Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions S. 1576

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

S. 1576. A bill to revise the boundary of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to expand the park boundaries for the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park. Harpers Ferry, located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, is one of West Virginia's jewels. Its place in American history, coupled with the natural scenic beauty of the park and its surroundings, make for a one-of-a-kind experience for local residents and visitors alike. Now is the time to move forward with that effort.

Harpers Ferry has been the backdrop for remarkable historic events. Here, in one setting, several themes in America's story converge: exploration, industry and transportation, the question of slavery, the Civil War, and the natural splendor of our Nation.

We are taught that the Lewis and Clark Expedition began in Wood River, IL, on the Mississippi River in 1804. But, in fact, Harpers Ferry also contributed to that important historic expedition by providing a cache of supplies that helped sustain these brave explorers as they traveled to the Pacific Ocean and back.

One of Harpers Ferry's most famous incidents occurred in 1859 when the fierce abolitionist leader John Brown and a small band of raiders held Federal troops at bay in the Federal arsenal. John Brown's capture fueled the growing tensions on the issue of slavery.

The property includes the operational Baltimore & Ohio train station, and it borders a part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Both the railroad and the canal made Harpers Ferry a key transit point during the Civil War.

In September 1862, 37,000 Union and Confederate troops wrestled for the control of Harpers Ferry. Over the course of 4 days, a famous West Virginian, GEN Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson, battled Union troops that were under the leadership of COL Dixon Miles in the area of Schoolhouse Ridge and Bolivar Heights. When it was over, the largest surrender of Union soldiers, 12,500 in all, occurred. Jackson's victory allowed GEN Robert E. Lee to carry his fight further to Sharpsburg, MD, where the bloodiest single day battle of the Civil War the Battle of Antietam—was fought.

Harpers Ferry's rich history is matched only by its great natural beauty. Throughout the year, residents and visitors alike can be seen enjoying fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and much more in this scenic park.
In the summer of 2001, the Peregrine Falcon Restoration Project began at the park. Since that time, 12 peregrine falcon chicks have been released across the Potomac River on Maryland Heights. This and other efforts are underway to restore these incredible raptors to their native nesting sites in the Appalachian region.

Today, the park is home to a vast array of outdoor and recreational opportunities. The historical, recreational, and ecological significance suggests that the time is right to expand the boundaries of Harpers Ferry National Historic Park. The boundary expansion has the support of a number of groups, including the Friends of Harpers Ferry, the Harpers Ferry Conservancy, and the Civil War Preservation Trust.

Harpers Ferry became a part of the National Park System in 1944. My legislation would expand its boundary by 1,240 acres, from its current 2,505 acres to 3,745 acres. In order to educate local residents about the expansion process, I directed the National Park Service, in the year 2000, to conduct a public outreach program. As part of that program, the Park Service asked for public response to potential expansion. Since the publication of the study, some lands have been purchased under the current acquisition ceiling. Further, the larger expansion proposal, which would be authorized by the passage of my legislation, has the strong support of 94 percent of the responders.

So, Mr. President, we must do all that we can to protect such very special places. Therefore, I am proud to introduce this legislation that I hope will protect an important place for West Virginia and the Nation as a whole.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.