[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 10, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H7446-H7447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING 63RD ANNIVERSARY OF BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 483) recognizing the 63rd Anniversary of Big
Bend National Park, established on June 12, 1944.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 483
Whereas Big Bend National Park is a scenic treasure of
southwest Texas encompassing more than 800,000 acres;
Whereas Big Bend National Park manages nearly one quarter
of the approximately 1000 mile stretch of the Rio Grande
River that also serves as the boundary between the United
States and Mexico;
Whereas along the boundary of the park, the flow of the Rio
Grande River shifts from a southeasterly direction to the
northeast, forming the bend after which the park is named;
Whereas Big Bend National Park is unique because it covers
a variety of different ecosystems ranging from the Chihuahuan
Desert to the Chisos Mountains;
Whereas Native people inhabited the area for thousands of
years;
Whereas many people have traversed the Big Bend region in
the past 150 years, including Spanish explorers, Comanche
Indians, Mexican settlers, and American ranchers;
Whereas in 1933 the Texas Legislature, led by Everett Ewing
Townsend, established the Texas Canyons State Park;
Whereas later that year the park was expanded and renamed
Big Bend State Park;
Whereas Townsend later became known as the Father of Big
Bend National Park;
Whereas between 1934 and 1942 the Civilian Conservation
Corps worked diligently to make the park suitable for
visitors; and
Whereas 63 years ago Big Bend National Park, ``Texas' Gift
to the Nation'', was officially established on June 12, 1944:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the 63rd anniversary of the founding of Big
Bend National Park; and
(2) honors the National Park Service for their service to
the Big Bend region and Big Bend National Park.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.
General Leave
Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 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
gentleman from Maryland?
There was no objection.
Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 483 was introduced by our
colleague from Texas, Representative Ciro Rodriguez. And I know that
Representative Rodriguez wanted to be here today in the Chamber as we
speak to this legislation but has been caught in the storms outside.
H. Res. 483 recognizes the 63rd anniversary of Big Bend National Park
in west Texas and honors the National Park Service for their service to
the Big Bend region and Big Bend National Park.
I want to commend Representative Rodriguez for his efforts to bring
congressional recognition to this special place and to the agency and
hardworking employees who care for it.
Big Bend National Park is a spectacular 800,000-acre scenic treasure
on the Rio Grande in west Texas. The park protects the largest
representative example of the Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem within the
United States. The park's river, desert and mountain environments
support an extraordinary richness of biologic diversity, including
unique plants and animals that exist nowhere else in the world. The
park provides outstanding recreation opportunities to over 300,000
visitors a year.
Big Bend is not only nationally significant but also internationally
significant. Big Bend National Park manages nearly one-quarter of the
approximately 1,000-mile stretch of the Rio Grande River that also
serves as the boundary between the United States and Mexico.
Together with two Mexican protected areas, Big Bend is now part of
the largest transboundary protected areas in North America, serving as
a model for international cooperation.
Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 483 recognizes the importance of Big
Bend National Park to the ecology, history and economy of west Texas.
It also recognizes the hard work of the National Park Service and its
employees and honors their service to the region and the country as a
whole.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. COLE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
The majority has adequately explained this resolution. We join with
them in recognizing the 63rd anniversary of Big Bend National Park and
hope this occasion will further highlight the need to secure our public
lands from the ecological devastation caused by unfettered, illegal
crossers and drug traffickers.
I urge colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 483,
to recognize the anniversary of Big Bend National Park.
Sixty-three years ago the State of Texas bestowed the 800,000 acres
of pristine desert and mountain terrain that now make up the Big Bend
National Park upon the United States of America.
Big Bend began as a small State park, but in 1942, just following the
Great Depression, Texas purchased 600,000 acres of land from private
landowners at the price of $1.5 million.
The cost was high at the time, but Texas donated the land to the
Federal Government for the establishment of a national park.
With that gesture, the State of Texas provided the Nation and its
citizens with a majestic national park that has been enjoyed for over a
half a century so far.
This resolution pays tribute not only to the picturesque landscape of
the park itself, but to those who made it possible to preserve this
land for generations to come.
Everett Ewing Townsend, known as the father of Big Bend National
Park, was the champion of this effort.
In 1894 Townsend traveled to the Chisos Mountains and later recalled
that the breathtaking southern view from the mountains made him ``see
God as he had never seen Him before.''
He vowed to preserve the region in some way, and 63 years later we
can see that he has made good on his promise.
His efforts, first in the State Legislature and later as the
Commissioner of the national park, provided the United States with an
unspoiled tract of land that has since been enjoyed by hundreds of
thousands of visitors.
Big Bend National Park, encompassing the region where the Chihuahuan
Desert intersects with the Chisos Mountains features a distinct
landscape.
The park is surrounded on the south by the mighty Rio Grande.
The outer boundary is marked by the area where the flow of the river
shifts from southeast to northeast, forming the giant bend after which
the park is named.
With river, mountain and desert all in one, Big Bend National Park
could easily be considered three parks in one.
However, west Texas is fortunate to have such a diverse environment
preserved within the boundaries of one awe-inspiring park.
The establishment of Big Bend National Park in 1944 allowed the vast
expanse of land to be conserved.
At the same time, it protected the rich history of the region.
Native people have inhabited the area for thousands of years, and in
more recent years diverse groups of people have traversed the Big Bend.
In the past century and a half Spanish explorers, Comanche Indians,
Mexican settlers and American ranchers have all traveled through or
lived within the park's terrain.
Thus, this important resolution recognizes the 63rd anniversary of
the establishment of
[[Page H7447]]
Big Bend National Park and the people who made their way through the
region well before then.
H. Res. 483 also honors the National Park Service for their work in
the Big Bend.
It is important that we recognize Big Bend National Park's
contributions to our Nation as well as the contribution that the park's
founders and staff have made to the land since then.
Mr. COLE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. SARBANES. 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 Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 483.
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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