[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11] [House] [Page 16127] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov][[Page 16127]] JARYD ATADERO LEGACY TRAIL Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3817) to redesignate the Big South Trail in the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area of Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado as the ``Jaryd Atadero Legacy Trail,'' as amended. The Clerk read as follows: H.R. 3817 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. FINDING. Congress finds that Jaryd Atadero, a 3-year old boy from Littleton, Colorado, was last seen the morning of October 2, 1999, 1\1/2\ miles from the trailhead of the Big South Trail in the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area of Roosevelt National Forest. SEC. 2. DEDICATION. Congress dedicates the Big South Trail in the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area of Roosevelt National Forest to Jaryd Atadero and his legacy of promoting safe outdoor recreation for children. SEC. 3. SIGN. The Secretary of Agriculture shall recognize the loss of Jaryd Atadero and the need for increased awareness of child safety in outdoor recreation settings by posting an interpretive sign at the Big South Trail trailhead that-- (1) describes consideration for safe outdoor recreation with children; (2) refers to the tragic loss of Jaryd Atadero to underscore the need for such safety considerations; (3) refers to the dedication by Congress of this trail and safety message to the legacy of Jaryd Atadero; and (4) for not less than 1 year, includes a copy of this Act and an image of Jaryd Atadero. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sununu). Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo). Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Idaho (Mrs. Chenoweth- Hage), who is the chairman of our Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, for her support and efforts on this legislation. I also thank the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) for their contributions at the hearing earlier this month. Mr. Speaker, Colorado's Rocky Mountains are rugged and beautiful, but they are a dangerous playground for all small children. Three-year-old Jaryd Atadero was last seen on the morning of October 2, 1999, hiking one and one-half miles from the trail head of the Big South Trail in the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area of the Roosevelt National Forest. On that day in October, a group of friends took Jaryd hiking on the Big South Trail as his father, Allyn, stayed behind to tend to their camp. As the hike wore on, the group split into two, with the faster hikers moving ahead. Jaryd became missing as he ran from one group to the other. After 7 exhaustive days of searching by local volunteers, Air Force rescuers, and the Larimer and Arapahoe County authorities, no trace of Jaryd was found. He has vanished completely. Jaryd's disappearance is a haunting story that leaves each person who hears it wishing they could do something to help, myself included. My colleagues may remember that the story received national attention for several weeks, and hundreds of people all over the country have contacted Jaryd's father offering their prayers and financial help to solve the mystery. But Mr. Atadero, who is a deeply spiritual man, understood from the very beginning of this ordeal that the national attention given to his son's disappearance should also be focused on the prevention of future disappearances. This bill is the result of his efforts. H.R. 3817 would dedicate the Big South Trail in the Comanche Peak Wilderness area of Roosevelt National Forest to Jaryd Atadero. Under the bill, a permanent sign will be placed at the trail head that has a list of the safety tips for children; and, for a period of no less than a year, a picture of Jaryd and a copy of this legislation will also appear. This bill has the support of the entire Colorado delegation as well as the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) who has a personal relationship with the Atadero family. Today I brought with me a Jaryd Atadero Legacy Whistle. This is a program started by Larimer County officials that provides some basic safety tips and a whistle with a wristband that children can carry with them while hiking on a trail. As of this week, Jaryd's whistles have been handed out to more than 4,000 children in Colorado alone. The county has received requests from schools and churches across this country in States such as Texas, Tennessee, Florida, and Kansas for these whistles and for the safety presentations by a search and rescue team. I introduced H.R. 3817 to provide a permanent reminder of Jaryd and to promote these kinds of safety precautions. I believe that H.R. 3817 would not only keep Jaryd's memory alive, it would also raise awareness about the dangers that children face when they recreate on public lands. Many of these dangers are preventable if children and parents would remember to take safety precautions while hiking in the wilderness. Again, I thank the Speaker and those Members of the Committee on Resources that have been of assistance in our efforts to promote this issue and remember Jaryd. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3817, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3817, dealing with the tragedy of Jaryd Atadero, who disappeared on the Big South Trail in Comanche Peak Wilderness area of the Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado. Despite a week-long search, Jaryd was never found. With this bill, perhaps some good can come from this tragedy. I thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) for bringing this legislation to the floor to deal with the memory of Jaryd and perhaps to warn other families and children about some of the dangers of being in a wilderness area, and to prevent other tragedies such as Jaryd's death. I urge my colleagues to support this. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr). Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill. This bill is a good bill, and I recommend an ``aye'' vote on it. Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the House today is considering H.R. 3817, the bill to address the lessons to be learned from the story of a young boy, Jaryd Atadero, who became separated from his family in the Comanche Peak wilderness area in Colorado last year and has never been found. I am a cosponsor of this bill, which would also remind us all of the need for vigilance for the safety of our children not only in the mountains but elsewhere as well. The Resources Committee revised the bill to address some concerns raised by the Administration, and as it comes before the House today it enjoys the support of both sides of the aisle in our committee. I want to commend my Colorado colleague, Mr. Tancredo, for working with the committee and with the Forest Service to resolve their concerns. I urge approval of the bill. Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3817, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to dedicate the Big South Trail in the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area of Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado to the legacy of Jaryd Atadero.''. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________