HONORING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB

On 2026-04-09, Representative Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA-8) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, trade policy.

HONORING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 63 (Thursday, April 9, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 63 (Thursday, April 9, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E310-E311] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB ______ HON. DONALD S. BEYER, JR. of virginia in the house of representatives Thursday, April 9, 2026 Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 150th anniversary of the Appalachian Mountain Club. The Appalachian Mountain Club was founded in 1876 in Boston, Massachusetts with the mission to foster the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors and is the Nation's oldest conservation and recreation organization. For 150 years, the Appalachian Mountain Club and its 90,000 members and 11 Chapters have led efforts to protect forests, waterways, wildlife habitats, and public lands, while fostering responsible and joyful outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship. The Appalachian Mountain Club's first testimony before Congress in 1895 contributed to the creation of land that later became Mt. Rainier National Park. In 1911, it helped secure passage of the Weeks Act, leading to the creation of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire and Maine. Nearly 80 years later, the Appalachian Mountain Club supported the creation of the Forest Legacy program to conserve critical forestlands across the country and advocated for protections from acid rain that contributed to the adoption of the landmark 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act. Today, AMC continues to do irreplaceable work on conservation. Since 2003, it has protected over 130,000 acres as part of its Maine Woods Initiative, helped create the Highlands Conservation Act to conserve natural resources in the 3.4 million acres of the Highlands Region across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, and advanced the designation of the New England National Scenic Trail. It has also supported the adoption of the Great American Outdoors Act and the EXPLORE Act, to ensure outdoor recreation access for generations to come. And AMC has played an essential role in making the Appalachian National Scenic Trail the truly one-of-a-kind trail it is today. The Appalachian Mountain Club has been a champion of the Appalachian Trail since its conception in 1921, its construction from 1923 to [[Page E311]] 1937, and today through maintenance of sections of the trail in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It has operated a hut system on the trail since 1888 and now stewards more than 1,800 miles of trails across the Northeast, while supporting public land managers throughout the region on additional trail construction and rehabilitation projects. The 150th anniversary of the Appalachian Mountain Club provides an opportunity to recognize its historic legacy, honor its dedicated staff, members, volunteers, and other supporters, and reaffirm the importance of conservation and outdoor recreation to the Nation's future. The organization's efforts have helped improve access to outdoor recreation and strengthened the connection between people and the natural world. I am proud to honor and commend AMC on the occasion of its 150th anniversary and expresses gratitude for its lasting contributions to conservation, outdoor recreation, and the stewardship of America's natural resources. ____________________