Clinton, Leahy, Jeffords, Schumer, Call on Senate Colleagues to Hold Hearing on Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Commemoration Commission Act of 2006

Clinton, Leahy, Jeffords, Schumer, Call on Senate Colleagues to Hold Hearing on Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Commemoration Commission Act of 2006

Bill Will Commemorate Hudson River And Lake Champlain Milestones

Washington, DC - Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Jim Jeffords (I-VT) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) are calling on their colleagues on the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks to hold a hearing on the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commemoration Commission Act of 2006. With only three years to go until the commemorations of the famous voyages, the Senators are anxious to have the legislation passed so that coordinated plans can get under way. Senator Clinton introduced the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commemoration Commission Act of 2006 earlier this year to establish the Champlain Quadricentennial Commemoration Commission and the Hudson-Fulton Commemoration Commission.

2009 will mark the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Henry Hudson, the first European to sail up the Hudson River; the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Samuel de Champlain, the first European to discover and explore Lake Champlain; and the 200th anniversary of the voyage of Robert Fulton, the first person to use steam navigation on a commercial basis. The Commemoration Commissions will be established to coordinate educational, cultural and historical projects while cooperating and assisting the programs and activities conceived by New York and Vermont. The Commissions will also be responsible for facilitating nation-wide and international celebration efforts. It is also hoped that the Commissions will support and facilitate marketing efforts for a commemorative coin, commemorative stamp and other related activities.

"These anniversaries give us a unique opportunity to celebrate our history and to draw tourists into the region. It might seem like a long time, but we only have three years to really get everything organized on a federal level so that we can take maximum advantage of commemoration events and celebrations. I hope our Senate colleagues recognize the importance of these opportunities to our states and move forward on this bill," Senator Clinton said.

"With the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Samuel De Champlain in 2009, Vermonters, New Yorkers and our many visitors will take the opportunity to celebrate a rich heritage," said Leahy. "I urge the Committee to consider this legislation to assist the residents and communities in the Lake Champlain region commemorate one of America's cultural, historic and environmental treasures."

"This is a great opportunity for Vermont and New York to work together to celebrate our shared history, from a time when the great waterways of the region were the superhighways of their day," said Senator Jim Jeffords, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

"These voyages opened up and transformed the North American continent, and the lives of Europeans and Native Americans would never be the same again," Senator Schumer said. "Thanks to Hudson and Champlain, Europeans became able for the first time to penetrate the heart of the continent and begin creating the civilization that we know here today. Fulton two hundreds years later revolutionized our world once again by making travel and commerce easier and faster by means of steam power. We've got to pass this legislation now so preparations for these important celebrations less than three years from now can start moving forward."

[A copy of the Senators' letter is below]

August 3, 2006

The Honorable Craig Thomas
Chairman
Subcommittee on National Parks
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
364 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Daniel K. Akaka
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on National Parks
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
312 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Thomas and Ranking Member Akaka:

We write to respectfully request a hearing to discuss S. 3618, the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commemoration Act of 2006, a bill that we have introduced. This bill is a priority of ours, and we would very much appreciate your assistance in moving it through the Subcommittee on National Parks.

The Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commemoration Act of 2006 would establish the Champlain Quadricentennial Commemoration Commission and the Hudson-Fulton 400th Commemoration Commission. As you know, 2009 will mark the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Henry Hudson, the first European to sail up the Hudson River; the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Samuel de Champlain, the first European to discover and explore Lake Champlain; and the 200th anniversary of the voyage of Robert Fulton, the first person to use steam navigation on a commercial basis.

The Hudson and Fulton explorations led to the establishment of trading posts, military posts, and settlements as far south as Lake George. From these early establishments came trade, commerce, cultural, and religious impact deep into the Mohawk Valley and as far west as Lake Erie. These settlements influenced our Nation's history, culture, law, commerce, and traditions of liberty that extend to the present day. Almost 200 years later, in 1807, Robert Fulton navigated the Hudson River from the City of New York to Albany in the steamboat Clermont, successfully inaugurating steam navigation on a commercial basis. This event helped revolutionize waterborne commerce on the great rivers of the United States and fostered international relations through transoceanic travel and trade.

These Commemoration Commissions will be established to coordinate educational, cultural and historical projects while cooperating and assisting the programs and activities conceived by New York and Vermont. The Commission will additionally be responsible for facilitating nation-wide and international celebration efforts. It is hoped that the Commission will also support and facilitate marketing efforts for a commemorative coin, commemorative stamp and other related activities.

We thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=261413&&