The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“SPANISH PEAKS WILDERNESS ACT OF 1997” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H7402 on Aug. 6, 1998.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SPANISH PEAKS WILDERNESS ACT OF 1997
Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate consideration in the House of the bill (H.R. 1865) to designate certain lands in the San Isabel National Forest, in Colorado, as the Spanish Peaks Wilderness.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas?
Mr. SKAGGS. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I do not intend to object, especially since this is legislation of which I am the primary sponsor, but I did want to take a minute to explain this bill which would add to the National Wilderness System an area of some spectacular mountains in south central Colorado, really unique in their geology and their beauty and their habitat for some very important species of wildlife.
This area was not included in the 1993 Colorado Wilderness Act because there were still some unresolved issues involving use of inholdings. Those have been essentially resolved. I appreciate very much the action of the Committee on Resources in moving this bill through to the floor.
I also wish to express my thanks to my colleague and principal cosponsor on this legislation the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis).
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the bill, as follows:
H.R. 1865
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Spanish Peaks Wilderness Act of 1997''.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS.
(a) Amendment.--Section 2 of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-77) is amended by adding the following new paragraph at the end of subsection (a):
``(20) Certain lands in the San Isabel National Forest which comprise approximately 18,000 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled `Proposed Spanish Peaks Wilderness', dated May 1997, and which shall be known as the Spanish Peaks Wilderness.''.
(b) Map and Description.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall file a map and a boundary description of the area designated as the Spanish Peaks Wilderness by paragraph (20) of subsection 2(a) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993, as amended by this Act, with the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. Such map and boundary description shall have the same force and effect as if included in the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993, except that if the Secretary is authorized to correct clerical and typographical errors in such boundary description and map. Such map and boundary description shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
SEC. 3. CONFORMING CHANGE.
Section 10 of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-77) is hereby repealed, and section 11 of such Act is renumbered as section 10.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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