Our National Park System

Floor Speech

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, this month we celebrate one of America's best ideas, our national park system, and what it means for millions of our families each year to be able to enjoy the park system throughout our country. As we mark National Parks and Recreation Month, we remember that the parks in America belong to all of us.

We have some wonderful parks in California. Yosemite National Park is in my backyard, and it brings millions of Americans to California, who stand in awe of Half Done and Yosemite Falls, Toulumne Grove and the Mariposa redwoods.

I have introduced legislation before this House that would protect Yosemite's vulnerable western boundary by expanding the park to include 1,600 acres that was originally intended by John Muir. This would ensure that we continue to preserve the park for future generations of Americans as it was originally envisioned almost 150 years ago.

It has been said that nothing is more American than our national park system. My bill would guarantee that we're protecting one of the crown jewels of this truly American treasure.

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