[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 11365-11367]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




KRIS EGGLE MEMORIAL VISITORS' CENTER IN ORGAN PIPE NATIONAL MONUMENT IN 
                                ARIZONA

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1577) to designate the visitors' center in Organ Pipe 
National Monument in Arizona as the ``Kris Eggle Memorial Visitors' 
Center'', and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1577

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

     SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION.

       (a) Finding.--Congress finds that in August 2002, Kris 
     Eggle, a 28-year-old park ranger in Organ Pipe Cactus 
     National Monument, was murdered in the line of duty along the 
     border between the United States and Mexico.
       (b) Dedication.--Congress dedicates the visitor center in 
     Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to Kris Eggle and to 
     promoting awareness of the risks taken each day by all public 
     land management law enforcement officers.
       (c) Redesignation.--The visitor center in Organ Pipe Cactus 
     National Monument in Arizona is hereby designated as the 
     ``Kris Eggle Visitor Center''.
       (d) Reference.--Any reference to the visitor center in 
     Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona, in any law, 
     regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the 
     United States shall be considered to be a reference to the 
     ``Kris Eggle Visitor Center''.
       (e) Signage.--The Secretary of the Interior shall post 
     interpretive signs at the visitor center and at the trailhead 
     of the Baker Mine-Milton Mine Loop that--
       (1) describe the important role of public law enforcement 
     officers in protecting park visitors;
       (2) refer to the tragic loss of Kris Eggle in underscoring 
     the importance of these officers;
       (3) refer to the dedication of the trail and the visitor 
     center by Congress; and
       (4) include a copy of this Act and an image of Kris Eggle.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands 
(Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich).

                              {time}  1100

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 1577, introduced by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) 
and amended by the Committee on Resources, would designate the 
visitors' center at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument as the Kris 
Eggle Visitor Center. Kris Eggle was a 28-year-old park ranger at the 
monument who was brutally murdered last year in the line of duty by 
members of a Mexican drug gang along the Arizona-Mexico border. Kris 
had served the visitors of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument since 
the year 2000, and before that he was a park ranger at Sleeping Bear 
Dunes National Lakeshore in his native Michigan.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo), the author of this important legislation.
  Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of H.R. 1577, 
a bill that would name the visitors' center in Organ Pipe Cactus 
National Monument in Arizona for Kris Eggle, a park ranger who lost his 
life in the line of duty. I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Hoekstra), who has worked tirelessly with me on this legislation, 
and also Senator McCain, who is carrying the bill in the other body. I 
would also like to thank Chairman Radanovich and Chairman Pombo for 
their work on the bill and allowing it to be brought to the floor for 
consideration today.
  Mr. Speaker, Kris Eggle was a brilliant young park ranger in one of 
the most beautiful units of the National Park System when he was killed 
last summer by a drug smuggler who had crossed into the United States 
after committing two murders in Mexico. Last August, Kris and three 
U.S. Border Patrol officers responded after Mexican police reported 
that two armed fugitives had fled across the border into the U.S. A 
Border Patrol helicopter directed Eggle and the other officers to where 
the suspects had abandoned their vehicle. Kris pursued them on foot, 
apprehending one of the suspects before he was killed. Kris was 28 
years old.
  I have personally visited Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument on 
numerous occasions. I also had the opportunity is one way to put it, I 
guess, the duty, and I certainly accepted that, to go down to Arizona 
and go to Kris' funeral and speak briefly at his funeral. It was a very 
moving event, a very emotional event as one can imagine with all of his 
colleagues and friends there in attendance. The area is certainly one 
of the most beautiful units in the National Park System. It is, 
unfortunately, also one of the most dangerous. According to the 
Fraternal Order of Police, it is a magnet for illegal aliens and drug 
smugglers. Some 200,000 illegal border-crossers and 700,000 pounds of 
drugs were intercepted at the park last year, a fact that rangers like 
Kris who at this very moment are patrolling the vast and remote 
expanses of Organ Pipe know all too well.
  Kris, like many BLM, Park Service and Forest Service law enforcement 
officers, was on the frontlines of a battlefield we pay far too little 
attention to. He gave his life in service to this country. We should 
all be proud of his heroism. We should not forget.
  By passing this bill today, I hope we can both memorialize Kris' 
personal sacrifice to this Nation and remind the American people of the 
perils faced and sacrifices made by those who work each day to patrol 
the parks, refuges and forests, particularly those located along our 
increasingly dangerously porous international borders.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra).
  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time, and I thank Chairman Pombo and Chairman Radanovich for their 
support in moving this bill, moving it expeditiously, and that we have 
today the honor of passing this piece of legislation through the House.
  This week Kris Eggle will not only be memorialized here on the floor 
of the House, he will also be memorialized at the memorial for slain 
police officers, officers who died in the line of duty. His family is 
in town this week, and his friends from all over the country are here 
to recognize an outstanding young man whose life was cut short.
  H.R. 1577 is a bill to honor National Park Service Ranger Kris Eggle, 
who was murdered on duty last August in Organ Pipe National Monument, a 
National Park Service unit deep in the American Southwest. It is 
absolutely a beautiful and a gorgeous part of the American Southwest. I 
had the opportunity to visit there earlier this year with Kris' dad, 
Bob Eggle. This bill designates the visitors' center in Organ Pipe as 
the Kris Eggle Visitors' Center, dedicated to the legacy and memory of 
Kris.
  Who was Kris Eggle? Let me give a little bit of background about 
Kris.

[[Page 11366]]

Kris was a 28-year-old National Park Service ranger. He was assigned to 
the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument at the time of his death. My 
colleague has given us a little bit of the details about that, but if 
we go back, Kris was one of the best of the best. He graduated as 
valedictorian of Cadillac High School in 1991. He was an accomplished 
cross-country runner at Cadillac High School. He went on to be a top 
cross-country runner at the University of Michigan where he graduated 
with honors in 1995.
  After graduation, he chose government service as the field where he 
was going to commit his life. He joined the National Park Service. He 
served at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore where he served as 
a ranger on both the North and South Manitou Islands. He had been 
stationed in Arizona since 2000. That is a little bit about the 
background.
  The area where Kris served is a magnet for illegal aliens and Mexican 
smugglers. Some 200,000 illegal border-crossers and 700,000 pounds of 
drugs were intercepted at the park last year. Nonetheless, Kris 
embraced his job. He was always cheerful, a model citizen, a 
quintessential American boy turned ranger. He baked chocolate chip 
cookies for his fellow rangers and entertained them with songs while on 
duty.
  Bob Eggle said Kris was where he wanted to be and he did what he 
wanted to do. He grew up on the family farm. He was an Eagle Scout, a 
devout Baptist and fleet-footed. His speed and his dedication may have 
been what cost him his life. He and three U.S. Border Patrol officers 
responded after Mexican police reported that two armed fugitives had 
fled across the border into the U.S. A Border Patrol helicopter gave 
chase and directed Kris and the other officers to where three suspects 
had ditched their vehicle. The American officers pursued the fugitives 
on foot. One of the Mexican nationals was caught. The other ambushed 
Kris. Kris was shot, and he passed away.
  Kris, like all of his other fellow employees, took an oath to swear 
his allegiance to this country. Kris did his job. He did it 
magnificently. Today we honor his memory by dedicating the visitors' 
center in Organ Pipe National Monument, but more importantly the 
responsibility of this Congress is also to deal with the causes of 
Kris' death. We have a border that looks more like Swiss cheese, allows 
illegals to cross the border indiscriminately, and allows drugs to flow 
across the border. This Congress needs to move forward and respond and 
to recognize that this is a Nation of laws, and that we will respond 
and enforce the laws and enforce our borders.
  Again I thank my colleague for the time and moving this bill forward.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1577, as amended, honors the life and work of a 
national park ranger killed in the line of duty by renaming the 
visitors' center at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona as 
the Kris Eggle Visitors' Center. This wonderful young man whom we just 
heard about from my colleagues was murdered while on patrol in the 
national monument in August 2002. His untimely and senseless death 
reminds us all of the dangers faced daily by Federal employees who 
protect park resources and visitors.
  Unfortunately, Kris Eggle's death was not the only one of a National 
Park Service employee last year. This afternoon the National Park 
Service will host a ceremony honoring three national park rangers, 
including Kris, and one U.S. Park Police officer who died last year in 
the line of duty in service to the National Park Service and to the 
Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, we enthusiastically support the adoption of H.R. 1577, 
as amended, by the House today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Camp).
  Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. I, too, rise in support of H.R. 1577, the Kris Eggle Memorial 
Center Designation Act. This bill honors National Park Service Ranger 
Kris Eggle, who was murdered on August 9, 2002, by an illegal alien and 
suspected drug smuggler while on duty in Organ Pipe Cactus National 
Monument in Arizona.
  H.R. 1577 designates the visitors' center in Organ Pipe National 
Monument in Arizona as the Kris Eggle Memorial Visitors' Center. Kris, 
a native of Cadillac, Michigan, was just 28 years old at the time of 
his death. He died doing a job he loved, and his commitment to 
safeguarding America's natural treasures commands our deepest 
appreciation. I support this legislation that will pay tribute to his 
life and ideals.
  The legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior to post signs 
at the center and on the trail that describe the important role of 
public law enforcement officers in protecting park visitors. The signs 
will also refer to the tragic loss of Kris Eggle, the dedication of the 
trail and visitors' center by Congress, and will include a copy of this 
act and Kris' picture. I believe this legislation will succeed in 
reminding people of the sacrifices made by those who work each day to 
protect America.
  Let me just talk for a moment about Kristopher William Eggle, the 
man. As I learned more about him, I became even more impressed with his 
life and, yes, angry at his loss. He was an individual of amazing 
accomplishments for his young age, Eagle Scout, National Honor Society 
student, valedictorian of Cadillac High School. An athlete in high 
school, he went on to run track at the University of Michigan. But I 
think more importantly his leadership skills and the quality of person 
that he was makes this even more tragic as we think about it.
  I would like to express my deepest and heartfelt sympathy to the 
friends and family of Kris Eggle for their loss. I would also like to 
thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) and the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra) for bringing this legislation to the floor and 
urge my colleagues to support this measure. As the chairman of 
Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Border Security, I look forward to 
working with my colleagues to make sure that this never happens again.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Souder).
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, first I, too, want to thank the gentleman 
from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Hoekstra), the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg) and others who have 
been down on the border. We held a hearing there in the Subcommittee on 
Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources just weeks ago, 
particularly going down to Organ Pipe, one of our more beautiful 
national monuments where the cactus, unlike the saguaro, come up, and 
hence the name, the Organ Pipe. They have saguaro cactus there as well. 
But unfortunately right now because of all the illegal immigrants and 
all the drug smuggling moving through that park, one of the most 
beautiful hiking trails in the country is sealed off because it is too 
dangerous for people to hike there.
  When you walk through the park, you see milk containers all over the 
place. If they are clear, it means they were water of people walking 
into the deserts by the hundreds. You can see them across the line 
because we basically have little protection on that border. If they are 
black, it is clear they had narcotics and were moving narcotics 
through.
  The area where this brave ranger was killed is just east of the main 
crossing point. It was in a wash. As he and seven other agents from 
Customs and Border Patrol and others were trying to capture this 
illegal immigrant and drug smuggler, the immigrant, the smuggler, hid 
in some bushes. The ranger, as he was being guided by a helicopter 
above him, could not see where the shots came from. They hit him, went 
through his vest and another protective device, through one side and 
the other side of his body.
  When he committed to work for the National Park Service, he thought 
he was going to be working with people who were trying to cut down 
trees or flowers, or who were basically having inner kind of conflicts 
in the parks. But we have watched our parks and

[[Page 11367]]

monuments change into places, particularly around our borders or in our 
national forests and our parks where they are growing marijuana or 
producing methamphetamine, into far more dangerous places, endangering 
not only our rangers, but the people that are there.
  When you walk through this visitors' center at the Organ Pipe and 
when you walk through the park headquarters there, you see this young 
ranger's picture there. You see many pictures of him. You hear from 
every staff person at that park. They miss Kris. They miss the loss 
there. All of a sudden it has taken their profession, probably the 
highest-rated profession in the United States, and any poll shows that 
park rangers and the people who are serving our public parks are 
supposed to be a happy place, not a sad place. The parents, when the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra) brought them in and I met them, 
they said, ``We don't want our son's loss to be in vain.''
  By naming this visitors' center, it is a reminder to Members of 
Congress and the American people that unless we can make our borders 
more secure, and I also serve on the subcommittee of the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Camp) as well as chairing the narcotics committee, we are 
not going to be secure in this country. We do not know who is going to 
come across, unless we can do a better job of restricting the narcotics 
coming in that are also killing people all over our country. Kris was 
out there trying to protect people in Fort Wayne, Indiana, all over 
America, by going after this drug dealer.

                              {time}  1115

  But unless we can make those borders more secure, unless we are more 
aggressive, we are putting people in our national parks at risk, we are 
putting our national forests at risk, everybody else along the borders.
  One last comment. As we start to address the problems of Organ Pipe, 
we have pushed it over to the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation next 
door. The Shadow Wolves, who were just highlighted in ``Smithsonian 
Magazine'' a couple months ago as well as ``People Magazine,'' are now 
threatened with disbandment, that what we saw when we did our hearing, 
we saw four busts while we were doing the hearing of 1,500 pounds more 
than they seized all of last year in this Indian reservation, and we 
need to understand that while we are naming this monument after Kris 
and saying we are going to remember him and the people who sacrificed 
like him, that we also have to think of the adjacent areas and do not 
just push it through the next community as we address this. We have to 
get control, responsible control, of our borders, or we will not be 
secure in the United States, and hopefully this resolution today will 
help remind us of that.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Shadegg).
  Mr. SHADEGG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation today to 
rename the Visitors Center at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in 
honor of Kris Eggle. And I want to thank its sponsor for his efforts 
for bringing this measure forward.
  As has been mentioned here on the floor, Kris Eggle was an 
extraordinary, truly extraordinary young man. I regret that I never got 
to know him personally; but as the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp) 
mentioned, he was a standout by any measure. He was an Eagle Scout, and 
I know that makes me proud. My son is an Eagle Scout. He was a 
valedictorian of his class. But if we run into Kris Eggle's family or 
his friends or the people of service that I have had a chance to meet, 
we can see that this was an extraordinary young man.
  I will tell the Members the story of his death is one that is 
extraordinary. He was on the border as a park ranger doing his job when 
a radio call came in. There was no obligation for Kris Eggle to jump 
into the fray and respond to that radio call. This was a call that 
should have been responded to by DEA agents or Customs agents because 
it involved drug smuggling by a drug ring, and yet Kris Eggle did not 
stay in that border station and do nothing. He left the station and he 
raced out into the desert with his colleagues. And as the gentleman 
from Indiana (Mr. Souder) just pointed out, he was directed by a 
helicopter to where the shots had been fired and to where the suspect 
he was looking for was.
  Just a few months ago I visited that scene. I was there with Kris's 
father, Bob; and we were taken to the very spot where the murder 
occurred, and we saw where the gunman stood hiding under a tree and 
ambushed Kris, firing at him at literally point-blank range and killing 
him.
  It is indeed a fitting honor that we should name this visitors center 
after him, but there is more to it than that. I met with Kris's parents 
this morning, Bob and Bonnie Eggle; and while they are thrilled that 
this bill is passing, they are very much devoted to substance. They 
care about what happens on the merits. Bob Eggle has spent countless 
hundreds of hours on that border trying to do what he can to rebuild 
the fence and to try to aid the people that are caring about it. But 
just this morning, Bonnie Eggle said to me, Congressman, can we get 
more Members of Congress to go visit the border to see what is going on 
there so that more might not die?
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation; but I also urge 
them to honor Kris Eggle's memory, this extraordinary young man, by 
helping us strengthen that border; and I join the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Souder) in his comments regarding the Shadow Wolves. The 
Shadow Wolves are an extraordinary unit which we cannot allow to be 
disbanded, nor can we allow to be taken off of that border.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bass). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1577, 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 was amended so as to read: ``A bill to designate the 
visitor center in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona as the 
`Kris Eggle Visitor Center', and for other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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