Washington, D.C. – Last night the U.S. Senate passed a resolution introduced by Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John McCain (R-AZ) commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. The bipartisan resolution recognizes the importance of The Wilderness Act of 1964, which established a National Wilderness Preservation System to secure for present and future generations of Americans the benefits of enduring wilderness. To date, there are more than 750 wilderness areas in 44 states, from Wisconsin's Apostle Islands to Fire Island in the Long Island South Shore of New York to larger areas such as the Mojave National Preserve in California and the River of No Return in Idaho.
“The commitment to wilderness and public lands runs deep in Wisconsin and I am pleased the Senate has recognized the important role the Wilderness Act has had in protecting millions of acres of land,” Feingold said. “This anniversary of the Wilderness Act reminds us how far we have come and how the commitment to public lands that Congress demonstrated forty-five years ago continues to benefit all Americans. As founder of the Wilderness and Public Lands Caucus in the Senate, I will continue to carry on Wisconsin’s long history of protecting our most precious lands.”
“Forty-five years after the Wilderness Act’s passage, Americans can more readily cherish and enjoy pristine lands in their natural state. The Wilderness Act of 1964 is among the most influential public lands laws in American history, and its enactment was a defining moment for the conservation movement. I joined my colleague, Senator Feingold, in cosponsoring this resolution because I believe the decisions we make in Congress regarding public lands policy should heed the support of bipartisanship and promote the ethics of balanced stewardship,” said Senator John McCain.
The Wilderness Act of 1964 gives Congress the authority to designate wilderness areas, and directs the federal land management agencies to review the lands under their responsibility for their wilderness potential. The creation of a national wilderness system marked an innovation in the American conservation movement where land would be left essentially undeveloped. Feingold and McCain’s resolution commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Wilderness Act is cosponsored by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Roland Burris (D-IL), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Judd Gregg (R-NH), John Kerry (D-MA), Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mark Udall (D-CO), Tom Udall (D-NM), George Voinovich (R-OH) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
The Wilderness Act was signed into law on September 3, 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
