[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S4819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, today I wish to commemorate the 100th 
anniversary of the National Park Service.
  On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill creating 
the National Park Service to oversee the country's parks and monuments. 
Since then, the National Park Service has been asked to serve 
generations of visitors by helping to provide a gateway to the wonders 
of our nation. Our children and grandchildren have had the opportunity 
to experience things that cannot be fully appreciated by pictures in a 
book or lessons in a classroom. May that gateway remain open for the 
next 100 years and beyond.
  Now, this is something we should all celebrate, but it is especially 
important to me because Wyoming is home to some of the best National 
Park Service areas in this country, including the very first national 
park.
  Yellowstone National Park was named our first national park in 1872, 
well before the existence of the National Park Service. It was ``set 
apart as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and 
enjoyment of the people'' for good reason. Every elementary school 
student learns about Old Faithful, the geyser that erupts about 17 
times a day at Yellowstone, but Yellowstone is also home to more than 
60 different mammals, more than 300 different birds, more than 15 
species of fish, and 10 species of reptiles and amphibians.
  Of course, Yellowstone isn't Wyoming's only national park. My home 
State is also home to Grand Teton National Park, which was established 
in 1929. In addition to boasting one of the most recognizable mountain 
ranges in the world, this park is home to the famous Snake River.
  I also mentioned that the National Park Service helps to oversee 
national monuments. That includes the country's first national 
monument, which is also in Wyoming. Devils Tower was declared the first 
national monument in 1906 and is one of the most unique formations in 
the world. It is a great place for hiking, climbing, or just taking in 
the views.
  Wyoming is also home to Fossil Butte National Monument, which 
contains one of the largest deposits of freshwater fish fossils in the 
world. At this monument, you can see fossils of everything from perch 
to stingrays.
  I would be remiss if I did not mention Fort Laramie National Historic 
Site in Wyoming. Fort Laramie was established as a fur trading fort in 
1834 and became an Army post in 1849. The fort was the site of many 
important treaty negotiations and became a part of the National Park 
System in 1938.
  My home State also has the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. 
There are about 28 miles of trails, boating opportunities, and historic 
ranches at this national park area, which was established in 1966.
  These are just a few of the 412 areas managed by the National Park 
System, but I think they are some of the best. Wyoming is proud of its 
national park areas, and we are proud to celebrate the National Park 
Service's centennial.
  I want close by acknowledging the hard work of the men and women who 
have maintained these special places of discovery and learning in 
Wyoming and across our Nation. Thank you to the over 20,000 men and 
women of the National Park Service who go to work each day as 
caretakers, craftsmen, and teachers to make America's national parks 
second-to-none.
  Thank you.

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