[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 24, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H6478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            PUBLIC LANDS DAY

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, September 28, in honor of 
National Public Lands Day, a 3,000-mile trek crossing six states and 14 
national forests will end in Salt Lake City, Utah.
  Last July 31, two teams began this unique journey with one group 
departing from New Mexico and the other from Montana. Their travels 
were solely on public lands and consisted of hiking, horseback riding, 
mountain biking, canoeing, boating and driving SUVs.
  Those Americans making this trek also worked to educate people, 
especially our youth, on the importance of public lands. Public lands 
are a tremendous source for clean air, clean water and open space, and 
they provide important natural resources, such as minerals, coal, gas, 
oil, forage and timber.
  It is my hope that National Public Lands Day will remind all of 
America of the important role public lands play in protecting 
ecosystems, as well as contributing to our national economy and our 
national defense.
  For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, Congress must enact responsible 
public land policies.

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