Washington, D.C. - As Congress returned from a district work period today, the first order of business for U.S. Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) was the introduction of legislation to create the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, incorporating sites on the Washington side of the Columbia River and an expanded Fort Clatsop.  Introducing the resolution along with original co-sponsors David Wu (D-OR), George Nethercutt (R-WA), Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Doug Bereuter (R-NE), Rep. Baird proposed the inclusion of Cape Disappointment State Park (formerly Fort Canby), Station Camp, and the Megler Safety Rest Area into the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park. 

Reps. Baird and Wu previously introduced legislation authorizing the National Park Service (NPS) to study the expansion of Fort Clatsop and include the three Washington sites.  After the bill passed Congress, the NPS conducted its study and outlined the feasibility of the expansion in a report to the Department of the Interior (DOI) in July, 2003.  Yesterday,  DOI Secretary Gale Norton publicly supported the incorporation of the Washington sites and echoed Rep. Baird’s call for legislation to authorize the expansion and establishment of a National Historical Park. 

“Including sites on the WA side of the river has received tremendous support on the federal, state and local level,” said Rep. Baird.  “As the Lewis and Clark bicentennial approaches, we must work to coordinate our efforts and give visitors an opportunity to understand the entire history of Lewis and Clark at the mouth of the Columbia.  Including all of the Lewis and Clark sites in a national historical park will increase coordination between the two states and help draw visitors, providing a much-needed economic shot in the arm to our local businesses.”

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