[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 143 (Tuesday, September 25, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S12046]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of the 14th 
annual National Public Lands Day, which will be celebrated on Saturday, 
September 29. I am pleased to acknowledge the efforts of volunteers 
around the Nation who will come together to improve and restore one of 
America's most valuable assets, our public lands.
  National Public Lands Day has fostered communities of volunteers 
around the Nation. When it started in 1994, there were 700 volunteers 
working in only a few areas. This year nearly 110,000 volunteers will 
work at more than 1,300 locations to protect public land for the 
enjoyment of future generations. The spirit that guided the Civilian 
Conservation Corps in the early 1930s continues today in National 
Public Lands Day, our latest commitment to care for our country's 
natural resources.
  Our Nation has a grand tradition of conservation. When Yellowstone 
National Park was established in 1872, it was the world's first 
national park. The idea of a national park was an American invention of 
historic proportions that led the way for global conservation efforts. 
One of the earliest and most energetic conservationists was President 
Teddy Roosevelt. He dedicated 194 million acres of national parks and 
national preserves, which set a lofty standard for all who follow.
  Over one-third of America is public land. They are places of 
continuous discovery, where we go to find ourselves, to uncover our 
history, and to explore for new resources. We are not the only ones to 
visit our public lands: millions of tourists, many from overseas, enjoy 
our national parks every year.
  Our public lands are part of who we are and their diversity reflects 
our identity. In many areas, they provide timber, ore, and forage that 
are the economic bedrock of rural America. In other areas, Congress has 
designated them as wilderness, places ``untram-
meled by man, where man is a visitor who does not remain.''
  I want to recognize the thousands of Federal employees who manage 
these lands year-round. The Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, 
Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and other Federal 
land management agencies ensure that public lands in Nevada meet the 
changing needs of our communities. They provide a vital, though rarely 
reported, service to our Nation, managing our public lands for our 
children and grandchildren.
  National Public Lands Day encourages volunteers to join in that 
service. Across Nevada, at places like the Black Rock Desert, Lake 
Mead, Boundary Peak, Sloan Canyon and the Truckee River, volunteers 
will work to improve our public lands. This year's focus is the defense 
of native species from invasive weeds. Noxious weeds are a serious 
problem that has plagued the West for years. Exotic weeds push out 
native plants and provide plenty of fuel for wildfires. In Nevada, we 
know about this threat all too well. National Public Lands Day 
volunteers in Elko, NV, will help to repair the damage from last year's 
record-setting fire season.
  The preservation of our public lands is a priority for me. Our public 
lands are part of what makes the United States a great Nation. I voice 
my gratitude to all who will participate in National Public Lands Day 
this year.

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