[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S2720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           NATIONAL PARK WEEK

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to speak 
for a few minutes about National Park Week and the value of National 
Parks to our nation's citizens.
  As families and individuals throughout our nation know, America's 
national parks are the envy of the world and considered by many to be 
our national treasures. In our nation's parks, wildlife flourish, 
scenic beauty remains abundant, and families escape the pressures of 
everyday life. Our parks are truly one of our nation's best 
investments--an investment that will provide generations of Americans 
with the same recreational and educational opportunities we now enjoy.
  President Clinton has designated April 17-23, 2000, as National Park 
Week. The National Park Service now estimates that over 285 million 
Americans visit our 378 national parks every year. At each site, 
visitors find themselves confronted with important moments in our 
nation's history, wonderful natural scenic sites, and cultural 
treasures which remind us of our distinguished, and sometimes 
difficult, past. Our parks, in many ways, are a microcosm of our nation 
and of ourselves, and they continue to document for future generations 
those qualities about America which must be preserved for eternity.
  In the 105th Congress, I was proud that Congress took a significant 
step forward in updating the management of our Nation's parks and 
improving visitor services by passing the ``Vision 2020 National Park 
System Restoration Act,'' a bill I cosponsored. The Vision 2020 Bill, 
authored by Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming, is a commonsense approach 
to improving both the management and facilities of national parks by 
bringing everyone to the table and seeking consensus. The passage of 
the Vision 2020 bill was an important first step toward bringing 
accountability to park management, addressing the tremendous backlog of 
park projects, and improving visitor services.
  I was also proud to obtain $2 million in last year's appropriations 
bills for the National Park Service's portion of the Mississippi River 
National Center in Minnesota's new Science Museum. The exhibit will 
include information on the importance of the Mississippi River to 
Minnesota's array of interests. This is a partnership between the Park 
Service and the Science Museum that will give Minnesotans a greater 
appreciation for all aspects of recreation and commerce on the 
Mississippi River.
  My home state of Minnesota is home to five units of the National Park 
Service. They are Voyageurs National Park, which on April 8 celebrated 
its 25th anniversary, Pipestone National Monument, Grand Portage 
National Monument, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, 
and the Saint Croix National Riverway. I've urged Minnesotans to visit 
these sites during this week and to gain a greater appreciation for 
opportunities they offer.
  Mr. President, our parks remain one of America's most important 
legacies for future generations and a constant reminder of the 
progress, splendor, and triumphs of our past.

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