[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 34 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2387-S2388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        ROBERT T. STAFFORD WHITE ROCKS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. 2447 introduced earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2447) to redesignate the White Rocks National 
     Recreation Area in the State of Vermont as the ``Robert T. 
     Stafford White Rocks National Recreation Area''.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am pleased the Senate has agreed to 
unanimously approve this legislation to rename the White Rocks National 
Recreation Area in the Green Mountain National Forest as the Robert T. 
Stafford White Rocks National Recreation Area. Along with Senator 
Jeffords, I introduced this legislation as what we believed is a 
fitting tribute to our friend and former colleague, Senator Robert 
Stafford.
  Bob Stafford is an absolute giant in Vermont politics. He spent 
almost 30 years representing our great State first in the U.S. House of 
Representatives and then in the United States Senate. Prior to his 
arrival in Washington in the early 1960s, he served his fellow 
Vermonters closer to home holding a number of prominent State 
positions. He served as Rutland County prosecuting attorney, as Rutland 
County State's Attorney, as deputy State attorney general, and finally 
as our State's attorney general. From 1957-1959 Bob Stafford held the 
post of lieutenant governor, and in 1959 he went on to become Governor.
  In 1960, Bob Stafford was elected to Vermont's sole seat in the U.S. 
House of Representatives. He won five successive reelections. In 
September 1971, he resigned his House seat to accept appointment to the 
U.S. Senate following the death of Senator Winston Prouty. After 
winning a special election in January 1972, Bob proceeded to represent 
Vermont in the Senate during the next 17 years. I had the distinct 
privilege of

[[Page S2388]]

serving with him during all but two of those years. During his Senate 
service Bob Stafford became a national figure of stature, of vision and 
of courage in his leadership especially on environmental and education 
policy issues and legislation. His legacy endures in his many 
legislative achievements.
  To honor our friend, Senator Jeffords and I introduced this 
legislation to name the White Rocks National Recreation Area in the 
Green Mountain National Forest as the ``Robert T. Stafford White Rocks 
National Recreation Area.'' White Rocks is among his most beloved 
natural areas in Vermont, and Bob Stafford protected more land in our 
State than anyone who came before him. I know he and Helen could 
actually see the towering white cliff face of White Rocks Mountain from 
their home. By passing this legislation, the Senate honors our former 
colleague and our friend.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I join my colleague from Vermont, 
Senator Leahy, in seeking to rename the White Rocks National Recreation 
Area in the Green Mountain National Forest of Vermont in honor of our 
great friend, and my mentor and predecessor, Robert T. Stafford.
  Twenty-two years ago, Senator Stafford introduced the Vermont 
Wilderness Act of 1984 on behalf of himself and Senator Leahy. Senator 
Stafford said at that time, ``It is our intention to present this 
legislation to Vermonters and seek their comments . . . I am willing to 
listen to the voices of other Vermonters before a decision is made.'' 
And listen he did.
  Senator Stafford then led Senator Leahy and me back home to Vermont 
to hear from hundreds of our constituents. Their input changed the 
bill, and the result was the creation of the White Rocks National 
Recreation Area.
  This magnificent, 36,000-acre recreation area exists because of 
Senator Stafford's insistence upon listening to Vermonters and seeing 
their views embodied in the law.
  Senator Stafford's public service spanned four decades, and included 
six years as chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public 
Works. Throughout his career, he proved himself a true steward of our 
environment. As he approached his retirement at the end of the 100th 
Congress, Senator Stafford gave a series of floor statements describing 
the environmental threats that faced our Nation.
  On September 12, 1988, he said, ``We humans have degraded the 
environment of our world, and now we must set ourselves on the path of 
reversing that course. It will not be an easy task to accomplish, but 
it is a necessary one . . . If only we can recognize this circumstance 
for what it is--an opportunity to redirect ourselves toward a brighter 
future--then setting ourselves to the task ahead will not be a burden, 
but a joy.''
  That was 18 years ago, and unfortunately, those threats remain very 
much with us today. But it is my hope that the White Rocks recreation 
area, which Senator Stafford can look out upon from his home in 
Rutland, Vermont, will be a constant reminder of Senator Stafford's 
devotion to Vermont and his devotion to our environment.
  No monument or statement or park renaming can do justice to the 
unparalleled contributions Senator Stafford has made to both Vermont 
and this Nation. Senator Stafford has been one of the most devoted, 
capable and complished public servants the Senate has ever known. That 
said, naming the White Rocks area after Senator Stafford is as fitting 
a tribute as I can imagine.
  Just as the Wilderness Act of 1984 named the George Aiken Wilderness 
Area in honor of that great Vermont Senator, we seek to bestow the same 
honor upon Senator Stafford with the naming of the Robert T. Stafford 
White Rocks National Recreation Area.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times, 
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any 
statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 2447) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                S. 2447

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. ROBERT T. STAFFORD WHITE ROCKS NATIONAL RECREATION 
                   AREA .

       (a) Redesignation.--The White Rocks National Recreation 
     Area in the State of Vermont, as established by section 202 
     of the Vermont Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 460nn-1), is 
     redesignated as the ``Robert T. Stafford White Rocks National 
     Recreation Area''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     recreation area referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed 
     to be a reference to the Robert T. Stafford White Rocks 
     National Recreation Area.

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