[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 12, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S665-S666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 207--DESIGNATING MARCH 31, 2002, AND MARCH 31, 2003, 
            AS ``NATIONAL CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS DAY''

  Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mrs. Carnahan, Mr. Bond, Mr. 
Torricelli, and Mr. DeWine) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                              S. Res. 207

       Whereas the Civilian Conservation Corps, commonly known as 
     the CCC, was an independent Federal agency that deserves 
     recognition for its lasting contribution to natural resources 
     conservation and infrastructure improvements on public lands 
     in the United States and for its outstanding success in 
     providing employment and training to thousands of Americans;
       Whereas March 31, 2002, is the 69th anniversary, and March 
     31, 2003, is the 70th anniversary, of the signing by 
     President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the Emergency Conservation 
     Work Act, a precursor to the Civilian Conservation Corps Act 
     that established the CCC;
       Whereas, between 1933 and 1942, the CCC provided employment 
     and vocational training for more than 3,000,000 men, 
     including unemployed youths, more than 250,000 veterans of 
     the Spanish American War and World War I, and more than 
     80,000 Native Americans in conservation and natural resources 
     development work, defense work on military reservations, and 
     forest protection;
       Whereas the CCC coordinated a mobilization of men, 
     material, and transportation on a scale never previously 
     known in time of peace;
       Whereas the CCC managed more than 4,500 camps in every 
     State and the then-territories of Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto 
     Rico, and the Virgin Islands;
       Whereas the CCC left a legacy of natural resources and 
     infrastructure improvements that included planting more than 
     3,000,000,000 trees, building 46,854 bridges, restoring 3,980 
     historical structures, developing more than 800 state parks, 
     improving 3,462 beaches, creating 405,037 signs, markers,

[[Page S666]]

     and monuments, and building 63,256 structures and 8,045 wells 
     and pump houses;
       Whereas the benefits of many CCC projects are still enjoyed 
     by Americans today in national and state parks, forests, and 
     other lands, including the National Arboretum in Washington, 
     DC, Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico, Great Smoky 
     Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee, 
     Yosemite National Park in California, Acadia National Park in 
     Maine, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, and 
     Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi;
       Whereas the CCC provided a foundation of self-confidence, 
     responsibility, discipline, cooperation, communication, and 
     leadership for its participants through education, training, 
     and hard work, and participants made many lasting friendships 
     in the CCC;
       Whereas the CCC demonstrated the commitment of the United 
     States to the conservation of land, water, and natural 
     resources on a national level and to leadership in the world 
     on public conservation efforts; and
       Whereas the conservation of the Nation's land, water, and 
     natural resources is still an important goal of the American 
     people: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates both March 31, 2002, and March 31, 2003, as 
     ``National Civilian Conservation Corps Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to observe the day 
     with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to submit a resolution 
today with Senators Lugar, Carnahan, Bond, Torricelli and DeWine, 
designating March 31, 2002 and March 31, 2003 as ``National Civilian 
Conservation Corps Day.'' March 31, 2002 is the 69th anniversary and 
March 31, 2003 is the 70th anniversary of the signing by President 
Roosevelt of the Emergency Conservation Work Act, the precursor to the 
Civilian Conservation Corps Act.
  The Civilian Conservation Corps, commonly known as the CCC, was a 
Depression-era public works program started by President Franklin D. 
Roosevelt. The CCC put over 3 million young men to work on natural 
resources conservation and public lands infrastructure improvements. 
Many of the physical accomplishments of the CCC are still visible, but 
even more importantly, the CCC also provided its participants with 
education, lasting friendships, a cooperative spirit, and a foundation 
of self-confidence and discipline.
  Americans still enjoy the benefits of the work done by the CCC in the 
1930s and 1940s at national and state parks across the U.S. CCC 
participants planted more than 3 billion trees, developed more than 800 
state parks, improved more than 3,000 beaches and are responsible for 
countless monuments, signs, wells, and other improvements. CCC camps 
were located in every State, including the then-territories of Hawaii 
and Alaska.
  CCC alumni across the country still share the bonds of friendship and 
hard work. The National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps 
Alumni has thousands of active members from all 50 States whose lives 
were often dramatically changed for the better by their enrollment 
years ago. Many traveled for the first time, learned new trades and 
developed self-confidence, while sending much-needed money home to 
their families during the Depression.
  This resolution would pay tribute to the lasting contribution of the 
CCC to natural resources conservation and infrastructure improvements 
and to its outstanding success in providing employment and training to 
millions of Americans.

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