[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11044]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        OUR NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM

  (Mr. COSTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, this month we celebrate one of America's best 
ideas, our national park system, and what it means for millions of our 
families each year to be able to enjoy the park system throughout our 
country. As we mark National Parks and Recreation Month, we remember 
that the parks in America belong to all of us.
  We have some wonderful parks in California. Yosemite National Park is 
in my backyard, and it brings millions of Americans to California, who 
stand in awe of Half Done and Yosemite Falls, Toulumne Grove and the 
Mariposa redwoods.
  I have introduced legislation before this House that would protect 
Yosemite's vulnerable western boundary by expanding the park to include 
1,600 acres that was originally intended by John Muir. This would 
ensure that we continue to preserve the park for future generations of 
Americans as it was originally envisioned almost 150 years ago.
  It has been said that nothing is more American than our national park 
system. My bill would guarantee that we're protecting one of the crown 
jewels of this truly American treasure.

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