Title: Expressing support for the designation of 2018 as the "Year of the Anacostia" and recognizing the Washington metropolitan area's efforts and partnerships to restore the Anacostia River watershed.
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Expresses support for the designation of the Year of the Anacostia and urges the National Park Service to commit to implementing a plan of action to make its holdings in the Anacostia River watershed into a signature urban park.
Encourages the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership to: (1) continue advocating for improved water quality in the Washington metropolitan area, and (2) continue efforts to improve environmental justice.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 921 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 921

  Expressing support for the designation of 2018 as the ``Year of the 
Anacostia'' and recognizing the Washington metropolitan area's efforts 
       and partnerships to restore the Anacostia River watershed.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 5, 2018

   Ms. Norton (for herself and Mr. Brown of Maryland) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
   Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and 
   Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing support for the designation of 2018 as the ``Year of the 
Anacostia'' and recognizing the Washington metropolitan area's efforts 
       and partnerships to restore the Anacostia River watershed.

Whereas the Anacostia River watershed stretches across 176 square miles, and the 
        Anacostia River runs through the heart of the eastern half of the 
        District of Columbia and through substantial portions of the Washington 
        metropolitan area;
Whereas the Anacostia River is bordered by vital local and Federal parks in 
        Wards 5-8, including Kingman and Heritage Islands, the National 
        Arboretum, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Yards Park, Diamond Teague Park, 
        Buzzard Point Park, and Anacostia Park, providing District of Columbia 
        residents and visitors opportunities for recreation and connection to 
        nature in the Nation's capital;
Whereas the Anacostia River watershed contains recreation resources, such as 
        trails and parks, that are valued assets in the region, and are enjoyed 
        by residents and visitors by boat, bike, and on foot;
Whereas the Anacostia River watershed is home to nearly 500 species of fish, 
        mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates;
Whereas, on August 31, 1918, Congress passed legislation preserving 1,200 acres 
        as riverside public parkland and creating Federal protection for 
        Anacostia Park, and on August 31, 2018, the National Park Service will 
        celebrate the 100th anniversary of the enactment of the legislation;
Whereas the Anacostia River watershed has numerous historic and cultural sites 
        that are vital for the history of the United States and the Washington 
        metropolitan area, including a War of 1812 battle site, the National 
        Museum of the United States Navy, the Congressional Cemetery, and Cedar 
        Hill, Frederick Douglass' home;
Whereas, in 2018, the Nation celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of 
        Frederick Douglass, the ``Lion of Anacostia'';
Whereas the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments established the 
        Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership in 2006 for public, private, 
        and community cooperation to implement the regional vision for Anacostia 
        River watershed restoration and waterfront development;
Whereas the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is partnering with 
        regional agencies, businesses, and community organizations to 
        commemorate the 100th anniversary of Anacostia Park and the continued 
        progress in restoring the Anacostia River watershed;
Whereas, in 1987, the District of Columbia joined Montgomery County, Prince 
        George's County, and the State of Maryland in a formal agreement to 
        participate in the restoration of the Anacostia River watershed;
Whereas the Council of the District of Columbia, the County Council of Prince 
        George's County, and the County Council of Montgomery County have 
        enacted, or are currently reviewing, similar resolutions commemorating 
        the Anacostia River watershed;
Whereas the Anacostia River watershed and the Washington metropolitan area 
        benefit from significant infrastructure and development investments by 
        the public and private sectors, including the District of Columbia Water 
        and Sewer Authority's Clean Rivers Project and stadiums for the 
        Washington Nationals and D.C. United;
Whereas Congress passed the Southeast Federal Center Public-Private Development 
        Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-407) and a bill to promote the development 
        of the Southwest waterfront (Public Law 112-143), which, together, are 
        enabling millions of square feet of mixed-use development, including 
        offices, apartments, condos, hotels, and retail, on the Southeast and 
        Southwest waterfronts in the District of Columbia while assisting in the 
        cleanup of surrounding waterways;
Whereas Congress passed the Federal and District of Columbia Government Real 
        Property Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-396), which provided for the 
        transfer of real property between the Federal and the District of 
        Columbia Governments to facilitate the redevelopment of such property, 
        including land along the Anacostia River;
Whereas Congress passed the Kingman and Heritage Islands Act of 2010 (Public Law 
        111-328), which expanded the allowable uses for Kingman and Heritage 
        Islands by the District of Columbia to include recreational, 
        environmental, or educational purposes in accordance with the Anacostia 
        Waterfront Framework Plan and the Comprehensive Plan;
Whereas Congress passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Public Law 
        110-114), which required the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with 
        the Mayor of the District of Columbia, the Governor of Maryland, the 
        county executives of Montgomery County and Prince George's County, 
        Maryland, and other interested entities, to develop a 10-year 
        comprehensive action plan to provide for the restoration and protection 
        of the ecological integrity of the Anacostia River and its tributaries;
Whereas, in July 2018, the Washington Nationals will host the Major League 
        Baseball All-Star Game and related events at Nationals Park on the banks 
        of the Anacostia River;
Whereas, in 2018, D.C. United will open a new soccer stadium a short distance 
        from the Anacostia River;
Whereas, in 2018, the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment 
        will release its Feasibility Study Report for the Anacostia River 
        Sediment Project, which will evaluate potential actions for the 
        remediation of toxic chemicals in and along the Anacostia River;
Whereas the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority began operations of 
        the Anacostia River Tunnel in 2018, which, along with the Blue Plains 
        Tunnel at Poplar Point, is expected to reduce combined sewer overflows 
        into the Anacostia River by over 80 percent and improve the water 
        quality of the river;
Whereas thanks in large part to policies adopted by the District of Columbia 
        government and challenging work undertaken by many local private-sector 
        partners, the water quality of the Anacostia River has improved markedly 
        in recent years; and
Whereas 2018 will be the 50th anniversary of the National Park Service's 
        ``Summer in the Parks'' program for the District of Columbia, including 
        a popular concert series in Fort Dupont Park, and the first year of 
        operations since the National Park Service's selection of an Anacostia 
        Park management plan in 2017: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of the ``Year of the 
        Anacostia'';
            (2) urges the National Park Service to reasonably and 
        appropriately commit to implementing a plan of action to make 
        its holdings in the Anacostia River watershed into a signature 
        urban park;
            (3) urges the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership 
        to continue efforts to enhance and reinforce Washington 
        metropolitan areas cooperation to improve water quality; and
            (4) urges the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership 
        and the National Park Service to continue efforts to improve 
        environmental justice via sustainable and programmatic 
        development practices, including efforts to equitably enrich 
        the civic and economic value of the communities surrounding the 
        Anacostia River, and the resilience and physical well-being of 
        residents in those communities.
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