[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 160 (Monday, October 22, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H11786-H11787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY EXPANSION ACT OF 2007

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 783) to modify the boundary of Mesa Verde National Park, and 
for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 783

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Mesa Verde National Park 
     Boundary Expansion Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) on June 29, 1906, Mesa Verde National Park was 
     established as the first national park in the United States 
     to preserve the works of humanity;
       (2) on September 6, 1978, Mesa Verde National Park became 
     the first World Heritage Site designated in the United 
     States; and
       (3) Mesa Verde National Park protects some of the best 
     preserved and notable archeological sites of the ancient 
     Puebloan culture that flourished in the southwestern United 
     States from approximately 600-1300, including the elaborate 
     stone villages in the sheltered alcoves of the canyon walls 
     referred to as ``cliff dwellings''.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to modify the boundary of Mesa Verde National Park--
       (A) to protect the archeological sites located on property 
     adjacent to the Park boundary;
       (B) to extend and expand the knowledge and understanding of 
     the ancient Puebloan culture, a major influence in the 
     development of the southwestern United States;
       (C) to protect from potential development the scenic and 
     biological value of the pinyon-juniper covered hills that--
       (i) border the Park; and
       (ii) are in full view of the Park entrance road; and
       (D) to protect the largest recorded colony of the globally 
     imperiled Gray's Townsend Daisy, to ensure continuation of a 
     major wildlife corridor, and to protect important habitat for 
     wildlife; and

[[Page H11787]]

       (2) to provide greater opportunities to visitors, 
     researchers, and surrounding communities to understand and 
     appreciate the natural environment of Mesa Verde and the 
     contributions of the ancient Puebloan culture to the region 
     by providing the land required to construct a contemporary 
     museum collections storage facility and visitor orientation 
     center.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Mesa 
     Verde National Park Proposed Boundary Adjustment'', numbered 
     307/80,180, and dated March 1, 2007.
       (2) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Mesa Verde National 
     Park in the State of Colorado.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 4. MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK.

       (a) Acquisition of Land.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may acquire the land or an 
     interest in the land described in subsection (b) for addition 
     to the Park.
       (2) Means.--An acquisition of land under paragraph (1) may 
     be made by donation, purchase from a willing seller with 
     donated or appropriated funds, or exchange.
       (b) Description of Land.--The land referred to in 
     subsection (a)(1) is the approximately 360 acres of land 
     adjacent to the Park, as generally depicted on the map.
       (c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for inspection in the appropriate offices of the 
     National Park Service.
       (d) Boundary Modification.--The boundary of the Park shall 
     be revised to reflect the acquisition of the land under 
     subsection (a).
       (e) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer any 
     land or interest in land acquired under subsection (a)(1) as 
     part of the Park in accordance with the laws (including 
     regulations) applicable to the Park.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may 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 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 783 authorizes a boundary expansion 
at Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado of approximately 
362 acres. Mesa Verde National Park, established in 1906, contains the 
most extensive concentration of cliff-dwellings in the United States.
  H.R. 783 authorizes the acquisition of two parcels of the land that 
border the park. One parcel is in full view of the park's entrance road 
and contains important archaeological sites, an ancient forest, and the 
largest known population of a globally imperiled plant. This parcel is 
currently zoned for a subdivision, but the owners would prefer to 
protect the property through inclusion in the park.
  The second parcel is currently owned by a park partner, the Mesa 
Verde Foundation.

                              {time}  1445

  The foundation intends to donate the parcel to the park for the 
development of a visitor information center and museum collection 
facility but cannot do so until the park boundary is expanded.
  Mr. Speaker, the administration has testified in support of this 
legislation, the Natural Resources Committee approved the legislation 
with a minor amendment by unanimous consent.
  I want to acknowledge, at this point, the hard work of the bill's 
sponsor, Representative John Salazar, in bringing this important 
legislation forward. We support this bill and urge its adoption by the 
House today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, once again, I think my friend from Arizona 
has adequately explained the bill. We support it and I have no 
objections, and even though it's unusual here in Congress to yield back 
any time, we do so yield back our time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
sponsor of this legislation, Representative John Salazar.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank Chairman Grijalva for 
assistance in moving this important piece of legislation forward.
  I introduced H.R. 783, along with my friend and colleague Mark Udall 
from Colorado, to expand the boundary of Mesa Verde National Park. Mesa 
Verde National Park protects the most notable and best-preserved cliff 
dwellings in this country. The park is also vital to the economy of 
southwest Colorado.
  Established by Congress in June 1906, Mesa Verde National Park was 
the first cultural park to be set aside in the National Park System.
  Over 1,400 years ago, the Puebloans settled at Mesa Verde where they 
built elaborate stone communities in the protected alcoves of the 
canyon, calling it home for over 700 years.
  When President Teddy Roosevelt signed the law establishing Mesa 
Verde, he claimed that it was to ``preserve the works of man.''
  The establishment of Mesa Verde set off intense public interest in 
preserving other such sites in the American southwest and nationwide. 
Today, the towns of Cortez and Mancos, in Montezuma County, Colorado, 
rely heavily on tourism from Mesa Verde National Park.
  H.R. 783 authorizes the National Park Service to acquire two 
critically important plots at the gateway to Mesa Verde National Park. 
One is a 324-acre tract of private land to be acquired from the 
Henneman family. I want to credit the Henneman family, as they remained 
steadfast in their termination to see the property included in this 
park, and I'd like to thank them for their dedication.
  The second plot of land is a 38-acre tract to be donated to the 
National Park Service by the Mesa Verde Foundation. With passage of 
H.R. 783, the National Park Service will have the authority to accept 
the generous donation of this parcel from the foundation.
  In keeping with the longstanding tradition of preserving the 
resources and cultural heritage at Mesa Verde National Park, H.R. 783 
will greatly enhance the visitor experience at Mesa Verde for future 
generations of Americans.
  I urge the House to adopt this important piece of legislation, and I 
urge my colleagues to someday come out and visit Mesa Verde National 
Park.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. 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 Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 783, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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