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“RECOGNIZING THE FLORIDA KEYS SCENIC HIGHWAY” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H2233-H2235 on March 23, 2010.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE FLORIDA KEYS SCENIC HIGHWAY
Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 917) recognizing the Florida Keys Scenic Highway on the occasion of its designation as an All-American Road by the U.S. Department of Transportation, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 917
Whereas established by Congress in 1991, the National Scenic Byways program is a collaborative effort to help recognize, preserve, and enhance selected roads throughout the United States;
Whereas the U.S. Department of Transportation recognizes certain roads as All-American Roads or National Scenic Byways based on one or more archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities;
Whereas, on October 16, 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced 42 new designations to the America's Byways collection, including five All-American Roads and 37 National Scenic Byways, thus increasing the total number of designations to 151;
Whereas the Florida Keys Scenic Highway was listed by the U.S. Department of Transportation as one of five All-American Roads for 2009;
Whereas the Florida Keys Scenic Highway is the first All-American Road in the State of Florida and only one of 30 in the United States, joining an elite list which includes the Blue Ridge Parkway, Alaska's Seward Highway, and Historic Route 66;
Whereas the Florida Keys Scenic Highway follows the railroad trail blazed in the 1900s by Henry Flagler;
Whereas the Florida Keys Scenic Highway comprises of an 110-mile stretch of US 1 from Key Largo to Key West;
Whereas the Florida Keys Scenic Highway incorporates 42 bridges over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico;
Whereas the road's corridor is a leading tourist destination, featuring world-renowned coral reefs, exotic fish species, and historic shipwrecks; and
Whereas the end of the Florida Keys Scenic Highway, Mile Marker 0, is the southernmost city in the Continental United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the Florida Keys Scenic Highway on the occasion of its designation as an All-American Road by the U.S. Department of Transportation; and
(2) congratulates those residents of the Florida Keys who participated in the effort to support this designation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from the Virginia (Mr. Perriello) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 917.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of H. Res. 917, offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), recognizing the Florida Keys Scenic Highway on the occasion of its designation as an All-American Road.
Since its establishment in 1991, the Scenic Byways program has recognized a collection of roadways that are notable for their scenic, cultural, and historic characteristics. Last October, the Department of Transportation announced the newest additions to the Federal Scenic Byway program, including the Florida Keys Scenic Highway which was awarded the designation of All-American Road.
I would also like to note another corridor that was designated by the National Scenic Byway at that time, the historical Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway, which runs from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to Charlottesville, Virginia.
The Florida Keys Scenic Highway runs for over 100 miles along U.S. 1, from Key Largo to Key West, following the East Coast Railway line originally established by Henry Flager in the 1900s. The highway serves as a key transportation link and tourist destination for southern Florida, crossing 42 bridges over the Atlantic Ocean, the Florida Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico.
The designation of All-American Road brings the Florida Keys Scenic Highway into a select group that includes Virginia's Blue Ridge Parkway, Alaska's Seward Highway, and the historic Route 66. In order to be designated as an All-American Road, a highway, must possess two outstanding intrinsic qualities on a national scale and must serve as a destination unto itself. The Florida Keys Scenic Highway is the first All-American Road in the State of Florida and one of just five to receive such a designation from the Department of Transportation in the most recent round of awards.
A scenic byways designation comes as the result of much work from area residents as well as local and State governments. This effort began with the designation of the highway as a Florida State Scenic Byway in 2001, the first step towards gaining recognition under the Federal program. This designation is a testament to the hard work of the residents of the Florida Keys who sought to recognize and enhance this vital corridor.
Being designated as a scenic byway is a significant distinction, as today there are only 151 nationally designated scenic byways around the country. These byways give Americans access to the best our country has to offer and provide a window into our history and our culture.
I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for bringing forth this resolution to honor the designation of the Florida Keys Scenic Highway as an All-American Road and to congratulate the residents of the Florida Keys who worked to support this designation. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 917.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DUNCAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 917, as amended, recognizes the Florida Keys Scenic Highway on the occasion of its designation as an All-
American Road by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Few roads in America offer such natural beauty and rich history as the Florida Keys Scenic Highway. The 106-mile journey takes the traveler through miles of ocean vistas, State and national parks, and areas rich in cultural heritage. It truly is a road to paradise.
On October 16, 2009, the Florida Keys Scenic Highway was designated an All-American Road through the Federal Highway Administration's National Scenic Byways program.
I have about one of the first scenic highways, the Cherohala Skyway, through a mountainous area of my district, and I had the privilege of serving as the first Republican cochair of the Scenic Byways Caucus. This designation goes a little further. An All-American Road designation will help recognize and preserve this remarkable road through the collaborative efforts of the Florida Department of Transportation and local grassroots organizations.
This bipartisan resolution has more than 20 cosponsors; but I especially want to commend the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen), who has been such a leader in this Congress on many different issues, for introducing this resolution. I join her and all of the cosponsors in supporting passage of this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlelady from Florida
(Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank the Speaker and I thank my good friend for the time. Thank you very much to my colleagues on the other side.
I obviously rise in strong support of my resolution. I introduced it to recognize the Florida Keys Scenic Highway and its designation as an All-American Road by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
I have the wonderful pleasure of representing this historic highway, long known as the Overseas Highway, which is part of U.S. 1 and runs along 100 miles through a series of tropical islands from Key Largo to Key West. It is paradise.
This resolution also recognizes the many dedicated grassroots activists who have long worked hard on this major endeavor, actually since 1996. They formed the Florida Keys Scenic Corridor in 2007 and finally made this dream a reality.
The Florida Keys Scenic Highway is one of only five All-American Roads named on October 16, 2009, by the U.S. Department of Transportation under the National Scenic Byways program.
Since 1991, the National Scenic Byways program has recognized, preserved, and enhanced a collection of All-American Roads based on their scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, archeological, and natural intrinsic qualities.
The Florida Keys Scenic Highway was chosen in particular on its recreational and scenic qualities, and it is the first All-American Road in my wonderful State of Florida, the Sunshine State.
Since its completion in 1944, the highway has long been a leading tourist destination known for its recreational opportunities, for its State and national parks, its historic sites, its museums and cultural heritage. Along the highway are many historical sites, such as the Florida Keys History of Diving Museum on Islamorada which focuses on the 500-year-old history of salvaging wrecks beginning with the Spanish galleons.
Another milestone in the highway's history is Pigeon Key, which served as the base camp for those who built the old Florida Keys extension of the Florida East Coast Railroad which was destroyed by the 1935 hurricane.
And, finally, at the end of this beautiful road, at the end of the highway is the city of Key West, which includes among its many attractions the Key West Lighthouse, the Civil War-era Fort Zachary Taylor, and the Ernest Hemingway home.
This resolution is a fitting tribute to the many men and women who contributed to the fabled history of this fabulous highway which stretches back hundreds of years. I thank the committee for allowing me to present and hopefully pass this resolution. I thank my good friend from Tennessee for the time.
{time} 1530
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I will simply say that I have had the privilege of having two different visits of several days each to the Florida Keys. It's a beautiful area. I've read much of the history of the area. I've been on this highway on several occasions, and I think it's very fitting and appropriate that it be given this All-American Road designation.
So I urge support of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank my colleague from Florida for her tremendous work on this effort, congratulate the people of Florida, and urge colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this resolution.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 917, offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), recognizing the Florida Keys Scenic Highway on the occasion of its designation as an All-American Road. The Florida Keys Scenic Highway is one of the newest additions to the Federal Scenic Byways program, which recognizes, preserves, and enhances scenic routes across the country.
The Florida Keys Scenic Highway runs for more than 100 miles from Key West to Key Largo, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The highway conveys travelers across 42 bridges and is noted for its unique scenic and recreational qualities.
This designation brings the Florida Keys Scenic Highway into an elite group of All-American Roads, which must possess several outstanding intrinsic qualities and must serve as a destination unto itself. This byway is the first All-American Road in the State of Florida, and one of only five to receive such a designation from the Department of Transportation in the most recent round of awards.
The Scenic Byways program is the cornerstone of our efforts to provide transportation options that celebrate our nation's scenic, cultural, and historic heritage, and has been an integral part of our Federal-aid highway program since its inception in 1991.
Being designated as a scenic byway is a notable distinction, one given only after thorough consideration. Today, there are 151 byways across the country, which represent the best America has to offer in recreation, history, and scenic travel. These byways are the soul of our national infrastructure, taking people where they want to go--not just where the road takes them. The program recognizes the richness that America has to offer--the scenic vistas, diverse cultures, and historic places that define the American landscape.
These byways are a national treasure, providing cultural, scenic, and recreational opportunities for all Americans. From California's scenic Route 1, winding along the Pacific coastline; to the historic National Road, the first federally-funded interstate highway running from Illinois to West Virginia; to the Selma to Montgomery Byway in Alabama, honoring the leaders of the civil rights movement, our byways preserve our history and allow us to appreciate the beauty of the American landscape.
The Surface Transportation Authorization Act, marked up by the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit last summer, will continue our commitment to this important program and preserve these treasures for generations to come.
I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for bringing forth this resolution to honor the designation of the Florida Keys Scenic Highway as an All-American Road, and congratulate the residents of the Florida Keys who worked to bring this designation to fruition.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 917.
Mr. PERRIELLO. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Perriello) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 917, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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