Nevada's Great Basin is a land of outstanding scenery and varied habitat. From its desert floors to its alpine meadows, this area has long been recognized as meriting protection. Legislation to establish a national park around Wheeler Peak was first proposed in the 1920s. This area is characterized by clear mountain streams, aspen groves, the world's largest mountain mahogany tree and five-thousand-year-old bristlecone pines.

Despite such unique natural resources, Nevada ranks last among western states in the amount of wilderness and national park acreage. Rep. Reid (D-NV) sponsored a bill designating 11 wilderness areas totaling 592,400 acres and creating Nevada's first national park.

This vote was on the Vucanovich (R-NV) Amendment to strike the section from Reid's bill establishing the 174,000 acre Great Basin National Park and Preserve. Vucanovich Amendment rejected 151-247; April 30, 1986. NO is the pro-environmental vote. (Vucanovich Amendment to H.R. 3302, Nevada Wilderness Protection Act.) The Reagan Administration supported the amendment. Rep. Reid's wilderness bill was then easily passed by the House, but similar legislation did not pass the Senate. However, compromise legislation creating a 76,000-acre Great Basin National Park was passed and signed into law on October 27, 1986.