[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 76 (Thursday, May 8, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S3973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        WILD SKY WILDERNESS ACT

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise to celebrate a tremendous and 
hard-fought victory. Today, a week after this Congress approved it 
overwhelmingly, President Bush signed the public lands bill that 
includes my Wild Sky Wilderness Act. And I couldn't be more thrilled.
  The path to creating the first wilderness in Washington State in more 
than 20 years has been long and sometimes rocky. But with the 
President's signature today, we have finally reached the top. Let me 
tell you, Mr. President, it feels great!
  This wilderness designation means that over 106,000 acres of rolling 
hills, rushing rivers, and low-elevation forest in the Mt. Baker-
Snoqualmie National Forest will be preserved for generations to enjoy. 
The bill has been the result of years of hard work by literally dozens 
of people in my home State of Washington who have been as passionate 
and excited about this bill as I have been. I could not be more proud 
of their hard work and enthusiasm. Even when progress seemed 
impossible, they never lost sight of their goal. They always believed 
that preserving this incredible land was possible. And this beautiful 
new wilderness is their reward.
  When I spoke on the floor after the Wild Sky bill passed this body, I 
promised to return once it was signed and thank the many people who 
have worked so hard with me over the years to make the Wild Sky 
Wilderness a reality. So I want to begin by thanking Congressman Rick 
Larsen. Nine years have passed since the first maps proposing this 
wilderness were unfurled at a meeting in my Seattle office. I have been 
working with Congressman Larsen in the House for more than 7 years on 
the legislation. And I couldn't have asked for a better partner.
  I would like to thank Chairman Bingaman and his staff--especially 
David Brooks and Bob Simon--for their help and unwavering support of 
Wild Sky throughout the years. I would like to thank Senator Maria 
Cantwell and Congressman Jay Inslee for their work in steering Wild Sky 
through their committees. And thank you to all of the cosponsors from 
the Washington delegation.
  Above all, I want to thank all of the people in Washington State who 
worked tirelessly to turn their vision into legislation and--finally 
into law. The following individuals have spent countless hours to make 
the Wild Sky Wilderness Area a reality: Mike Town, Tom Uniack, Larry 
Romans, Mark Lawler, Harry Romberg, Norm Winn, Don Parks, Charlie 
Raines, Jon Owen, John Leary, Michael Carroll, Rick McGuire, Bill and 
Sue Cross, Bob Hubbard, Conway Leovy, Mark Heckert, Kem Hunter, Aaron 
Reardon, Peter Jackson, Michelle Ackerman, Jennifer Ekstrom, Doug 
Scott, Bill Arthur, Doug Walker, Nalani Askov, Dave Sommers, Jennifer 
Stephens, and Cynthia Wilkerson; as well as Shannon Harps and Karen 
Fant, whose memories will live on through Wild Sky.
  And last but not least, I would like to thank the staff members who 
have also put their hearts and souls into this bill: John Engber, Karen 
Waters, Doug Clapp, Jaime Shimek, Jeff Bjornstad, Evan Schatz, Alex 
Glass, Pete Weissman, Matt McAlvanah, Rick Desimone, Rachelle Hein, 
Christy Gullion, Carrie Desmond, Jennifer Talhelm, Rita Beal, Shawn 
Bills, Jill McKinnie, Christian Gunter, Louis Lauter, Michael Dabbs, 
Kim Johnston, Brandon Hall, Amanda Mahnke, Charla Neuman, Abby 
Levenshus, Tracy Nagelbush, Amit Ronen, and Joel Merkel.
  Those of us who live in the Northwest are truly blessed to live so 
close to such breathtaking natural beauty. The people of Washington 
State have a great respect for our amazing natural heritage and 
millions of people spend their weekends hiking, camping, hunting, 
fishing, and rock-climbing in our many parks and wild lands.
  The Wild Sky area is already a popular destination being enjoyed by 
hundreds of people from across western Washington. And today's 
wilderness designation means that their children and their 
grandchildren will be able to enjoy the land just as they do.
  Today's designation is a gift to young families, lifelong outdoor 
enthusiasts, and everyone in between. And I am so glad to see this 
proposal over the finish line. Now I can't wait to lace up my tennis 
shoes and take those first steps into the Wild Sky Wilderness!

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