[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 679 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 679

         Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Weeks Law.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 17, 2010

   Mr. Gregg (for himself and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, 
                        Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
         Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Weeks Law.

Whereas the 100th anniversary of the Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly known as the 
        ``Weeks Law'') (16 U.S.C. 552 et seq.), marks one of the most 
        significant moments in conservation and Forest Service history;
Whereas New Hampshire, along with the southern Appalachians, was at the center 
        of efforts to pass the Weeks Law;
Whereas John Wingate Weeks, sponsor of the Weeks Law, was born in Lancaster, New 
        Hampshire, and maintained a summer home there that is now Weeks State 
        Park;
Whereas, in 1903, the Appalachian Mountain Club, and the newly formed Society 
        for the Protection of New Hampshire's Forests, helped draft a bill for 
        the creation of a forest reserve in the White Mountains;
Whereas passage of the Weeks Law on March 1, 1911, was made possible by an 
        unprecedented collaboration of a broad spectrum of interests, including 
        the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Society for the Protection of New 
        Hampshire Forests, industrialists, small businesses, and the tourist 
        industry;
Whereas, in 1914, the first 7,000 acres of land destined to be part of the White 
        Mountain National Forest were acquired in Benton, New Hampshire, under 
        the Weeks Law;
Whereas national forests were established and continue to be managed as multiple 
        use public resources, providing recreational opportunities, wildlife 
        habitat, watershed protection, and renewable timber resources;
Whereas the forest conservation brought about by the Weeks Law encouraged and 
        inspired additional conservation by State and local government as well 
        as private interests, further protecting the quality of life in the 
        United States;
Whereas the White Mountain National Forest continues to draw millions of 
        visitors annually who gain a renewed appreciation of the inherent value 
        of the outdoors;
Whereas the multiple values and uses supported by the White Mountain National 
        Forest today are a tribute to the collaboration of 100 years ago, an 
        inspiration for the next 100 years, and an opportunity to remind the 
        people of the United States to work together toward common goals on a 
        common landscape; and
Whereas President Theodore Roosevelt stated ``We want the active and zealous 
        help of every man far-sighted enough to realize the importance from the 
        standpoint of the nation's welfare in the future of preserving the 
        forests'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the significance of the 100th anniversary of 
        the Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly known as the ``Weeks Law'') 
        (16 U.S.C. 552 et seq.), to the history of conservation and the 
        power of cooperation among unlikely allies;
            (2) encourages efforts to celebrate the centennial in the 
        White Mountain National Forest with a focus on the future as 
        well as to commemorate the past; and
            (3) encourages continued collaboration and cooperation 
        among Federal, State, and local governments, as well as 
        business, tourism, and conservation interests, to ensure that 
        the many values and benefits flowing from the White Mountain 
        National Forest today to the citizens of New Hampshire, and the 
        rest of the United States, are recognized and supported in 
        perpetuity.
                                 <all>