[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 118 (Friday, August 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   IN RECOGNITION OF RAISE [ROW AROUND THE ISLAND IN SUPPORT OF THE 
                              ENVIRONMENT]

                                 ______


                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 19, 1994

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the efforts 
of Row Around the Island in Support of the Environment [RAISE], a 
program of the nonprofit New York State Marine Education Association 
[NYSMEA] designed to promote environmental stewardship in the coastal 
zone and its watershed.
  When faced with the dilemma of balancing progress and development 
against further endangering the environment, we often ask ourselves 
what could we, as individuals, possibly do to make a difference. 
However, we must all remember that we can and, in fact, are obligated 
to do our best to appreciate, preserve, and reclaim our precious 
natural resources. This August, we are again reminded of this simple 
fact by the efforts of two remarkable New Yorkers.
  RAISE was conceived of by George and Jeremy Linzee of Port Jefferson, 
Long Island. George is a NYSMEA board member in charge of secondary 
education and a marine science teacher at Stony Brook School. His son, 
Jeremy, is a student at Harvard University who is interested in public 
policy.
  This August, under the name ``RAISE,'' the Linzees will be 
undertaking the 175-mile row around Long Island for the second time. 
Last summer, the Linzees proved that the expedition was physically 
possible. This summer, with the cooperation of 32 environmental and 
maritime organizations, the Linzees have planned an even more ambitious 
agenda. From the kickoff of their voyage from Port Jefferson on August 
5 to the culmination of their journey on August 20, the Linzees will be 
making stops at 16 other ports-of-call around Long Island. In coalition 
with other concerned citizens, RAISE has planned various events and 
activities at each of these ports in order to further both the 
educational and the environmental aspects of their overall goals.
  Through their efforts, the Linzees hope to raise the public 
understanding of cur connectedness to the coastal environment, the 
value of our natural resources, and the need for environmental 
stewardship by involving Long Islanders of all ages in coastal 
activities. They also would like to help increase the level of 
cooperation between different sectors--education, government, 
commercial and community groups--that are involved in promoting 
environmental stewardship. Finally, the Linzees see this as an 
opportunity to raise financial and curricular support needed for 
educational programs that emphasize environmental stewardship.
  Through the efforts of George and Jeremy Linzee, this summer, 
thousands of New Yorkers will be reminded of the beauty that Long 
Island has to offer, the problems that we are faced with in preserving 
that unparalleled beauty, and exactly what each of us can do to allow 
our precious natural resources to continue to flourish. The Linzees 
plan to expand their efforts in the coming years and continue RAISE as 
an annual event which will emphasize the development of programs for 
the rising generation of Long Islanders in whose hands the future is 
held. They also hope, as do I, that RAISE will become a model 
environmental stewardship program for other regions of the United 
States and for other nations as well. In this way, people everywhere 
will be reminded of our interconnectedness with the sea and the link 
between our everyday activities on land and the quality of our water 
resources.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending George and 
Jeremy Linzee for reminding us of the majesty and fragility of our 
coastal zone and its watershed.

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