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WASHINGTON, DC -- Today the U.S. House Subcommittee on National Parks heard from Congressman David Wu and other members of Congress about H.R. 5485, legislation introduced by Congressman Wu and Congressman Brian Baird (WA) that would lead to a National Heritage Area designation for the Columbia River region in Oregon and Washington State.
The designation of the Columbia River region as a National Heritage Area will build upon Congressman Wu's past efforts that expanded the Fort Clatsop National Historical Monument and created Oregon's newest national park, The Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks.
The new designation would bring even greater economic development to the region and encourage further collaboration among residents, governments, businesses and advocacy groups to preserve and celebrate the history, culture, and natural landscape of the Heritage Area. The designation would likely extend from the mouth of the Columbia River eastward into Clatsop and Columbia Counties in Oregon and into Pacific and Wahkiakum Counties in Washington.
To follow are excerpts from Congressman Wu's testimony:
"I strongly support the creation of a Columbia Pacific National Heritage Area. I have worked closely with my colleague, Congressman Brian Baird, to introduce H.R. 5485, to study the feasibility of a National Heritage Area at the mouth of the Columbia River, in Oregon and Washington.
"Like the river itself, the journey to get where we are today has been long. In 2001-2002, I took the first step, and with the help of this committee and Mr. Souder, was able to expand Fort Clatsop National Historical Monument. Second, Congressman Baird and I together created Oregon's and Washington's newest national park, The Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks.
"No one could have accomplished all this alone. I thank this Committee, Congressmen Baird and Souder, Oregon State Senator Betsy Johnson and Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins. I would especially like to thank all the local participants that have put tremendous time and effort into the Heritage Area.
"From this collaboration, the history that shaped this part of our nation will be preserved and celebrated.
"Here, where the Columbia, the great river of the West, meets the ocean, strong men and women here left their indelible imprint for millennia. Where the Clatsop, Nehalem, Chinook and other native peoples settled, where the Spanish, Russian, and English vied for supremacy, where Americans ultimately prevailed, we Northwesterners have built a sturdy, humble civilization worthy of celebration today.
"This is the way America was, or should be: a close-knit community where everyone - from the Indians to Lewis and Clark to Scandinavians to Chinese - were and are welcome, where work and not parentage, determines one's worth.
"From forestry to fisheries the land and waters here provided. Today human hands provide for the future. We are trying to build a college to help create the education and research based economy of the future. Here also are the helping hands of the U.S. Coast Guard who protect local and international commerce on the roughest patch of water in the world.
"The mouth of the Columbia River presents layers of history and culture like an ancient buried city, except that it rolls on today. Unlike the Hudson or the Mississippi, we do not have a great city at the river's mouth to preserve its stories and great heritage.
"An Act of Congress will have to do."
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Currently there are only 27 National Heritage Areas in the United States. Only five are west of the Mississippi River. To read more about National Heritage Areas, please visit http://www.cr.nps.gov/heritageareas/
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