[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 87 (Thursday, June 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S6794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ALLARD:
  S. 3608. A bill to modify the boundary of Mesa Verde National Park, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today on the 100th anniversary of 
Mesa Verde National Park to offer legislation that would expand the 
boundary of this national treasure. Mesa Verde is one of our Nation's 
most impressive national parks. In addition to its role preserving the 
home of some of our Nation's earliest inhabitants, it also serves as an 
impressive educational resource. The park also acts as the preeminent 
example of heritage tourism in the Nation. Allowing visitors to 
actively experience the rich historical and cultural history our Nation 
has to offer. The park is able to draw people with over 4,400 recorded 
archeological sites, including the impressive cliff dwellings which 
number more than 600. People travel from all around the world to see 
what we in Colorado are fortunate to have at our fingertips: one of the 
most well preserved and exhibited active archeological sites in the 
world. Mesa Verde also represents an impressive example of 
collaboration; they work with everyone from local elementary school 
students to international scholars. Mesa Verde, like its former 
inhabitants who flourished here for more than 700 years, has displayed 
an impressive resiliency and mystique over the years. The fire the park 
experienced a few years ago even revealed to us more of the area's 
secrets with newly discovered archeological sites.
  I am pleased to be able to introduce this legislation today, because 
this legislation shows how the Government should preserve public lands. 
This is a good example of finding public support and working with 
outside groups and private property owners to find mutually beneficial 
ways to preserve our land. The majority of the land that will be added 
to the park will come from the Henneman family, who has owned this land 
for generations. During this time the Henneman family have been great 
stewards of their land. I commend them for their work as land managers. 
I would also like to commend the Conservation Fund for their willingess 
to work with the Henneman's and the park to protect this land. In 
addition I would like to thank the Mesa Verde Park Foundation for the 
land that they are generously donating to the park.
  Mesa Verde National Park protects some of the best preserved and 
notable archeological sites in the world and this legislation will not 
only expand its boundaries but also its ability to preserve an 
important part of our history.
                                 ______