Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Page H4568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
B-47 RIDGE DESIGNATION ACT
Ms. HAALAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 490) to designate a mountain ridge in the State of Montana as
``B-47 Ridge''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 490
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 ``B-47 Ridge Designation
Act''.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF B-47 RIDGE, MONTANA.
(a) Designation.--
(1) In general.--The unnamed mountain ridge located at
45 14'40.89" N., 110 43'38.75" W. that runs south and west of
Emigrant Peak in the Absaroka Range in the State of Montana,
which is the approximate site of a crash of a B-47, shall be
known and designated as ``B-47 Ridge''.
(2) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
ridge described in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be a
reference to ``B-47 Ridge''.
(b) Authorization for Plaque.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture may authorize
the installation and maintenance of a plaque on B-47 Ridge
that--
(A) memorializes the 1962 crash of the B-47 aircraft at the
site; and
(B) may include the names of the victims of the crash.
(2) Authorized terms and conditions.--The Secretary of
Agriculture may include any terms and conditions in the
authorization for a plaque under paragraph (1) that the
Secretary of Agriculture determines to be necessary.
(3) Funding.--No Federal funds may be used to design,
procure, install, or maintain the plaque authorized under
paragraph (1).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New Mexico (Ms. Haaland) and the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Mexico.
General Leave
Ms. HAALAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the measure under consideration
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New Mexico?
There was no objection.
Ms. HAALAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 490 the B-47 Ridge Designation
Act.
One of our priorities on the House Natural Resources Committee this
Congress has been to enhance public lands access for veterans and
servicemembers and that includes allowing our public lands to honor
those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
This bill would designate an unnamed mountain range near Emigrant
Peak in the State of Montana as ``B-47 Ridge'' and allow the
installation of a commemorative plaque at the site.
The name and plaque would memorialize the tragic end to a routine
training flight on the night of July 23, 1962. Four U.S. Air Force
servicemembers lost their lives when their B-47 strategic bomber
crashed at 8,500 feet. Debris from the crash can still be seen on the
ridge today.
This bill appropriately honors the memory and sacrifice of Captain
Faulconer, Lieutenant Lloyd Sawyers, Lieutenant David Sutton, and
Lieutenant Hixenbaugh.
I urge its immediate adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 490 designates the mountain ridge where an Air Force
B-47 strategic bomber crashed while on a training mission in Montana in
1962 as the ``B-47 Ridge.''
This bill is the Senate companion to H.R. 1267, which our Congressman
Gianforte led here in the House. Nearly 60 years have passed since that
U.S. Air Force B-47 bomber left Texas and crashed into Montana's
Emigrant Peak just north of Yellowstone National Park in the Paradise
Valley. Debris remains on the ridge where the plane crashed. S. 490
will rename the area the ``B-47 Ridge'' to honor the four-man crew who
perished in the wreck.
Those brave airmen who died that day on the southwestern slope of
Emigrant Peak during a training mission were: Captain Bill Faulconer,
Lieutenant Lloyd Sawyers, Lieutenant David Sutton, and Lieutenant Fred
Hixenbaugh.
This legislation will also allow for the placement of a memorial
plaque which will be paid for by the crew's families and the local
community.
This is a good and important bill honoring the sacrifice of those
airmen and I applaud Congressman Gianforte and the entire Montana
delegation for their efforts to get this lasting tribute signed into
law.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Ms. HAALAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Haaland) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, S. 490.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________
