The publication is reproduced in full below:
By Mr. KAINE (for himself and Mr. Warner):
S. 2630. A bill to establish the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area in the State of Virginia, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mr. KAINE. Madam President, today, I am introducing legislation that is the product of at least 18 years of collaborative work by a diverse group of stakeholders in Virginia, including local recreation groups, conservationists, timber industry representatives, and sportsmen.
The Shenandoah Mountain Act would designate more than 92,000 acres of the George Washington National Forest lands in Virginia as the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area, SMNSA.
Congress designates national scenic areas to protect the natural and scenic value of lands that are also compatible with recreational uses such as hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, mountain biking, among others.
The SMNSA encompasses four wilderness areas: Skidmore Fork, Little River, Ramsey's Draft, and Lynn Hollow, which in total include 10 peaks above 4,000 feet and 150 miles of trails to attract campers, hikers, mountain bikers, fishermen, birders, and equestrians. The legislation also establishes a 5,779-acre wilderness area at Beech Lick Knob, located 10 miles to the north.
The SMNSA will protect important water resources, as it covers headwaters for the Potomac and James Rivers and watersheds that provide drinking water for Harrisonburg, Staunton, and communities farther downstream, such as Washington, DC, and Richmond. This area is also a hotspot for biodiversity. Cold mountain streams in the area are a stronghold for native brook trout. Today's legislation would permanently protect these rivers and streams from industrial development. It would also help safeguard plant and wildlife habitat for black bears, wild turkeys, more than 250 species of birds, and at-
risk species like the Cow Knob and Shenandoah Mountain salamanders.
The Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area will provide a boost to the region's growing tourism industry. In 2021, the tourism economy directly employed 6,543 people and generated $728.5 million in Augusta, Rockingham, Bath, and Highland Counties, as well as Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro. In addition to the direct benefits to tourism, James Madison University scientists estimate that lands within the SMNSA proposal already generate $13.7 million per year in other local benefits, including the value of the water supply. Designation of the SMNSA would further grow these benefits.
The challenges of the past 3 years have underscored that getting out into nature is critical to our health and well-being. I am proud that the Shenandoah Mountain Act will expand these opportunities within the George Washington National Forest for visitors near and far, while also boosting our local economies, protecting drinking water sources, and preserving the wildlife that makes this area so special.
The local governments of Staunton, Augusta, Rockingham, and Harrisonburg, along with over 400 businesses and organizations, have endorsed the new designation for the vast benefits it will have on the surrounding communities. I thank my colleague Senator Mark Warner for joining me in introducing this legislation. I also commend our local stakeholders for working on this proposal for so many years.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 169, No. 130
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