[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 12, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H827-H828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF MUIR WOODS 
                           NATIONAL MONUMENT

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 868) recognizing the 100th anniversary of the 
declaration of Muir Woods National Monument by President Theodore 
Roosevelt.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 868

        Whereas Congressman William Kent of California recognized 
     the transcendent beauty and national significance of the 
     coastal redwood trees and he set aside his private land for 
     future generations;
       Whereas Congressman Kent donated his lands to be known as 
     Muir Woods in the State of California as the first National 
     monument, presenting them to the United States Government as 
     a gift to the people of the United States;
       Whereas Muir Woods provides a keystone for conservation 
     stewardship and a rich natural laboratory to explore the 
     philosophy of its namesake, the admired conservation activist 
     John Muir;
       Whereas Muir Woods was recognized 100 years ago to be ``of 
     extraordinary scientific interest and importance because of 
     the primeval character of the forest and the character, age 
     and size of the trees'';
       Whereas the Kent donation made it possible for President 
     Theodore Roosevelt to exercise one of the Nation's most 
     unique preservation tools, the Antiquities Act, by declaring 
     Muir Woods National Monument for the American people;
       Whereas Muir Woods National Monument is preserved today 
     through the dedicated staff and volunteers of the National 
     Park Service;
       Whereas on May 19, 1945 international delegates to the 
     historic Charter Convention of the United Nations met in the 
     beauty and peace of Muir Wood's Cathedral Grove to open the 
     convention and honor the memory of the late President 
     Franklin D. Roosevelt; and
       Whereas in 1972 Muir Woods National Monument became part of 
     the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and today attracts 
     up to a million visitors annually: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the foresight of President Roosevelt in 
     using the Antiquities Act in declaring Muir Woods National 
     Monument;
       (2) recognizes the 100 years of careful preservation of 
     America's Coastal Redwood forest within Muir Woods National 
     Monument; and
       (3) recognizes the natural and historical importance of the 
     Muir Woods National Monument in the State of California and 
     to the Nation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) 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 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution 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, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  House Resolution 868, introduced by our colleague from California, 
Representative Lynn Woolsey, recognizes the beauty and the significance 
of Muir Woods National Monument on its 100th anniversary. Muir Woods 
National Monument preserves one of the last remaining ancient redwood 
forests on the Pacific Coast and in the world.
  The coast redwood is the tallest species of tree in the world and one 
of the oldest. The mature trees of the Cathedral and Bohemian groves in 
Muir Woods reach heights of 250 feet and average between 600 and 800 
years in age, with the oldest believed to be at least 1,100 years old.
  In 1905, Congressman William Kent, who later went on to introduce the 
bill that would establish the National Park Service, purchased the land 
where Muir Woods stands, recognizing the beauty, value, and 
significance of an uncut, old-growth redwood forest. Eventually, 
Congressman Kent donated 295 acres to the Federal Government.
  On January 9, 1908, using the Antiquities Act, President Roosevelt 
declared Kent's donated land a national monument, proclaiming that the 
groves of the redwoods were of ``extraordinary scientific interest and 
importance because of the unique character of the forests and the 
character, age, and size of the trees.''
  President Roosevelt wanted to name the new monument for Congressman 
Kent, but Kent insisted that it be named after the venerable 
conservationist John Muir, who sought to protect some of America's most 
iconic landscapes for their inherent national beauty. These ancient 
trees now offer a silent, yet powerful, testimony to Muir's ideals.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend and congratulate my colleague Representative 
Woolsey, for her commitment and leadership on this matter. We strongly 
support passage of House Resolution 868 and urge its adoption by the 
House today.

[[Page H828]]

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Arizona has 
adequately explained the bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey), the sponsor of the bill.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, my district, just across the Golden Gate 
Bridge north of San Francisco, includes 100 percent of Marin County and 
80 percent of Sonoma County, where we are blessed with many 
environmental treasures. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful 
places on Earth, and it is just across the bridge from one of the 
largest cities in our country.
  In this area we have a stand of old-growth redwoods known as Muir 
Woods, and we consider this our crown jewel. Muir Woods is nearly 300 
acres of what I refer to as ``Heaven on Earth'' where its natural 
beauty has been preserved and protected for everyone to enjoy so that 
we can enjoy the trees, which are mostly redwoods that stand over 250 
feet tall and are, as the chairman just told you, as old as 1,100 
years. That is why I am so pleased that Congress is considering H. Res. 
868 today, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of President Teddy 
Roosevelt's declaration of Muir Woods as a national monument.
  It is fitting that we honor the centennial of Muir Woods on the floor 
of the House of Representatives, because it was the actions of 
Congressman William Kent who represented Marin County at that time who 
made the national monument possible. William Kent privately owned the 
land where Muir Woods now stands, and he and his family donated it to 
the Federal Government to ensure its protection. I am proud to say that 
100 years later Congressman Kent's vision is still going strong.
  The leadership in conservation that William Kent showed 100 years ago 
is a valuable lesson for us today. Imagine all the national wonder that 
could have been saved in the last 100 years, wonders like Muir Woods, 
that we could be enjoying today had more people been as selfless as he. 
We in Congress have the power to ensure that 100 years from now people 
can look back and applaud new conservation efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, Muir Woods is a unique sanctuary for the protection of 
one of Earth's greatest wonders, the coastal redwoods; and its 
preservation is to be commended. I want to thank Chairman Rahall, 
Chairman Grijalva, Ranking Member Young, and Mr. Bishop for bringing my 
resolution here to the floor today, because working together, Mr. 
Speaker, working together today, we will ensure that 100 years from now 
our grandchildren, our great grandchildren and their children will 
enjoy the Muir Woods bicentennial.
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong 
support of H.R. 868, honoring the 100 year anniversary of the Muir 
Woods National Monument.
  Throughout his life, John Muir was concerned with protecting nature 
to enhance the spiritual side of civilization and progress. His words 
and deeds led to the establishment of the U.S. National Park System. In 
addition, John Muir was the founding president of the Sierra Club, 
which remains one of the leading American grassroots organization for 
protecting wilderness and the human environment.
  On January 9, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt declared the Muir 
Woods America's 10th National Monument. When he heard of President 
Roosevelt's act Muir wrote, ``This is the best tree-lover's monument 
that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world.''
  Today, Muir Woods attracts about 1 million people every year, and 
inspires them with redwoods over 260 feet high and more than 1,200 
years old. Part of the Golden Gate National Parks, Muir Woods is a 
living and enduring symbol of John Muir's conservation ethic that 
nature must be preserved if humanity is to continue to thrive on this 
planet.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and honor the legacy 
of a great American, his vision of environmental conservation, and the 
truly remarkable Muir Woods National Monument.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder of our 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 agree to the resolution, H. Res. 868.
  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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