Recognizing and commending the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on its 75th year anniversary.

I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding me this time. I rise in support of this resolution to recognize the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a resolution that was introduced by my good friend and neighbor from the First Congressional District of Tennessee, Dr. Roe.

I represent about half of the Tennessee part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Dr. Roe represents the other half of the Tennessee portion, which is, of course, the bigger portion of the national park.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the things of which those of us from east Tennessee are most proud. It has often been said that our national parks are our Nation's crown jewels. If that is true, then the Great Smoky Mountains National Park must certainly be one of the largest jewels in that crown.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is, by far, our most visited national park, with over 9 million visitors each year--approximately three times the number of visitors that go to our second and third largest national parks.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with only 520,000 acres, seems huge to anyone who comes there. Of course, it is very small in comparison. We talk often here about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is 19.8 million acres, which is 36 or 37 times the size of the Great Smokies, but it certainly is one of the most beautiful areas of this country. And more than 50 percent of the Nation's population lies within a day's drive of the park.

Within the park you can find more than 1,500 species of plants, over 200 species of birds, 66 species of mammals, 50 species of fish, and so on. You will also find plenty of recreation opportunities in the park, including 800 miles of hiking and horse trails, and some of the most beautiful valleys and high

peaks anyone has ever seen, such as Cades Cove and Mount LeConte.

Although any time is a great time to visit the park, the views are truly spectacular in the spring, with the blooming of the dogwoods and redbud trees and in the fall when the leaves begin turning various shades of red and orange and yellow.

My hometown of Knoxville is considered by many to be the gateway to the Smokies, and residents of Knoxville played a very important role in establishing the park.

The original idea for a Smokies National Park came from a wealthy and influential Knoxville family, Mr. and Mrs. William P. Davis, who came back from a visit to the national parks out West in the early 1920s with a simple question: Why can't we have a national park in the Smokies?

Very quickly, other influential citizens of Knoxville such as politicians, businessmen, naturalists, and others joined in this movement. Eventually, the legislatures in Tennessee and North Carolina realized that this was a worthy project. Both legislatures appropriated $2 million in 1927.

Although this was a large amount of money, it was not enough. Colonel David C. Chapman of Knoxville joined forces with National Park Service Director Arno Cammerer and began seeking additional sources of funding. Ultimately, they convinced John D. Rockefeller, Jr., to contribute to the cause.

The Rockefeller family was well known for their philanthropy, especially in regards to the National Parks. They made a gift of $5 million to the effort, but only on the stipulation that the funds would be matched. To get the full $5 million, the States and Park Service would have to come up with $5 million on their own.

Once the funding commitments were in place by 1929, it took several more years to acquire the land and develop the facilities. While this land has become almost priceless today, I don't think enough credit or recognition has been given to those families and people from whom land was taken to create this park.

During the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Works Progress Administration, and other Federal organizations made trails, fire watchtowers, and other infrastructure improvements to the park. The park was officially opened in June of 1934. That date is the date we are commemorating with this resolution.

I would like once again to thank and congratulate Dr. Roe for his very thoughtful resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution celebrating and recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 421) recognizing and commending the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on its 75th year anniversary.

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

Mr. Speaker, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created by Congress on June 15, 1934. The park now encompasses more than 520,000 acres of land in Tennessee and North Carolina, making it the largest protected area in the eastern United States. It is also our Nation's most visited national park.

This great park is world-renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture.

House Resolution 421, introduced by the gentleman from Tennessee, Representative David Roe, would express the commendation of the House of Representatives to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the National Park Service for 75 years of successful management and preservation of the park land.

Mr. Speaker, we support House Resolution 421, and urge its adoption by the House today.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

I rise in support of House Resolution 421 and yield myself such time as I may consume.

This resolution celebrates one of the most popular national parks in our country. It is a beautiful part of the country that I have had the privilege of visiting on several occasions.

I congratulate Congressman Roe for bringing this resolution to the House so that we may recognize the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

At this time I would yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), whose congressional district includes about half of the Tennessee portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

I think it's evident from the remarks of Representative Duncan that he has a great love and appreciation and support for this beautiful national park, and the fact that it's the most visited national park in the entire park system attests to its popularity and its beauty.

I would urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I submit to the Record the following remarks regarding my absence from votes which occurred on June 2nd. Due to inclement weather that caused my connecting flight from Charlotte, North Carolina to Washington on Tuesday, June 2 to be delayed, I missed a series of votes that were held. Listed below is how I would have voted if I had been present.

H. Res. 421--recognizing and commending the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on its 75th year anniversary (Roll no. 292)--Aye

H.J. Res. 40--to honor the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the United States, and for other purposes (Roll no. 293)-- Aye

H. Res. 489--recognizing the twentieth anniversary of the suppression of protesters and citizens in and around Tiananmen Square in Beijing, People's Republic of China, on June 3 and 4, 1989 and expressing sympathy to the families of those killed, tortured, and imprisoned in connection with the democracy protests in Tiananmen Square and other parts of China on June 3 and 4, 1989 and thereafter (Roll no. 294)--Aye

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H. Res. 421 and congratulate the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on turning 75. What an amazing success story!

This Park--the most visited in the United States--serves as a source of pride for residents of our entire region and we celebrate the vision of our ancestors who had the foresight to preserve this amazing area for all future generations to enjoy. As an avid outdoorsman myself, I am particularly grateful for this natural wonder.

Two weeks from yesterday, the Park will officially turn 75 with activities planned all summer to commemorate this accomplishment. I hope all Americans will join in the celebration and come visit what is truly one of our nation's finest examples of scenic beauty.

I also want to congratulate the National Park Service for its diligent management of the Park. Without its leadership, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park would not be what it is today.

I hope all members of Congress will join me in supporting H. Res. 421.