[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.

                          ____________________