[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12423]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              PIONEER DAY

  (Mr. STEWART asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. STEWART. Mr. Speaker, like you, as a fellow Utahn, this week my 
heart is back in my district and my State as we celebrate our great 
pioneer heritage.
  On July 24, 1847, Brigham Young stood over the great Salt Lake 
Valley, which was nothing but a desert, devoid of any green meadows, 
and uttered those famous words, ``This is the place.''
  After traveling more than 1,300 miles crossing the Great Plains and 
the Rocky Mountains, the pioneers settled to begin a new life. 
Throughout this, they suffered great hardships: hunger, fatigue, cold, 
disease, and exhaustion. During their journeys, they quickly called 
Utah home as they reached this great valley, where they planted their 
crops and went to work building beautiful communities that grew into 
the wonderful city and State that we now know.
  Our State has much to be proud of. We have the greatest snow on 
Earth. Our National Parks are truly magnificent. Our State is 
consistently rated among the top in job creation, education, and 
quality of life. Utah truly has some of the most honest, hardworking, 
and friendly people in the country.
  Pioneer Day is celebrated to honor everyone who immigrated west to 
Utah during this pioneer era and who aided in creating this great 
State, which I'm proud to call my home.

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