[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 152 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H9927-H9928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS WILDERNESS AND ERNEST F. COE VISITOR CENTER 
                            DESIGNATION ACT

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 931) to designate the Marjory Stoneman Douglas 
Wilderness and the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 931

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Marjory Stoneman Douglas 
     Wilderness and Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center Designation 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1)(A) Marjory Stoneman Douglas, through her book, ``The 
     Everglades: River of Grass'' (published in 1947), defined the 
     Everglades for the people of the United States and the world;
       (B) Mrs. Douglas's book was the first to stimulate 
     widespread understanding of the Everglades ecosystem and 
     ultimately served to awaken the desire of the people of the 
     United States to restore the ecosystem's health;
       (C) in her 107th year, Mrs. Douglas is the sole surviving 
     member of the original group of people who devoted decades of 
     selfless effort to establish the Everglades National Park;
       (D) when the water supply and ecology of the Everglades, 
     both within and outside the park became threatened by 
     drainage and development, Mrs. Douglas dedicated the balance 
     of her life to the defense of the Everglades through 
     extraordinary personal effort and by inspiring countless 
     other people to take action;
       (E) for these and many other accomplishments, the President 
     awarded Mrs. Douglas the Medal of Freedom on Earth Day, 1994; 
     and
       (2)(A) Ernest F. Coe (1886-1951) was a leader in the 
     creation of Everglades National Park;
       (B) Mr. Coe organized the Tropic Everglades National Park 
     Association in 1928 and was widely regarded as the father of 
     Everglades National Park;
       (C) as a landscape architect, Mr. Coe's vision for the park 
     recognized the need to protect south Florida's diverse 
     wildlife and habitats for future generations;
       (D) Mr. Coe's original park proposal included lands and 
     waters subsequently protected within the Everglades National 
     Park, the Big Cypress National Preserve, and the Florida Keys 
     National Marine Sanctuary; and
       (E)(i) Mr. Coe's leadership, selfless devotion, and 
     commitment to achieving his vision culminated in the 
     authorization of the Everglades National Park by Congress in 
     1934;

[[Page H9928]]

       (ii) after authorization of the park, Mr. Coe fought 
     tirelessly and lobbied strenuously for establishment of the 
     park, finally realizing his dream in 1947; and
       (iii) Mr. Coe accomplished much of the work described in 
     this paragraph at his own expense, which dramatically 
     demonstrated his commitment to establishment of Everglades 
     National Park.
       (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to commemorate 
     the vision, leadership, and enduring contributions of Marjory 
     Stoneman Douglas and Ernest F. Coe to the protection of the 
     Everglades and the establishment of Everglades National Park.

     SEC. 3. MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS WILDERNESS.

       (a) Redesignation.--Section 401(3) of the National Parks 
     and Recreation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-625; 92 Stat. 3490; 
     16 U.S.C. 1132 note) is amended by striking ``to be known as 
     the Everglades Wilderness'' and inserting ``to be known as 
     the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness, to commemorate the 
     vision and leadership shown by Mrs. Douglas in the protection 
     of the Everglades and the establishment of the Everglades 
     National Park''.
       (b) Notice of Redesignation.--The Secretary of the Interior 
     shall provide such notification of the redesignation made by 
     the amendment made by subsection (a) by signs, materials, 
     maps, markers, interpretive programs, and other means 
     (including changes in signs, materials, maps, and markers in 
     existence before the date of enactment of this Act) as will 
     adequately inform the public of the redesignation of the 
     wilderness area and the reasons for the redesignation.
       (c) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, 
     document, record, map, or other paper of the United States to 
     the ``Everglades Wilderness'' shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness''.

     SEC. 4. ERNEST F. COE VISITOR CENTER.

       (a) Designation.--Section 103 of the Everglades National 
     Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989 (16 U.S.C. 410r-7) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(f) Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center.--On completion of 
     construction of the main visitor center facility at the 
     headquarters of Everglades National Park, the Secretary shall 
     designate the visitor center facility as the `Ernest F. Coe 
     Visitor Center', to commemorate the vision and leadership 
     shown by Mr. Coe in the establishment and protection of 
     Everglades National Park.''.

     SEC. 5. CONFORMING AND TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

       Section 103 of the Everglades National Park Protection and 
     Expansion Act of 1989 (16 U.S.C. 410r-7) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ``personally-owned'' 
     and inserting ``personally-owned''; and
       (2) In subsection (e), by striking ``Visitor Center'' and 
     inserting ``Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah [Mr. Hansen] and the gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. 
Faleomavaega] each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen].
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of S. 931 and urge its adoption. 
Mr. Deutsch of Florida and Mr. Goss from Florida introduced very 
similar legislation in the form of H.R. 136 in the House. The 
Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands held hearings on that 
legislation, and it is supported on a broad bipartisan basis by the 
Florida delegation, the administration, and many conservation 
organizations. I am pleased to support this legislation on the House 
floor and am pleased that we will be sending S. 931 to the President 
for his signature.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. First of all, Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the 
gentleman from Utah, the chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks 
and Public Lands, for his leadership and especially for his being here 
managing this piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, Senate bill 931 is the Senate companion measure to House 
bill H.R. 136 introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Florida 
[Mr. Deutsch], who has been a strong advocate for this legislation. 
H.R. 136 was favorably reported by the Committee on Resources, and we 
are bringing the Senate-passed bill to the floor to expedite 
consideration.
  This is truly a noncontroversial matter, and I am glad to see the 
House considering this bill so it can be sent to the President for his 
signature.
  When the Committee on Resources held a hearing on this legislative 
initiative, the administration of the National Park Service strongly 
supported the legislation which would name the Everglades Wilderness 
and Visitor Center after two individuals who have long and 
distinguished association with the Everglades National Park. Marjory 
Stoneman Douglas was a tireless advocate of the Everglades for many 
years, and it is fitting to recognize her work in protecting this 
unique ecosystem. Likewise, Ernest F. Coe is considered the father of 
Everglades National Park, and the bill honors his work by naming the 
visitor center for him.
  With that said, Mr. Speaker, I support the legislation, and I urge my 
colleagues for their approval and adoption by this Chamber.
  Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 
931, legislation to commemorate two individuals whose work and 
dedication were instrumental in establishing the Everglades National 
Park, one of our Nation's natural treasures. The legislation before us 
today is nearly identical to H.R. 136, of which I am a proud cosponsor.
  This year, citizens throughout Florida, and indeed our Nation, 
celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Everglades National Park. Over 
the past five decades, our knowledge and appreciation for the 
tremendous resources, so critical to the environmental health and 
quality of life in our State, have deepened in large part to the two 
individuals commemorated in this legislation: Marjory Stoneman Douglas 
and Ernest F. Coe.
  Through Mrs. Douglas' trailblazing book entitled ``The Everglades: 
River of Grass,'' Floridians were first alerted to the fragile nature 
of the Everglades ecosystem and the degree to which we are all 
dependent upon its continued health and protection. Since publication 
of the book in 1947, Mrs. Douglas has fought tirelessly in defense of 
the Everglades and now at the age of 107, she will be honored through 
this legislation designating 1.3 million acres within the park as the 
``Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness.''
  In addition, this bill will honor the ``Papa of the Everglades 
National Park,'' Ernest F. Coe, by naming the park's main visitor 
center after him. Mr. Coe's leadership was the driving force behind the 
establishment of the park and it was his vision which has inspired the 
preservation of the diverse ecosystem for future generations.
  Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Everglades 
National Park it is fitting that we commemorate the valuable service of 
Mrs. Douglas and Mr. Coe and I urge all my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen] that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill, S. 931.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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