Date: 2007-09-10
Speaker: MIKE ENZI (republican)
Chamber: S

Craig Thomas knew that rural States such as Wyoming have special needs September 10. 2007 - CO when it comes to health care. He was cochair of the Rural Health Caucus for over 10 years. There are obstacles that our hospitals and providers must overcome to deliver quality care to families in an environment with limited resources. The week he passed away. Senator Thomas was set to reintroduce a followup health care bill. along with Senators ROBERTS. CONRAD. and HARKIN. This bill has been renamed the Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act. I will ask to cosponsor the legislation and- to join the Rural Health Caucus. While health care is near and dear to my heart.I am very pleased to be serving on three committees that are critical to Wyoming. So much of Wyomings heritage and Wyomings future is tied to our land. our people. and our natural resources. Wyoming has been represented on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee for over a century. I am grateful that my Republican colleagues recognized that long tradition and allowed me to keep Wyomings voice on the committee. The Environment and Public Works Committee also has a major influence on daily activities in the Equality State. and the Select Committee on Indian Affairs will allow me to continue to serve the needs of our Native American citizens. as I have done before as a trauma surgeon. Energy. Public Lands. and the National Parks are all vital to our States economy and our Nations. I will work to make sure that public lands remain open to multiple use. while at the same time ensuring our environment is protected. As an outdoorsman and a conservationist. Craig Thomas worked on two bills affecting the western part of Wyoming that were very close to his heart. While he is not here to carry on the work. the work needs to continue as part of his legacy. One is called the Snake River Headwaters Legacy Act of 2007. The bill. S. 1281. designates sections of the Snake River and several tributaries as "wild and scenic." This will create a lasting legacy for Wyoming people and for future generations. The designation of wild and scenic announces to the world that this river is the best of the best. The legislation he was working on also ensures that access. multiple use. and private property rights are not restricted. As a tribute to Senator Thomas. and in recognition of his years of leadership in the Senate. and specifically the Energy Committee. I will ask that my name be attached to S. 1281. I will work hard for passage ofthe bill that achieves Senator Thomass vision. while balancing the concerns shared withme during August by private landowners and the agriculture community in Wyoming. The second bill affecting the western part of Wyoming deals with a very special area named the Wyoming range. The Wyoming range is part of. the BridgerTeton National Forest. As a strong supporter of multiple use. Senator Thomas still believed there are areas of our State that are so sensitive that they must be protected from development. In 2005. Senator Thomas said: We ought to seek a balance of energy development and conservation.. We can have both. Wyomings economy is thriving because of the positive role of energy in our State. And most folks live in Wyoming because of our outstanding natural resources and quality of life. A bill to protect the Wyoming range was in the final stages of development when Senator Thomas died. I had talked with him about it. I have his draft bills. I have visited the Wyoming range and listened to those whom the legislation affects. I am completing that work and will soon be introducing a bill in the Senate to protect the undeveloped areas of the Wyoming range from any future oil and gas leasing. My legislation is intended to achieve that goal while respecting private property rights that currently exist in the Wyoming range. When I think of the history of our great State. I am reminded of one rugged individualist who loved WyomingTeddy Roosevelt. We take our kids to Mt. Rushmore to see his face chiseled into the mountain. along with Washington. Lincoln. and Jefferson. He gave a speech at the University of Wyoming about 100 years ago. There were 10.000 people in the crowd. Now. back then. that was a huge number for a sparsely populated State. He said: People of Wyoming. I believe in you and in your future. The government can only supplement the work of the individual. The work of the individual depends on the character of the individual.. Here we are. 100 years later. and the lesson is still the same: The Government can only supplement the work of the individual. It is the same message Ronald Reagan delivered in Cheyenne. WY. 25 years ago. He talked of why he loved the frontier spirit of the West. He .said: Wyoming is a place where people are still sure that the future is ours to shape. Still sure that the future is ours to shape. In Wyoming. we do believe the future is ours to shape. To shape .the future. you need to have a vision for the future. I can see a specific future for Wyoming that helps all Americans. Imagine a future where America breaks its dependence on foreign energy. Imagine a future of affordable domestic sources of energy. Imagine a future where we solve the issue of carbon emission. And imagine a future where we can accomplish all of this while we protect the environment. That is the future I see for America. and that is the future I see for Wyoming. Wyoming is blessed with incredible resourcescoal. natural gas. oil. and alternative sources of energy. with wind leading the list. The University of Wyomings School of Energy Resources is prepared to become the leading energy research institute in the world. converting coal to liquid. converting coal to gas. pumping carbon dioxide back into the earth to enhance our ability to get more oil. The worlds most powerful computer is being assembled in Wyoming to help make this possible. We can and we will do. it while preserving the natural beauty and the wildlife of "our State. That is the future I see for Wyoming. As a Senator from Wyoming. I am always asking myself: What can I do today for Wyomings future? I will tell you what I heard at 30 town meetings since I have been sworn in. What I heard is: Fight for Wyoming. fight every day. fight for our future. fight for quality education for our children. fight for quality jobs for our families. fight for health care. and fight for our core values--the values that come from within us. from our.families. our communities. and how we were raised. That is what I plan to do every day because. like my moms lesson. this is our most important year. Mr. President. I conclude by thanking the Members of the Senate who have all been so gracious in making me feel so welcome. I also want to tell you I feel very blessed. I am blessed with a wonderful team of Wyomingfolks with whom I serveVice President CHENEY. Senator ENZI. and Representative CUBIN. I am blessed with a .wonderful staff. who served with Senator Thomas. And I am blessed with a wonderful familymy children Peter and Emmaand the love of my life. Bobbi Brown. and her daughter Hadley. Bobbi is a breast cancer survivor. She is a remarkable person. At last months Race for the Cure in Wyoming. we announced our engagement. I joked with the crowd that I believed if I ever made anything out of myself I would ask Bobbi to marry me. The newspaper headline told the story: "Barrasso proposesBrown says yes." And I am very grateful. There is a passage in the Bible. a letter from Paul to Timothy. which says: In the end. he fought the good fight. he finished the race. he kept the faith. As I enter the Senate. it is my goal to fight the good fight. to finish the race. and to keep the faithfaith in God. faith in. my family. faith in Wyoming. and faith in America. With that. Mr. President. I yield the floor.