[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 51 (Monday, April 25, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S4181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DONNIE R. WHEELER

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to commend Mr. Donnie 
R. Wheeler for becoming the first president of the National Association 
of Clean Water Agencies--NACWA--formerly the Association of 
Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies, AMSA. Mr. Wheeler currently serves as 
the General Manager of the Hampton Roads Sanitation District--HRSD--
Virginia Beach, VA. He is regarded by his peers as an exceptional 
leader, dedicated to protecting the environment and health of Virginia 
and the Nation.
  Mr. Wheeler is a graduate of Virginia Tech and for 7 years was 
employed by the Virginia State Water Control Board before joining HRSD 
in 1974. HRSD, a nationally recognized regional wastewater treatment 
utility, serves 17 cities and counties covering 3100 square miles of 
southeast Virginia. Under his management, HRSD has received numerous 
awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is recognized 
as a state innovator for such initiatives as Virginia's first municipal 
water reuse project.
  Under his leadership, I trust that NACWA will promote responsible 
national policies to advance clean water and a healthy environment. Mr. 
Wheeler, is a founder of the Virginia Association of Municipal 
Wastewater Agencies--VAMWA--and served as its president for 6 years. In 
his long career, Mr. Wheeler has earned the respect of his colleagues 
at all levels of government and his achievements have earned him awards 
from the Virginia Water Environment Association--VWEA--and Environment 
Virginia. Mr. Wheeler also has served as an adjunct professor of 
Environmental Engineering at Old Dominion University.
  In the true sense of the word and by his many achievements in a long 
and distinguished professional career, Mr. Wheeler is an 
``environmentalist'' who will now proudly serve in a new leadership 
role the industry in which he has worked for so many years. It is with 
pleasure that I congratulate and commend Mr. Wheeler on being elected 
the first president of NACWA.

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