I am thrilled to say that today in the House we moved one step closer to designating the Waco Mammoth Site a part of the National Park System. We passed H.R. 1925, the Waco Mammoth Site Area Interior Study Act.

This bill authorizes a study by the National Park Service in the Department of Interior to consider including the Waco Mammoth Site as a unit in the National Park System. I believe this site will help Waco in their effort to become a destination for tourists, and will become a key spot for the development of the Brazos River Corridor.

With the development of the City of Waco Aquatic Center and the Allen Samuels Tennis Center, the Waco Mammoth Site will become another key attraction in Central Texas.

I believe that passing this bill is not only good for Waco, but also good for the National Park System. The Waco Mammoth Site is the largest known concentration of prehistoric mammoths dying from the same event in the world. That is what makes it such a significant and historic national site, and will make it an invaluable educational resource for children of all ages. This discovery has received worldwide attention. Experts such as Dr. Gary Haynes of the University of Nevada at Reno have said that the Waco Mammoth Site is a valuable and unique treasure that should not be lost. Dr. Haynes states that the Mammoth site "is a part of America's rich heritage from the far past, when a much more diverse animal community populated the continent." In fact, the Department of Interior hopes that the Waco Mammoth site will be an example of a "living laboratory" for which we can continue to learn about life before us.

This bill now moves over to the Senate for consideration and I will work closely with Senator Hutchinson's office to see that this bill is passed and the study is authorized.