[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15558]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK

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                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 12, 2007

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, sixty-three years ago, on June 12, 
1944, Big Bend National Park was established in southwest Texas along 
the Rio Grande River. The scenic national park encompasses more than 
800,000 acres of pristine desert and mountain terrain.
  Known as ``Texas' Gift to the Nation,'' Big Bend began as a modestly-
sized State park, but its area was expanded greatly by the state before 
being awarded to the Nation. After Congress passed legislation allowing 
for the acquisition of land in the region to establish the park the 
state of Texas purchased approximately 600,000 acres of land from 
private owners, at a cost of $1.5 million, in 1942.
  The purchase of such a vast expanse of land at such a high price in 
the midst of the Great Depression was an incredible feat for the State 
of Texas. Despite the cost, the State donated the land to the Federal 
Government for the establishment of the national park. With that 
gesture Texas provided the nation with a majestic national park that 
has been enjoyed for over a half a century so far.
  Big Bend National Park has a rich history. For thousands of years it 
was traversed by and inhabited by native peoples. For the past century 
and a half it has also seen Spanish prospectors; Comanche Indians; 
Mexican settlers; and Anglo-American farmers, ranchers and miners.
  Everett Ewing Townsend, the ``Father'' of Big Bend National Park, was 
the champion of adding Big Bend to the National Parks Service's purview 
and is most responsible for the preservation of this region where the 
Chihuahuan Desert intersects with the Chisos Mountains and the flow of 
the mighty Rio Grande River shifts from southeast to northeast forming 
the bend after which the park is named. Sixty-three years ago Everett 
Townsend's efforts provided the United States with an unspoiled tract 
of land that has since been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of 
visitors. In its first year, Big Bend National Park recorded 1,409 
visitors, but today it receives over 300,000 visitors a year. Today, I 
recognize Big Bend National Park on its 63rd anniversary and thank the 
National Park Service for preserving this region for future 
generations.

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