III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 679 

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Weeks Law. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 17, 2010 

Mr. GREGG (for himself and Mrs. SHAHEEN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 

Forestry 

NOVEMBER 29, 2010 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Weeks Law. 

Whereas the 100th anniversary of the Act of March 1, 1911 

(commonly known as the ‘‘Weeks Law’’) (16 U.S.C. 552 

et seq.), marks one of the most significant moments in 

conservation and Forest Service history; 

Whereas New Hampshire, along with the southern Appalachians, was at the center of efforts to pass the Weeks Law; 

Whereas John Wingate Weeks, sponsor of the Weeks Law, 

was born in Lancaster, New Hampshire, and maintained 

a summer home there that is now Weeks State Park; 

Whereas, in 1903, the Appalachian Mountain Club, and the 

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SRES 679 ATS 

shire’s Forests, helped draft a bill for the creation of a 

forest reserve in the White Mountains; 

Whereas passage of the Weeks Law on March 1, 1911, was 

made possible by an unprecedented collaboration of a 

broad spectrum of interests, including the Appalachian 

Mountain Club, the Society for the Protection of New 

Hampshire Forests, industrialists, small businesses, and 

the tourist industry; 

Whereas, in 1914, the first 7,000 acres of land destined to 

be part of the White Mountain National Forest were acquired in Benton, New Hampshire, under the Weeks 

Law; 

Whereas national forests were established and continue to be 

managed as multiple use public resources, providing recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and renewable timber resources; 

Whereas the forest conservation brought about by the Weeks 

Law encouraged and inspired additional conservation by 

State and local government as well as private interests, 

further protecting the quality of life in the United States; 

Whereas the White Mountain National Forest continues to 

draw millions of visitors annually who gain a renewed appreciation of the inherent value of the outdoors; 

Whereas the multiple values and uses supported by the White 

Mountain National Forest today are a tribute to the collaboration of 100 years ago, an inspiration for the next 

100 years, and an opportunity to remind the people of 

the United States to work together toward common goals 

on a common landscape; and 

Whereas President Theodore Roosevelt stated ‘‘We want the 

active and zealous help of every man far-sighted enough 


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to realize the importance from the standpoint of the nation’s welfare in the future of preserving the forests’’: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the significance of the 100th an3 niversary of the Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly 

4 known as the ‘‘Weeks Law’’) (16 U.S.C. 552 et 

5 seq.), to the history of conservation and the power 

6 of cooperation among unlikely allies; 

7 (2) encourages efforts to celebrate the centen8 nial in the White Mountain National Forest with a 

9 focus on the future as well as to commemorate the 

10 past; and 

11 (3) encourages continued collaboration and co12 operation among Federal, State, and local govern13 ments, as well as business, tourism, and conserva14 tion interests, to ensure that the many values and 

15 benefits flowing from the White Mountain National 

16 Forest today to the citizens of New Hampshire, and 

17 the rest of the United States, are recognized and 

18 supported in perpetuity. 

Æ 


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