[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 25, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S3778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   OMNIBUS PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT ACT

  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, today, Congress can be very proud of a 
very significant accomplishment.
  Because today, Congress stood up for the enjoyment and protection of 
some of our nation's most pristine and breathtaking wilderness areas, 
historical sites, national parks, forests, trails, scenic rivers, and 
oceans. This bill will help our country address the impacts of climate 
change on our coastal areas, and provide educational opportunities for 
our Nation's children.
  Today, the U.S. House of Representatives will pass the Omnibus Public 
Land Management Act of 2009 one of the most sweeping conservation bills 
that Congress has passed in many years.
  It is a huge victory for the generations of Americans who enjoy these 
sites each year.
  It is a huge victory for our American heritage.
  And, it is a huge victory for Washington State.
  This bill has been through many twists and turns over the last year.
  But today's successful vote could not have been possible without the 
tenacity and dedication of Majority Leader Reid.
  I thank the majority leader for his steadfast support and dedication 
to seeing that these important public land and ocean priorities became 
law.
  Today, I would like to highlight some of the provisions in this bill 
that I am especially pleased to see go to the President's desk.
  First, this package includes the Snoqualmie Pass Land Conveyance Act, 
which I sponsored. This bill would transfer an acre and a half of 
Forest Service land to the Snoqualmie Pass Fire District to help them 
build a new fire station.
  For decades, the Fire District has been leasing its current site from 
the Forest Service. They operate out of an aging building that was not 
designed to be a fire station.
  While they have been able to serve their community despite this 
building's many shortcomings, the time has come for us to pay them back 
for their hard work and dedication. With traffic on the rise and the 
need for emergency services in the area growing, the Fire District 
needs to move to a true fire station and this bill will finally help 
them do that.
  Second, the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail Designation Act is 
included in this bill.
  Since 2001, I have been working with communities in Central and 
Eastern Washington, the National Park Service, and community 
stakeholders to create an Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail 
through portions of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
  Visitors to the trail will not only provide an important economic 
boost to central and eastern Washington communities, but they will 
learn about an amazing, and often overlooked, part of our region's 
history.
  You see, most people don't know that during the last Ice Age, when a 
glacial lake in Montana formed and deepened enough, the sheer force of 
the backed up water undermined the glacial ice-dam. And, the ice gave 
way in a cracking explosion.
  The huge lake, bigger than all the rivers of the world today 
combined, was released all at once and carved its way through the 
Pacific Northwest. This changed the region's geography. But these 
cataclysmic floods have been a story that's gone largely untold. 
Because of this bill, more people will know this important part of 
Pacific Northwest history.
  Third, this package includes my Pacific Northwest National Scenic 
Trail Act.
  The Pacific Northwest Trail runs from the Continental Divide to the 
Pacific Coast, is 1,200 miles long, and is one of the most pristine and 
breathtaking trails in the world.
  This carefully chosen path runs through the Rocky Mountains, Selkirk 
Mountains, Pasayten Wilderness, North Cascades, Olympic Mountains, and 
Wilderness Coast.
  From beginning to end it passes through three states. It crosses 
three National Parks. And it winds through seven National Forests.
  Finally, this trail will receive the designation is deserves.
  This package also includes my Wildland Firefighter Safety 
legislation.
  Wildland firefighting and the safety of wildland firefighters is 
vitally important to our brave men and women who battle these blazes, 
and for the communities that depend on them. This legislation will 
improve accountability and transparency in wildland firefighter safety 
training programs.
  Through training and certification we can lower the risk to the brave 
men and women who protect our forests and communities. It's critical 
that Congress is actively engaged to make sure this happens.
  I would also like to mention the three provisions in this package 
aimed and conserving and protecting our nation's oceans and the 
communities that depend on them.
  This is particularly important in these days of economic turmoil, as 
millions of Americans depend directly and indirectly on healthy oceans 
and coasts.
  Also, as our climate changes, we must work to address some of the 
issues that have the potential to affect millions of jobs.
  That is why I was thankful that Majority Leader Reid included several 
provisions in this package that address our oceans.
  I am particularly thrilled about the Federal Ocean Acidification 
Research and Monitoring Act.
  The world's oceans are absorbing roughly 22 million tons of carbon 
dioxide every day, causing seawater chemistry to become more acidic 
possibly withholding the basic chemical building blocks needed by many 
marine organisms.
  This act creates a comprehensive national ocean acidification 
research and monitoring program that will take a hard look at the 
devastating impacts greenhouse gas emissions are having on our oceans.
  All of this could not have been accomplished without the strong 
support and hard work and dedication of the majority leader and I thank 
the leader for successfully moving these priorities.
  Today is a proud day for Congress, for Washington State, for our 
world's ocean and marine environments, and for some of the most 
breathtaking views and important legacies this Nation has to offer.
  Because the steps we have taken in this package will protect our 
lands, our coastal areas, and our first responders.

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