106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 326
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas on May 4, 2000, the National Park Service initiated
a prescription burn on Federal land during the
southwest’s peak fire season;
Whereas on May 5, 2000, the prescription burn exceeded the
containment capabilities of the National Park Service,
was reclassified as a wildland burn, and spread to non-
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Federal land, quickly becoming characterized as a
firestorm;
Whereas by May 7, 2000, the fire had grown in size and
caused evacuations in and around Los Alamos, New Mex-
ico, including the Los Alamos National Laboratory, one
of America’s leading national research laboratories and
birthplace of the atomic bomb;
Whereas on May 12, 2000, the President issued a major dis-
aster declaration for the Counties of Bernalillo, Cibola,
Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San
Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos, and Torrance;
Whereas the fire resulted in the loss of Federal, State, local,
tribal, and private property;
Whereas the loss to private citizens of personal property and
memories cannot be accounted for in monetary terms nor
repaid with financial assistance; and
Whereas a full congressional investigation will assist the Fed-
eral Government to determine the cause of this disaster
and its full cost to the Federal Government and the peo-
ple of New Mexico: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That—
(1) it is the sense of the Congress that the Fed-
eral Government should—
(A) take responsibility for the fire inten-
tionally set by the National Park Service at the
Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico, on
May 4, 2000, which burned out of control near
Los Alamos, New Mexico;
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(B) take all necessary steps to mitigate the
threats from the fire to the public health and
well-being of the residents of New Mexico; and
(C) take all necessary steps to compensate
the people of New Mexico for the losses in-
curred as a result of National Park Service ac-
tions; and
(2) the Congress commends—
(A) the people of New Mexico for opening
their homes and their hearts to the New Mexi-
can communities affected by this fire;
(B) the New Mexico firefighting teams for
their efforts and courage in battling the fire;
(C) the New Mexico National Guard and
the State of New Mexico for their efforts in
mitigating the fire and assisting those affected
by it;
(D) the American Red Cross and numer-
ous other charitable organizations and volun-
teers for the extensive assistance provided to
the fire victims;
(E) the Western States that have assisted
New Mexico by sending people and equipment
to help fight the fire;
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(F) the businesses which have served as
food and clothing collection points;
(G) all organizations and individuals that
have collected and disseminated information to
those affected by the fire;
(H) Sandia National Laboratories for ex-
tending assistance to fire victims;
(I) the Department of Energy for pro-
viding analysis and monitoring public health
concerns; and
(J) the people of the United States for
opening their hearts to assist with the plight of
New Mexicans affected by the fire and for send-
ing additional firefighting teams to help battle
the fire.
Passed the House of Representatives May 16, 2000.
Attest:
Clerk.