(Washington, DC, - September 16, 2003)—The U.S. House Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands of the Committee on Resources held a hearing today on Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen’s bill to provide for a suitability and feasibility study for the establishment of a National Heritage Area on St. Croix.

Christensen, who is Ranking Member on the Subcommittee said that she was pleased at today’s hearing as it marks the first step on the road to National Heritage designation for St. Croix.

H.R. 1594 directs the Secretary of Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing National Heritage Areas on St. Croix.  The delegate said that St. Croix has natural, historic and cultural resources that represent distinctive aspects of American heritage that are worthy of recognition and provide outstanding recreational and educational opportunities. 

“While each of our islands can make a good case for this designation, the island of  St. Croix with its two historic towns, is richly blessed with all of the attributes that would justify this designation,” the delegate told the panel.  Christensen made the case for St. Croix citing such historical attributes of the big island such as the Columbus Landing, Alexander Hamilton’s boyhood home and the Danish architectural history.

Christensen said that Lt. Governor Vargrave Richards submitted comments for the record in support of the designation.