John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act

Floor Speech

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1289) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire approximately 44 acres of land in Martinez, California, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

H.R. 1289 would expand the John Muir National Historic Site by approximately 44 acres. This expansion may only occur by donation of the land.

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, in Martinez, California, this site preserves the 14-room Italianate Victorian mansion where John Muir lived, as well as a 325-acre tract of native oak woodlands and grasslands owned by the Muir family.

The additional proposed acreage in this bill is directly adjacent to the current site and will allow for better public access to trails in the area. This acreage has been donated to the National Park Service and will not be acquired with any Federal dollars.

This bill passed out of committee by unanimous consent, and a previous version passed the House during the 113th Congress. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, my district comprises the Sierra Nevada, and we are daily reminded of the foresight of pioneers like John Muir who worked to set aside these natural assets for, in the words of the original Yosemite Charter, ``the public's use, resort, and recreation for all time.''

Keeping their memory fresh is an important objective, and I urge the adoption of the legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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