[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 20119]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY REVISION ACT OF 2005

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kuhl of New York). Under a previous 
order of the House, the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth) is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my colleagues who 
just moments ago voted in support and helped pass the Wind Cave 
National Park Boundary Revision Act of 2005.
  Wind Cave National Park is one of our Nation's oldest national parks 
and one of the jewels of our National Park system. Established over 100 
years ago, Wind Cave was the first cave in the world to be set aside as 
a national park.
  At the turn of the 20th century, its first explorers reported that 
the cave was only 3 miles long. Well, that report was a little off. 
Today, we know that the cave has over 117 miles of mapped tunnels; and 
explorers are still discovering new passages. This makes it the fifth 
largest cave in the world.
  These passages contain many natural treasures, rare and exceptional 
displays of boxwork, a honeycomb-shaped formation that protrudes from 
the cave's ceilings and walls, as well as other rare cave formations 
and a geology that scientists are still working to understand. Past 
Congresses have recognized the value of these treasures by creating the 
park. Our ability to enjoy them today is a testament to their 
foresight.
  With over 28,000 acres today, the park surface is an impressive asset 
as well. The Wind Cave National Park Boundary Revision Act will help 
expand this stewardship to include an additional 5,000 acres of mixed 
grass prairie, ponderosa pine forest and a dramatic river canyon.
  Home to native wildlife such as bison, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, 
coyotes and prairie dogs, the park is one of the few remaining mixed 
grass ecosystems in the country. The expansion would be a natural 
extension of this habitat and enhance the park's holdings.
  This project began when the ranching family that owns the land 
approached the National Park Service over 3 years ago. The Black Hills 
region of South Dakota is developing rapidly, and rather than allow the 
land to be developed into subdivisions and strip malls, they envisioned 
preserving it for future generations. That initial discussion expanded 
to the surrounding community, State government and, eventually, the 
United States Congress. The Bill's approval in the Senate and its 
passage here today are the fruits of those discussions.
  In addition to receiving support in the House of Representatives from 
my two predecessors and myself, this bill has enjoyed the bipartisan 
backing of South Dakota's Senators and South Dakota Governor Mike 
Rounds. As the expansion project has proceeded, interested parties have 
weighed in with their concerns, and they have been answered.
  Wind Cave National Park has protected and preserved a national 
treasure for over 100 years. The Wind Cave National Park Boundary 
Revision Act is an important step toward expanding the park and 
enhancing its value to the public so that visitors can enjoy it 
forever.
  I would like to extend my gratitude again to my many colleagues who 
voted for this legislation, and I look forward to moving the proposed 
expansion forward in the future.

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