[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22786]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  A TRIBUTE TO PAUL WEEDEN FOR 29 YEARS OF DEDICATION TO FEDERAL LANDS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2001

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to pay 
tribute to Paul Weeden, the Deputy Forest Supervisor of the San 
Bernardino National Forest in my district, who recently retired after 
36 years of service in the National Parks and National Forests.
  Like many of the dedicated employees who work for the agencies that 
manage and protect our national lands, Paul Weeden began his service as 
a seasonal employee. Beginning in 1965, he worked summers as a fishery 
biologist aide, park ranger and a fire prevention technician. He became 
a full-time forester for the Forest Service in 1977, serving for 10 
years in Arizona and Northern California.
  From 1987 to 1990, Mr. Weeden was assigned to the Fire and Aviation 
Management Staff in Washington, D.C., coordinating the Forest Service 
response to natural disasters in the United States, and serving as an 
advisor to other nations dealing with disaster when requested by the 
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.
  He became Deputy Forest Supervisor of the San Bernardino National 
Forest in 1990, and has helped make the San Bernardino and San Gabriel 
Mountain region one of the most successful urban use forests in the 
nation. Located within easy driving distance of the 8 million people 
who live in Southern California, the forest's campgrounds, hiking 
trails, ski resorts and other recreation activities attract millions of 
visits each year. The forest is also home to thousands of constituents 
in my district, who see the Forest Service as their largest neighbor 
and in many cases their landlord.
  Although the national forest has seen a number of dramatic wildfires 
in the past decade, the Forest Service under Mr. Weeden has helped 
limit the losses of property and wildlife habitat in each case. The 
agency has increasingly worked with local officials to provide maximum 
recreation opportunities while protecting the natural beauty that 
attracts the visitors. As manager of a 440-person agency with a $24 
million budget, Mr. Weeden has helped guide the forest into the 21st 
Century as a verdant oasis in one of the largest urban areas in the 
world.
  Even as he watched over the San Bernardino National Forest, Mr. 
Weeden in 1998 coordinated American aid to Mexico in response to the 
worst wildland fire season in that nation's history. He has since 
provided guidance and leadership to Mexico's firefighting, detection 
and prevention programs, as well as helping in the restoration of 
important natural lands.
  Mr. Speaker, Paul Weeden retired last month to take a job in the 
private sector, although he and his wife Barbara remain residents of 
Highland, California, in my district. I ask you and my colleagues to 
Join me in thanking Mr. Weeden for his three decades of service, and 
wishing him well in his future endeavors.

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