[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8981]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 COMMENDING SUPERINTENDENT BARBARA WEST

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 9, 2005

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend Barbara 
West, the superintendent of Voyageurs National Park, as she prepares to 
leave Minnesota for America's southwest. I thank her for her hard work 
and know that she will be missed, not only as one who has dedicated her 
life to preserving our nation's natural treasures, but as a friend.
  Voyageurs National Park is one of the crown jewels in our national 
park system. It contains four large lakes covering forty percent of the 
park with a series of beautiful islands for one to explore. Voyageurs 
was named for the French-Canadian canoemen who traveled these waters in 
their birch-bark canoes. The park's waterways were an important stretch 
of the ``voyageurs' highway'' from the Great Lakes into the interior of 
the western United States and Canada.
  With grace and confidence, Superintendent West has done an 
outstanding job of overseeing and protecting this area so future 
generations can enjoy its history and beauty. Minnesotans and visitors 
to our state have benefited from her stewardship of the park and her 
dedication to community and our natural resources.
  Superintendent West, thank you for your years of service. I, along 
with many who treasure and love our national parks, wish you the very 
best in your new assignment at the Chaco Culture National Historic Park 
in New Mexico.

                          ____________________