[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17014]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF YOSEMITE 
                             NATIONAL PARK

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating the 125th anniversary of Yosemite National Park, a 
California treasure nestled against the stunning backdrop of the Sierra 
Nevada mountain range.
  In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act, a 
landmark bill granting 39,000 acres of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa 
Big Tree Grove to the State of California. This was the first time the 
United States had ever set aside land to protect it for the public to 
enjoy. Three decades later, Yosemite became the Nation's third national 
park--1,500 square miles of stunning waterfalls, magnificent sequoia 
trees, breathtaking mountain peaks, and portions of ancestral homeland 
for several American Indian tribes and groups.
  Over the years, Yosemite National Park has been a leader, becoming 
the first national park to hire a female law enforcement ranger, open a 
museum, and establish partnerships to help preserve Yosemite for future 
generations. Yosemite has also championed efforts to reduce waste and 
pollution by establishing recycling programs in the 1970s and operating 
a fleet of hybrid electric shuttle buses.
  Since its earliest days, Yosemite National Park has provided 
sanctuary, comfort, and inspiration to millions of visitors from across 
the globe who come to experience its natural splendor, rich geologic 
history, and abundant wildlife. The timeless beauty of Yosemite 
National Park is a testament to the vision and commitment of countless 
dedicated people and institutions over the past 125 years. I want to 
express my deep gratitude to the staff, volunteers, and friends of 
Yosemite for all they do to protect this natural wonder, and I am 
pleased to join in honoring this special anniversary occasion.

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