[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 209 (Thursday, December 10, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H7122-H7123]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY MODIFICATION ACT

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5458) to modify the boundary of the Rocky Mountain National 
Park, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5458

       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 ``Rocky Mountain National Park 
     Boundary Modification Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Rocky 
     Mountain National Park Proposed Boundary Revision'', numbered 
     121/154,327, and dated June 2019.
       (2) Non-federal land.--The term ``non-Federal land'' means 
     the approximately 40 acres of non-Federal land depicted as 
     ``TR 05-133'' on the map.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 3. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY MODIFICATION.

       (a) Land Acquisition.--The Secretary may acquire, by 
     donation, the non-Federal land for inclusion in the Rocky 
     Mountain National Park.
       (b) Boundary Modification.--On acquisition of the non-
     Federal land under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
       (1) modify the boundary of the Rocky Mountain National Park 
     to include the acquisition; and
       (2) administer the acquired land as part of the Rocky 
     Mountain National Park, in accordance with applicable laws.
       (c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in appropriate offices of the 
     National Park Service.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Huffman) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may 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 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5458, the Rocky Mountain 
National Park Boundary Modification Act, the first of two bills 
introduced by my Colorado colleague, Representative   Joe Neguse.
  This bill would modify the boundary of Colorado's Rocky Mountain 
National Park to include approximately 40 acres of non-Federal land 
that former U.S. astronaut Vance Brand hopes to donate to the park.
  This 40-acre tract will provide enhanced protections for the park's 
high-elevation ecosystems and would increase recreational access and 
connectivity by providing a natural buffer between private lands and 
three popular trails.
  Rocky Mountain National Park is home to many of our Nation's most 
treasured landscapes, and I commend Representative Neguse for his 
efforts to expand and enhance protections for this park.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5458 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 
acquire, by donation only, approximately 40 acres of non-Federal land 
for inclusion in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
  As many of you may know, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the 
crown jewels of our National Park System.
  The land to be donated is directly adjacent to the current park 
boundary and was recently donated to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. 
The land being donated is entirely undeveloped, so it won't increase 
the deferred maintenance of the National Park Service in any way.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.

[[Page H7123]]

  

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Neguse).

                              {time}  1000

  Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Huffman for his 
leadership.
  I am proud to speak in support of two of my bills being considered 
today, H.R. 5458 and H.R. 5459. As you have heard, these bipartisan 
bills would extend Rocky Mountain National Park and ultimately create 
more opportunities for Coloradans and visitors to our State to enjoy 
outdoor activities.
  H.R. 5458, the bill before the House right now, the Rocky Mountain 
National Park Boundary Modification Act, as has been articulated 
previously, would formally codify a generous donation into the park 
boundary made by former astronaut and Longmont, Colorado, native, Vance 
Brand.
  Mr. Brand bravely served our country in the Armed Forces and then 
served as an astronaut, and he has now so generously agreed to donate 
roughly 40 acres to Rocky Mountain National Park. This expansion would 
add additional protections for the park's high elevation ecosystem and 
provide recreational access to literally hundreds of miles of trails.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have introduced both of these legislative 
proposals, which came at the request of local communities that I have 
the honor of representing back in Colorado and that ultimately seek to 
protect the public lands that they love. The bills enjoy the support 
from the town of Estes Park, Larimer County, and the Rocky Mountain 
Conservancy.
  As one of the Nation's most historic parks, Rocky Mountain National 
Park remains one of the top-visited public lands in our country, 
attracting over 4.6 million people, annually, in recent years. Given 
the park's breathtaking scenery and iconic significance, these numbers 
are only anticipated to rise.
  I know my good friend from the Fifth Congressional District of 
Colorado, Representative Lamborn, knows Rocky Mountain National Park 
well. I am sure, like me, he and his family have had countless 
opportunities to enjoy the park and its breathtaking scenery.
  It is an honor to be able to represent Rocky Mountain National Park 
here in the United States Congress.
  People from all over the world are drawn to the park, each for their 
own reasons, to experience nature, seek solitude, watch wildlife, and 
partake in outstanding recreational activities. I, myself, hold a 
number of treasured memories growing up in Colorado and enjoying Rocky 
Mountain National Park: hikes with my father and now being able to take 
my daughter on those same trails. It is something that holds deep 
meaning for many Americans, and especially for Coloradans.
  As we collectively seek healing during and after the COVID-19 
pandemic, our public lands offer both a mental and physical refuge as 
well as an economic stimulus for the local communities that rely on 
them.
  Additionally--and this bears mentioning--this year, devastating 
wildfires have occurred across Colorado, forcing evacuations, 
threatening air and water quality, and destroying homes and businesses. 
Three of the State's five largest fires in the history of Colorado 
occurred in 2020.
  While the bulk of these fires were on lands surrounding Rocky 
Mountain National Park, nearly 30,000 acres burned within the park's 
boundary. When the East Troublesome fire grew over 100,000 acres in 1 
day and swept through a portion of the park, a number of park 
structures were lost.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank the 
superintendent of the Rocky Mountain National Park and her wonderful 
rangers and all of the personnel at Rocky Mountain National Park who 
work tirelessly to protect the park and the communities that surround 
it.
  Given the devastating nature of these wildfires, in addition to the 
COVID-19 pandemic, fulfilling the requests of local Colorado 
communities that have been impacted by, not one, but two, historic 
disasters is an even greater imperative.
  Mr. Speaker, for that reason, I respectfully urge my colleagues to 
support both H.R. 5458 and H.R. 5459, bipartisan bills that will 
protect our treasured public lands.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I request an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5458.
  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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