[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 27, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H401-H403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF SIGNING OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
ACT
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1020) honoring the 95th anniversary of
the signing of the Rocky Mountain National Park Act.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1020
Whereas, on January 26, 1915, President Woodrow Wilson
signed the Rocky Mountain
[[Page H402]]
National Park Act to establish Rocky Mountain National Park
(RMNP) in the State of Colorado;
Whereas, years ago, the foresight of so many Coloradans to
set aside and conserve RMNP benefits so many of us today;
Whereas, the fragile alpine tundra encompasses one-third of
RMNP and is one of the largest examples of alpine tundra
ecosystems preserved in the National Park System in the lower
48 States;
Whereas, RMNP remains a place for visitors to enjoy the
Rocky Mountain West by hiking, backpacking, climbing, biking,
picnicking, wildlife viewing, snowshoeing, cross-country
skiing, and horseback riding;
Whereas, the National Park Service provides unique outdoor
educational opportunities within RMNP and teaches visitors
about the diverse park ecosystem, environmental stewardship,
wilderness areas, and the principles of Leave No Trace so our
recreational areas can be enjoyed by everyone;
Whereas, RMNP is the highest national park in the United
States with at least 60 mountains higher than 12,000 feet
including the highest summit, Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet;
Whereas, the Continental Divide runs through RMNP and the
park contains the headwaters of several river systems
including the Colorado River;
Whereas, RMNP is consistently one of the top 10 visited
national parks in the United States with approximately 3
million visitors every year;
Whereas, on March 30, 2009, 249,339 acres of RMNP's total
265,770 acres was designated as Wilderness Area, thereby
conferring the highest level of conservation protection for
Federal lands to protect the park's majestic terrain from
future development; and
Whereas this designation marks the culmination of decades
of work by many committed stakeholders, from the local
communities to the Federal Government: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the 95th
anniversary of the signing of the Rocky Mountain National
Park Act and commends the National Park Service and so many
Coloradans for their dedication to preserving this region of
the Southern Rocky Mountains for future generations to come.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) and the gentleman from Washington
(Mr. Hastings) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.
General Leave
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, this resolution to honor the 95th anniversary of the
signing of the act that created the Rocky Mountain National Park was
introduced by Representative Betsy Markey and the entire Colorado
delegation. President Woodrow Wilson signed the act on January 26,
1915, creating a park that preserves the remarkable beauty of some of
the highest peaks in the continental United States. Some 3 million
people visit Rocky Mountain National Park each year, making it one of
the top 10 most visited national parks in the United States.
In March of last year, Congress passed and President Obama signed
legislation designating much of the park's majestic terrain as
wilderness, marking the culmination of decades of work by many
committed park supporters. Therefore, Madam Speaker, it is appropriate
to mark this important anniversary for Rocky Mountain National Park,
and I commend Representative Markey for introducing this resolution.
I ask my colleagues to support the passage of this measure.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 15 seconds.
House Resolution 1020 has been adequately explained by the majority,
and we have no objection to this resolution.
I yield back the balance of my time, Madam Speaker.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, as we said, this resolution is an
important resolution, marking the anniversary of the Rocky Mountain
National Park.
I had hoped I would have another speaker. At this time, Madam
Speaker, not seeing any other speakers on my side, I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I ask unanimous consent to reclaim my
time and ask unanimous consent that the gentlelady from the Virgin
Islands has her time also.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the time is reclaimed.
There was no objection.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield as
much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia.
Mr. KINGSTON. I thank the Speaker, the gentleman from Washington, and
the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.
I had a lot of interest in this bill because I have spent so many
wonderful hours at the Rocky Mountain National Park. My family has been
going there off and on for nearly 25 years about once a year, and I can
tell you, there is not a greater playground in the United States of
America if you like the outdoors, if you like elk, if you like mule
deer, if you like family, if you like just to get out and exercise and
do the fresh air.
I have had the experience of hiking up Longs Peak three times, and
those of you out West are very familiar with fourteeners and what a
great thrill that is. But for somebody who comes from zero sea level in
Savannah, Georgia, to go 14,000 feet in altitude up in the tundra--the
tundra starts at around 11,000--it is such a great thrill to go through
the Keyhole, to go through the Narrows, to go through the Boulder
Field, to get on the summit of Longs Peak and look out for miles and
miles. I will tell you, it is just such a great thrill.
I have also climbed Flattop Mountain, Chiquita, Otis, Hallett Peak,
and Ypsilon Mountain. So many times doing that, I have done it with my
family, my cousins, my small children and now my grown children. I have
had a couple of them up on Longs with me.
My mother, who is now in her eighties, was the one who first got
addicted to Rocky Mountain National Park. We had the opportunity many
years ago to go to Chasm Lake together, and I remember my mother was
probably in her seventies at the time, but that is a great hike. They
actually rate hikes in terms of A, B, and C; A being the most difficult
and C being a very moderately tough hike. Chasm Lake is one of those.
My mother has been all over the Rockies, as has my sister Jean, both in
snowshoes, in cross-country skis, and in tennis shoes and hiking boots.
I have gone trout fishing there many times with barbless hooks with
my childhood friend Ross Fox. It's kind of discouraging for me to have
to release trout, but I understand the big picture here. It has been a
lot of fun. I have photographed elk and the deer and looked for marmots
on the peak.
I just can't emphasize enough what a great vision that Enos Mills
had, who is the father of the Rocky Mountain National Park, when he
promoted this to become a national park. It was his vision. His brother
Joe Mills also was a very passionate lover of the Rocky Mountain
National Park. I have had the opportunity to meet Enos Mills' daughter
who lives right next door to it. They are great advocates.
I'm sorry to rant and rave on a personal basis about something, but I
want to recommend to anybody in Congress and anybody out there who is
listening who doesn't live in Colorado who hasn't been there, it is a
wonderful place. Regardless of your age, regardless of your interests,
there is something there for you.
Madam Speaker, if you guys are interested--and I can tell you are--I
would like to invite you to let me come show you my slides. I would be
willing to do that. Y'all can come to my office and I'm going to show
you my many picture albums, because it is something that is great.
Anyway, I'm glad we're doing this, and there are some things I think
Congress does well. The National Park System certainly is one of those
great things that Congress has done on a bipartisan basis and has a lot
of support for it. So I thank the gentleman for letting me go down this
personal trail today.
{time} 1230
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield to Congresswoman Markey such
time as she may consume.
[[Page H403]]
Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my
colleagues to vote for House Resolution 1020, to honor the 95th
anniversary of President Woodrow Wilson signing the Rocky Mountain
National Park Act. And I thank my colleague for his offer of slides. I
represent this beautiful district, and I also welcome anyone to come
and visit Colorado and see for yourself this crown jewel of the West.
This legislation set aside roughly 360 square miles of the southern
Rockies to establish Rocky Mountain National Park. When the National
Park Service was established the following year in 1916, the park was
one of the original 12 parks transferred to the agency's control. Today
the Rocky Mountain National Park remains one of Colorado's most
treasured destinations, and is consistently one of the top 10 visited
national parks in the United States.
Rocky Mountain National Park truly embodies the spirit of the
conservation and preservation movement at the turn of the century. The
park's ecosystems range from the montane low lands to the alpine tundra
and includes a diverse range of flora and fauna. Rocky Mountain
National Park also remains one of the largest examples of the alpine
tundra ecosystem in the national park system in the lower 48 States and
offers invaluable opportunities for visitors to learn and enjoy the
great outdoors. On March 30, 2009, 405 square miles of the park were
designated as a wilderness area, thereby conferring the highest level
of conservation protection for Federal lands.
President Theodore Roosevelt once said, ``Of all the questions which
can come before this Nation, short of the actual preservation of its
existence in a great war, there is none which compares in importance
with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for
our descendants than it is for us.'' This week we celebrate the
foresight of so many Coloradans to conserve this majestic landscape for
the present and future generations to come.
I urge all Members to support this resolution.
Mr. LAMBORN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 95th
anniversary of the signing of the Rocky Mountain National Park Act and
I commend the gentle lady from the Fourth District of Colorado for
introducing this resolution. President Woodrow Wilson established Rocky
Mountain National Park on January 26th, 1915, and preserved the acreage
to be enjoyed by millions of visitors each year.
The Rocky Mountain National Park displays the majesty of Colorado,
and some of the Nation's most striking scenery. As the country's
highest National Park in elevation--with over 60 peaks reaching over
12,000 feet--the Rocky Mountain National Park is among the ten most
visited national parks in the United States, drawing an average of 3
million visitors each year. The Continental Divide and headwaters for
the Colorado River lie within the Park's boundaries, creating stunning
vistas.
I am a frequent visitor of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Located
in the Park is Trail Ridge Road. According to the National Park
Service, it is the highest continuous motorway in the United States,
with more than 8 miles lying above 11,000 feet and a maximum elevation
of 12,183 feel.
Like my fellow Coloradans, I am proud our State hosts this property,
and would recommend my colleagues plan a visit to enjoy the magnificent
natural beauty and plentiful recreational opportunities. It is a
memorable experience our Nation is preserving for future generations. I
commend the work of committed staff at the National Parks Service for
preserving and facilitating ongoing access to this true national
treasure. Rocky Mountain National Park is truly one of the crown jewels
in our National Park System.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance
of my time.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1020.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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