[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9440]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                AMERICANS DESERVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDS

  (Mr. HASTINGS of Washington asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Madam Speaker, millions of acres across 
our Nation are owned by the Federal Government, including national 
parks, forests, monuments, wilderness areas, and other lands. These 
lands belong to the American people and should be accessible to the 
public to enjoy.
  The Hanford Reach National Monument located in my hometown includes 
Rattlesnake Mountain. I've been to the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain, 
and it provides unparalleled views of the Monument, Hanford, and the 
Columbia River, and everybody should have an opportunity to appreciate 
that.
  I'm introducing legislation that would ensure public access to the 
summit of Rattlesnake Mountain. My bill simply is about making sure 
that land owned by the American people is accessible to the entire Tri-
Cities community--not something to be admired from afar and from behind 
a fence. Recognizing that people are allowed to go to the top of Mount 
Rainier, there is no reason why safe and regular access to the summit 
of Rattlesnake Mountain for the general public cannot and should not be 
provided.

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