< Back to H.Con.Res. 255 (103rd Congress, 1993–1994)
Text of Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the proposed Disney theme park in the historic Northern Piedmont area of Virginia.
...area of Virginia.
This resolution was introduced on June 16, 1994, in a previous session of Congress, but was not enacted. The text of the bill below is as of Jun 16, 1994 (Introduced).
103d CONGRESS 2d Session H. CON. RES. 255 Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the proposed Disney theme park in the historic Northern Piedmont area of Virginia. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 16, 1994 Mr. Andrews of Texas (for himself, Mr. Bryant, Mr. Slattery, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Gordon, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Roemer, Mr. Beilenson, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Stark, Mr. Laughlin, Mr. Smith of Iowa, Mrs. Unsoeld, Mr. Andrews of Maine, Mr. Durbin, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Evans, Mr. Leach, Mr. Horn, and Mr. Wilson) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred jointly to the Committees on Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, and Public Works and Transportation _______________________________________________________________________ CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the proposed Disney theme park in the historic Northern Piedmont area of Virginia. Whereas the Northern Piedmont area of Virginia is a place which is dear to the hearts of all Americans and inextricably bound to the Nation's formation from the Colonial Period through the American Revolution, the Federal Period, and the years leading to the Civil War; Whereas the Northern Piedmont area is the land of the Founding Fathers-- Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe--and boasts some of the most spectacularly beautiful landscapes in America; Whereas the American Civil War is recognized as the defining point in the history of the United States; Whereas the Northern Piedmont area is home to 32 Civil War battle sites and 38 historic districts; Whereas the Northern Piedmont area stands as the gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park; Whereas great effort has been expended to ensure that much of the Northern Piedmont area remains today much as it was during the period of the American Revolution and the Civil War; Whereas Congress recognized the importance of the Northern Piedmont area in 1988 by exercising a seldom used legislative taking to prevent inappropriate development on historically significant land near Manassas National Battlefield Park, site of 2 of the most important battles of the Civil War; Whereas the Walt Disney Company's proposed theme park, ``Disney's America'', would be located in the heart of the Northern Piedmont area; Whereas the proposed theme park would bring to the Northern Piedmont area extensive real estate development equivalent, in effect, to a new city comprised of 2,281 new residential buildings, 2 golf courses, and 1,900,000 square feet of new retail shopping space, in addition to an unknown amount of additional development on the fringes of the Disney property; Whereas a traffic study authorized by and conducted for the Walt Disney Company indicates that traffic in the vicinity of the proposed theme park will, at a minimum, double by the year 2010; Whereas such an increase would greatly affect the 2 main thoroughfares, Virginia Route 234 and United States Highway 29, that lead through the Manassas National Battlefield Park, which is the historic site nearest to the proposed theme park; Whereas the cumulative effect of this massive development and increased traffic congestion would represent a serious threat to the area's historic, scenic, and environmental resources; Whereas it is the responsibility of the executive branch to ensure compliance with Federal environmental, transportation, and historic preservation statutes; and Whereas it is the duty of the Congress to oversee the stewardship of the Nation's invaluable and irreplaceable historic resources, while upholding the right of States to promote economic development and the right of individuals and corporations to engage in commerce: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that-- (1) the Department of the Interior, the Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other executive agencies with relevant jurisdiction should evaluate the Walt Disney Company's proposed theme park and ensure that it is in strict compliance with existing Federal environmental, transportation, and historic preservation statutes; (2) the congressional committees of jurisdiction should hold comprehensive hearings to examine the environmental, transportation, and historic preservation aspects of both the proposed theme park and the associated development of the area surrounding the proposed theme park; (3) the historic Northern Piedmont area of Virginia should not be the site of a massive theme park and real estate project; and (4) the Walt Disney Company should seek another location for its proposed theme park--whether elsewhere in the County of Prince William or in the Commonwealth of Virginia--where the impact of the proposed theme park would not disturb areas of such great historical significance as the Northern Piedmont area of Virginia.