Raúl Grijalva

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 609) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Central Texas Water Recycling and Reuse Project, and for other purposes.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, let me, if I may, inquire of the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) if he has any additional speakers.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) as much time as he may consume.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The purpose of House Resolution 217, introduced by our colleague from Oregon, Mr. David Wu, is to express the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the 50th anniversary of the flooding of Celilo Falls. Celilo Falls was a unique natural feature formed as the Columbia River carved a path through the hard volcanic rock east of the Cascade Mountains. On March 10, 1957, the Dalles Dam was completed, flooding the historic fishing and trading area around Celilo Falls. For over 10,000 years, the falls had been an area of intense trading and commerce for Indian tribes from as far away as Alaska, the Great Plains, and the Southwest. The falls were also noted as an extremely abundant fishery, where tons of Columbia River salmon were caught, dried, and traded. Mr. Speaker, this resolution simply seeks to recognize the 50th anniversary of the flooding of the falls, and to remember Celilo Falls as an important area of fishing and trading for many tribal peoples. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 217, and I offer my congratulations to Congressman Wu for his leadership on this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 217) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the 50th anniversary of the flooding of Celilo Falls.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California, Representative McNerney.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington State, Representative Baird.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington, a member of the committee, Representative Jay Inslee. (Mr. INSLEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my colleague, the sponsor of this legislation before us today, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 886, introduced by the gentleman from Washington State, Representative Rick Larsen, would designate a 106,000-acre wilderness on national forest lands in the State of Washington. The proposed wilderness, to be known as the Wild Sky Wilderness, has probably been more studied and reviewed than any recent wilderness considered by the Natural Resources Committee. This is not a new matter. Nearly identical legislation was approved by the committee in the 107th Congress. This message was subject to a hearing in 2004, at which time the administration testified they do not object to its passage. Further, similar legislation has passed the Senate in each of the last three Congresses. The proposed wilderness includes significant low-level elevation wilderness that is home to important fish and wildlife populations. This new wilderness would link with previously designated wilderness in the national forest and would be within a few hours' distance from half of the population of Washington State. The Wild Sky Wilderness has significant State and local support in Washington. State officials, local elected officials, businesses, and church groups have all gone on record supporting the wilderness designation. Mr. Speaker, the time has come to designate this wilderness. I would like to commend my colleague, Representative Larsen, and other Members of the Washington delegation for their perseverance in seeking a wilderness designation for this magnificent area. We support passage of H.R. 886 and urge its adoption today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 886) to enhance ecosystem protection and the range of outdoor opportunities protected by statute in the Skykomish River valley of the State of Washington by designating certain lower- elevation Federal lands as wilderness, and for other purposes.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the efforts of my constituents in Yuma to revitalize and beautify their surroundings. The community came together to create the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Memorial Playground located in the Yuma West Wetlands Regional Park. This is a true community project as it was created from the input of over 5,000 local schoolchildren. This project united all generations to create it and was fully assembled by dedicated volunteers throughout two weekends in February. I have heard from many parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and educators that the children have approved thoroughly of the park. And today I rise to thank the community for the park and provide my heartfelt approval and gratitude as well. This park has an important role in Yuma, as it is a culmination of work from all aspects of the community. It also served as an educational tool. Bringing in the children to have input was an opportunity for the children to learn about planning in our community, in addition to preservation of open and friendly spaces. There was much sweat and hard work that was put into the park, and I guarantee there will be many squeals of joy and happy families for years to come. This important achievement will long be remembered in Yuma, and it is with pride that I celebrate with my constituents in the realization of this important park.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life of Cesar Chavez, to commemorate his life, to ask for a national holiday. He would have been 80 years old this Saturday, and I guess the most personal thing I can say is how he affected my life and the lives of countless people. He gave voice to the powerless in this country. He gave voice to the issues of the environment, human rights, labor rights, education and turned a whole generation and a whole community to look forward to opportunity and to stand up and protect the very fundamental rights that each one of us as an American holds true. Cesar Chavez is not just an icon. Cesar Chavez is a living legacy of what this country's unfinished business is, the unfinished business of giving worth to each human being in this country. I would end with a quote by Cesar Chavez: ``We can choose to use our lives for others to bring about a better and more just world for our children.'' That is the greatest opportunity we have.

Mr. GRIJALVA

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 138) recognizing the importance of Hot Springs National Park on its 175th anniversary.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. GRIJALVA. House Resolution 138, introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Arkansas, Representative Mike Ross, would express a recognition by the House of Representatives of the importance of the Hot Springs National Park on its 175th anniversary. Most people know that Yellowstone is our first national park, but more than 40 years before Yellowstone was established as a park, Congress set aside 2,529 acres in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas to preserve 47 hot springs located there. The law was enacted at the request of the General Assembly of the Territory of Arkansas and signed by President Andrew Jackson on April 20, 1832. That made the Hot Springs Reservation the first nationally protected parkland. The reservation was turned over to the Department of the Interior when that Department was established in 1849. However, it took another quarter of a century, a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, and the protection of Federal troops to settle the bogus land claims and chase off overeager entrepreneurs seeking to make profit from the springs. Notably, the 1916 Organic Act which established the National Park Service mentioned only the Hot Springs Reservation by name, even though by that time several other national parks and monuments had been designated by Congress. The Organic Act placed all these units under the supervision, management, and control of the new agency. On March 4, 1921, Congress elevated Hot Springs to a national park status, apparently with the personal interest of the first director of the National Park Service, Stephen Mather. Bathhouse Row, the Hot Springs street lined with opulent bathhouses and hotels, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1974. The most elegant of these bathhouses, the Fordyce, has since been adapted to use as a visitor center and museum. The park currently totals 5,550 acres and attracts over 1 million visitors a year. The park plans a 175th anniversary celebration on Friday, April 20; and this resolution will be a fitting commemoration of the role Hot Springs played in National Park history. Madam Speaker, I want to commend and congratulate my colleague, Representative Ross, for his commitment and leadership on this matter. We strongly support the passage of House Resolution 138 and urge its adoption by the House. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, at this time I would like to yield as much time as he may consume to my colleague from Arkansas (Mr. Ross).

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.