[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S1537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO DAVID L. CROW

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to the 
distinguished public service of David L. Crow. After 15 years at the 
helm of the largest air-pollution control district in the Nation, he 
will soon retire as the air pollution control officer and executive 
director of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, 
SJAPCD. During his tenure, the district grew from a fledgling union of 
regional air boards into one of the Nation's most active air-pollution 
control districts.
  After completing his undergraduate and graduate studies at California 
State University, Fullerton, David built a solid resume in public 
service before he assumed the leadership of the SJAPCD in 1991. He 
served as the acting city manager for Foster City, CA, budget director 
and director of policy development for Fresno County, as well as deputy 
county administrative officer for Fresno County before lending his 
considerable talents to improving air quality in the Central Valley.
  David accepted the challenge to address and solve the air-quality 
issues in a region that perennially rank among the worst nationwide in 
summertime smog and wintertime particulate pollution. Under his 
stewardship, the Valley air basin has made great strides in reducing 
ozone exceedances, as it has seen a 50-percent reduction in the 
emissions from statutory sources. The SJAPCD has implemented programs 
such as the ``Check Before You Burn'' winter wood-burning restriction 
program; a system to reduce smoke emissions from agricultural burning, 
and creating cost-effective rules to encourage conservation management 
practices for farms.
  During his tenure as the head of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution 
Control District, David has earned a reputation as a skilled consensus-
builder who forged partnerships between interests which seldom agreed. 
Under his leadership, the air-pollution district has distributed over 
$100 million to implement a myriad of projects to reduce serious air 
pollution in the region. David Crow's efforts, and those of the 
talented staff that he helped build, are helping to improve the air 
quality in California's Central Valley, one of the fastest growing 
regions in the Nation.
  Throughout his career, David Crow has proven to be a highly effective 
administrator who was committed to protecting the public's health. As 
he gets set to spend more time with his wife Vicky and sons, Ryan and 
Matthew, I wish him continued success and good luck in all his future 
endeavors.

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