Date: 2007-06-27
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Chairman. I would like to mention an amendment I was going to offer but did not for fear it would not garner the appropriate number of votes. and that was to dam up Yosemite Valley. It is about time that we dam up that valley. let it flood now because Los Angeles and southern California is in dire need of water. We are talking about global warming and we are talking about the need for. water for our people. Now that would be a ridiculous amendment. but yet we didnt even get a chance to have $7 million as requested by the administration to look at the possibility of restoring Yosemite Valleys twin. the Hetch Hetchy. Eightyfour years ago the Hetch Hetchy Valley. the smaller twin to Yosemite Valley that is completely contained within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park. the only instance in which we dammed up a river to cover up a valley inside a national park took place. What aid John Muir say about it? He said: "Dam Hetch Hetchy! As well dam for watertanks the peoples cathedrals and dhurches. for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man." This is one of the beautiful natural resources in this country. and the administration said give us $7 million to study whether we could get. rid of OShaughnessy Dam that has been there for 84 years. restore this valley and show that we can provide that water supply to the city of San Francisco so we can give our children and grandchildren this great natural resource. Now I will admit Iam biased. I met my Wife in Yosemite on the banks of the Merced River in the beautiful Yosemite Valley. But let me just ask you. we talk about all these things. preserve this museum and preserve this art gallery and so forth. Can you imagine if we can give back to the American people another Yosemite Valley? And yet we cannot even get the committee $7 million to study the possibilities. Why are people afraid of this? We talk about preserving nature and concern for our national parks. This is a desecration of one of the most beautiful natural parks in the history of this Nation. Yosemite Valley. Most people dont know that there is a twin valley just north of it called the Hetch Hetchy because it is underwater. The city of San Francisco pays $50.000 a year to cover up one of the great. beautiful natural wonders of this Nation. And yet we couldnt even get $7 million to study. not to do it. to study if it is feasible. The governor has justcomtleted a study in which he said it was feasible. and said we need the Federal Government. since it is Federal land. to look at it and it will cost about $7 million. And this committee said no. we cant. The Speaker doesnt want it. Senators who happen to be in and around San Francisco dont want it. I dont know what is more environmentally important than saving� one of the great wonders of the world that is underwater. John Muir said this is the greatest desecration. the greatest desecration of natural resources in this Nation. John Muir. not usually noted as a Republican. but one of the great conservationists in the history of the United States. And we couldnt even get $7 million. I am very disappointed. I am extremely disappointed. If anybody wants to look at this. go to Yos~mite Valley. go to that national park and say you want to look at the Hetch Hetchy which John Muir said is one of the great cathedrals of nature in this country. It is kind of tough to see it because it is underwater. Now Im not saying stop the water from going to San Francisco. I am saying there are alternatives that would restore this beautiful. fantastic. feature of nature. and yet in this bill. we cant even allow $7 million.