[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 156 (Tuesday, November 13, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H8064-H8065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HEALING OPPORTUNITIES IN PARKS AND THE ENVIRONMENT PASS ACT

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2976) to provide for the issuance of a special entrance pass 
for free admission to any federally owned area which is operated and 
maintained by a Federal agency and used for outdoor recreation purposes 
to the survivors, victims' immediate families, and police, fire, 
rescue, recovery, and medical personnel directly affected by the 
September 11, 2001, terrorist hijackings and the attacks on the World 
Trade Center and the Pentagon, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2976

       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 ``Healing Opportunities in 
     Parks and the Environment Pass Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The trauma associated with the terrorist hijackings and 
     attacks of September 11, 2001, has been significant for the 
     survivors, victims' immediate families, and police, fire, 
     rescue, recovery, and medical personnel directly involved in 
     this national tragedy.
       (2) America's system of national parks, forests, and public 
     lands provides significant opportunities to renew, refresh, 
     and strengthen the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being 
     of those who use them.
       (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to help those 
     directly impacted by the tragic events of September 11, 2001, 
     by enhancing opportunities for the use of America's national 
     parks, forests, and public lands as a means of aiding in 
     their recovery from the trauma associated with these tragic 
     events.

     SEC. 3. HOPE PASS.

       (a) Issuance.--The Secretary of the Interior shall make 
     available at no cost to qualified individuals a special 
     entrance pass which shall be known as the ``Hope Pass'' and 
     shall provide for free admission into any federally owned 
     area which is operated and maintained by a Federal agency and 
     used for outdoor recreation purposes.
       (b) Qualified Individuals.--A qualified individual shall 
     be--
       (1) an individual who was present at the World Trade 
     Center, the Pentagon, or the site of the aircraft crash at 
     Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at the time, or in the immediate 
     aftermath of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of 
     September 11, 2001;
       (2) an individual who had an immediate family member killed 
     as a direct result of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes 
     of September 11, 2001; or
       (3) any police, fire, rescue, recovery, or medical 
     personnel who directly responded to the terrorist-related 
     aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001.
       (c) Conditions.--Each Hope Pass shall--
       (1) be issued upon acceptance by the Secretary of the 
     Interior of an application from a qualified applicant which 
     shall include a signed statement attesting to the applicant's 
     eligibility for the pass;
       (2) be valid for the life of the qualified pass holder; and
       (3) provide free admission to qualified pass holders and 
     their immediate family when accompanied by the qualified pass 
     holder.
       (d) Noneligibility.--No individual identified by the 
     Attorney General of the United States to have been a 
     participant or conspirator in the terrorist-related aircraft 
     crashes of September 11, 2001, or their family shall be 
     eligible to receive a Hope Pass.

                              {time}  1715

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Rahall) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich).
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2976, the Healing Opportunities in our Parks and 
Environment Act, was introduced by the gentleman from West Virginia 
(Mr. Rahall).
  September 11 is a day not one of us will ever forget. The events of 
that day are seared deep into our memories. Each one of us will recall 
where we were, what we were doing, and how the events of the day 
impacted us personally.
  Some, of course, were impacted more directly. Many lost family 
members, were injured, or narrowly escaped harm; or because in the 
course of carrying out their duties as medical or rescue workers, were 
called upon to aid survivors and victims. As a Nation, we deeply 
appreciate the great sacrifices made as a consequence of the events of 
September 11.
  Following these tragic and emotional events, many have sought refuge 
in the natural beauty of America's natural parks and public lands. 
These lands have the ability to serve, at least in part, as a healing 
opportunity to those who were most affected by these terrible events.
  H.R. 2976 would create a new HOPE pass to authorize entry into our 
federally owned parks and public land for victims, families, survivors, 
and medical and rescue personnel and their immediate families when 
accompanied by a holder. Some think this new pass can serve in some 
small measure as an attempt to help heal the wounds of this tragic 
event. I urge an ``aye'' vote on the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Radanovich) and thank him for his help on this legislation. He is 
the chairman of the subcommittee. I would like to thank the chairman of 
the full committee, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), for his 
support, as well.
  Over the last 2 months, Members of Congress have stepped outside 
party boundaries, joining together and unanimously supporting millions 
of dollars in aid to victims, families, and rescue workers affected by 
the September 11 attacks.
  However, in addition to financial assistance, I believe it is 
important for us to provide other forms of relief for these victims and 
their families during the grieving and recovery process.
  In times of crisis, many of us find solace in our religion. In 
addition, we can find solace in that great cathedral of nature. That is 
the premise of this bill, the Healing Opportunities in the Parks and 
Our Environment, or HOPE, Act.
  Simply put, this legislation would direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to create a program under which the survivors and families of 
the victims of

[[Page H8065]]

the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the 
emergency personnel who responded to that crisis, may visit our 
national parks, forests, and public lands free of charge.
  This program is modeled after what is known as the Golden Eagle Pass, 
with the exception that it would be valid for a lifetime.
  Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ``Nature is a symbol of the spirit,'' and 
``Nature turns all malfeasance to good.'' There may come a time when a 
fireman, a nurse, or a survivor who has seen far too much pain and 
suffering may decide that a day at the lake with his or her family 
would provide welcome relief.
  Let us continue to aid these victims and family members as we already 
have financially. Let us provide them Emerson's symbol of spirit to aid 
in their healing. In this way, we can strive to keep hope alive in the 
wake of the tragic events of September 11, and indeed, of only 
yesterday, when an airliner once again went down in New York City, as 
we recover and we rebuild.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the legislation, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. 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 California (Mr. Radanovich) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2976.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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