Thank you very much. I am so pleased to have HR 5497, the Apostle Islands National Park and
Preserve Act, to be designated as Wisconsin's first national park. As you said, Mr. Chairman,
the crown jewel of Wisconsin, and that is how we view it. You take a look at a good map of
Wisconsin, and there are the islands scattered on the very top of the state. It truly is the
crowning jewel of our great state of Wisconsin, and there is no place in America like the Apostle
Islands. This area contains a collection of underwater shipwrecks and what the National Park
Service calls the largest and finest collection of lighthouses in the country. 10 historic lighthouses
of the Apostle Islands range from approximately 110 to 170 years old and offer important glimpses
into the maritime history of the Great Lakes region. In the summer months, locals and tourists
enjoy hiking, power boating, sailing, kayaking. You can see right behind you, Mr. Chairman.
Sandy beaches, and you discover the solitude and remoteness of the areas many islands as families
picnic on those pristine waters. In the winter, when Lake Superior freezes over, the Apostle
Islands are transformed into dramatic ice caves that are accessible to hikers as you can see
behind me. These stunning and unique ice formations are considered a bucket list destination and
offer world-class recreation opportunities. Many of my colleagues on this committee have national
parks in their district and understand how much of an asset they can be to their states. While
our neighboring states such as Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, all enjoy national parks, Wisconsin does
not yet have one. And the iconic features of these unique islands deserve this long overdue
recognition. My legislation is very straightforward. It would simply re-designate the majority of
the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore into the Apostle Islands National Park. My bill also maintains
the heritage of hunting within the Apostle Islands by designating Sand Island, a popular hunting
destination as the Sand Island National Preserve. Protecting hunting access is paramount to me,
and this follows the model of the recently elevated New River Gorge National Park.
Importantly, the legislation affirms all treaty rights and tribal sovereignty stating
nothing in this act shall be construed as affecting any rights granted reserved or established
pursuant to treaty, statute, or executive order pertaining to any tribe, including, but not limited
to rights to hunt, trap, fish, and gather on lands included within the boundary of Apostle
Islands National Park and preserve or any other rights asserted by any tribe. I would also like
to note that tribal members were the first to receive any drafts of this bill, and it is from
consulting with them and receiving their input that we have included that language I just cited.
Further, my legislation directs the National Park Service to enhance interpretive displays
within the Apostle Islands to include more information about the area's rich fur trade,
logging, fishing industries, as well as also honor the Ojibwe tribes, the original inhabitants
of the Apostle Islands who have called the area home for centuries. This legislation reflects an
effort that has been decades in the making. In 1930, nearly a century ago, Congress first
authorized a study to designate the Apostle Islands as a National Park. Roughly 40 years later,
President John F. Kennedy described the islands as part of our American heritage,
and the area was designated as a National Lakeshore, an effort spearheaded by the father of Earth Day,
Senator Gaylord Nelson. This legislation first received a hearing in the federal land subcommittee
last Congress and was submitted for two rounds of technical assistance with the Biden administration,
whose feedback was implemented into this Congress' version. It subsequently was submitted for a
third round of technical assistance from the Trump administration. Now, by elevating the
Apostle Islands from a National Lakeshore to a National Park, we can ensure that thousands more
are able to visit this area. This will be a win for the people in my state and the country at large
as more people get to enjoy the crown jewels of Wisconsin. You can see the beauty of the
islands in the pictures behind me, but for those who haven't had the chance to experience this
beauty up close, I would like to extend my invitation to you to visit us in Northern Wisconsin,
especially right now. Beautiful winter. It is my hope that many more will be able to experience
this hidden gem once the Apostle Islands are designated as Wisconsin's first National Park.