Date: 1993-07-15
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I wish to commend the chairman and ranking member of the committee for the provisions in here relating to the Insular areas. and also commend the staff for the work done. and urge support for H.R. 2250. Mr. Chairman. I rise In support of H.R. 2250. a bill making appropriations for the Department of Interior for fiscal year 1994. As chairman of the authorizing subcommittee with general jurisdiction over the U.S. Insular areas which receive assistance through the Department of the Interior. I want to commend my friend and distinguished colleague. the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee. SIDNEY YATES. for his hard work and dedication In bringing this bill to the floor today. I also want to express my thanks and appreciation to him for his continued sensitivity to the Federal responsibilities and needs of the U.S. insular areas. Mr. Chairman. H.R. 2250 Includes the Presidents request for reconstruction grants related to the devastation of Hurricane Hugo In the Virgin Islands. These funds are to complete essential projects at the University of the Virgin Islands. Including renovations to bring facilities Into compliance with basic safety standards. I testified before Chairman YATES subcommittee In support of this request earlier this year and I am very pleased to see that this request for the University of the Virgin Islands was included In the biil before us today. H.R. 2250 would also provide funding for land acquisition at the Salt River National Historical Park on St. Croix in the Virgin Islands which was established last year. as a result of legislation which I sponsored. The de Lugo Salt River bill protects a unique complex of natural and cultural resources that goes back as far back a 2000 BC. It is a 912 acre park that will bring about an unprecedented degree of joint Federal/teritodal management of the resources of the area. The enactment of the de Lugo Salt River bill was an achievement of which I am particularly proud. It was the culmination of my efforts to save Salt River which began in 1958. when I sponsored legislation as a member ofthe local legislature of the Virgin Islands. to purchase 50 acres of the area Including the 5acre beach where Christopher Columbus landed on his second voyage to the New World. Initially. there was little political support for a park at Salt River. partly because many did not understand the enormous economic benefits that such a park could generate for the island and the people of St. Croix. Also. many did not believe it was possible to establish a jointly managed park as my legislation did. I wish to thank the chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks Forests and Public Lands. BRUCE VENTO and GEORGE MILLER. chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources for their support of this unique park. I also want to thank the Governor of the Virgin Islands. Alexander Farrelly. who has become a strong supporter of the park and whose wife is a member of the management commission. I also want to thank Virgin Islanders like Jessie Thompson. Rudy OReilly. Jr.. and William J. Cissel. a noted historian with the National Park Service on St. Croix. for their support as well. In addition. I would like to thank groups like the St. Croix Environmental Association and the Nature Conservancy and Liz Wilson and Helen Gessing of the League of Womans Voters for their help also. Salt River continues to enjoy widespread support In the Virgin Islands. and I am very hopeful that with the enactment of this legislation we can begin the process of making this truly unique national treasure a reality. Mr. Chairman. I would also like to thank Chairman YATES for his support of the needs of the other insular areas rtculady American Samoa and Palau where there continues to be great needs but with very little economic resources for the people there to draw upon to help meet these needs. In conclusion I want to again thank the chairman of the Subcommittee. Chairman YATES. and the ranking member of the subcommittee. RALPH REGULA. for the support they have shown to the people of the U.S. offshore areas. I also want to thank the chairman of the full Appropriations committee. the distinguished gentleman from Kentucky. BILL NATCHER for his support as well. and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.