Monday, July 14, 2008

H.R. 3981 --To authorize the Preserve America Program and Save America's Treasures Program– YES I voted yes on this bill because it establishes the Preserve America Program in order to provide competitive grants to specified entities to support preservation efforts through tourism, education, and historic preservation planning activities. The non-Federal share of the cost of carrying out a project provided under this program must be no less than 50 percent of the total cost of the project. Cost: $300 million over the 2009-2013 period.

H.R. 1423 --Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center Lease Act – YES This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to lease a portion of a visitor center to be constructed outside the boundary of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Porter County, Indiana. Cost: $1 million.

H.R. 4199 --To amend the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation Act of 1992 to add sites to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park– YES This bill provides for the acquisition and inclusion of additional sites to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, including the Wright Company factory. Cost: $15 million over the 2009-2013 period.

Final Passage of H.R. 1286 --Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Designation Act – YES I voted in favor of this bill because it ensures the preservation of one of our Nation’s important historical trails. The route designated by this Act is one of the most famous in our country, and it marks the route General George Washington followed with this French allies to defeat General Cornwallis at Yorktown. The American victory at Yorktown affectively ended the Revolutionary War. The bill does not in any way limit access for hunting, fishing, trapping or recreational shooting. It also provides that the bill does not in any way infringe on a State’s right to manage, control or regulate it’s hunting, fishing, trapping and recreational shooting activities on these lands. Cost: about $2 million over the 2009-2013 period.

Pearce Amendment to H.R. 1286 --YES -- This amendment would require the Secretary to complete and submit to Congress a report on the energy resources included in the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail. In today’s environment of high energy prices, it is important that our government fully explore the energy resources on all public lands.