[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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