[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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