Pinnacles National Park Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3641) to establish Pinnacles National Park in the State of California as a unit of the National Park System, 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 materials on the bill under consideration.

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

H.R. 4631 renames Pinnacles National Monument as Pinnacles National Park. Pinnacles was originally designated in 1908 by President Roosevelt under the authority of the Antiquities Act. However, under this legislation, it is not anticipated that management would change dramatically as the area is already considered a unit of the National Park Service.

The Natural Resources Committee made important changes to H.R. 3641, allowing us to bring this to the floor today. For example, the committee removed a nearly 3,000-acre wilderness expansion and struck unnecessary land acquisition authority. With these changes, the goal of elevating recognition of the area as a national park is achieved without limiting access.

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

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

I would like to inquire if the gentleman from the Northern Marianas has any other speakers?

Likewise, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

(Mr. SABLAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, President Theodore Roosevelt designated Pinnacles National Monument in California under the authority of the Antiquities Act of 1908.

H.R. 3641 would redesignate the monument as Pinnacles National Park. While the name change will not significantly alter management of the area, it will raise the profile of this beautiful resource and hopefully attract even more visitors.

Representative Farr is to be commended for his tenacity in moving this legislation forward. He has had to make some very difficult concessions to achieve passage of his bill today, and it is our hope that we can continue working on this to achieve his full vision for Pinnacles National Park.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Farr).

No, we don't, Mr. Speaker.

At this time, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Energy Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 2015 and S. 3563, and the Senate proceed to their consideration, along with the following bills en bloc: H.R. 3263, H.R. 3641, and H.R. 4073, which were received from the House and are at the desk; Calendar No. 268, S. 264; Calendar No. 284, S. 1047; Calendar No. 288, S. 1421; Calendar No. 289, S. 1478; Calendar No. 272, S.499; Calendar No. 266, S. 140; and Calendar No. 265, S. 114.

I ask unanimous consent that where applicable, the committee-reported amendments be considered; that any amendments to those amendments, which are at the desk, be agreed to; that the committee-reported amendments, as amended, if amended, be agreed to; the bills, as amended, if amended, be read a third time and passed en bloc; that a title amendment for S. 114 be agreed to; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to any of the bills be printed in the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3641, known as the Pinnacles National Park Act. As the sponsor of this bipartisan legislation, I would also like to express my thanks to my friend, Congressman Denham from California, for his original cosponsorship of