[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 91 (Thursday, July 13, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO MR. DICK CHAMPION OF INDEPENDENCE, MO, PRESIDENT OF THE 
              NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLEAN WATER AGENCIES

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                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2006

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and pay 
tribute to Mr. Dick Champion, director of the Independence, MO, Water 
Pollution Control Department.
  True to his name, Mr. Champion is exactly that--a ``champion'' for 
clean water. He is an exceptional leader and public steward dedicated 
to the improvement of Missouri's and the Nation's environment and 
public health. It is my pleasure to congratulate Mr. Champion on 
becoming the new president of the National Association of Clean Water 
Agencies, NACWA, formerly the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage 
Agencies, AMSA. Mr. Champion is ideally suited for this national 
leadership position.
  Mr. Champion began his career in water pollution control in 1969. He 
has been with the city of Independence, MO, Water Pollution Control 
Department for the past 27 years and has been director of the 
department since 1983. The Department is responsible for the Sanitary 
Sewer Utility, the Storm Water Management Program, the Household 
Hazardous Waste Management Program, and related environmental 
compliance.
  In 2001, he was appointed by the Jackson County executive and 
legislature to the newly created Jackson County Stormwater Commission, 
to coordinate regional stormwater policy and planning. Mr. Champion has 
been serving as vice-chair of the commission throughout his tenure.
  Dick has been an active member of NACWA since 1992, was elected to 
the Board of Directors in 1999, and now serves as NACWA's vice 
president and chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. Mr. Champion 
will become NACWA's president later this month--an impressive 
accomplishment and one that will no doubt help further NACWA's role as 
the leading advocate for sound water quality policies.
  Mr. Champion earned a bachelor of science degree in political science 
with an emphasis in local government and public administration from 
Central Missouri State University in 1973. As a student and throughout 
his career Mr. Champion has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to 
public service and the improvement of water quality in Missouri. The 
fish and fishermen of Missouri owe a great deal to his tireless work to 
guarantee clean water.
  With Mr. Champion as President, NACWA will no doubt build on its 
reputation as the leading advocate for responsible national policies 
that advance clean water and a healthy environment. Simply stated, when 
I hear the term ``environmentalist'', I think of public servants like 
Dick Champion.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues of the 109th Congress to please 
join me today in congratulating Mr. Dick Champion on becoming president 
of NACWA and for his tireless commitment to Independence, the Fifth 
District, and our country. I am certain the association will continue 
to flourish under his able leadership.




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