Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I am proud to stand here today on behalf of my constituents and my community throughout the region of western Washington, and especially those working hard in the Eighth District, to finally bring this legislation to the floor today. I just happen to be the conduit to bring this legislation to the United States House of Representatives, so all the hard work was really done by the people who live in our region.

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act is the product of teamwork, 3 years of careful collaboration, consultation, and consensus building with local stakeholders. Since 2007, we've worked with scores of local officials, conservation enthusiasts, recreation groups, public safety advocates, and parties interested in land use issues to develop this bipartisan proposal.

And I would like to particularly thank King County Councilman Reagan Dunn, whose mother actually held this seat prior to my arrival here, who has always worked tirelessly throughout the State of Washington, and especially in our western Washington area, for our environment.

I thank the community for taking the long view and for not letting politics get in the way of doing what's right for Washington State. Because of these efforts, we will have a spectacular wild area to leave behind for our children and grandchildren to use and enjoy.

H.R. 1769 builds on the proud Washington State tradition pioneered by Senators Warren Magnuson, Scoop Jackson, and Dan Evans, who have all worked together over the years to protect our public lands and preserve our recreational opportunities for all Washingtonians.

This bill also builds on another important Washington State tradition, that of collaborative consensus-based, environmental stewardship. And I want to thank Senator Patty Murray for introducing companion legislation on the Senate side.

My bill provides a unique opportunity to permanently protect key additions to the existing Alpine Lakes Wilderness, which reaches the crest of the Cascade Mountains just east of the Seattle-Bellevue metropolitan area in my district. It also preserves wildlife habitats, existing recreational opportunities, and local economies that rely on both.

Alpine Lakes was first designated by Congress in 1976, and it's one of the most visited and most popular wilderness areas in our country. My legislation embraces important lower elevation lands, completes watersheds, protects two rivers with wild and scenic designations, and provides clean water and flood control for the valleys those rivers run through.

The proposed additions have been carefully crafted, taking into consideration existing recreational opportunities for hiking, camping, rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing, also taking care to protect a large area to preserve for hunting and fishing opportunities.

These additions my bill makes to this Alpine Lakes Wilderness area do not infringe on any private property issues and will not cost the Federal taxpayers a single cent.

I hope today that we realize that protecting this wilderness will serve our future generations. And as a grandfather--now as my staff wrote this thing and I'm reading through part of this bill today, I noticed in this sentence right here they have shortened my life a little bit, because they have said that I won't have the opportunity to see my great-grandchildren enjoy this wilderness area. I have a 15- year-old grandson, so I'm hoping in the next, maybe, 10 years or so, I might be able to watch my great-grandchild walk through this park.

I've had the opportunity to work with, again, as I said, all the people in our community, and it's just a joy to take my grandchildren today, my sons and daughters before that, walking through the wilderness, looking at wildlife and seeing the excitement in their eyes as they see wildlife pass right in front of them in some of our wilderness areas in Washington State. So, this wilderness area will be right in the backyard of Bellevue and Seattle, 40, 45 minutes away.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation today.

I thank the gentleman from California and the gentlelady from Guam.

Madam Speaker, I certainly rise in support of the legislation under discussion. I also rise today as a proud cosponsor of H.R. 2788, the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act.

The creation of a memorial to honor Distinguished Flying Cross medal recipients is long overdue. These brave men and women are being honored for their heroic and extraordinary achievements during flight.

This diverse group of service men and women includes pilots from all five military branches and veterans from every U.S. military conflict from World War I to the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm honored to represent several of these heroes who have received the Distinguished Flying Cross medal.

One of the awardees is James Pressman of Clark, New Jersey. Born in Elizabeth and raised in Rahway, Mr. Pressman served as a U.S. Army pilot and has been decorated with three Distinguished Flying Crosses for his valiant efforts.

In 1967, he graduated from the Army ROTC program at Rutgers University, where he was enrolled in the Army

flight program. Upon graduation, Mr. Pressman attended Infantry Officer Basic School and Flight School and then served in Vietnam from March 1969 to March 1970.

Mr. Pressman flew UH-1H helicopters as a member of C Troop in the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry of the 1st Air Cavalry Division in Phuoc Vinh, Vietnam. After safely returning home, he taught for a year as a flight instructor at Fort Wolters, Texas. Once Mr. Pressman retired from the Army, he served 6 years in the Army National Guard in Westfield, New Jersey.

Mr. Pressman resides in Clark as a retired real estate agent and substitute history teacher at Westfield and Arthur L. Johnson high schools. It is my privilege, Madam Speaker, to recognize him today along with all of the other courageous servicemen and -women who have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

I thank the sponsor of the legislation, Congressman Ken Calvert of California, as well as the chairman and ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee, for bringing this legislation to the floor.

With that, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote for passage of the legislation.

I do rise in support.

I understand you had the debate, but I would feel remiss if I didn't make a few comments for my fellow airmen that have served and serve with great distinction.

It has probably been said, but Congress established the Distinguished Flying Cross 80 years ago, and today it is America's oldest military aviation award. The medal was created to symbolize sacrifice and heroism.

I applaud Mr. Calvert for introducing this legislation, which will finally give Distinguished Flying Cross recipients the national recognition they deserve. Many may know that I served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, including a couple tours in Vietnam. I had the opportunity to serve with many great aviators who were also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

I was truly honored to not only serve with these aviators but, in some cases, to supervise them. I had the opportunity to recommend brave individuals for the Distinguished Flying Cross. Their heroism and valor oftentimes inspired me and kept me going in the face of adversity.

This bill today honors my fellow aviators I served with during my 20 years, in addition to the men and women who now are protecting us in the skies domestically and abroad. My experience in the Army has a strong influence on me and added to many positives in the rest of my life.

When I look back at that time, I remember those I served with who gave the ultimate sacrifice to our country, those who served and gave their lives for our freedom. And I feel honored I had the opportunity to serve. Because of this experience, I truly relish what a tremendous gift and what a privilege it is to be an American.

Today I am extremely pleased to honor those aviators and all aviators. I strongly urge my colleagues to join in supporting H.R. 2788.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1769) to expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the State of Washington, to designate the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and Pratt River as wild and scenic rivers, and for other purposes, 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 bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1769, sponsored by Representative Dave Reichert of Washington, would expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area and designate two rivers as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness area, originally designated by Congress in 1976, sits 45 minutes east of downtown Seattle and has became one of the most visited wilderness areas in the country.

The proposed wilderness additions are low elevation lands that provide important habitat for wildlife when high elevation lands are covered by snow. Elk, deer, cougars, and bobcats live in the mountain valleys that comprise the proposed wilderness additions.

Mr. Speaker, we support passage of H.R. 1769, and we urge its adoption by the House today.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Boswell) such time as he may consume. And before he begins, I would like to mention that he is a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Madam Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, in a moment, I'm going to yield time to Dave Reichert, the lead sponsor and proponent of this legislation, but before doing so, I want to recognize what a diligent and persuasive advocate Dave Reichert has been for this bill. He developed it by working closely with local leaders. He introduced it and has gained the support of Washington State's two Democratic Senators.

While the bill does not take the approach that I personally believe is best for protecting our Federal forests and public lands, this bill only affects lands in Washington State's Eighth Congressional District, which Dave Reichert has been elected to represent.

Due to the leadership and hard work of Mr. Reichert, this bill was advanced out of the Natural Resources Committee, and I fully expect it will pass the full House of Representatives today.

So to my friend and colleague from Washington State, I offer my congratulations on his success, and I yield him whatever time he may consume.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance).

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