[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11203]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     IN COMMEMORATION OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TOM McCLINTOCK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 26, 2014

  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, we rise today to honor one of our 
nation's greatest landmarks, Yosemite National Park. I am proud to be 
joined by: Rep. LaMalfa, Rep. Huffman, Rep. Garamendi, Rep. Thompson, 
Rep. Matsui, Rep. Bera, Rep. Cook, Rep. McNerney, Rep. Denham, Rep. 
George Miller, Rep. Speier, Rep. Swalwell, Rep. Costa, Rep. Honda, Rep. 
Eshoo, Rep. Lofgren, Rep. Farr, Rep. Valadao, Rep. Nunes, Rep. 
McCarthy, Rep. Capps, Rep. Brownley, Rep. Chu, Rep. Schiff, Rep. 
Cardenas, Rep. Sherman, Rep. Gary Miller, Rep. Napolitano, Rep. Waxman, 
Rep. Becerra, Rep. Negrete McLeod, Rep. Ruiz, Rep. Bass, Rep. Linda 
Sanchez, Rep. Royce, Rep. Roybal-Allard, Rep. Takano, Rep. Calvert, 
Rep. Hahn, Rep. Campbell, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, Rep. Lowenthal, Rep. 
Rohrabacher, Rep. Issa, Rep. Hunter, Rep. Vargas, Rep. Peters, and Rep. 
Davis.
  This year marks the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln's Yosemite 
Grant Act, creating, on June 30, 1864, the earliest parts of what would 
grow into the beautiful national park that we have today.
  In the midst of the Civil War, President Lincoln took the 
unprecedented step of setting aside this scenic tract of wilderness in 
central California for public use and recreation. The creation of this 
first public park, preserved for the enjoyment of the public, served as 
the catalyst for the creation of a vast system of lands that provide 
recreational opportunities across the country, including more than 400 
national parks.
  Yosemite's development into a national park made it one of the 
nation's first travel destinations. Countless millions of Americans 
have visited the park over the last 150 years to enjoy the scenic 
beauty of nature. More than just idle viewing, Yosemite's heritage 
includes a dedication to camping and hiking that allows park visitors 
to immerse themselves in one of the American people's greatest 
treasures. Providing these various recreational activities, that so 
greatly enhance the visitor experience, is the lifeblood of the 
surrounding foothill communities.
  Today, Yosemite National Park receives over 4 million annual 
visitors. They come from around the world to see the beauty and majesty 
of our nation. This includes Yosemite's two Wild and Scenic Rivers, the 
Tuolumne and the Merced; over 800 miles of trails, including the 
renowned Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail; the awe-inspiring 
scenery created by the area's rich volcanic and glacial history; and 
the groves of Giant Sequoia trees.
  The park includes parts of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and contains 
several of the highest peaks in North America. Some of the world's most 
spectacular and unique geologic formations exist in Yosemite National 
Park, including renowned formations such as Half Dome, Sentinel Dome, 
El Capitan, Glacier Point and the Royal Arches. Where the rivers wind 
through these impressive geological formations, there are some of the 
world's most majestic waterfalls: Yosemite Falls, Snow Creek Falls, 
Sentinel Falls, Bridalveil Fall, Nevada Fall, and Waterwheel Falls, to 
name a few.
  Mr. Speaker, Yosemite National Park is truly one of our nation's 
greatest treasures and we ask all the Members of this body to join us 
in celebrating its past and committing to preserving its future.

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