Congressman Brian Baird
3rd Congressional District, Washington State

For Immediate Release:
September 7, 2006

Contact:
Meghan O'Shaughnessy
(202)225-3536 (o)
(202)557-0165 (c)

Baird Welcomes Long Beach Leader to D.C. for National Heritage Area Hearing

Washington, D.C.- Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA) today welcomed Robert "Bob"Andrew, President of the Long Beach Merchants Association and Long Beach Loyalty Days, to the U.S. Capitol to testify before the House Resources Committee's Subcommittee on National Parks about establishing a National Heritage Area Designation at the mouth of the Columbia River.

Congressmen Baird and Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) introduced legislation in May that will begin the process of establishing a National Heritage Area for land in Pacific,Wahkiakum, Clatsop, and Columbia counties at the mouth of Columbia River. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Congressman David Wu (D-OR) are original cosponsors of thebill.

"The National Heritage Area designation will bring home millions of federal dollars to help promote our region's tourism industry, creating jobs and strengthening our local economy," said Congressman Baird. "This designation will unite the beautiful, historically and culturally significant areas at the mouth of the Columbia River."

National Heritage Areas unite disparate parts of a historically and culturally significant area under a common purpose. The Northwest lawmakers'legislation, the Columbia-Pacific National Heritage Area Study Act, will authorize the National Park Serviceand local stakeholders to conduct a feasibility study of the proposed area - the first step that Congress must take to establish a National Heritage Area. The study, which can take up to three years, will examine a numberof elements including whether the proposed area has natural, historic, cultural, educational, scenic, or recreational resources that are important toour nation's heritage.

"I am proud of the heritage of the people, industry and stunning scenic beauty that make the heritage of the Colombia Pacific Region unique," Andrew said in his officialcongressional testimony. "The designation as a National Heritage Area is the gold standard, the premiumbrand, by which a region can be judged. I and the other community supporters believe the heritage of our region is of important significance thatit will qualify for designation as a National Heritage Area. This, in turn will help us to attract entrepreneurs, business owners, families, andvisitors to our region."

Once the feasibility study is complete, Congressman Baird and Senator Smith will introduce new legislation to officially designate the land as aNational Heritage Area. After the designation passes the House and Senateand is signed into law, local and regional stakeholders must develop amanagement plan for the area. The Secretary of the Interior will then approve the management plan, making the National Heritage Area eligible for $10 million over 15 years. The National Park Service will oversee theHeritage Area.

There are 27 National Heritage Areas across the country. Baird,Smith, Murray, and Wu are working to secure the first National Heritage Area onthe West Coast. The lawmakers have worked closely with Lewis and Clark National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins, Pacific County Friend of Lewis and Clark Board Member Carolyn Glenn, Washington State Historical Society's Jim Sayce, and with representatives from the Long Beach PeninsulaVisitor's Bureau, the Port of Peninsula, the Washington State Parks andRecreation Commission, the Columbia River Estuary Study Task Force, and local business and civic leaders.

Congressman Baird wrote the bill that established the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park at the mouth of the Columbia River as well as the law that preserved portionsof the Upper White Salmon River. Congressman Baird also co-founded thecongressional National Parks Caucus and has introduced legislation to increase funding for national park maintenance and natural and culturalpreservation projects.

Bob Andrew has owned and operated Long Beach's Cottage Bakery for 30 years.

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