[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H5939-H5940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST ON ITS 100TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 390) recognizing the importance of the 
Ouachita National Forest on its 100th anniversary.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 390

       Whereas on December 18, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt 
     created by proclamation the Arkansas National Forest on 
     reserved public domain lands south of the Arkansas River;
       Whereas on April 29, 1926, President Calvin Coolidge issued 
     an Executive Order to change the name of the Arkansas 
     National Forest to the Ouachita National Forest to reflect 
     both the name of the mountains embraced by the national 
     forest and the name of the principal river which drains the 
     national forest;
       Whereas Ouachita is the French spelling of a Native 
     American word meaning ``good hunting ground'';
       Whereas the Ouachita National Forest today encompasses 
     approximately 1.8 million acres in Arkansas and eastern 
     Oklahoma and offers a variety of recreation areas, scenic 
     areas, wilderness areas, historic resources, and timber and 
     other forest products to the Nation; and
       Whereas the Ouachita National Forest is the largest and 
     oldest national forest in the southern region of the United 
     States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That on the 100th anniversary of the creation of 
     the Ouachita National Forest, the House of Representatives 
     recognizes the important contributions of the Ouachita 
     National Forest to the success of the United States in 
     conserving the environment and ensuring that our natural 
     resources remain sources of pride for our citizens, our 
     communities, and our Nation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. 
Cannon) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days 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 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 390 was introduced by 
my colleague, the gentleman from Arkansas, Representative Mike Ross.
  The bill would express recognition by the House of Representatives of 
the importance of the Ouachita National Forest on its centennial.
  The Ouachita is the largest and the oldest national forest in the 
southern region of the United States.
  On December 18, 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the 
establishment of what he called Arkansas National Forest. Nineteen 
years later, by Executive order, President Calvin Coolidge changed the 
name of the forest to the Ouachita National Forest, reflecting the name 
of both the local mountains and the main river running through the 
forest.
  The forest encompasses six wilderness areas, seven scenic areas and 
11 shooting ranges, as well as 35 recreational areas, including the 
26,445-acre Winding Stair National Recreation Area.
  Mr. Speaker, Ouachita is a noteworthy unit of our National Forest 
System, and it is appropriate that we take this action today to 
celebrate the forest's centennial.
  I want to commend and congratulate my colleague, Representative Ross, 
for his commitment and leadership on this matter. We support the 
passage of House Resolution 390 and urge its adoption by the House 
today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 390, 
and yield myself such time as I may consume.
  House Resolution 390 has been adequately explained by the majority, 
and I urge its adoption.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the sponsor of the bill, the gentleman from Arkansas, Mike Ross.
  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
390, a resolution honoring and recognizing the importance of Ouachita 
National Forest on its 100th anniversary. I am very fortunate to 
represent a good part of the Ouachita National Forest within the Fourth 
Congressional District of Arkansas.
  I'm also pleased that the entire Arkansas Congressional Delegation, 
Congressmen John Boozman, Vic Snyder and Marion Berry have joined me in 
supporting and cosponsoring this bipartisan bill honoring one of our 
Nation's true national treasures.
  This marks the 100th birthday or anniversary, if you will, of one the 
largest and oldest national forests in the

[[Page H5940]]

southern region of the United States, the Ouachita National Forest.
  As Chairwoman Christensen indicated, in 1907 President Theodore 
Roosevelt created the Arkansas National Forest on reserved public lands 
south of the Arkansas River. And by 1926 President Calvin Coolidge 
issued an Executive order to change the name of the forest to the 
Ouachita National Forest, named after the Ouachita Mountains, which 
stretch from near the center of Arkansas to southeast Oklahoma, and 
after the principal river which drains the national forest, the 
Ouachita River.
  For the past 100 years, the Ouachita National Forest has remained a 
vast, magnificent region that offers spectacular recreation, scenic and 
wilderness areas for numerous visitors from throughout the world. The 
forest provides an array of activities, ranging from ATV recreational 
activities and opportunities, to hiking and to mountain biking to 
horseback riding trails and swimming. The forest also contains five 
lakes, often referred to as ``Diamond Lakes,'' which are known for 
their crystal clear quality and beautiful scenery.
  In addition to the scenic views and outdoor activities the forest has 
to offer, the Ouachita National Forest is also one of the only places 
in the United States that contains an incredible crater area which 
allows visitors and rock collectors to dig for real diamonds and quartz 
crystals.
  Today the Ouachita National Forest also includes more than 1.8 
million acres in Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, and provides timber and 
forestry products throughout the United States.
  And while the word ``Ouachita'' is the French spelling of the Native 
American word for ``good hunting ground,'' the forest also contains six 
locations that have been designated as wilderness areas covering 65,000 
acres. These areas provide environmentally safe habitats for wildlife 
and fish, including many threatened and endangered species, as well as 
watershed protection and improvement and wilderness area management.
  This resolution honors and recognizes all the important services and 
contributions that the Ouachita National Forest continues to make 
available to visitors all across our country and throughout the world 
who come here to visit and to the spirit and practice of ensuring that 
our natural resources remain sources of pride for our citizens, our 
communities and, yes, our Nation.
  I'm proud to sponsor a resolution commemorating its 100th 
anniversary, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of House 
Resolution 390 today and honor Ouachita National Forest's centennial 
celebration.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this matter, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 390.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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