[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 9, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO CHARLES VERNON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 1997

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute Charles Vernon 
upon his retirement from the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control 
Board and resignation of chairmanship of the Santa Monica Bay 
restoration project. It is an honor to recognize Charles for his work 
toward water pollution control.
  Throughout the last 8 years, Charles' work has been vital to the 
success of the Santa Monica Bay restoration project. He was 
instrumental in working to secure Santa Monica Bay's nomination as a 
National Estuary Program and subsequently the founding and creation of 
the restoration project in 1989.
  Since its founding, the Santa Monica Bay restoration project has been 
the primary organization dedicated to preserving the bay for citizens 
in our community. Charles has consistently held key leadership 
positions serving as vice chair of its management committee and upon 
start of bay restoration plan implementation, chair of the governing 
Bay Watershed Council and Bay Oversight Committee. It is because of 
Charles' hard work and dedication we have made progress in revitalizing 
our bay.
  Beyond his work with the restoration project, Charles is an 
individual of great integrity and personal warmth. His wholesome nature 
reflects that of his past when he was a farmer, reaping the miracle of 
life from the ground. It is no wonder that today he is dedicated to 
maintaining the sanctity of our precious resources.
  ''I wiped away the weeds and foam, I fetched my sea-born treasures 
home; But the poor, unsightly, noisesome things had left their beauty 
on the shore, with the sun and the sand and the wild uproar.'' These 
words of Ralph Waldo Emerson eloquently describe Charles' devotion to 
saving our precious Santa Monica Bay. It is for his work and 
extraordinary dedication, Mr. Speaker, that I ask you and my 
distinguished colleagues to join our community in thanking Charles for 
his dedication to the bay. I congratulate Charles Vernon upon his 
retirement and wish him great success in all future endeavors.

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