[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 62 (Thursday, May 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E781-E782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MR. STEWART UDALL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2004

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mr. Stewart Udall who has 
served our country in many ways--for six years as a Member of the House 
of Representatives, nine years as Secretary of Interior, and countless 
years as an environmental activist, scholar, historian, and citizen of 
the outdoors. However, it is for a unique contribution to the 
preservation of our natural resources that I am here today; as 
Secretary of the Interior in 1962, Stewart Udall was instrumental in 
the creation of Point Reyes National Seashore in my district in Marin 
County, California.
  Point Reyes National Seashore is truly a treasure for the nation. 
Conceived as a park in the 1930s, the hard work of dedicated people 
finally made the Seashore a reality during Stewart Udall's tenure. The 
park is enjoyed by over 2.5 million visitors annually and ranks among 
the top twenty most-visited National Parks in the country. Comprising 
over 71,000 acres of estuaries, beaches, coastal grasslands, salt 
marshes, and coniferous forests, Point Reyes National Seashore is home 
to 45% of North American avian species, 18% of California's plant 
species, and hundreds of migrating whales.
  Its rich cultural history, dating back 5000 years to Miwok 
settlements, includes the landing of Sir Francis Drake in 1579 and the 
development of early 19th century Mexican land grants which are the 
precursors of modern ranches in the pastoral zones. The Seashore today 
successfully balances the needs of visitors and ranchers with the 
preservation of ecosystems and historical sites.

[[Page E782]]

  Upon his appointment as Secretary of the Interior by President John 
F. Kennedy, Stewart Udall exhibited the visionary leadership that 
preserved the natural and cultural heritage of Point Reyes National 
Seashore as well as other important seashores and lakeshores in the 
National Park System. He declared that ``few areas in government leave 
a more abiding and visible mark on our land and our individual future 
than what is done or not done by the Department of Interior. Our 
success will be measured by the scars of neglect that are removed and 
the creative programs we realize in improving this great land of 
ours.''
  As an Arizona native, Secretary Udall brought to the Kennedy and 
Johnson administrations a unique understanding of the value of the 
ecosystems of the western United States. His Cabinet career resulted in 
The Wilderness Bill, The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the Land and Water 
Conservation Fund, and the creation of four new national parks, six 
national monuments, eight seashores and lakeshores, nine recreation 
areas, twenty historic sites, and 56 wildlife refuges.
  Continuing his exploration of Western issues, Secretary Udall has 
documented the history of much of the region in several books, most 
recently, The Forgotten Founders: Rethinking the History of the Old 
West. This book brings to life the stories of actual people who settled 
the land, dispelling the myth of the predominance of handsome, six-gun-
toting cowboys.
  Mr. Speaker, Stewart Udall's vision, dedication, and leadership 
exemplify the best in public service. In his own words, ``In the long 
run the best politics is a job well done.''

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