[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 81 (Tuesday, June 2, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H6028-H6029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 421) recognizing and commending the Great 
Smoky Mountains National Park on its 75th year anniversary.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 421

       Whereas groups of local citizens and officials in western 
     North Carolina and east Tennessee in the 1920s displayed 
     enormous foresight in recognizing the potential benefits of a 
     national park in the southern Appalachians;
       Whereas the boundaries and location of said park were 
     selected from among the finest examples of the most scenic 
     and intact mountain forests in the Southeast;
       Whereas its creation was the product of over two decades of 
     determined effort by leaders of communities across western 
     North Carolina and east Tennessee;
       Whereas the State Assemblies and the Governors of those two 
     States exercised great vision in appropriating funding, along 
     with the Laura Spellman Rockefeller Memorial Fund for the 
     purchase of the over 400,000 acres of private lands which had 
     been accumulated;
       Whereas the citizens of surrounding communities generously 
     contributed to that land acquisition funding to bring the 
     park into being;
       Whereas over 1,100 families and other property owners were 
     called upon to sacrifice their farms and homes for the 
     benefit and enjoyment of future generations;
       Whereas Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created by 
     Congress on June 15, 1934;
       Whereas Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 
     approximately 521,621 acres of land, in both Tennessee and 
     North Carolina making it the largest protected areas in the 
     Eastern United States;
       Whereas the park provides sanctuary for the most diverse 
     flora and fauna of any national park in the temperate United 
     States, and preserves an unparalleled collection of historic 
     structures as a ``time capsule'' of Appalachian culture 
     during the 19th and early 20th centuries;
       Whereas, on September 2, 1940, President Franklin D. 
     Roosevelt dedicated Great Smoky Mountains National Park;
       Whereas the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been 
     America's most popular national park since it opened, and now 
     attracts 9,000,000 to 10,000,000 visitors each year, making 
     it the most visited of the 58 national parks; and
       Whereas park visitors contribute over $700,000,000 each 
     year resulting in over 14,000 jobs within the States and the 
     surrounding local economies: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the citizens of east Tennessee and western 
     North Carolina for their vision and sacrifice;
       (2) commends the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and 
     the National Park Service for 75 years of successful 
     management and preservation of the park land;
       (3) congratulates the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 
     on its 75th anniversary; and
       (4) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the Great Smoky 
     Mountains National Park Headquarters located at 107 Park 
     Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, for appropriate 
     display.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) and the gentleman from Colorado 
(Mr. Lamborn) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 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 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, The Great Smoky Mountains National 
Park was created by Congress on June 15, 1934. The park now encompasses 
more than 520,000 acres of land in Tennessee and North Carolina, making 
it the largest protected area in the eastern United States. It is also 
our Nation's most visited national park.
  This great park is world-renowned for the diversity of its plant and 
animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of 
its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture.
  House Resolution 421, introduced by the gentleman from Tennessee, 
Representative David Roe, would express the commendation of the House 
of Representatives to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the 
National Park Service for 75 years of successful management and 
preservation of the park land.
  Mr. Speaker, we support House Resolution 421, and urge its adoption 
by the House today.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. I rise in support of House Resolution 421 and yield 
myself such time as I may consume.
  This resolution celebrates one of the most popular national parks in 
our country. It is a beautiful part of the country that I have had the 
privilege of visiting on several occasions.
  I congratulate Congressman Roe for bringing this resolution to the 
House so that we may recognize the 75th anniversary of the 
establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I urge my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  At this time I would yield such time as he may consume to the 
distinguished gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), whose 
congressional district includes about half of the Tennessee portion of 
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
  Mr. DUNCAN. I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding me this 
time. I rise in support of this resolution to recognize the 75th 
anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a resolution 
that was introduced by my good friend and neighbor from the First 
Congressional District of Tennessee, Dr. Roe.
  I represent about half of the Tennessee part of the Great Smoky 
Mountains National Park and Dr. Roe represents the other half of the 
Tennessee portion, which is, of course, the bigger portion of the 
national park.
  The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the things of which 
those of us from east Tennessee are most proud. It has often been said 
that our national parks are our Nation's crown jewels. If that is true, 
then the Great Smoky Mountains National Park must certainly be one of 
the largest jewels in that crown.
  The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is, by far, our most visited 
national park, with over 9 million visitors each year--approximately 
three times the number of visitors that go to our second and third 
largest national parks.
  The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with only 520,000 acres, 
seems huge to anyone who comes there. Of course, it is very small in 
comparison. We talk often here about the Arctic National Wildlife 
Refuge, which is 19.8 million acres, which is 36 or 37 times the size 
of the Great Smokies, but it certainly is one of the most beautiful 
areas of this country. And more than 50 percent of the Nation's 
population lies within a day's drive of the park.
  Within the park you can find more than 1,500 species of plants, over 
200 species of birds, 66 species of mammals, 50 species of fish, and so 
on. You will also find plenty of recreation opportunities in the park, 
including 800 miles of hiking and horse trails, and some of the most 
beautiful valleys and high

[[Page H6029]]

peaks anyone has ever seen, such as Cades Cove and Mount LeConte.
  Although any time is a great time to visit the park, the views are 
truly spectacular in the spring, with the blooming of the dogwoods and 
redbud trees and in the fall when the leaves begin turning various 
shades of red and orange and yellow.
  My hometown of Knoxville is considered by many to be the gateway to 
the Smokies, and residents of Knoxville played a very important role in 
establishing the park.
  The original idea for a Smokies National Park came from a wealthy and 
influential Knoxville family, Mr. and Mrs. William P. Davis, who came 
back from a visit to the national parks out West in the early 1920s 
with a simple question: Why can't we have a national park in the 
Smokies?
  Very quickly, other influential citizens of Knoxville such as 
politicians, businessmen, naturalists, and others joined in this 
movement. Eventually, the legislatures in Tennessee and North Carolina 
realized that this was a worthy project. Both legislatures appropriated 
$2 million in 1927.
  Although this was a large amount of money, it was not enough. Colonel 
David C. Chapman of Knoxville joined forces with National Park Service 
Director Arno Cammerer and began seeking additional sources of funding. 
Ultimately, they convinced John D. Rockefeller, Jr., to contribute to 
the cause.
  The Rockefeller family was well known for their philanthropy, 
especially in regards to the National Parks. They made a gift of $5 
million to the effort, but only on the stipulation that the funds would 
be matched. To get the full $5 million, the States and Park Service 
would have to come up with $5 million on their own.
  Once the funding commitments were in place by 1929, it took several 
more years to acquire the land and develop the facilities. While this 
land has become almost priceless today, I don't think enough credit or 
recognition has been given to those families and people from whom land 
was taken to create this park.
  During the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps, the 
Works Progress Administration, and other Federal organizations made 
trails, fire watchtowers, and other infrastructure improvements to the 
park. The park was officially opened in June of 1934. That date is the 
date we are commemorating with this resolution.
  I would like once again to thank and congratulate Dr. Roe for his 
very thoughtful resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to support 
this resolution celebrating and recognizing the 75th anniversary of the 
Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. I think it's evident from the remarks of Representative 
Duncan that he has a great love and appreciation and support for this 
beautiful national park, and the fact that it's the most visited 
national park in the entire park system attests to its popularity and 
its beauty.
  I would urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H. Res. 421 and 
congratulate the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on turning 75. 
What an amazing success story!
  This Park--the most visited in the United States--serves as a source 
of pride for residents of our entire region and we celebrate the vision 
of our ancestors who had the foresight to preserve this amazing area 
for all future generations to enjoy. As an avid outdoorsman myself, I 
am particularly grateful for this natural wonder.
  Two weeks from yesterday, the Park will officially turn 75 with 
activities planned all summer to commemorate this accomplishment. I 
hope all Americans will join in the celebration and come visit what is 
truly one of our nation's finest examples of scenic beauty.
  I also want to congratulate the National Park Service for its 
diligent management of the Park. Without its leadership, the Great 
Smoky Mountains National Park would not be what it is today.
  I hope all members of Congress will join me in supporting H. Res. 
421.
  Mr. LAMBORN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 421.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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