[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 6 (Monday, February 12, 2007)]
[Pages 134-136]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks in a Discussion on the National Parks Centennial Initiative in 
Luray, Virginia

February 7, 2007

    Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. Mr. President and First 
Lady Laura Bush, on behalf of all of the wonderful people of the 
National Parks Service, it is such an honor to have the First Couple 
here at this wonderful national park. And, ladies and gentlemen, those 
of you that are here at the roundtable, we look forward to this 
opportunity to have some discussions with you.
    But we'd be very honored, Mr. President, just to get initial 
thoughts from you. As I introduce our President, let me just put it in 
this perspective: Two years ago, my wife, Patricia, and I had the great 
opportunity to spend 3 days with the President and the First Lady in 
Idaho, to see this couple, what the outdoors mean to them, how they 
recreate, how they replenish their energy. I just saw their connection. 
We went fishing, hiking, biking. I went home tired. [Laughter] They went 
home with renewed energy. [Laughter]
    The First Lady. Refreshed.
    Secretary Kempthorne. And I think that you see that same sort of 
approach--their love of the outdoors--in this President's Centennial 
Challenge Initiative.
    So, Mr. President, thank you for all you're doing.
    The President. One of the reasons I asked Dirk to be the Secretary 
of the Interior is because I knew that he knew how important parks are 
to the country. And I want to thank you and Mary for taking on your big 
jobs. Our national parks are really one of America's great treasures. 
And the fundamental question is, are we going to be wise enough to treat 
them as such?
    When I first came into office, I was worried about a significant 
backlog of maintenance projects. And I want to thank Dirk for seeing 
through the completion or near completion of about 6,600 such projects.
    And in our discussions, we talked about how to make sure the 100th 
anniversary of our parks, coming in 2016, really celebrates the National 
Park System. And so today we're going to talk about an initiative called 
the National Parks Centennial Initiative. And I'm looking forward to 
hearing from our fellow citizens about ways to make sure this initiative 
fully honors the Park System.
    It is one thing to talk; it's another thing to act. And I've just 
submitted a budget to the United States Congress. In it, we've got a 
billion dollars new money for operating expenses. And that really helps 
to honor those

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who work hard in our Park System. I really love being with our park 
rangers. These are dedicated people who have got a pretty cool job, when 
you think about it. [Laughter] I just want to make sure that they got 
the money able to do their job.
    As well, we look forward to having a public-private partnership. The 
Federal Government will match monies raised in the private sector up to 
a billion dollars. Our idea is to have $3 billion new money available 
for this important initiative. And I know that Dirk is going to work 
hard to make sure that people have their say as to how this money is 
spent.
    And one person who has got a lot of say about the parks, in our 
family, is Laura. She is very much involved in our parks. She loves the 
outdoors. She takes a hike with her old high school buddies once a year 
to herald the Park System. If my entourage wasn't so big, I'd be with 
her. [Laughter] But it's big--[laughter]--so I stay at home.
    But I really do appreciate Dirk and Mary and you all joining us. I'm 
looking forward to our discussion.

[At this point, the First Lady made brief remarks.]

    The President. Yes, thanks.

[Secretary Kempthorne made brief remarks, concluding as follows.]

    Secretary Kempthorne. With that, I'm going to introduce the other 
members at the roundtable. Mary Bomar, who is our National Park Service 
Director. She is the first naturalized citizen in the United States to 
become Director of the National Park Service. In just a moment, Mary, 
I'll ask you for some comments.
    Vin Cipolla, who is the president of the National Park Foundation. 
And he's been there for just a couple of years. And his leadership which 
he has brought to the foundation is just getting such high marks.
    Derrick Crandall, who is the--and I look at this--the president and 
CEO of the American Recreation Coalition. He's been called, 
interestingly enough, the ``recreation guru'' by USA Today. He has been 
able to bring about organization of over 100 different entities that all 
believe in the outdoors and his advocacy of the outdoors.
    Gene Sykes, who is the champion of the National Parks Conservation 
Association. Gene is a managing partner of Goldman Sachs. I know of your 
love of the outdoors, the backpacking that you do repeatedly, and your 
particular love of the parks in Alaska.
    Fred Andreae, who is a trustee, Shenandoah National Park Trust. Fred 
is one of these examples that--as you look at the 90 years of the 
National Park Service, the reason they have been able to achieve 
greatness is because of the partnership with philanthropic communities, 
with friends of the parks. And, Fred, you have established that here at 
Shenandoah Park. We truly appreciate that.
    Chas Cartwright, who is the superintendent of this magnificent park. 
And you just say the name ``Shenandoah,'' and it's so historic, and it 
conjures up so many great things. I also noted that in the seventies, 
you were a river ranger on the Salmon River in Idaho. [Laughter]
    Chas Cartwright. I remember it fondly.
    Secretary Kempthorne. Yes, I knew that we would bond. [Laughter]
    With that, let me turn to Mary Bomar for her comments.

[Mary Bomar made brief remarks.]

    Secretary Kempthorne. Thank you, Mary.
    Mr. President, you mentioned--but I thought this would be of note, 
because really, it builds upon an initiative you started 5 years ago--
and the President referenced the 6,600 projects that were a backlog of 
deferred maintenance. And here they are. These are the projects. And it 
just shows you what has already been underway during these last 5 years. 
I mean, this is significant. Now we can build upon this.
    And this initiative which you have launched is not partisan; it is 
American. This is something that all of America can rally around, and I 
think this will be the reaffirmation of the parks being one of the 
greatest gifts to the American family.
    Chas Cartwright, would you make a few comments, please, about the 
new perspective?

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[Mr. Cartwright made brief remarks, concluding as follows.]

    Mr. Cartwright. So I just wanted to say, it's great having everybody 
here today. And thanks to the employees of Shenandoah National Park for 
doing such a great job.
    The President. Particularly the guy who cleared the road. [Laughter] 
Listen, we want to thank you for your contributions here. We'll hear 
from the other members here in a second. I do want to say something to 
follow up on this--and Congress needs to hear loud and clear how 
important this initiative is. And I fully hope the citizens groups who 
are concerned about the parks beat a hasty trail to the Congress and 
remind the Congress about what we have done and what we need to do as 
good stewards of the parks.
    Anyway, thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 11:59 a.m. in the Harry F. Byrd, Sr., 
Visitor Center at Shenandoah National Park. Secretary Kempthorne 
referred to Gene Sykes, director and chairman of the board of trustees, 
National Parks Conservation Association.