A resolution to recognize the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve as a unique and precious ecosystem.

I thank my friend and colleague very much.

Madam Speaker, this resolution recognizes Dyke Marsh. It has been around for 5,000 to 7,000 years. It is a unique freshwater tidal marsh. But it also recognizes someone who may not have been around for 5,000 years, but has been around for 50 years, and that is our very distinguished colleague, John Dingell, who introduced the resolution 50 years ago to preserve Dyke Marsh as a habitat for wildlife and fish and the ecosystem in the Washington metropolitan area.

I want to note that my colleague in the United States Senate, Senator Jim Webb, last week introduced a companion piece, Senate Resolution 297, which also recognizes this significant milestone.

In 1959, this body passed legislation that designated Fairfax County's Dyke Marsh as a protected ecosystem for the purpose of promoting fish and wildlife development and preserving their natural habitat. Now, at the time, Dyke Marsh was being dredged for commercial purposes. They were going deeper and deeper to get gravel. They were ruining the ecosystem.

For those who live in the Washington metropolitan area or may be visiting the Washington metropolitan area, if you go down the George Washington Parkway toward Mount Vernon, right after the city of Alexandria, you will see Dyke Marsh. Belle Haven Marina is there.

Dyke Marsh is about 500 acres. It's preserved. It's a beautiful area. You can see bald eagles; you can see great blue herons. You can see snapping turtles; a whole lot of bullfrogs. There aren't a lot of places left in the Washington area where you can see this unless you go to the zoo.

But these creatures--the fish, the wildlife, and even the plants, some of which are rare, are in their natural habitat because of Chairman Dingell's efforts. He got together with John Saylor from Pennsylvania--my friend

Mr. Shuster knows him, as did Mr. Shuster's father--and the late Chairman Henry Reuss of Wisconsin. The three of them got together and they got this legislation through that stopped the dredging of Dyke Marsh, and it has been preserved to this day. Whether we can expand it and even restore it more to its natural habitat, I don't know. But I know because of this legislation we're at least going to be able to preserve what we have.

As the gentlelady suggested, it has over 6,500 species of plants and animals, some of which are threatened or endangered. It enhances water quality, stems shoreline erosion, and creates an aesthetic and recreational escape for people of all ages.

I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the significance of Dyke Marsh, in reaffirming our commitment generally to protecting our Nation's ecosystems, and in honoring three giants of the Congress--John Dingell, John Saylor, and Henry Reuss--whose leadership and commitment to environmental stewardship were instrumental in the Dyke Marsh's preservation.

I also want to recognize Ann Toohey, who has done the research and staff support on this. I want to express appreciation to my colleague, Congressman Gerry Connolly, whose district is just to the south of Dyke Marsh, but who was the Chair of the Fairfax County Board when Fairfax County made the especially important efforts to preserve Dyke Marsh.

Again, I urge passage of this bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise to salute my colleagues Congressman John Dingell and Congressman Jim Moran for their support of a rare natural and national treasure in Northern Virginia, the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve.

In 1959 Congress passed legislation to make this wetland ecosystem a National Park unit, which was introduced by Congressmen Dingell, John Saylor and Henry Reuss. Congressman Moran has introduced H. Res. 701, of which I am a proud cosponsor, to recognize their efforts and the 50th anniversary of Dyke Marsh.

The Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, just south of Alexandria on the Virginia shoreline of the Potomac River, is a rare, 485-acre freshwater, tidal wetland in suburban northern Virginia, just north and east of my district. I was proud to represent this Wildlife Preserve during my tenure as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The marsh is 5,000 to 7,000 years old and is one of the most significant temperate, tidal, freshwater, riverine marshes in the National Park system. It is a remnant of the tidal wetlands that once lined the Potomac River.

Congress designated Dyke Marsh as a nature preserve ``so that fish and wildlife development and their preservation as wetland wildlife habitat shall be paramount.'' Today it has 360 known species of plants, 6,000 arthropods, 38 fish, 16 reptiles, 14 amphibians and over 300 birds.

``Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is a wonderfully complex ecosystem,'' says Georgetown Biology Professor Dr. Edd Barrows. ``It may have as many as 18,000 species, from bacteria through bald eagles.'' Depending on the time and season, visitors can see bullfrogs, snapping turtles, great blue herons, black rat snakes, wood ducks, red-winged blackbirds and plants like pickerelweed, spatter-pond lily and wild rice. It is an important outdoor classroom for students of all ages and a laboratory for many area scientists.

Like all wetlands, Dyke Marsh provides ecological services including flood control, water quality enhancement, habitat, fish nursery, and shoreline stabilization.

I commend Congressman Dingell for his vision, and Congressman Moran for his commitment to preserving this ecological gem. I have been and will continue to be a proud supporter of the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 701) to recognize the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve as a unique and precious ecosystem.

Madam 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.

Madam Speaker, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, one of the largest remaining freshwater tidal marshes in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Established in 1959 under the leadership of Representatives Dingell, Saylor, and Reuss, this preserve provides habitat for more than 6,500 species of plants and animals along the Potomac River.

Freshwater tidal marshes are rare ecosystems providing ecological services and serving as an outdoor laboratory for scientists, educators, students, artists, birdwatchers, and many others to enjoy this unique and valuable environment.

I commend Congressman Jim Moran of Virginia for introducing this resolution, and I urge its passage.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order for the Senate to proceed en bloc to consideration of the following calendar items: Calendar No. 261, S. Res. 297; Calendar No. 262, S. Res. 275; Calendar No. 287, S. 1053; Calendar No. 291, S. 1405; Calendar No. 295, H.R. 689; Calendar No. 297, H.R. 1121; Calendar No. 300, H.R. 1442; Calendar No. 305, H.R. 2802.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to en bloc; the preambles be agreed to en bloc; that the committee- reported amendments, where applicable, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, if amended, where applicable, be read a third time and passed, as amended, if amended, where applicable, en bloc; the motions to reconsider be laid on the table en bloc; that the consideration of these items appear separately in the Record; and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 701 that has been offered by my colleague from Virginia (Mr. Moran). Fifty years ago, Congress designated Dyke Marsh, a section of the Potomac River shore in northern Virginia, as a wildlife preserve. It is appropriate that we take time today to recognize the 50th anniversary of that act because the marsh provides not only a great recreational setting for joggers, bike riders and birders, but also a place where people from a largely urban background can experience close up this example of the dynamic and resilient natural shoreline marshes provide.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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