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WELCOME TO. MATTER OF FACT, TODAY WE MEET THE BANNER SISTERS. THE LOUISIANA NATIVES ARE DESCENDANTS OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE AND ARE WORKING TO RECLAIM PLANTATIONS. HAVING THESE PROPERTIES IS SUCH A UNIFYING VEHICLE FOR BLACK PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUT THEIR MISSION IS TWOFOLD. THEIR COMMUNITY IS LOCATED IN AN AREA WITH HIGH CANCER RATES. IF I DON’T DESCRIBE IT AS CANCER ALLEY, THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND JUST WHAT WE ARE FACING. THEIR EFFORTS TO PROTECT BOTH THE PAST AND THE FUTURE, AND SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE ARE TWO OF THE GOVERNMENT’S LARGEST PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF BOTH FUNDING, AND PEOPLE SERVED. AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE DEPENDENT ON WAGES TO PAY THEIR BASIC NECESSITIES, THEY NEED INSURANCE AGAINST THE LOSS OF THOSE WAGES. SHE SITS ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD. WHY? SHE SAYS IT’S CRUCIAL THAT THESE PROGRAMS AREN’T TRIMMED OR PRIVATIZED. PLUS, A MAN WHO DEFIED A PRESIDENTIAL ORDER TO REPORT TO A JAPANESE INTERNMENT CAMP. IT’S THE SAME OLD STORY OF YOU’RE GUILTY BECAUSE YOU’RE LOOKING LIKE THE ENEMY. HOW HIS DAUGHTER IS WORKING TO MAKE SURE HIS SUPREME COURT BATTLE IS REMEMBERED TODAY. THOSE STORIES RIGHT NOW ON MATTER OF FACT. IDENTICAL TWIN SISTERS, JOE AND JOY BANNER LIVE IN A REGION OF LOUISIANA BETWEEN BATON ROUGE AND NEW ORLEANS THAT’S KNOWN AS CANCER ALLEY. RESIDENTS HAVE A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RISK THAN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN OF DEVELOPING CANCERS FROM AIR TOXINS. THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. THE AREA IS HOME TO MORE THAN 150 OIL AND GAS AND OTHER CHEMICAL FACTORIES. THE BANNER FAMILY HAS BEEN THERE FOR GENERATIONS, BUT JOE AND JOY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR HERITAGE AND THEIR HEALTH, CAME UP WITH A CREATIVE STRATEGY. OUR CORRESPONDENT, ALEXIS CLARK TRAVELED TO LOUISIANA TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE DESCENDANTS PROJECT. WOODLAND WILL BE IN A MUSEUM EXHIBIT SPACE. JOE BANNER TAKES ME ON A TOUR OF WOODLAND, ONE OF TWO PLANTATIONS PURCHASED BY THE DESCENDANTS PROJECT, A NONPROFIT SHE AND HER SISTER STARTED IN 1811. THE LARGEST UPRISING OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE STARTED HERE. THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS CAME THROUGH THIS DOOR, INTO THIS ROOM AND ENCOUNTERED THE PLANTATION OWNER’S SON. AND ESSENTIALLY, IT’S WHERE THIS WHOLE FIGHT CULMINATED, THIS VERY DOOR. THIS VERY DOOR. WOW, WOW. THERE’S A LOT OF HISTORY IN THIS ROOM. THE BANNER SISTERS HAVE BACKGROUNDS IN HERITAGE TOURISM AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION. THEY ARE THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO OWN WOODLAND PLANTATION. IT WENT UP FOR SALE, AND WE DECIDED THAT WE HAD TO PROTECT THIS HOME. WE HAD TO PROTECT THIS HISTORY. MOST BLACK PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED TO PLANTATIONS. WHAT WE ARE DOING IS PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE FOR ALL PEOPLE, BUT PARTICULARLY BLACK PEOPLE, TO COME AND DEAL WITH THE FACT MY FAMILY DESCENDS FROM HERE. I CAN ALSO CRY AT THE FACT THAT THIS IS WHERE IT STARTED FOR US IN AMERICA, THE BANNER FAMILY LIVES LESS THAN 20 MILES FROM WOODLAND IN THE HAMLET OF WALLACE. OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN ON THIS THIS ROAD FOR OVER 100 YEARS. ON THIS ROAD IS THE OTHER PLANTATION. THE DESCENDANTS PROJECT PURCHASED. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE DESCENDANTS PROJECT. THEY RELOCATED THE HISTORIC HOUSE HERE AFTER DISCOVERING THEY HAD AN ANCESTRAL CONNECTION TO THE PROPERTY. LAND IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY BLACK FAMILIES. WE ARE ROOTED HERE AND WE’RE FIGHTING TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR HERITAGE. CULTURAL PRESERVATION ISN’T THE ONLY REASON THEY’RE BUYING PLANTATIONS. THE BANNERS WANT TO STOP INDUSTRIES FROM OPERATING ON THEIR DOORSTEP. ANYTHING CAN SET UP SHOP NEXT TO US. THE BOMB FACTORY, CHEMICAL PLANT. I READ SOMEWHERE THAT YOU CALLED THIS DEFENSE BUYING. WE NEED TO DEFEND THESE SPACES AND OUR HISTORY SPACES. LOCATED IN CANCER ALLEY, AN 85 MILE STRETCH THAT IS HOME TO MORE THAN 150 CHEMICAL FACTORIES. DEEP BREATHS, DOCTOR PIA CHOWDRY IS AN ONCOLOGIST AT LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER. THERE’S A LARGE BODY OF EVIDENCE AND DATA TO SUPPORT THAT EXPOSURE TO THESE CHEMICALS RELEASED FROM THESE PLANTS AT SUCH HIGH LEVELS IS LINKED TO NOT ONLY CANCER, BUT RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES, FETAL ABNORMALITIES, OTHER AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES. IS IT FRUSTRATING FOR YOU AS A PHYSICIAN? INCREDIBLY, A LOT OF OUR FOCUS IS HOW TO CURE CANCER AND HOW TO TREAT CANCER. I DON’T THINK WE DO A GOOD ENOUGH JOB IN HOW TO PREVENT CANCER. WHEN THE SISTERS HEARD A GRAIN EXPORT COMPANY PLAN TO BUILD A LARGE FACILITY NEAR HOLMES AND WALLACE, THEY RETAINED COUNSEL WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CLINIC AT TULANE UNIVERSITY. LISA JORDAN IS THE DIRECTOR. OUR COMPLAINT WAS ALLEGING THAT THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY’S ENTIRE METHOD OF PERMITTING FOR AIR POLLUTION IS DISCRIMINATORY BECAUSE IT LEADS TO A DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN OF POLLUTION ON BLACK COMMUNITIES. IN CANCER ALLEY. THAT’S WHAT THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT PROTECTS. AND THAT’S THAT WAS OUR POSITION, AND THAT WAS THE EPA’S POSITION. BUT THAT WAS NOT THE JUDGE’S RULING. JORDAN BELIEVES AIR POLLUTION TESTS IN LOUISIANA ARE NOT WIDE RANGING ENOUGH. THE TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT ARE LINKED TO CANCER, THERE’S NOT ANY MANDATORY MEASURING OR TESTING FROM THE EPA OF THOSE PARTICULAR CHEMICALS. NO, THERE’S NOT. THE EPA FOCUSES ON THESE SIX POLLUTANTS THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED AS THE ONES THAT ARE VERY COMMONLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, KNOWN TO PRESENT HEALTH EFFECTS. BUT OF COURSE, WE HAVE COMMUNITIES HERE IN LOUISIANA THAT ARE EXPOSED TO TOXIC POLLUTANTS THAT DON’T FALL UNDER THIS EPA PROGRAM. THE COMPANY DECIDED TO WITHDRAW ITS PLANS FOR ITS GRAIN FACILITY IN WALLACE, BUT ATTORNEY JORDAN STILL THINKS LOCAL OFFICIALS AREN’T SUFFICIENTLY PROTECTING RESIDENTS. THE LOCAL POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, WHICH GUARANTEES PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO THE NATURAL RESOURCES, CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE DONE? STOP PERMITTING NEW INDUSTRY FROM COMING INTO THE AREA. I DON’T WANT TO HAVE MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE A COCKTAIL OF PAIN MEDS IN ORDER TO RELIEVE THEIR PAIN. WHAT’S TO STOP ANOTHER COMPANY? NOTHING, EXCEPT FOR US PUSHING BACK. WE HOPE COMPANIES UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN IF THE GOVERNMENT IS IN THEIR FAVOR, WE WILL NEVER STOP IN LOUISIANA. FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M ALEXIS CLARK. NEXT ON MATTER OF FACT, THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS ALL THROUGH THE HISTORY OF SOCIAL SECURITY TO TAKE IT APART WHAT’S NEEDED TO PROTECT THE FUTURE OF ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR AND RELIED UPON GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. AND IS YOUR TAP WATER SAFE? EVEN THOUGH YOUR DRINKING WATER GETS A PASSING GRADE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT COULD STILL CONTAIN CONTAMINANTS. HOW FEDERAL STANDARDS ON WATER CONTAMINANTS ARE CHANGING AND AN ACT OF DEFIANCE IN AMERICAN HISTORY. THE STORY OF FRED KOREMATSU AND HIS REFUSAL TO BOARD A BUS TO A JAPANESE INTERNMENT CAMP. YOU’RE WATCHING, MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA’S NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS MAGAZINE. SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE ARE FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT SERVE TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY. MORE THAN 68 MILLION PEOPLE RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY. MORE THAN 66 MILLION PEOPLE GET THEIR HEALTH COVERAGE THROUGH MEDICARE. PRESIDENT TRUMP RECENTLY PROMISED IN A FOX NEWS INTERVIEW THAT NEITHER WOULD BE TOUCHED, AS HIS ADMINISTRATION WORKS TO TRIM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BUT THE PROGRAMS ARE CLEARLY ON HIS ADMINISTRATION’S RADAR. THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, OR DOGE, LISTS AT LEAST TEN SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICES TO BE CLOSED. DOGE HAS ALSO REQUESTED ACCESS TO RECIPIENT INFORMATION, ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. AND BOTH THE PRESIDENT AND ELON MUSK HAVE RECENTLY MADE FALSE CLAIMS OF FRAUD AT THE AGENCY. NANCY ALTMAN IS ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD AND IS PRESIDENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY WORKS. IT’S SO NICE TO HAVE YOU JOIN ME. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS STARTED AND WHY THEY STARTED? THE CONCEPT BEHIND SOCIAL SECURITY IS THAT AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE DEPENDENT ON WAGES TO PAY THEIR THEIR HOUSING AND THEIR RENT AND THEIR FOOD AND SO FORTH, THEIR BASIC NECESSITIES, THEY NEED INSURANCE AGAINST THE LOSS OF THOSE WAGES. SO WHAT SOCIAL SECURITY DOES IS IT INSURES WAGES AGAINST LOSS. IN THE CASE OF DISABILITY, DEATH OR OLD AGE. BUT IF YOU DON’T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, MEDICARE IS THERE TO ENSURE THAT WHEN ILLNESS OR ACCIDENT HAPPENS, WE HAVE INSURANCE TO PAY FOR THAT. ONE OF THE CONSISTENT THEMES AROUND SOCIAL SECURITY HAS BEEN IT’S RUNNING OUT OF MONEY. IS THAT FACTUALLY TRUE? NO. THE REALITY IS THAT SOCIAL SECURITY IS COMPLETELY AFFORDABLE. IT’S VERY FAIR IN ITS DISTRIBUTION. IT’S VERY SECURE. IT’S VERY NEEDED. AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE BENEFITS WILL ALWAYS BE THERE. SOCIAL SECURITY HAS ABOUT 40 ACTUARIES AT THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION WHO PROJECT OUT NOT JUST 10 OR 20 YEARS, BUT 75 YEARS. AND WHEN YOU PROJECT OUT THAT FAR, SOMETIMES YOU’RE GOING TO SHOW AN SURPLUSES, SOMETIMES UNINTENDED SHORTFALLS. THEY ARE PROJECTING AN UNINTENDED SHORTFALL. CONGRESS HAS PLENTY OF TIME TO ACT. AND IT’S VERY MANAGEABLE. WHERE DOES THAT CONFIDENCE COME FROM? IF CONGRESS DIDN’T ACT? THOSE BENEFITS, ACCORDING TO THE ACTUARIES, WOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY CUT THE FOLLOWING MONTH BY 20%. EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE IF THAT HAPPENED. THEY COULDN’T SHOW THEIRSELVES IN THE DISTRICT. THEY’D BE CHASED DOWN THE STREET. I AM CONFIDENT THEY CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN AND THEY SHOULD NOT LET THAT HAPPEN. THE OTHER THING THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IS FRAUD. HOW BAD IS THE FRAUD? EVERY INSURANCE PROGRAM HAS SOME FRAUD, BUT THE PRIVATE INSURANCE HAS MUCH LARGER AMOUNTS OF FRAUD THAN SOCIAL SECURITY. SOCIAL SECURITY’S IMPROPER PAYMENTS. SO THAT’S NOT FRAUD. THAT’S JUST CAN BE MISTAKES OR SLOWNESS IN CORRECTING CHANGES. IT’S LESS THAN 1%. SO FRAUD IS VANISHINGLY SMALL. SAME WITH MEDICARE. WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT HELP COUNTERACT FRAUD? I’M SO GLAD YOU ASKED THAT, BECAUSE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION KEEPS SAYING THAT THEY’RE CONCERNED ABOUT FRAUD, BUT THEY FIRED THE INSPECTOR GENERALS. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL’S JOBS ARE TO ROOT OUT FRAUD AND VERY CAREFULLY MANAGE AND WATCH THE PROGRAM. A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION HAS FOCUSED AROUND PRIVATIZING SOCIAL SECURITY. WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN, EXACTLY? UNLIKE SAVINGS, WHICH YOU CAN OUTLIVE, YOU CANNOT OUTLIVE SOCIAL SECURITY. IF YOU LIVE TO 110, YOU’LL GET IT EVERY SINGLE MONTH. WHAT? PRIVATIZING MEANS TAKING OUR MONEY THAT WE PAY AS PREMIUMS TO SOCIAL SECURITY AND PUTTING THEM IN THE STOCK MARKET IN INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS. SOCIAL SECURITY PULLS OUR RISK. SO AS A NATION, WE’RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER. IN INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS, PRIVATIZING IT, WE WOULD GO UP AND DOWN WITH THE STOCK MARKET. YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD RETIRING IN 2009 WHEN WE HAD THE LAST BIG RECESSION, YOU’D BE OUT OF LUCK. IT’S A BAD IDEA, AND WE HAVE TO KEEP WATCHING BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS ALL THROUGH THE HISTORY OF SOCIAL SECURITY TO TAKE IT APART. NANCY ALTMAN SITS ON THE BIPARTISAN SOCIAL SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH ME. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR HAVING ME. COMING UP FROM BEING JAILED OVER HIS REFUSAL TO GO TO AN INTERNMENT CAMP, TO RECEIVING THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM, ONE MAN’S DECADES LONG BATTLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. PLUS, SO-CALLED FOREVER CHEMICALS ARE GETTING INTO OUR BODIES AND BLOODSTREAM. WE’LL SHOW YOU THE NEW RESOURCE WORKING TO TRACK POTENTIAL EXPOSURE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. THIS MONTH MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY OF A DARK TIME IN OUR NATION’S HISTORY. IN THE MONTHS FOLLOWING JAPAN’S 1941 ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT RESULTED IN THE INTERNMENT OF PEOPLE OF JAPANESE DESCENT IN AMERICA. 23 YEAR OLD CALIFORNIAN FRED KOREMATSU DEFIED THE ORDER. HE REFUSED TO GET ON A BUS TO WHAT WERE CALLED ASSEMBLY CENTERS. WE’VE ASKED HIS DAUGHTER, KAREN KORMATSU, TO SHARE HER FATHER’S STORY. THE EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 WAS ISSUED BY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT. THAT WAS THE ORDER THAT GAVE ACTUALLY THE MILITARY THE AUTHORITY TO FORCIBLY REMOVE ANYONE OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY FROM THE WEST COAST, WASHINGTON, OREGON, CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA, AND THEY WERE GIVEN JUST 48 HOURS NOTICE TO REPORT TO THE DETENTION ASSEMBLY CENTERS. MY FATHER WAS ARRESTED IN SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA VISITED MY FATHER IN JAIL AND ASKED IF HE’D BE WILLING TO FIGHT HIS CASE. AND MR. BESICK SAID, IF NEED BE, WE’LL TAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT. IT WAS JUST A SIMPLE MATTER OF HE THOUGHT THE GOVERNMENT WAS WRONG, AND HE WAS RIGHT TO TAKE A STAND. HE WAS STANDING UP AS AN AMERICAN. AND THAT IS THE QUESTION. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AMERICAN? MY FATHER WAS MOST PROUD OF THE FACT THAT HIS FEDERAL CONVICTION WAS OVERTURNED OR VACATED. IT ALMOST TOOK 40 YEARS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. HE NEVER GAVE UP HOPE. AFTER MY FATHER PASSED AWAY IN IN 2005, THEN PEOPLE WERE LOOKING TO ME AND AT FIRST I WAS A BIT SHY, I MUST ADMIT, BUT I FELT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO TO CARRY ON HIS LEGACY. WELL, WHEN THE LAWSUIT CAME UP OF TRUMP VERSUS HAWAII, THE MUSLIM BAN, THEN IT BECAME THE IMMIGRATION BAN BACK IN 1942. THEY CALLED IT, YOU KNOW, MILITARY NECESSITY. NOW WE CALL IT NATIONAL SECURITY. THIS IS THE SAME PATTERN THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS USED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. IT’S THE SAME OLD STORY OF YOU’RE GUILTY BECAUSE YOU’RE LOOKING LIKE THE ENEMY. AND THAT’S CLEARLY WRONG. MY FATHER WAS AN EXAMPLE OF WORKING ACROSS COMMUNITIES, AND THAT’S WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW MORE THAN THAN EVER. THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES IS SO IMPORTANT. IF WE’RE GOING TO MAKE CHANGE. AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, ONCE IT IS IN OUR DRINKING WATER, IT TENDS TO STAY THERE. THE NEW FREE RESOURCE THAT SHOWS YOU THE PFAS LEVELS IN YOUR AREA’S DRINKING WATER. PLUS, THE UNITED STATES HAS MORE THAN 60 NATIONAL PARKS. THE BACK STORY OF THE VERY FIRST ONE TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH. MATTER OF FACT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT MATTEROFFACTTV. PFAS ARE EVERYWHERE. AND NOW A NEW DATABASE LETS YOU SEE EXACTLY WHAT’S IN THE DRINKING WATER IN YOUR AREA. PFAS ARE HEAT, WATER AND OIL RESISTANT CHEMICALS USED IN EVERYTHING FROM NONSTICK PANS TO FOOD PACKAGING TO CARPETS. THEY’RE KNOWN AS FOREVER CHEMICALS BECAUSE OF HOW SLOWLY THEY BREAK DOWN. ONLY IN RECENT DECADES HAS THE TRUE PREVALENCE AND POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS OF THESE CHEMICALS COME TO LIGHT. TASHA STOIBER IS A SENIOR SCIENTIST WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP. HEALTH HARMS INCLUDE LINKED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCER. IT CAN REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS IN VACCINES AND IT CAN HAVE AN EFFECT ON YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP’S LATEST ANALYSIS, MORE THAN 143 MILLION PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO PFAS IN THEIR DRINKING WATER. THE GROUP HAS LAUNCHED A NEW SITE CALLED THE TAP WATER DATABASE. YOU TYPE IN YOUR ZIP CODE AND IT SHOWS YOU WHAT CONTAMINANTS WERE MEASURED IN THE WATER, AT WHAT PERCENTAGE, AND HOW THAT COMPARES TO HEALTH GUIDELINES. MANY OF US TURN ON OUR TAP. WE DON’T SEE CONTAMINANTS, SO THE TAP WATER DATABASE IS FOR PEOPLE TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES TO FIND OUT WHAT CONTAMINANTS MIGHT BE IN THEIR DRINKING WATER. LAST YEAR, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SET THE FIRST EVER DRINKING WATER LIMITS ON CERTAIN PFAS. LAST WEEK, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUT A PAUSE ON THAT PLAN. STILL AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, A NATIONAL PARK WITH A SUPER VOLCANO. WE MARK YELLOWSTONES 153RD BIRTHDAY. FINALLY, ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF ITS ESTABLISHMENT, WE RECOGNIZE AMERICA’S FIRST NATIONAL PARK, YELLOWSTONE. THE PARK, WHICH SPANS MORE THAN 2 MILLION ACRES. IT’S KNOWN FOR ITS TALL GEYSERS, ITS COLORFUL HOT SPRINGS, AND SCENIC WATERFALLS. SO HOW DID THIS SPRAWLING GEOLOGIC WONDER BECOME A NATIONAL PARK? WELL, YELLOWSTONE’S STORY BEGINS MORE THAN 11,000 YEARS AGO. NATIVE AMERICANS LIVED THERE, EXTRACTING OBSIDIAN FROM THE LAND TO MAKE TOOLS AND USING THE THERMAL WATERS FOR RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES. IT WASN’T UNTIL THE EARLY 1800S THAT EUROPEAN AMERICANS STARTED EXPLORING THE AREA. THE FIRST ORGANIZED EXPEDITION OF YELLOWSTONE TOOK PLACE IN 1870. EXPLORERS AND GEOLOGISTS LIKE FERDINAND HAYDEN WROTE ABOUT YELLOWSTONES SPECTACULAR SCENERY AND PROMOTED A CAMPAIGN TO PRESERVE THE LAND. THOSE REPORTS, ALONG WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND PAINTINGS AND SKETCHES OF THE AREA, MOVE CONGRESS TO GUARANTEE ITS CONSERVATION. ON MARCH 1ST, 1872, PRESIDENT ULYSSES S GRANT SIGNED THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK PROTECTION ACT INTO LAW. 153 YEARS LATER, YELLOWSTONE STILL STANDS AS ONE OF AMERICA’S LARGEST NEARLY INTACT NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS. THAT’S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF MATTER OF FACT, I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN AND I’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK. TO WATCH MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ANYTIME. HEAD TO MATTEROFFACTTV.