[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 21 (Thursday, February 10, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE VISION OF REPRESENTATIVE JOHN W. WEEKS AND HIS 
               CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONSERVATION MOVEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 10, 2011

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I am on the floor today to introduce a 
resolution acknowledging the 100th year anniversary of the passage of 
the Weeks Act. This little-known act marks a significant conservation 
achievement in the annuls of this nation's conservation movement. John 
W. Weeks, a Republican Congressman from the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts, was relentless in his efforts to pass this legislation, 
which authorized the federal purchase of cutover and denuded 
forestlands in the headwaters of navigable streams for the purpose of 
conserving the flow of streams and rivers and to restore lands for 
future timber production. It took close to two years of fierce battle 
with his colleagues before he succeeded as the Weeks Act cleared 
Congress on March 1, 1911.
  Few of my colleagues may be aware, but at the turn of the 19th 
century, vast amounts of private forested land in the eastern United 
States had been ravaged by clear cut logging. In the absence of trees, 
vast areas of the East were prone to flooding and soil erosion, as well 
as destructive forest fires. No longer productive, these lands were 
often abandoned and came into state and local ownership for nonpayment 
of taxes. To bring these lands back from the ecological brink, Rep. 
John Weeks introduced legislation directing the federal government to 
offer states and localities the opportunity to relieve themselves of 
these nonproductive lands and at federal expense restore them to their 
former condition.
  Today 26 eastern states are home to 52 National Forests encompassing 
almost 25 million acres. These forests provide significant economic 
benefits. Not only are the forests recreational sanctuaries, they are 
also a major contributor in keeping America's drinking water clean. 
Many eastern municipal water supplies depend on National Forest 
watersheds and currently $450 billion in food and fiber, manufactured 
goods, and tourism depends on clean water and healthy watersheds. In 
addition, the timber supply managed by the Forest Service provides a 
significant monetary benefit. The timber resource was almost 
nonexistent when the federal government purchased the land, but today 
these lands host an estimated 42 billion cubic feet of growing stock 
and about 210 billion board feet of saw timber.
  With this resolution we recognize and commemorate the vision of John 
W. Weeks and his contribution to the conservation movement. Both 
Republicans and Democrats recognized the importance of federal 
government in conserving the forests and the water supply for long-term 
environmental goals. Today I encourage both Congress and the Forest 
Service to begin a centennial celebration commemorating this major 
bipartisan accomplishment. Our 52 National Forests in 26 eastern states 
would not exist today were it not for passage of the Weeks Act of 1911.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.

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