Date: 2013-10-02
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak on the Continuing Resolutions to reopen our National Parks. Today. 368 national park sites were closed and we now see that the majority has noticed. On August 25. 1916. President Woodrow Wilson signed a law that is a solemn promise to the public that our nation would "conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife." for all of the people of this great nation for all generations to come. The United States unlike many other nations does not allow our national monuments and natural wonders to be privatizedthey belong to us all and should be treated with the utmost care and respect. Over 22.000 Parks Service Personnel care for and manage the over 400 areas designated as under the management of the National Parks Service. Here in our nations capital we see the damage caused by the majority of the House with insisting on a Federal government shutdown when surviving veterans of World War II who came to see the memorial built in their name and were nearly prevented from doing so. Our nations parks range from unimaginably large and majestic manifestations of Gods beauty on Earth to very small structures. but each is served by dedicated federal employees. The nations laws regarding national parks do not treat some parks more special than others. Around the nation people are not able to complete vacation plans because they will not be able to visit some of the nations most beautiful areas. which include our nations first national park Yellowstone National Park designated in 1872. The National Parks Services stewardship includes over 84 million acres of park lands. 4 million in land around oceans. lakes and reservoirs. 85.049 miles of rivers and streams. 68.561 miles of archeological sites. 43.162 miles of shoreline. 27.000 historic structures. which include presidential birthplaces. the preservation and protection of over 121 million objects in museum collections. 21.000 buildings. 12.250 miles of Trails and 8.500 miles of roads. Mr. Speaker. Texas is graced with 20 Federal Parks that include Big Bend National Park. Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument. Amistad National Recreation Area. Big Thicket National Preserve. Chamizal National Memorial. Fort Davis National Historic Site. Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. Padre Island National Seashore. Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site. Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River. and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park are all closed during the shutdown. Texas also has national Forests and grasslands: Angelina National Forest. Davy Crockett National Forest. Sabine National Forest. Sam Houston National Forest. Caddo and Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) National Grasslands. Black Kettle and McClellan Creek Grasslands. Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands. All of them are closed today because of the reckless behavior of the majority in the House of Representatives. Perhaps over the last few days members of the majority of the House of Representatives received their first education directly from constituents about our nations national parks and how much our parks and park lands are loved. Federal parks also contribute to the local economies where they are found and create tens of thousands of tourist related jobs. Because they are closed today those jobs are at risk as well as the incomes of the Park Rangers who are stewards of our nations most precious treasures. It is not as simple as opening the gates and letting people enterpeople while enjoying these treasures. can become lost. injured. or need assistance. The National Parks Service staff working at these sites are there to protect these them and to be a resource for visitors and more important to keep them safe while at Federal Parks. The House should take up the clean Senate Continuing Resolution to fund the entire government. Today. the Department of Homeland Security. the Federal Bureau of Investigations. the ATF. the Office of the Director of National Security. Military Reservists. Centers for Disease Control. Health and Human Services. National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration and hundreds of other small and large agencies are being impacted. Mr. Speaker I have often heard members of the majority compare their state to the entire United States as if the comparison are equivalent. From what we have learned from the majority they will leave everyone else behind if they get their way. They do not see the nation as large. but as a small place with small minded people. I represent a District in the State of Texas. one of our nations largest states with diversity in land and people that is rivaled by only a few other states. but I would not say that everything done in Texas would be the right decision for the entire United States. The United States is a very large place with large minded people with big hearts. who do not believe in leaving others behind. Mr. Speaker. instead of exempting certain groups and persons from the harm caused by a government shutdown. we should instead be focused on reopening the government as soon as possible. Texas is experiencing the impact of cutbacks in the $64.7 billion in federal spending that it receives annually. including the threat that the State may lose: $518 million in federal highway funds. $411 million for interstate highway maintenance. $130 million in home energy assistance for the poor. $71 million in Homeland Security grants. $55 million in coordinated border infrastructure and $97 million in federal adoption assistance. For these reasons. we cannot wait for the majority to discover all of the reasons why we have a federal government or the importance and purpose of each agency. We have to pass a clean CR nowwe do not need to wait. just bring to the floor the bills sent to this body by the Senate.