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WASHINGTON, DC -- Congressman David Wu and Brian Baird today called on President Bush to provide the necessary funds to fully implement the expansion of Fort Clatsop and the creation of a Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Park. In a letter, authored by Congressman Wu and Brian Baird, members of the Oregon and Washington Congressional delegations requested the President to include funds for Fort Clatsop in his fiscal year 2005 budget proposal.
"I urge President Bush to recognize the great importance Fort Clatsop holds in American history by fully funding this great endeavor," said Congressman David Wu.
During the summer of 2002, Congress passed, and the President signed H.R. 2643, the "Fort Clatsop National Memorial Expansion Act of 2002," authored by Congressman Wu and Baird. The legislation authorized expanding the park from 130 to 1,500 acres, but the need for funds remains. The National Park Service estimates it will cost $8 million to purchase the 1,370 acres needed to enlarge Fort Clatsop.
Fort Clatsop National Memorial, located near Astoria, marks the spot where Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery spent 106 days during the winter of 1805 – 1806. It is the only unit of the National Park System solely dedicated to the Lewis and Clark expedition. Fort Clatsop will host one of the nation's 15 signature Lewis and Clark Bicentennial events, and the National Park Service estimates that well over one million people will visit Fort Clatsop during the Bicentennial years.
The full text of the letter follows:
January 28, 2004
President George W. Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20001
Dear President Bush:
We are writing to request that you include funds in your FY2005 budget for two very important Northwest Lewis and Clark commemorative projects. Specifically, we ask that you fully implement the expansion of Fort Clatsop National Memorial as authorized in Public Law 107-221 and Management Alternative D in the Draft Boundary Study and Environment Assessment for the creation of a Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Park.
As you know, the Pacific Northwest is rich in history pertaining directly to the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery and the tribes that greeted their arrival. On August 21, 2002 you signed into law the Fort Clatsop National Memorial Expansion Act (P.L. 107-221), which authorizes the National Park Service to expand the boundaries of the Fort Clatsop National Memorial from 130 to 1,500 acres, and evaluate the significance of three Lewis and Clark sites on the north shore of the Columbia River for potential inclusion into Fort Clatsop National Memorial.
Fort Clatsop National Memorial, located near Astoria, Oregon, marks the spot where Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery spent 106 days during the winter of 1805 - 1806. The memorial was established by an act of Congress in 1958, and it is the only unit of the National Park System solely dedicated to the Lewis and Clark expedition. The communities at the mouth of the Columbia River will host one of the nation's signature Lewis and Clark Bicentennial events, and during the Bicentennial years, the National Park Service estimates that well over one million people will visit Fort Clatsop. In fact, the Memorial has already begun to notice a significant increase in visits. To accommodate all of these visitors, and enhance visitor experience, it is vital that Fort Clatsop finish its expansion efforts immediately.
The three additional sites studied by the act are Megler Safety Rest Area (Clark's Dismal Nitch), Station Camp, and Fort Canby State Park. The recently released Lower Columbia River Draft Boundary Study, which is now at the Department of Interior for review, concluded that all three sites meet the inclusion criteria of national significance, suitability, and feasibility. We believe the inclusion of these sites with the expanded Fort Clatsop National Memorial, as part of a Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Park, represent the best means for comprehensive interpretation of the history of the Lewis and Clark expedition in the Pacific Northwest, and will continue to relate the importance of the Crops of Discovery's journey long after the Bicentennial Commemoration has passed.
In addition to preserving and enhancing the historic value of these sites, inclusion with the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Park will bring economic benefits to the local communities that have struggled with the decline of major industries and high unemployment. The inclusion of these sites is timely considering the Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery is already underway and preparations are being made in Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon for the Destination Pacific Signature Event in 2005.
We encourage you to help move these important projects forward by providing the necessary funding for land acquisition, management and facilities construction. We appreciate your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Patty Murray Gordon Smith
U.S. Senator U.S. Senator
Maria Cantwell Ron Wyden
U.S. Senator U.S. Senator
Brian Baird David Wu
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Rick Larsen Earl Blumenauer
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Adam Smith Peter DeFazio
Member of Congress Member of Congress
cc: Joshua Bolton
Director
The Office of Management and Budget
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