House Resolution 141 PAG LIN 1 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY FREEMAN 1 3 A Resolution urging the United States Congress to 1 4 appropriate funds to the National Park Service to 1 5 assist state and local governments and private 1 6 landowners in developing a comprehensive plan to 1 7 preserve and restore the Loess Hills in Iowa. 1 8 WHEREAS, the Loess Hills in Iowa are a unique 1 9 natural resource that are recognized worldwide for 1 10 their unique landscape and geological value; and 1 11 WHEREAS, the Loess Hills are also recognized for 1 12 their unique cultural and archaeological resources; 1 13 and 1 14 WHEREAS, the National Park Service and a team of 1 15 Iowa specialists completed a Special Resource Study 1 16 and Environmental Assessment of the Loess Hills in 1 17 2002; and 1 18 WHEREAS, the Special Resource Study provided 1 19 national recognition that the Loess Hills in western 1 20 Iowa with their extensive prairie ecosystems are of 1 21 "exceptional value"; and 1 22 WHEREAS, the Special Resource Study catalogued a 1 23 series of threats to the integrity of the Loess Hills 1 24 including erosion, displacement of prairie, unplanned 1 25 growth, and degradation of archaeological resources; 1 26 and 1 27 WHEREAS, a comprehensive plan would complement and 1 28 assist in synthesizing the efforts of a broad range of 1 29 state, private, and federal programs; and 1 30 WHEREAS, the need for assistance is most acute in 2 1 the twelve special landscape areas that have been 2 2 identified in the Loess Hills; and 2 3 WHEREAS, federal assistance is needed to aid state 2 4 and local governments and private landowners in the 2 5 Loess Hills in their efforts to preserve these last 2 6 native prairies of Iowa and this scenic landform; and 2 7 WHEREAS, the State of Iowa and the nation are 2 8 celebrating the visit of the Lewis and Clark Corps of 2 9 Discovery to this treasured Iowa landform 200 years 2 10 ago; NOW THEREFORE, 2 11 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 2 12 That the Iowa House of Representatives urges Congress 2 13 to immediately act to authorize and appropriate 2 14 funding to the National Park Service so that the 2 15 National Park Service can participate with the Loess 2 16 Hills Development and Conservation Authority and with 2 17 representatives of the Iowa Department of Agriculture 2 18 and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Department of Natural 2 19 Resources, the Iowa Department of Transportation, 2 20 educational institutions, nongovernmental 2 21 organizations, and private landowners in the 2 22 development of a comprehensive plan to ensure the 2 23 long=term protection of the Loess Hills in Iowa; and 2 24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the 2 25 House of Representatives send copies of this 2 26 Resolution to the President of the United States; the 2 27 President of the United States Senate; the Speaker of 2 28 the United States House of Representatives; and to 2 29 members of Iowa's congressional delegation. 2 30 LSB 5465HH 80 3 1 av/gg/14