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Dear Friends,
As the Natural State, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that one of the top priorities I hear about from central Arkansans is protecting our wildlife and national parks. On that front, I’m proud to report some good news from our nation’s capital.
During the week of the anniversary of President Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, I was proud to host a tree planting ceremony on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol to honor and promote U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and his remarkable contributions to conservation.
President Roosevelt’s leadership led to the creation of the U.S. Forest Service in 1905 and produced the Antiquities Act of 1906, leading to the establishment of numerous national parks and monuments.
As president, Roosevelt used his authority to establish 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, four national game preserves, five national parks, and 18 national monuments, along with designating approximately 200 million acres as national forests. That's almost five times as much land as his predecessors combined.
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| Congressman Hill delivering remarks at a Congressional tree planting ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. Congressman Hill was joined by Architect of the Capitol, Thomas J. Carroll, House Chaplin, Father Patrick J. Conroy, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. |
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| Congressman Hill was joined by the great-granddaughter and great-great-granddaughter of President Theodore Roosevelt, Joanna Sturm (third from left) and Mary Weld (third from right), respectively, during the Congressional ceremony to plant a white oak tree on the southeast Capitol grounds. |
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| Congressman Hill pictured with Sturm (left) and Weld (right) at a Congressional tree planting ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. |
This commemorative tree will add to the Roosevelt legacy that continues to enrich the lives of countless outdoor enthusiasts every day.
A Greek proverb tells us that “a society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” It is my hope that our future youth and future U.S. Capitol visitors will enjoy the beauty and shade of this tree and that the important influence of President Roosevelt will continue well into the 22nd century and beyond.
Click HERE or on the picture below to watch a video of my remarks at the tree planting ceremony.
Sincerely,
Representative French Hill
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