[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 205 (Wednesday, December 20, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2425-E2426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               AWARD-WINNING ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 20, 1995

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, one of the most important issues for the 
future of our Nation is the application of responsible environmental 
policy. Our natural resources are most precious, and cannot be 
replaced. Our policy decisions must be based upon careful deliberations 
sounded in credible, objective, and thorough information. I am proud to 
say that the Bay City Times has been tremendously successful in meeting 
this test with its award-winning series, ``Cleaning our Troubled 
Waters''.
  Over an 8-day period last year, the Bay City Times carefully examined 
the facts surrounding the condition of the Saginaw Bay and Saginaw 
River. The State of Michigan had dedicated this waterway as the most 
contaminated body of water in the State. The people who live around the 
Saginaw Bay and River, and who depend upon it as a source of water, 
recreation, and commerce, deserved and needed accurate information, and 
they got it.
  Nearly half of the editorial staff of the Times worked on this series 
over a 10-month period, carefully checking and rechecking information 
to provide as accurate a view of the situation as possible. Their hard 
work resulted in four major awards: the 1994 Associated Press Division 
2 News Sweepstakes Award; 1st place in the 1994 AP Division 2 Public 
Service for News; Michigan United Conservation Club's Ben East Award; 
and 2d place for Local News Reporting from the Michigan Press 
Association.
  Following an exhaustive review of environmental records, numerous 
site visits, extensive interviews, this series has enlightened many of 
us who truly care about how we preserve the Saginaw Water Basin, how we 
keep funding alive for the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative, and what 
each of us can do to be more aware of the impact that we have on our 
environment.
  I want to offer my heartiest congratulations to the dedicated staff 
who worked on this series: Reporters Eric English, Kelly Adrian Frick, 
Tom Gilchrist, Greta Guest, Lydia Hodges, John Herbst, Jenni Laidman, 
and Amy Reyes; photographers Wes Stafford and Dick Van Nostrand; 
graphic artist Tammie Stimpfel; and editors Elizabeth Gunther, Pam 
Panchak and David Vizard. These people contributed to the work of a 
lifetime, and their efforts should have a major impact on public policy 
designed to safeguard the Saginaw Bay and River. I also want to 
compliment Bay City Times publisher Kevin Dykema and editor Paul Keep 
for having the foresight to devote this level of skilled resources to a 
project that 

[[Page E2426]]
could be very unpopular, but was, nonetheless, vital for the long-term 
environmental health of our area.
  Mr. Speaker, in this instance a marvelous case was made to justify 
action to preserve a vital resource. All communities should be so lucky 
to have such a thorough and professional review of a vital resource. I 
urge you and all of our colleagues to join me in complimenting the Bay 
City Times and its award-winning staff for truly trying to help clean 
our troubled waters.

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