To ensure that hunting remains a purpose of the New River Gorge National River.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on National Parks. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 1816, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a commemorative trail in connection with the Women's Rights National Historical Park to link properties that are historically and thematically associated with the struggle for women's suffrage, and for other purposes; S. 2093, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers in the State of Vermont for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System; S. 2535, to revise the boundary of the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, and for other purposes; S. 2561, to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a theme study to identify sites and resources to commemorate and interpret the Cold War; S. 3011, to amend the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site Act of 1991 to expand the boundaries of the historic site, and for other purposes; S. 3113, to reinstate the Interim Management Strategy governing off-road vehicle use in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina, pending the issuance of a final rule for off-road vehicle use by the National Park Service; S. 3148, to modify the boundary of the Oregon Caves National Monument, and for other purposes; S. 3158, to extend the authority for the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission; S. 3226, to rename the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in the State of Kentucky as the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park; S. 3247, to provide for the designation of the River Raisin National Battlefield Park in the State of Michigan; and H.R. 5137, to ensure that hunting remains a purpose of the New River Gorge National River.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150, or by email to [email protected] .gov.

For further information, please contact David Brooks at (202) 224- 9863 or Rachel Pasternack at (202) 224-0883.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5137) to ensure that hunting remains a purpose of the New River Gorge National River.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, the New River Gorge National River in southern West Virginia was designated as a unit of the National Park System in 1978. At times referred to as the ``Grand Canyon of the East,'' we in West Virginia refer to the Grand Canyon as the ``New River Gorge of the West.''

The national river is comprised of over 70,000 acres of mostly rugged terrain and is renowned as a destination for its world-class whitewater recreation, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities. But it is also a place where generations of West Virginians have hunted and fished.

Unfortunately, the National Park Service, as part of the development of a new general management plan for the park unit, has included a no- hunting alternative. It is doing so because legislation which establishes the New River Gorge National River states that hunting ``may'' be permitted.

The enabling statute for the nearby Gauley River National Recreation Area, on the other hand, states that hunting ``shall'' be allowed. In fact, this is the case for the vast majority of the 62 units of the National Park System in which hunting is permitted.

The bill we are considering today simply changes the ``may'' to a ``shall'' in the law which established the New River Gorge National River. While there is no doubt in my mind that the current superintendent of this park unit will do the right thing and allow hunting to continue in the final general management plan, this is too important of an issue to remain at the discretion of future managers of the park unit.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the memory of Margaret Lois Pryor Queen. Born 86 years ago in Henderson County, North Carolina, Lois Queen was a tireless advocate throughout her life for children in western North Carolina.

In 1942, Lois Queen graduated from Western Carolina Teachers College as the first female majoring in physical education. Throughout the 1950's and 1960's, she worked as a schoolteacher and an elementary school principal in North Carolina and Fairfax County, Virginia. She earned a master's degree in education from American University in 1969, while serving as a school principal.

In 1972, Queen was instrumental in the creation of the Southwestern Child Development Commission, a nonprofit agency designed to coordinate and generate community resources to support high quality child care services, including developmental day care, in the westernmost seven counties of North Carolina. Queen became the director of the Southwestern Child Development Commission in 1972. The organization now has a staff of over 300, and serves more than 2,000 children per month.

In the 1980's, Lois Queen continued to advocate for children as the chair of the North Carolina Day Care Commission. Even during her retirement, she served on the boards of the Southwestern Child Development Commission and REACH of Haywood County.

Lois Queen leaves behind 5 children and many grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. I offer my sincere condolences to them. They are in my thoughts and prayers. I would also like to offer my gratitude to those who follow the legacy of Lois Queen, and work with the Southwestern Child Development Commission to advocate each day on behalf of the children of western North Carolina.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing remorse at to the passing of Lois Queen. Her life was an example of service and advocacy for all of us to follow.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on H.R. 5137, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

When credit is earned, credit needs to be given where it is due, and Chairman Rahall has a wonderful bill. I am totally supportive of his efforts, and it's an excellent bill.

This ensures that hunting rights will continue in this great area, the New River Gorge National River. I am encouraged to see that many of my colleagues on the other side appreciate the importance of hunting and the benefit it has on public lands even within the Park Service System. And I hope that the chairman will join with us as we work to ensure second amendment hunting rights on Federal lands are secured in the other 49 States as well. I am confident that we can build a consensus around State and local control of hunting and deliver the rights that this legislation ensures to the Federal land around this particular entity.

As I said, I am totally in support of this bill. I think it's an excellent bill.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.