[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 326 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 326


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 17, 2000

 Received and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the Federal Government's 
  responsibility for starting a destructive fire near Los Alamos, New 
                                Mexico.

Whereas on May 4, 2000, the National Park Service initiated a prescription burn 
        on Federal land during the southwest's peak fire season;
Whereas on May 5, 2000, the prescription burn exceeded the containment 
        capabilities of the National Park Service, was reclassified as a 
        wildland burn, and spread to non-


Federal land, quickly becoming characterized as a firestorm;

Whereas by May 7, 2000, the fire had grown in size and caused evacuations in and 
        around Los Alamos, New Mexico, including the Los Alamos National 
        Laboratory, one of America's leading national research laboratories and 
        birthplace of the atomic bomb;
Whereas on May 12, 2000, the President issued a major disaster declaration for 
        the Counties of Bernalillo, Cibola, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Rio 
        Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos, and Torrance;
Whereas the fire resulted in the loss of Federal, State, local, tribal, and 
        private property;
Whereas the loss to private citizens of personal property and memories cannot be 
        accounted for in monetary terms nor repaid with financial assistance; 
        and
Whereas a full congressional investigation will assist the Federal Government to 
        determine the cause of this disaster and its full cost to the Federal 
        Government and the people of New Mexico: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) it is the sense of the Congress that the Federal 
        Government should--
                    (A) take responsibility for the fire intentionally 
                set by the National Park Service at the Bandelier 
                National Monument, New Mexico, on May 4, 2000, which 
                burned out of control near Los Alamos, New Mexico;
                    (B) take all necessary steps to mitigate the 
                threats from the fire to the public health and well-
                being of the residents of New Mexico; and
                    (C) take all necessary steps to compensate the 
                people of New Mexico for the losses incurred as a 
                result of National Park Service actions; and
            (2) the Congress commends--
                    (A) the people of New Mexico for opening their 
                homes and their hearts to the New Mexican communities 
                affected by this fire;
                    (B) the New Mexico firefighting teams for their 
                efforts and courage in battling the fire;
                    (C) the New Mexico National Guard and the State of 
                New Mexico for their efforts in mitigating the fire and 
                assisting those affected by it;
                    (D) the American Red Cross and numerous other 
                charitable organizations and volunteers for the 
                extensive assistance provided to the fire victims;
                    (E) the Western States that have assisted New 
                Mexico by sending people and equipment to help fight 
                the fire;
                    (F) the businesses which have served as food and 
                clothing collection points;
                    (G) all organizations and individuals that have 
                collected and disseminated information to those 
                affected by the fire;
                    (H) Sandia National Laboratories for extending 
                assistance to fire victims;
                    (I) the Department of Energy for providing analysis 
                and monitoring public health concerns; and
                    (J) the people of the United States for opening 
                their hearts to assist with the plight of New Mexicans 
                affected by the fire and for sending additional 
                firefighting teams to help battle the fire.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 16, 2000.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.