[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 79 (Monday, May 14, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6061-S6062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SALAZAR (for himself and Mr. Allard):
  S. 1380. A bill to designate as wilderness certain land within the 
Rocky Mountain National Park and to adjust the boundaries of the Indian 
Peaks Wilderness and the Arapaho National Recreation Area of the 
Arapaho National Forest in the State of Colorado; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, today I am proud to co-sponsor legislation 
that

[[Page S6062]]

will designate Rocky Mountain National Park as ``wilderness.''
  This legislation will protect an area that was formed millions of 
years ago when massive glaciers carved an impressive landscape. The 
Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Act will ensure that it remains 
unchanged in years to come.
  Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the long history of the 
Park. As a fifth generation Coloradan and someone who grew up in the 
shadow of Rocky Mountain National Park, it is an honor to have worked 
on this bill. With the introduction of this legislation we continue to 
follow an important wilderness tradition in Colorado.
  Colorado and its representatives have long played an important role 
in the development of Wilderness in our Nation. This dates back to the 
original Wilderness Act. Congressman Wayne Aspinall, who represented 
Colorado's 4th Congressional District and chaired the Committee on 
Interior and Insular Affairs, played a pivotal role in creating the 
Nation's wilderness system with the 1964 Wilderness Act. From the 
inception of the original Wilderness Act through the continued 
development of wilderness in Colorado one thing has remained the same: 
a commitment to working together to find compromise and solutions that 
work for everyone.
  The principle of compromise has held true from the Colorado National 
Forest Wilderness Act of 1980 to the Spanish Peaks Wilderness Act in 
2000, and it is now true with the Rocky Mountain National Park 
Wilderness Act. I am especially proud of the legislation that my 
colleagues and I have introduced because it will preserve the natural 
elements of the Park while protecting water, the West's most valuable 
resource.
  In a time when wells are being shut down just east of the park, the 
protection of water is more important than ever, and it is vital to 
preserving the agricultural heritage of this area. I am extremely 
pleased that we have been able protect both wilderness and water.
  I would like to thank everyone that has been involved in the 
development of this bill, my colleagues in the United States Congress, 
the local officials that communicated with our offices, and the private 
citizens that shared their thoughts with us on the creation of this 
bill. I would specifically like to recognize former Senators Bill 
Armstrong and Hank Brown, and former Representatives Joe Johnson and 
David Skaggs. We would not be introducing this legislation today 
without these efforts.
  The Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Act will ensure that 
Americans, now and in the future, have the ability to enjoy the Park.
                                 ______