[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 163 (Monday, September 21, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H4568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       B-47 RIDGE DESIGNATION ACT

  Ms. HAALAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 490) to designate a mountain ridge in the State of Montana as 
``B-47 Ridge''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 490

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``B-47 Ridge Designation 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF B-47 RIDGE, MONTANA.

       (a) Designation.--
       (1) In general.--The unnamed mountain ridge located at 
     4514'40.89" N., 11043'38.75" W. that runs south and west of 
     Emigrant Peak in the Absaroka Range in the State of Montana, 
     which is the approximate site of a crash of a B-47, shall be 
     known and designated as ``B-47 Ridge''.
       (2) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     ridge described in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to ``B-47 Ridge''.
       (b) Authorization for Plaque.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture may authorize 
     the installation and maintenance of a plaque on B-47 Ridge 
     that--
       (A) memorializes the 1962 crash of the B-47 aircraft at the 
     site; and
       (B) may include the names of the victims of the crash.
       (2) Authorized terms and conditions.--The Secretary of 
     Agriculture may include any terms and conditions in the 
     authorization for a plaque under paragraph (1) that the 
     Secretary of Agriculture determines to be necessary.
       (3) Funding.--No Federal funds may be used to design, 
     procure, install, or maintain the plaque authorized under 
     paragraph (1).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New Mexico (Ms. Haaland) and the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Mexico.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HAALAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the measure under consideration
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New Mexico?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HAALAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 490 the B-47 Ridge Designation 
Act.
  One of our priorities on the House Natural Resources Committee this 
Congress has been to enhance public lands access for veterans and 
servicemembers and that includes allowing our public lands to honor 
those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
  This bill would designate an unnamed mountain range near Emigrant 
Peak in the State of Montana as ``B-47 Ridge'' and allow the 
installation of a commemorative plaque at the site.
  The name and plaque would memorialize the tragic end to a routine 
training flight on the night of July 23, 1962. Four U.S. Air Force 
servicemembers lost their lives when their B-47 strategic bomber 
crashed at 8,500 feet. Debris from the crash can still be seen on the 
ridge today.
  This bill appropriately honors the memory and sacrifice of Captain 
Faulconer, Lieutenant Lloyd Sawyers, Lieutenant David Sutton, and 
Lieutenant Hixenbaugh.
  I urge its immediate adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 490 designates the mountain ridge where an Air Force 
B-47 strategic bomber crashed while on a training mission in Montana in 
1962 as the ``B-47 Ridge.''
  This bill is the Senate companion to H.R. 1267, which our Congressman 
Gianforte led here in the House. Nearly 60 years have passed since that 
U.S. Air Force B-47 bomber left Texas and crashed into Montana's 
Emigrant Peak just north of Yellowstone National Park in the Paradise 
Valley. Debris remains on the ridge where the plane crashed. S. 490 
will rename the area the ``B-47 Ridge'' to honor the four-man crew who 
perished in the wreck.
  Those brave airmen who died that day on the southwestern slope of 
Emigrant Peak during a training mission were: Captain Bill Faulconer, 
Lieutenant Lloyd Sawyers, Lieutenant David Sutton, and Lieutenant Fred 
Hixenbaugh.
  This legislation will also allow for the placement of a memorial 
plaque which will be paid for by the crew's families and the local 
community.
  This is a good and important bill honoring the sacrifice of those 
airmen and I applaud Congressman Gianforte and the entire Montana 
delegation for their efforts to get this lasting tribute signed into 
law.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. HAALAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Haaland) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 490.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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