[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 140 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H11561-H11563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         COMMENDING MEN AND WOMEN WHO FOUGHT WILDFIRES IN 2000

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 434) commending the men and women 
who fought the year 2000 wildfires for their heroic efforts in 
protecting human lives and safety and limiting property losses.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 434

       Whereas the 2000 wildfire season in the United States was 
     the largest and most severe in the last 50 years and 
     consisted of more than 85,000 wildfires;
       Whereas almost 7,000,000 acres of public lands and adjacent 
     State and private lands were subjected to these wildfires;
       Whereas over 30,000 professional and volunteer firefighters 
     participated in fighting and controlling these wildfires;
       Whereas the Hotshot firefighting crews were instrumental in 
     providing the expertise and training necessary to restrict 
     the severity of these wildfires;

[[Page H11562]]

       Whereas volunteer firefighters from across America and 
     members of the Armed Forces played a crucial role in 
     combating these wildfires and preventing them from destroying 
     thousands of homes;
       Whereas, in addition to the American firefighters, 1,800 
     men and women from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Mexico 
     joined in the fight against these wildfires;
       Whereas the information and coordination of the National 
     Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, greatly assisted in 
     minimizing the effects of these wildfires;
       Whereas the support from local residents, communities, and 
     counties helped maintain the high morale of the firefighters;
       Whereas, in spite of the rugged terrain and the intense 
     speed and size of the year 2000 wildfires, the firefighter 
     crews managed to limit property losses to 852 structures; and
       Whereas, if not for the hard work and dedication of these 
     firefighters, the lives of thousands of Americans could have 
     been lost, the loss of property could have been extensive, 
     and the scenic beauty of the public lands and adjacent State 
     and private lands could have been severely altered: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) commends the men and women, including professional 
     firefighters, volunteers, and military personnel, who fought 
     wildfires on public domain lands during the 2000 wildfire 
     season for their bravery, their extraordinary efforts to 
     contain the wildfires, and their commitment to protect lives, 
     property, and the surrounding communities; and
       (2) mourns the loss of life of the 16 persons who died 
     while defending the fire lines.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) 
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.
  House Concurrent Resolution 434 commends the heroic men and women who 
fought fires during this, the worst fire season in 50 years. This 
resolution, introduced by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), also 
mourns the loss of the 16 who lost their lives while protecting others.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 434. This fire season, 
nearly 7 million acres of land burned throughout the West in over 
85,000 wildfires. Nearly 1,000 homes were destroyed. Yet, through the 
valiant efforts of over 30,000 wildland firefighters, both professional 
and volunteer, property damage and loss of life were minimized. These 
brave and dedicated men and women work far from home for long periods 
of time, under grueling conditions, and with few rewards to protect our 
land, our homes and our lives.
  I join my colleagues in commending those extraordinary workers who 
literally put their lives on the line every day. Sadly, during the 
course of this fire season, 16 firefighters died in the line of duty. I 
join my colleagues in recognizing their sacrifice and mourning their 
loss. I want to thank the sponsors of this resolution, the gentleman 
from Oregon (Mr. Walden), the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall), 
and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall), who particularly felt the 
impact of these fires in their States and join them in expressing 
gratitude to the firefighters.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), the author of this legislation.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 434. This legislation commends the heroic men and 
women who fought fires during this 2000 wildfire season. It was the 
worst fire season in 50 years.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation also mourns the tragic loss of 16 
firefighters who lost their lives while protecting others. The 2000 
wildfire season in the United States was the largest and most severe in 
the last 50 years and consisted of more than 85,000 wildfires. More 
than 7 million acres of public lands and adjacent State and private 
lands were subjected to these wildfires.

                              {time}  1415

  More than 30,000 professional and volunteer fire fighters risked 
their lives to participate in fighting and controlling these wildfires. 
In spite of the rugged terrain and the intense speed and the size of 
the year 2000 wildfires, the fire-fighter crews managed to limit 
property losses to just 852 structures. It could have been so much 
worse.
  Mr. Speaker, if not for these fire fighters, the loss of lives and 
property could have been far more extensive than it was.
  So let this United States House of Representatives honor those fire 
fighters who tragically lost their lives and those who stood on the 
lines to protect others by passing House Concurrent Resolution 434 
today.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I must add, as I look at the tremendous fires we have 
had in the West at this time, that a lot of this is because we have not 
managed the forests. That argument has been going on. We have held 
hearings on it. We have not managed the forests. We have not cleaned 
the forests. We have not cleared the forests. We have not thinned the 
forests and when some of these people get the idea to let Mother Nature 
do it, we paid big time for it this last fire season. I hope now we all 
wake up to the idea that we have to go back and manage the forests and 
the public lands of America and take good care of them rather than let 
them just go helter skelter like we have done, and we pay for it.
  Last January we had a hearing, and past foresters all said this will 
be the worst fire year we have ever had. Those men were true prophets. 
They were right. That is what we had, and that is what we get for 
neglecting the forests.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. 
Con. Res. 434 to commend wildland firefighters and I do so in praise 
and appreciation for the splendid and courageous job that these 
firefighters performed this year.
  As many of you know, this year marked one of the most horrific fire 
years in our Nation's history. Almost 7 million acres burned and it's 
still not over. As many of you know the Cerro Grande fire, which 
occurred within my district, scorched over 40,000 acres and consumed 
over 400 homes and businesses within Los Alamos, NM. The New Mexico 
firefighters displayed exemplary courage and professionalism when 
combating this inferno.
  Even today, in North Carolina, Missouri and Illinois for example, 
large fires still burn uncontrolled as a result of low moisture and 
high winds.
  This year more than 30,000 firefighters, including 6 military 
battalions, performed firefighting duties enduring numerous hazardous 
conditions away from their friends and loved ones. Through it all, 
these committed men and women performed with enthusiasm and bravery 
despite their many hardships.
  I strongly believe that we will continue to see severe fire years in 
the future and will therefore again call upon these professional and 
dedicated firefighters to utilize their skills in service to their 
fellow men and communities.
  Notwithstanding this prognosis, I am optimistic that our cadre of 
firefighters will continue to perform when called upon.
  On the same note, I am also pleased with the bipartisan support of 
H.R. 2814, The Wildland Firefighters Pay Equity Act, cosponsored by 
myself, and Mr. Pombo which provides fair and equitable pay to the 
thousands of wildland firefighters. This legislation has passed this 
chamber and now awaits Senate approval.
  I strongly support H. Con. Res. 434 in tribute to all of those who 
have sacrificed this year. I strongly urge my colleagues to support 
this measure.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I am an original cosponsor of 
this resolution and I rise in its support.
  The resolution commends the men and women who fought the year 2000 
wildfires for their heroic efforts in protecting human lives and safety 
and limiting property losses.
  As the resolution notes, this summer's wildfire seasons was the most 
severe in the last 50 years. Across the country, there were more than 
85,000 wildfires that affected almost 7,000,000 acres of public lands 
and adjacent State and private lands--and more than 30,000 professional 
and volunteer firefighters were called upon to join in fighting them.
  These were men and women from all parts of the country, including 
members of the Armed Forces, and also 1,800 men and women from Canada, 
New Zealand, Australia, and Mexico.
  In Colorado, though we were more fortunate than some of our western 
neighbors, we had several major fires along the Front Range and in 
other parts of the state. In addition, Coloradans joined in fighting 
fires in Montana, Idaho, and elsewhere.
  As the resolution says, without their hard work and dedication, there 
could have been

[[Page H11563]]

even greater loss of lives and the loss of property could have been 
even greater than it was.
  So it is very appropriate for the Congress to commend all those who 
joined in this effort, and to remember and mourn the 16 persons who 
died while fighting these fires.
  I urge adoption of this resolution.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. 
Res. 434.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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