of Columbia. Today more than 16 million people live in the Bay region creating development pressures that are threatening the health of the Bay.
The Bay is a tidal basin, a region where ocean water mixes with fresh water. It supports over 3,600 species of plants and animals and is the source for oysters, crabs, clams, and other seafood for the eastern seaboard.
The Bay offers many recreational opportunities. You can visit the beautiful lighthouses that shine from its shores, learn about its human history from John Smith to the Powhatan chiefdom, or boat the waters and search for wildlife.
The ten national parks in the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network are:
Anacostia Park
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
Fort Washington Park
George Washington Birthplace National Monument
Great Falls Park
Jamestown Island
Piscataway Park
Rock Creek Park
Yorktown Visitor Center and Battlefield (part of Colonial National Historic Park)
http://www.npca.org/parks/chesapeake-bay-gateways-network.html
Yay for the 8 Florida Republican Congressmen who value our environment!!
All 10 Florida Democratic Congressmen voted to protect our environment.
Shame on the 7 Florida Republican Congressmen who voted Nay!!!!!!!!!!!!
Out of touch with America, Out of touch with Florida!
I'm looking at you:
Ander Crenshaw (R-FL)
John Mica (R-FL)
Cliff Stearns (R-FL)
Shame on you.