[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15305-15306]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 190--A BILL RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF MESA 
                          VERDE NATIONAL PARK

  Mr. SALAZAR (for himself and Mr. Allard) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 190

       Whereas Mesa Verde National Park was created 100 years ago 
     by an Act of Congress and signed into law by President 
     Theodore Roosevelt on June 29, 1906, as the first National 
     Park set aside to preserve the works of humankind;
       Whereas the more than 5,000 archeological sites, including 
     over 600 cliff dwellings, protected within the 52,000-acre 
     boundary of Mesa Verde National Park represent some of the 
     most spectacular and best-preserved prehistoric architecture 
     in the world;
       Whereas in 1928, Congress declared the natural resources of 
     Mesa Verde National Park to be of such caliber as to be 
     worthy of the same level of protection as the cultural 
     resources therein;

[[Page 15306]]

       Whereas 8,500 acres within Mesa Verde National Park were 
     designated as wilderness by Congress on October 20, 1976;
       Whereas on September 8, 1978, the United Nations 
     Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization 
     (``UNESCO'') declared Mesa Verde National Park to be 1 of 8 
     original World Cultural Heritage Sites;
       Whereas Mesa Verde National Park is part of our American 
     heritage that is universally recognized and shared with the 
     world;
       Whereas Mesa Verde National Park is the primary driving 
     force behind the economy of southwestern Colorado and the 
     Four Corners Region;
       Whereas the communities of Cortez, Dolores, Mancos, and 
     Durango, Colorado, have come together to plan a year-long 
     celebration worthy of this magnificent icon of the National 
     Park System; and
       Whereas 24 American Indian tribes recognize Mesa Verde as 
     their ancestral home and contribute a rich cultural heritage 
     to the experience of visitors to the region: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the 100th anniversary of Mesa Verde National 
     Park; and
       (2) urges all citizens of the United States to join in the 
     Centennial Celebration of Mesa Verde National Park by 
     participating in the many activities planned throughout the 
     year in 2006.

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