National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. WALZ. I thank the gentleman.

I echo the statements made by the gentlewoman from Wyoming.

First of all, the passion and the work that she and her staff have put into this is thanked by many millions of Americans who use these trails. The gentlewoman has chosen to make this her last session of Congress; so I would like to go on record and say that the people of the great State of Wyoming have been well served by the gentlewoman's passionate, ethical leadership and by her willingness to put the Nation's business first and get things done. I thank the gentlewoman.

Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense bill. The Nation's outdoor industry is a $645-billion-a-year industry which hires 6.1 million Americans. The great blessings that we have in this Nation of the most beautiful outdoor areas in the world are a legacy that we want to pass on.

One of the issues is accessing those areas. Trail maintenance is absolutely critical. Listen to the groups of people who are behind this. These are pretty impressive and diverse groups of cosponsors, just to name a few: the National Association of Counties, the Wilderness Society, the Western Governors' Association, the Back Country Horsemen of America, Trout Unlimited, the American Motorcyclist Association, the National Wildlife Federation, and it goes on and on and on. The gentlewoman was referencing something that happened. This is a real-world fix to a real-world problem without its costing taxpayers money.

I had the opportunity this summer to be out at Glacier National Park with my family and to be up on Going-to-the-Sun Road at Logan Pass and, I think, hiking one of the most beautiful stretches on the planet--the Highline Trail. We were out about 16 miles; it was midday; and I had my children, my nephew, and my brother-in-law. We were all there and were enjoying this when we saw two Park Service folks, two young men, over there, working really hard. They had packhorses to pack their stuff in, and they were shoring up a trail from the glaciers that was there. I just walked over to them, and they had no idea there were hikers on the trail.

I said: I want to thank you both for the work you are doing.

They said: If you really want to thank us, have your Congressman call
and support Mrs. Lummis' bill on trail maintenance.

I could not have been more shocked to expect that there, but they understood the importance of it. They understood that they need the help and that the volunteers are there under the guidance and the expertise of the Forest Service. When we cut through some of the red tape, we get people who care about the trails out there, and we fix the problem.

I thank the gentlewoman and encourage the bill's support.

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