[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H3749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ADDING THE CREST OF MONTEZUMA TO THE CIBOLA NATIONAL FOREST
(Mr. HEINRICH asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute.)
Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, central New Mexico has been flanked by the
majesty of the Sandia and Manzano Mountain ranges for thousands of
years. Most of these mountains have been preserved as part of the
Cibola National Forest, the Sandia Mountains Wilderness, and the
Manzano Mountains Wilderness.
Today I am introducing legislation that would add the Crest of
Montezuma to the north end of the Cibola National Forest and extend a
wilderness designation to the Manzano Wilderness Study Area to the
south. To families living near Placitas, this legislation will ensure
their access to critical water infrastructure for farm irrigation and
other important uses. It will also ensure that East Mountain families
can use these places for recreation. Finally, it will preserve the
area's critical role as a wildlife corridor for animals that migrate
from north to south across our State.
I urge my colleagues support this legislation that will protect some
of the greatest natural assets that make our State the Land of
Enchantment.
____________________