News
Legislative authorization expired for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Commission on January 8, 2011. Consisting of 19 members, the Commission advised the Department of the Interior on policies and specific issues relating to the Park.
A new bill to reauthorize the Commission, designated S.324, was introduced in the U. S. Senate on February 10. Senators Benjamin Cardin and Barbara Mikulski, both of Maryland, were its sponsor and cosponsor. Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland's 8th District is working to introduce a companion bill in the House.
The Commission was created by a section of the same 1971 law that established the Park itself. Originally, the Commission was authorized for ten years. Recognizing the Commission's value, however, Congress subsequently passed amendments authorizing three additional ten-year periods. Legislation granting a further ten-year extension was introduced during the last session of Congress, but was not acted upon in time to prevent the Commission's demise.
A number of members of the former Commission met on an unofficial basis on April 1 in Glen Echo, Maryland. The group heard briefings and discussed issues relating to the canal park and to prospects for reinstating the Commission. They agreed to continue to meet quarterly, with the next two meetings scheduled for:
Friday, July 8, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Old Forge Farm, 20702 Old Forge Road, Hagerstown, MD 21742. RSVP requested: oldforge@myactv.net.
Friday, October 21, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., 884 Lost Road, Martinsburg, WV 25401
The position of the C&O Canal Association is that the Commission played a very positive role in expressing the views of citizens and localities neighboring the park. The Association therefore supported extension of the Commission, and favors its future reauthorization by Congress.
