[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 25, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H6859-H6860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1530
JARYD ATADERO LEGACY TRAIL
Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3817) to redesignate the Big South Trail in the Comanche
Peak Wilderness Area of Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado as the
``Jaryd Atadero Legacy Trail,'' as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3817
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDING.
Congress finds that Jaryd Atadero, a 3-year old boy from
Littleton, Colorado, was last seen the morning of October 2,
1999, 1\1/2\ miles from the trailhead of the Big South Trail
in the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area of Roosevelt National
Forest.
SEC. 2. DEDICATION.
Congress dedicates the Big South Trail in the Comanche Peak
Wilderness Area of Roosevelt National Forest to Jaryd Atadero
and his legacy of promoting safe outdoor recreation for
children.
SEC. 3. SIGN.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall recognize the loss of
Jaryd Atadero and the need for increased awareness of child
safety in outdoor recreation settings by posting an
interpretive sign at the Big South Trail trailhead that--
(1) describes consideration for safe outdoor recreation
with children;
(2) refers to the tragic loss of Jaryd Atadero to
underscore the need for such safety considerations;
(3) refers to the dedication by Congress of this trail and
safety message to the legacy of Jaryd Atadero; and
(4) for not less than 1 year, includes a copy of this Act
and an image of Jaryd Atadero.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sununu). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) and the gentleman from
California (Mr. George Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo).
Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Idaho (Mrs. Chenoweth-
Hage), who is the chairman of our Subcommittee on Forests and Forest
Health, for her support and efforts on this legislation. I also thank
the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano) and the gentleman
from Colorado (Mr. Udall) for their contributions at the hearing
earlier this month.
Mr. Speaker, Colorado's Rocky Mountains are rugged and beautiful, but
they are a dangerous playground for all small children. Three-year-old
Jaryd Atadero was last seen on the morning of October 2, 1999, hiking
one and one-half miles from the trail head of the Big South Trail in
the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area of the Roosevelt National Forest.
On that day in October, a group of friends took Jaryd hiking on the
Big South Trail as his father, Allyn, stayed behind to tend to their
camp.
As the hike wore on, the group split into two, with the faster hikers
moving ahead. Jaryd became missing as he ran from one group to the
other. After 7 exhaustive days of searching by local volunteers, Air
Force rescuers, and the Larimer and Arapahoe County authorities, no
trace of Jaryd was found. He has vanished completely.
Jaryd's disappearance is a haunting story that leaves each person who
hears it wishing they could do something to help, myself included. My
colleagues may remember that the story received national attention for
several weeks, and hundreds of people all over the country have
contacted Jaryd's father offering their prayers and financial help to
solve the mystery.
But Mr. Atadero, who is a deeply spiritual man, understood from the
very beginning of this ordeal that the national attention given to his
son's disappearance should also be focused on the prevention of future
disappearances. This bill is the result of his efforts.
H.R. 3817 would dedicate the Big South Trail in the Comanche Peak
Wilderness area of Roosevelt National Forest to Jaryd Atadero. Under
the bill, a permanent sign will be placed at the trail head that has a
list of the safety tips for children; and, for a period of no less than
a year, a picture of Jaryd and a copy of this legislation will also
appear.
This bill has the support of the entire Colorado delegation as well
as the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) who has a personal
relationship with the Atadero family.
Today I brought with me a Jaryd Atadero Legacy Whistle. This is a
program started by Larimer County officials that provides some basic
safety tips and a whistle with a wristband that children can carry with
them while hiking on a trail.
As of this week, Jaryd's whistles have been handed out to more than
4,000 children in Colorado alone. The county has received requests from
schools and churches across this country in States such as Texas,
Tennessee, Florida, and Kansas for these whistles and for the safety
presentations by a search and rescue team. I introduced H.R. 3817 to
provide a permanent reminder of Jaryd and to promote these kinds of
safety precautions.
I believe that H.R. 3817 would not only keep Jaryd's memory alive, it
would also raise awareness about the dangers that children face when
they recreate on public lands. Many of these dangers are preventable if
children and parents would remember to take safety precautions while
hiking in the wilderness.
Again, I thank the Speaker and those Members of the Committee on
Resources that have been of assistance in our efforts to promote this
issue and remember Jaryd. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3817, as
amended.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3817, dealing with the
tragedy of Jaryd Atadero, who disappeared on
[[Page H6860]]
the Big South Trail in Comanche Peak Wilderness area of the Roosevelt
National Forest in Colorado. Despite a week-long search, Jaryd was
never found. With this bill, perhaps some good can come from this
tragedy.
I thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) for bringing this
legislation to the floor to deal with the memory of Jaryd and perhaps
to warn other families and children about some of the dangers of being
in a wilderness area, and to prevent other tragedies such as Jaryd's
death.
I urge my colleagues to support this.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from California (Mr. Farr).
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill.
This bill is a good bill, and I recommend an ``aye'' vote on it.
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the House today
is considering H.R. 3817, the bill to address the lessons to be learned
from the story of a young boy, Jaryd Atadero, who became separated from
his family in the Comanche Peak wilderness area in Colorado last year
and has never been found.
I am a cosponsor of this bill, which would also remind us all of the
need for vigilance for the safety of our children not only in the
mountains but elsewhere as well.
The Resources Committee revised the bill to address some concerns
raised by the Administration, and as it comes before the House today it
enjoys the support of both sides of the aisle in our committee. I want
to commend my Colorado colleague, Mr. Tancredo, for working with the
committee and with the Forest Service to resolve their concerns. I urge
approval of the bill.
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. 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 Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3817, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read:
``A bill to dedicate the Big South Trail in the Comanche
Peak Wilderness Area of Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado
to the legacy of Jaryd Atadero.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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