[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 125 (Thursday, September 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WAYNE T. GILCHREST

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 2003

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Public 
Lands Day on September 20, 2003. On this day, volunteers around the 
nation will be lending their hands to our public lands--improving the 
nation's habitats, removing invasive species, building trails, planting 
trees, and contributing an invaluable service to the nation. This event 
promotes the stewardship of our publicly held natural and cultural 
resources.
  To provide further information, I attach the enclosed statement.

    Volunteers Spruce Up National Mall Saturday, September 20, 2003

       Volunteers around the nation will be lending their hands to 
     our public lands on the 10th annual National Public Lands 
     Day--Saturday, September 20, 2003. This is the largest 
     nationwide effort to improve and enhance those places where 
     Americans go for recreation and to enjoy the outdoors. It is 
     expected that around 80,000 volunteers will be working at 500 
     locations and in every state.
       This year the focus is on improving and preserving the 
     nation's habitats--the forests, mountains, prairies, plains, 
     rivers, wetlands, and urban streams that are home to a rich 
     diversity of animals, plants and birds. Many of the projects 
     will involve invasives, a growing threat to our public lands. 
     Volunteers will also repair trails, build bridges, plant 
     trees, protect cultural sites, restore aging facilities and 
     much more.
       Here in our nation's capital volunteers will be working 
     from one end of The National Mall to the other--the Lincoln 
     Memorial to the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial. Projects include 
     repairing the walkway around Constitution Gardens; trimming 
     cherry trees around the Tidal Basin; painting benches and 
     railings at Hains Point; and weeding, planting and mulching 
     flowerbeds at the George Mason Monument, Department of the 
     Interior and the Benjamin Banneker Park. Kids will build bat 
     houses for a National Park Service research project and help 
     install duck ramps in the lake at Constitution Gardens.
       This is a unique opportunity for Members and staffs to join 
     others who are giving up a Saturday to care for our special 
     place, The National Mall.
       National Public Lands Day is a project of the National 
     Environmental Education & Training Foundation in partnership 
     with nine federal agencies, numerous state land authorities 
     and private organizations. Toyota Motor Sales USA is the 
     national corporate sponsor.

                          ____________________