[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16332-16334]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK EXTENSION ACT OF 2007

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, it was just a few days ago when we heard the 
news that we had lost our dear friend and colleague, Senator Craig 
Thomas. We lowered our flags and joined together as a family to say 
goodbye to someone who fought for what he believed in and worked to the 
end to make Wyoming and the West better places to live.
  Craig is now gone, but the work he began lives on. That is why I am 
pleased to offer an amendment to S. 277, the Grand Teton National Park 
Extension Act of 2007. My amendment builds on the work begun by Craig 
and the efforts of Chairman Bingaman and Ranking Member Domenici who 
worked so hard to shepherd this bill through the legislative process. 
In addition, I also thank Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader 
McConnell for bringing this bill to the floor so we can make one of 
Craig's legislative goals a reality.
  It is no surprise that Craig worked so hard to develop, draft, and 
introduce this legislation. No one understood the needs of Wyoming and 
the West better than he did. Craig was a cowboy from the top of his hat 
to the tip of his boots. There was nothing he enjoyed more than riding 
a horse through our national forests and spending time in the great 
outdoors.
  Craig's love for the wide open spaces of our State led him to 
introduce the Grand Teton National Park Extension Act of 2007. When it 
is signed into law, it will allow the Secretary of the Interior to 
accept the donation of approximately 50 acres of private land that will 
be added to Grand Teton National Park. In addition to Craig, we have 
the Halpin family to thank for their generosity. It will truly be a 
gift enjoyed by the people of Wyoming and the West, and the whole 
country, by all who come to visit our national parks every year.
  When that land is added to Grand Teton National Park, it will have 
another little addition to it. That addition is to rename the visitors 
center the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. It will provide 
the people with a place to stop and visit during their trips to Grand 
Teton where they can learn about the history of the park and the life 
of Craig Thomas. I cannot think of a better way to remember Craig's 
life than to share it with all who benefitted from his many years of 
hard work and public service.
  Craig dedicated his life to protecting and preserving our State's 
natural resources, especially our parks. He was a tireless and true 
advocate for those important and precious facilities, and he fought for 
their protection when he served as chairman and later as ranking member 
of the National Park Subcommittee of the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Craig had a proud history on the committee and in the Senate as he 
constantly and consistently advocated for the best administration and 
management of our park system. He authored legislation that provided 
critical funding and mandated management reforms that were necessary to 
keep our parks pristine and ensure they would be available for future 
generations to enjoy. He worked with all of his colleagues, regardless 
of their party affiliation, to increase funding for our parks so they 
could better deal with the maintenance backlog that exists. Now that he 
is gone, our parks have lost one of their best friends.
  Renaming the visitors center will ensure Craig's legacy will continue 
and never be forgotten. As noted in a letter by the Grand Teton 
National Park Foundation:

       Senator Thomas championed this project since 1997. His 
     leadership in securing an $8 million appropriation inspired 
     the Foundation to raise $13.6 million in private funds for 
     the project.

  For his efforts on this and so many issues of importance to our 
national park system, the Grand Teton National Park Foundation supports 
the naming of the center after Senator Thomas.
  I ask unanimous consent that a copy of their letter of support be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                              Grand Teton National


                                              Park Foundation,

                                         Moose, WY, June 12, 2007.
     Hon. Michael B. Enzi,
     Senate Russell Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Enzi: On behalf of the Board of the Grand 
     Teton National Park Foundation I am writing to endorse the 
     idea of naming the new Visitor Center in Grand Teton National 
     Park after the late Senator Craig Thomas.
       Senator Thomas loved the national parks and was a tireless 
     advocate for them. The beautiful Grand Teton Discovery and 
     Visitor Center which will open this summer is a model public/
     private partnership. Senator Thomas championed this project 
     since 1997. His leadership in securing an $8 million 
     appropriation inspired the Foundation to raise $13.6 million 
     in private funds for the project.
       The ribbon cutting on August 11th will be a special day for 
     everyone who has been involved with this project. It will 
     also be a very sad day because Senator Thomas will not be 
     there with us to celebrate the culmination of years of work.
       Feel free to contact me if you require any additional 
     information.
           Sincerely,
                                           Leslie Mattson-Emerson,
                                               Executive Director.

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly 
constructed Grand Teton Visitors Center is August 11, 2007. It will be 
a day that will be long remembered by all who come to honor the memory 
of one of the park's greatest champions. By passing this legislation, 
we are making that day possible and ensuring that those who attend that 
special ceremony will be the first to enjoy all the Craig Thomas 
Discovery and Visitor Center will have to offer. This is an honor which 
I know would have pleased Craig and made him very proud. I can also see 
him riding tall in the saddle of a horse, taking it all in under the 
brim of his favorite cowboy hat.
  Naming the visitors center for Craig Thomas will also mean a great 
deal to everyone who knew and loved him. It will be a tribute to a 
special American that will last for a long time to come.

[[Page 16333]]

Many years from today, when people come to the park and stop by the 
visitors center that bears his name, they will know that Craig Thomas 
was so many things in life--a marine, a Senator, a rancher, and a 
dedicated father and husband. But most of all, they will know Craig 
loved Wyoming and the West and fought with everything he had to 
maintain our precious resources.
  I always said God saved some of his best handiwork for Wyoming. We 
are fortunate that he also gave us the best champion to fight to 
protect and preserve it all.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of Calendar No. 41, S. 277.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 277) to modify the boundaries of Grand Teton 
     National Park to include certain land within the GT Park 
     Subdivision, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Enzi 
amendment at the desk be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be read 
a third time and passed; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table; and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 1709) was agreed to, as follows:

(Purpose: To designate the Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor Center as 
           the ``Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center'')

       Strike section 4 and insert the following:

     SEC. 4. CRAIG THOMAS DISCOVERY AND VISITOR CENTER.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) Craig Thomas was raised on a ranch just outside of 
     Cody, Wyoming, near Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton 
     National Park, where he--
       (A) began a lifelong association with those parks; and
       (B) developed a deep and abiding dedication to the values 
     of the public land of the United States;
       (2) during his 18-year tenure in Congress, including 
     service in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, 
     Craig Thomas forged a distinguished legislative record on 
     issues as diverse as public land management, agriculture, 
     fiscal responsibility, and rural health care;
       (3) as Chairman and Ranking Member of the National Parks 
     Subcommittee of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
     of the Senate and a frequent visitor to many units of the 
     National Park System, including Yellowstone National Park and 
     Grand Teton National Park, Craig Thomas was a strong 
     proponent for ensuring that people of all ages and abilities 
     had a wide range of opportunities to learn more about the 
     natural and cultural heritage of the United States;
       (4) Craig Thomas authored legislation to provide critical 
     funding and management reforms to protect units of the 
     National Park System into the 21st century, ensuring quality 
     visits to units of the National Park System and the 
     protection of natural and cultural resources;
       (5) Craig Thomas strongly supported public-private 
     partnerships and collaboration between the National Park 
     Service and other organizations that foster new opportunities 
     for providing visitor services while encouraging greater 
     citizen involvement in the stewardship of units of the 
     National Park System;
       (6) Craig Thomas was instrumental in obtaining the Federal 
     share for a public-private partnership with the Grand Teton 
     National Park Foundation and the Grand Teton Natural History 
     Association to construct a new discovery and visitor center 
     at Grand Teton National Park;
       (7) on June 4, 2007, Craig Thomas passed away after 
     battling cancer for 7 months;
       (8) Craig Thomas is survived by his wife, Susan, and 
     children, Patrick, Greg, Peter, and Lexie; and
       (9) in memory of the distinguished career of service of 
     Craig Thomas to the people of the United States, the 
     dedication of Craig Thomas to units of the National Park 
     System, generally, and to Grand Teton National Park, 
     specifically, and the critical role of Craig Thomas in the 
     new discovery and visitor center at Grand Teton National 
     Park, the Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor Center should be 
     designated as the ``Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor 
     Center''.
       (b) The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center.--
       (1) Designation.--The Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor 
     Center located in Moose, Wyoming, and scheduled for 
     completion in August 2007 shall be known and designated as 
     the ``Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center''.
       (2) Reference.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor Center referred to in 
     paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     ``Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center''.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
     such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.

  The bill (S. 277), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                 S. 277

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Grand Teton National Park 
     Extension Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Grand Teton National 
     Park.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (3) Subdivision.--The term ``Subdivision'' means the GT 
     Park Subdivision, with an area of approximately 49.67 acres, 
     as generally depicted on--
       (A) the plat recorded in the Office of the Teton County 
     Clerk and Recorder on December 16, 1997, numbered 918, 
     entitled ``Final Plat GT Park Subdivision'', and dated June 
     18, 1997; and
       (B) the map entitled ``2006 Proposed Grand Teton Boundary 
     Adjustment'', numbered 136/80,198, and dated March 21, 2006, 
     which shall be on file and available for inspection in 
     appropriate offices of the National Park Service.

     SEC. 3. ACQUISITION OF LAND.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary may accept from any willing 
     donor the donation of any land or interest in land of the 
     Subdivision.
       (b) Administration.--On acquisition of land or an interest 
     in land under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
       (1) include the land or interest in the boundaries of the 
     Park; and
       (2) administer the land or interest as part of the Park, in 
     accordance with all applicable laws (including regulations).
       (c) Deadline for Acquisition.--It is the intent of Congress 
     that the acquisition of land or an interest in land under 
     subsection (a) be completed not later than 1 year after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
       (d) Restriction on Transfer.--The Secretary shall not 
     donate, sell, exchange, or otherwise transfer any land 
     acquired under this section without express authorization 
     from Congress.

     SEC. 4. CRAIG THOMAS DISCOVERY AND VISITOR CENTER.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) Craig Thomas was raised on a ranch just outside of 
     Cody, Wyoming, near Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton 
     National Park, where he--
       (A) began a lifelong association with those parks; and
       (B) developed a deep and abiding dedication to the values 
     of the public land of the United States;
       (2) during his 18-year tenure in Congress, including 
     service in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, 
     Craig Thomas forged a distinguished legislative record on 
     issues as diverse as public land management, agriculture, 
     fiscal responsibility, and rural health care;
       (3) as Chairman and Ranking Member of the National Parks 
     Subcommittee of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
     of the Senate and a frequent visitor to many units of the 
     National Park System, including Yellowstone National Park and 
     Grand Teton National Park, Craig Thomas was a strong 
     proponent for ensuring that people of all ages and abilities 
     had a wide range of opportunities to learn more about the 
     natural and cultural heritage of the United States;
       (4) Craig Thomas authored legislation to provide critical 
     funding and management reforms to protect units of the 
     National Park System into the 21st century, ensuring quality 
     visits to units of the National Park System and the 
     protection of natural and cultural resources;
       (5) Craig Thomas strongly supported public-private 
     partnerships and collaboration between the National Park 
     Service and other organizations that foster new opportunities 
     for providing visitor services while encouraging greater 
     citizen involvement in the stewardship of units of the 
     National Park System;
       (6) Craig Thomas was instrumental in obtaining the Federal 
     share for a public-private partnership with the Grand Teton 
     National Park Foundation and the Grand Teton Natural History 
     Association to construct a new discovery and visitor center 
     at Grand Teton National Park;
       (7) on June 4, 2007, Craig Thomas passed away after 
     battling cancer for 7 months;
       (8) Craig Thomas is survived by his wife, Susan, and 
     children, Patrick, Greg, Peter, and Lexie; and

[[Page 16334]]

       (9) in memory of the distinguished career of service of 
     Craig Thomas to the people of the United States, the 
     dedication of Craig Thomas to units of the National Park 
     System, generally, and to Grand Teton National Park, 
     specifically, and the critical role of Craig Thomas in the 
     new discovery and visitor center at Grand Teton National 
     Park, the Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor Center should be 
     designated as the ``Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor 
     Center''.
       (b) The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center.--
       (1) Designation.--The Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor 
     Center located in Moose, Wyoming, and scheduled for 
     completion in August 2007 shall be known and designated as 
     the ``Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center''.
       (2) Reference.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor Center referred to in 
     paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     ``Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center''.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
     such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.

  Mr. ENZI. I yield the floor.
  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Wyoming for 
bringing forward this bill on behalf of Senator Thomas, who was such a 
force in this Chamber and especially a force on behalf of his State. It 
is a very appropriate thing to do.

                          ____________________