Political Quotes

“John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club once said, ``Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.'' As our society becomes increasingly removed from the natural world, this prescient statement rings ever more true. Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the opportunities that our national parks provide for us to reconnect with the magnificent natural heritage of our country. The number of visits to national parks is soaring, as is use of their diverse resources. While this is good news in many ways, it has created a peculiar problem. We are loving our parks to death. Today, I am joined by my colleague Senator Akaka to introduce the National Parks Stewardship Act of 2001. This legislation endeavors to address some of the most serious problems facing the national parks system today.”