Honoring the life of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, champion of the Florida Everglades and founder of Florida's environmental movement.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 807, honoring the life of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, champion of the Florida Everglades, and founder of Florida's environmental movement. Marjory Stoneman Douglas's life was dedicated to the idea that my State of Florida, and indeed the United States has a great treasure in the Everglades, unlike any other in the world. When others were looking at the land of the Everglades with the hope of draining away the water, and building on the land, Marjory Stoneman Douglas allowed all of us to see Florida the way she saw it, in its utterly unique natural majesty. When she spoke, it was with the voice of the Everglades, and the natural places of Florida.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas was a tireless advocate since her youth, writing as a voice for the voiceless and downtrodden, and fighting for equality of people of all races, genders, and for the conservation of the natural places. But it was not until she was almost 60 years old, that she wrote ``Everglades: River of Grass.'' That book, in the simplicity, beauty and depth of its prose, opened the eyes of America to the significance of the Everglades, and the great danger of allowing that treasure to be squandered. Marjory Stoneman Douglas wrote ``Everglades: River of Grass in 1947.'' By December of that year, the Everglades had been dedicated as a part of the National Parks System.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas devoted her life to preserving the Everglades she had first helped to bring into American consciousness. She fought to prevent shortsighted development that would have permanently damaged the Everglades, and to restore the park to its former majesty. In her autobiography, she wrote that ``Since 1972, I've been going around making speeches on the Everglades. No matter how poor my eyes are I can still talk. I'll talk about the Everglades at the drop of a hat. Whoever wants me to talk, I'll come over and tell them about the necessity of preserving the Everglades.''

She began ``Everglades: River of Grass'' by writing, ``there are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth.'' In the same way, there was only one Marjory Stoneman Douglas. She was a unique individual, in the conservation movement, and we in Florida, and in the United States, owe her a great debt. We are proud to honor her life and her work today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 807, a resolution honoring the life of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, champion of the Florida Everglades and founder of Florida's environmental movement. I am proud to have introduced this resolution with my colleague and good friend, Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. I share Representative Ros-Lehtinen's desire to recognize and commemorate the significance of Marjory Stoneman Douglas's lifelong work to promote awareness of the need to protect and conserve Florida and the entire Nation's natural resources.

As co-chair of the Everglades Caucus, I particularly share Ms. Douglas's passionate commitment to restoring the River of Grass to the pristine ecosystem it once was.

Ms. Douglas deserves much credit for raising awareness of the importance of these majestic wetlands and making restoration efforts a national priority. In 1947 she wrote the infamous book, ``The Everglades: River of Grass,'' which helped draw national attention to the Everglades. This book is responsible for initiating public support for President Harry Truman's 1947 declaration officially protecting the Everglades as a national park. Today, this book serves a the ``bible'' for all Everglades supporters and environmental activists around the world.

Ms. Douglas is also responsible for founding the Friends of the Everglades, an educational and advocacy group dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Everglades. Through the group's ecosystem conservation efforts, Ms. Douglas's legacy lives on.

This resolution enjoys bipartisan support from every Member of the Florida delegation. The support this resolution enjoys indicates the respect our delegation has for Ms. Douglas's lifelong work and the impact of her contributions on the entire State of Florida.

I am proud to join Representative Ros-Lehtinen in introducing this bipartisan resolution and pledge to carry on Ms. Douglas's legacy effort by continuing to champion Everglades restoration efforts in Congress.

I urge my colleagues to adopt this excellent resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 807) honoring the life of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, champion of the Florida Everglades and founder of Florida's environmental movement, as amended.

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.

Following on the heels of the resolution just considered by the House, this resolution honors the life, accomplishments, and distinguished career of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the ``Grande Dame of the Everglades,'' on the 60th anniversary of the publication of her book, The Everglades: River of Grass. House Resolution 807 was introduced by our colleague from Florida, Representative Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, and is cosponsored by every member of the Florida delegation.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas was an author, journalist, and environmental conservationist, best known for her advocacy for the preservation of the Florida Everglades. Her best known work, The Everglades: River of Grass, is considered a classic example of environmental writing and is credited with bolstering public support for preserving the Everglades as a National Park.

I support passage of H. Res. 807 and urge its adoption by the House.

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

I yield back the balance of my time.

I also rise in support of House Resolution 807 and yield myself such time as I may consume.

This resolution has been well explained by the chairman, and I would also like to commend the Congresswoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for her work on this resolution. What is most extraordinary about Marjory Stoneman Douglas is that she did not take a central role the Everglades fight until she was 78, an age when most people begin to settle into their retirement, and she would continue her fight for another 30 years, until the age of 108.

I urge the adoption of this resolution.

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