Valley Forge Park Realignment Permit and Promise Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. OBERNOLTE. 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.

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

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