[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 37 (Monday, March 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2131-H2132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   DESIGNATING THE JIM WEAVER LOOP TRAIL AT WALDO LAKE IN WILLAMETTE 
                            NATIONAL FOREST

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 247) to designate a Forest Service trail at Waldo Lake in 
the Willamette National Forest in the State of Oregon as a national 
recreation trail in honor

[[Page H2132]]

of Jim Weaver, a former Member of the House of Representatives.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 247

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL RECREATIONAL TRAIL, 
                   WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST, OREGON, IN HONOR OF 
                   JIM WEAVER, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF 
                   REPRESENTATIVES.

       (a) Designation.--Forest Service trail number 3590 in the 
     Willamette National Forest in Lane County, Oregon, which is a 
     19.6 mile trail that begins and ends at North Waldo 
     Campground and circumnavigates Waldo Lake, is hereby 
     designated as a national recreation trail under section 4 of 
     the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1243) and shall be 
     known as the ``Jim Weaver Loop Trail''.
       (b) Interpretive Sign.--Using funds available for the 
     Forest Service, the Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare, 
     install, and maintain an appropriate sign at the trailhead of 
     the Jim Weaver Loop Trail to indicate the name of the trail 
     and to provide information regarding the life and career of 
     Congressman Jim Weaver.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 247 was introduced by my colleague on the Natural 
Resources Committee, the gentleman from Oregon, Representative Peter 
DeFazio. This legislation designates an existing Forest Service trail 
in the Willamette National Forest in Oregon as a national recreation 
trail in honor of Jim Weaver, a former Member of the House of 
Representatives. This trail will be designated as the Jim Weaver Loop 
Trail. It forms a 19.6-mile loop around Waldo Lake.
  Congressman Weaver served in this body from the 94th Congress through 
the 99th Congress and was a former subcommittee chairman of the 
Committee on Natural Resources. He was a strong advocate of 
conservation and public lands. The establishment of this trail around 
one of Oregon's largest and most beautiful lakes is a fitting tribute 
to our former colleague. Under this bill, an interpretive sign will be 
installed at the trail head to indicate the name of the trail and 
provide information on the life and career of our former colleague, 
Congressman Weaver.
  This bill before us today is identical to a measure that was reported 
favorably by the Natural Resources Committee last year.
  Mr. Speaker, we strongly support H.R. 247 and urge its adoption by 
the House today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 247 and 
yield myself 45 seconds.
  Mr. Speaker, the majority has adequately explained this bill. We have 
no objections. It is a good bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), 
the sponsor of H.R. 247, is at the moment traveling back to Washington, 
but he has a statement that will be submitted into the Record.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 247, a bill 
to rename Forest Service trail number 3590, which circumnavigates the 
world-renowned Waldo Lake, as the ``Jim Weaver Loop Trail'' in honor of 
former Congressman Jim Weaver. The legislation would also designate 
this 22 mile trail as a national recreational trail under the National 
Trails System Act. This legislation has special significance to me 
because Mr. Weaver was not only my predecessor as the representative of 
Oregon's Fourth Congressional District, but he was also my boss--both 
here in Washington, D.C. and back home in the district--and is a 
friend. I am pleased that the legislation is cosponsored and supported 
by all of Oregon's five House members. In addition, it is supported by 
the Forest Service and a number of local interest groups.
  Jim Weaver has been an Oregonian for nearly sixty years. He 
represented the southwest portion of the state in the U.S. House of 
Representatives from 1975 to 1987. During his time in Congress, Mr. 
Weaver made natural resource conservation one of his signature 
pursuits. He was a tireless advocate for outdoor recreation, and the 
protection of some of Oregon's most treasured natural features.
  He was the leading force responsible for the inclusion of new 
wilderness areas north of Waldo Lake in the Oregon Wilderness Act of 
1984, and worked tirelessly with then Senator Hatfield to ensure that 
these lands received protection.
  The 10 square mile Waldo Lake is considered ultraoligotrophic, 
meaning it's ranked as one of the purest bodies of water on Earth, and 
is comparable to distilled water. According to the Forest Service's 
Water Quality Report, two of the main reasons for its purity are the 
low levels of sedimentation and lack of development in the area, two 
characteristics which should be credited to Mr. Weaver's efforts.
  Waldo Lake and the surrounding area, including the loop trail, is a 
popular recreation destination. Naming this trail for Mr. Weaver is a 
fitting tribute to the legacy of Congressman Weaver and his commitment 
to protecting Waldo Lake and the surrounding area.
  This legislation gives long-overdue recognition to Congressman Weaver 
and forever associates his name with an area that he loves and worked 
hard to protect. I want to thank Chairman Rahall and his Staff 
Director, Jim Zoia, and Ranking Member Young for their efforts in 
dicharging the bill for today's floor action. I look forward to the 
Senate taking up the bill expeditiously, and I urge its adoption.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 247.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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