[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 91 (Friday, July 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CELEBRATING THE FIRST DAY OF SALE OF THE 2005-2006 DUCK STAMP

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 30, 2005

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the first day 
of sale ceremony for the 2005-2006 duck stamp.
  It is a great honor to be present today at the first day of sale 
ceremony. As you may know, Kerissa Nelson, a fellow Wisconsinite, is 
the artist behind this new stamp, and I would like to take a moment to 
commend Kerissa on her magnificent work. With the encouragement of her 
art teacher, Kerissa undertook the great challenge of competing in this 
years duck stamp contest, and it is clear that her months of hard work 
paid off. Kerissa, the stamp is beautiful.
  However, it is not just the beauty of the stamp that strikes me, but 
also the message that it conveys. Growing up in Wisconsin, I have a 
deep-seated love for the outdoors and enjoy hunting and fishing with my 
two little boys, whose company in the duck blind is the ultimate 
experience for me. I not only hope to pass on the traditions on hunting 
to them, but I also hope to pass on the importance of preserving the 
outdoors and our nation's wildlife.
  I am aware that Kerissa is also an avid lover of the outdoors, 
shooting trap on a weekly league and hunting with her dad, and I 
commend Kerissa on her ability to convey both the love of hunting and 
the importance of conservation in the stamp she has designed.
  Since the federal duck stamp's inception in 1934, these works of art 
have raised nearly $700 million to help acquire more than 5.2 million 
acres of wetlands. Nearly 98 cents out of every duck stamp dollar goes 
directly for land acquisition on national wildlife refuges--benefiting 
hundreds of refuges found in every state. This stamp is more than art 
work; it is a guarantee that our nation's wildlife population will not 
be threatened by human interference.
  Again, thank you, Kerissa, for your great contribution to this cause. 
Thank you also to everyone who is helping to celebrate Kerissa's 
achievement and the first day of sale for the new duck stamp.

                          ____________________