Congressional Record, Volume 154 Issue 36 (Tuesday, March 4, 2008)

[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 4, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1195-H1197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 845) recognizing the 60th anniversary of Everglades
National Park, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:

H. Res. 845

Whereas Everglades National Park celebrated its 60th
anniversary on December 6, 2007;
Whereas when President Harry S. Truman dedicated Everglades
National Park on December 6, 1947, he stated: ``Here is land,
tranquil in its quiet beauty, serving not as the source of
water, but as the last receiver of it.

[[Page H1196]]

To its natural abundance we owe the spectacular plant and
animal life that distinguishes this place from all others in
our country'';
Whereas Marjory Stoneman Douglas gave the Everglades the
name ``River of Grass'' stating, ``There are no other
Everglades in the world'';
Whereas Everglades National Park has been designated an
International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a
Wetland of International Importance, in recognition of its
significance to all the people of the world;
Whereas the Everglades ecosystem encompasses 3,000,000
acres of wetlands and is the largest subtropical wilderness
in the United States featuring slow-moving freshwater that
flows south from Lake Okeechobee through sawgrass and tree
islands to the mangroves and seagrasses of Florida Bay;
Whereas Everglades National Park is home to rare and
endangered species, such as the American crocodile, the
Florida panther, and the West Indian manatee, and more than
350 species of birds, including the Great Egret, Wood Stork,
Swallow-tailed Kite, and Roseate Spoonbill;
Whereas the Central and South Florida region is an
international center for business, agriculture, and tourism,
with a rapidly growing population of varied ethnic, economic,
and social values, all of which are dependent on a
sustainable framework for the water resources of the region
to restore the Everglades ecosystem, provide adequate
freshwater supplies, and promote a healthy and sustainable
economy and overall quality of life;
Whereas Everglades National Park is an essential component
of a larger ecosystem restoration effort, the Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan, which has been described as the
world's largest ecosystem restoration project; and
Whereas this restoration effort must succeed in order to
restore the natural Everglades ecosystem and ensure that the
treasures of Everglades National Park can be passed on to our
children and grandchildren: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of Everglades National
Park; and
(2) dedicates itself to the success of the Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West Virginia.

General Leave

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which 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 West Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, the pending resolution, introduced by our
colleague from Florida, Representative Alcee Hastings, recognizes the
60th anniversary of the Everglades National Park. It is the first of
two resolutions the House is considering this afternoon in tribute to
the Everglades.
The landscape of the Everglades is completely unique, a grassy river
40 miles wide and 100 miles long. While half of this wonderful
landscape has been lost to agriculture, much of the remaining portions
of this famed ``River of Grass'' are now protected by the Everglades
National Park.
I commend and congratulate our colleague, Representative Alcee
Hastings, for keeping the issues facing the Everglades in the
spotlight. I fully support passage of H. Res. 845 and urge its adoption
by the House today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on House Resolution
845, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
This bill, once again, has been adequately explained by Chairman
Rahall, and I urge the adoption of this resolution.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 845, as
amended, recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Everglades National
Park.
Former Florida Governor Reubin Askew once stated, ``We must build a
peace in south Florida--a peace between the people and their place,
between the natural environment and man-made settlement, between the
creek and the canal, between the works of man and the life of mankind
itself.''
Indeed, the natural areas surrounding and encompassing Everglades
National Park represent the largest subtropical wilderness in the
United States featuring slow-moving freshwater. The Everglades are
naturally unique and provide tremendous benefits to south Florida in
many capacities, but the park is also one of the most endangered
national parks in our country.
The Park totals more than 1 million acres, and the Everglade
ecosystem itself encompasses 3 million acres of wetlands. More than 1
million visitors come to the Everglades each year, learning of the
Everglades environmental importance while igniting the State's tourism
industry.
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has a long history
of oversight of the Everglades restoration. The Water Resources
Development Act of 2007, P.L. 110-114, authorized the first three
projects in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project--Picayune
Strand, Indian River Lagoon, and the Site 1 Impoundment Project.
Support for provisions like these was so strong that this Congress
overrode the President's veto of the bill by a vote of 381-40, an
overwhelming majority of the House of Representatives.
We must continue to take action to preserve and protect this
treasured wetland. This resolution reminds us of this precious natural
resource, and I urge my colleagues to join me in agreeing to the
resolution.
Mr. MACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate one of the Nation's
greatest treasures and to express my continued support for this
important resolution introduced by my colleague from Florida which
recognizes the 60th anniversary of Everglades National Park. It is our
responsibility to ensure that a healthy and vibrant Everglades is there
for future generations.
In addition to being an international center for business, tourism,
and agriculture, the Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness
in the United States and is home to numerous rare and endangered
species. Growing up in southwest Florida and so close to the
Everglades, I was able to experience all the Everglades has to offer.
This resolution recognizes the continuing impact the Everglades has
made on individuals throughout the world with the inception of the
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, CERP. The Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan is one of the most extensive ecosystem
restoration efforts ever created which will restore and protect one of
our Nation's greatest natural resources. CERP's main goal is to capture
fresh water that now flows to the ocean and the Gulf of Mexico and
redirect it to the areas that need it most. The majority of water will
be devoted to environmental restoration, and the rest will enhance
water supplies in south Florida. Make no mistake: the Everglades and
Florida's unique environment are vital to our quality of life.
Mr. Speaker, protecting the Everglades is important for the overall
health of south Florida's environment and way of life. It is our
responsibility to ensure that a healthy and vibrant Everglades is there
for our children and grandchildren. I urge all of my colleagues to
recognize and support this important bipartisan resolution.
Ms. WASSERMAN-SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House
Resolution 845 recognizing the 60th anniversary of Everglades National
Park.
Not coincidentally, it was also 60 years ago that Marjory Stoneman
Douglas famously said in her book, the ``River of Grass,'' that ``there
are no other Everglades in the world.'' As we celebrate the 60th
anniversary of the creation of the park, we must come to terms with the
critical threats facing this unique ecosystem and re-dedicate ourselves
to Everglades restoration. Let us not lose this truly unique national
treasure forever.
In 2000, we created the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan,
embarking on a historic Federal-State partnership with Florida to
restore historic water flows, dramatically reduce water pollution and
address development encroachment that threatens both the National Park
and the larger Everglades.
However, most of the more than 50 component projects that are part of
the Restoration Plan are already behind schedule. For 7 years Congress
has largely failed to follow through on its part of the bargain in both
authorizing projects and funding those projects. This is not an
auspicious start.
I am happy to say, this is beginning to change. With passage of the
Water Resources Development Act in 2007, we authorized several
important components of the restoration plan. But our work is far from
done. I call on my colleagues to work with me and the entire Florida
delegation to make sure we properly fund this restoration work.
Together we must ensure that 60 years from now we will be remembered as
those that breathed new life into Marjory Stoneman Douglas's vision and
saved the Everglades for generations to come.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 845 and
vote for its final passage.
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support
of House Resolution 845, a resolution recognizing the 60th anniversary
of Everglades National Park. I

[[Page H1197]]

proudly introduced this resolution with my colleague and fellow co-
chair of the Everglades Caucus, Representative Mario Diaz-Balart.
I applaud Representative Diaz-Balart for his commitment to working
together to preserve and restore the Everglades.
I thank the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources,
Representative Nick Rahall, a true champion of protecting our Nation's
natural resources, especially our majestic national parks, for his
support for protecting Florida's environment.
I also would like to thank the ranking member of the Committee,
Representative Don Young, for his support as well.
The bipartisan support this resolution enjoys is reminiscent of the
past and present bipartisan support Everglades restoration efforts
enjoy.
Today we honor the 60th anniversary of Everglades National Park. The
park, which spans 3 million acres of wetlands, is habitat to many
endangered species and is an international center for business,
agriculture, and tourism.
Our work to restore the Everglades is the largest restoration effort
of its kind in history.
As a fifth generation Floridian and great grandson of a Creek Indian,
my passion for these majestic wetlands extends back to my birth.
I have seen species that have since become endangered, and a living
ecosystem that has since been degraded by management and development
activities.
Regrettably, since the passage of landmark legislation in 2000,
restoration efforts in Congress have been mired. Now the Everglades is
paying a hefty price for Federal delays. Expected project completion
timeframes have been shifted, and the restoration price tags increased.
With new perspectives and new priorities, Congress is again
reaffirming our commitment to the Everglades.
Just last November, Congress overrode a President Bush veto and
passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, authorizing $1.8
billion in Everglades restoration funding.
As we pause to celebrate the anniversary of the Everglades National
Park today, we enhance our vigilant efforts to restore the park to the
pristine ecosystem it once was.
I thank the leadership of the House for their work on this bill, and
urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, ``Here are no lofty peaks seeking the sky,
no mighty glaciers or rushing streams wearing away the uplifted land.
Here is land, tranquil in its quiet beauty, serving not as the source
of water, but as the receiver of it. To its natural abundance we owe
the spectacular plant and animal life that distinguishes this place
from all others in our country.''
These were the words of Harry Truman, 60 years ago at the dedication
of the Everglades National Park. And it is in the same spirit that I
support H. Res. 845, recognizing the 60th anniversary of Everglades
National Park. The Everglades are a completely unique treasure for
Floridians, and all Americans. So it is fitting that they should also
be unique in the national park system. The Everglades were the first
unit of the park system to be designated not for their scenic beauty
alone, but for the extraordinary diversity of their wildlife.
One of the largest bodies of fresh water in the United States, Lake
Okeechobee, sits at the top of the Everglades. During the wet season,
Okeechobee slowly pours water over its southern edge, and it flows out
in a slow flood that slides south and spreads out over hundreds of
square miles. The water flows south, but very slowly, sometimes as
little as a hundred feet in a day. And it is remarkably shallow, as
little as a foot in depth, which allows the incredible diversity of
plant and animal life, unrivaled in the Nation.
In 1947, when Marjory Stoneman Douglas published ``Everglades: River
of Grass'' and Harry Truman dedicated the Everglades as part of the
parks system, it was with the intention of preserving the Everglades
for future generations. Douglas continued to fight for the Everglades
for the rest of her life, and she led an ever growing chorus of voices,
advocating for our environment. The Everglades became a touchstone for
an entire movement of Floridians and other Americans who continue to
fight to save our natural places, not only for future generations, but
also for their own sake.
Unfortunately, the Everglades still faces threats of the attrition of
development, and the redirection of its waters. In the Water Resources
Development Plan of 2000, Congress included a comprehensive restoration
plan to bring the Everglades back to its natural state. The Everglades
remain one of the Nation's greatest natural treasures, and I am proud
to stand in recognition today of their 60th anniversary as part of the
park system.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I have no further requests for time, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. RAHALL. 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 West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 845, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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