I rise in strong support of the amendment offered by my good friend and colleague. the gentleman from New Jersey . Under New Jerseys redistricting plan. my newly drawn congressional district will Include a part of Jersey City. an area which is currently very ably represented by Congressman GUARINI. We have had the opportunity to work together on issues of importance to our Jersey City constituents. and the Ellis Island Bridge is an issue which directly impacts both local residents and families from all over America who come to Ellis Island to learn more about our Nations beginnings. to stand on the same site where so many immigrants stepped ashore in hopes of a new and better life. and to share a moving experience from the past with their children. Mr. Chairman. it makes sense to construct a bridge to Ellis Island in order to provide more American families the opportunity to share in this experience. We hear a lot of talk about "family values." yet an agency of our own Governmentthe National Park ServIce4s trying to block affordable access for working families to one of our most famous American landmarks. The Circle Line Ferry Co. and the National Park Service doubled the fare to Ellis and Liberty Island to $6 a person when the Great Hall on Ellis Island opened to the public in 1990. For many descendants of immigrants. particularly families struggling to make ends meet during this prolonged economic recession. the dramatic fare Increase means that they will have to forgo. or at least postpone. a trip to Ellis Island. At a time when many people are on tight schedules due to work and family demands. the current 2 to 3 hour wait for ferry service further discourages family trips to Ellis Island. Surveys indicate that the public strongly favors construction of a bridge to Ellis Island.
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immigrants