[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 129 (Wednesday, November 15, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING BERNIE HANSEN'S SERVICE ON BEHALF OF THE GREAT LAKES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 15, 2006

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, as co-chair of the House Great Lakes Task 
Force, I rise today to honor former Chicago Alderman Bernie Hansen for 
his outstanding service as a member of the Great Lakes Fishery 
Commission. As a member of this prestigious, binational commission, 
Alderman Hansen worked tirelessly to support measures that protect the 
Great Lakes fishery and helped to improve the regional economy and 
environment. He held several positions on the commission including 
Chair, Vice-Chair, U.S. Section Chair, and Chair of the Finance and 
Administration Committee. He retired from the commission earlier this 
year after 12 years of dedicated service.
  The Great Lakes Fishery Commission was established by the 1954 
Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries, a treaty between the United States 
and Canada. The commission is responsible for conducting fisheries 
research, making recommendations to the government about how to improve 
fish stocks of common concern, and, most notably, controlling the 
destructive, invasive sea lamprey. U.S. commissioners are appointed by 
the President of the United States and serve because they are honored 
to do so, without compensation.
  Alderman Hansen excelled at his job as commissioner. As a sitting 
Chicago Alderman, his knowledge of the Great Lakes' political landscape 
was a great benefit to the commission, particularly during the work of 
the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration, convened under President's 
Bush's Executive Order for the Great Lakes. He vastly improved 
communications between the commission and elected officials, he 
consistently brought new and relevant issues to the commission's 
attention, and he helped the commission better manage and evaluate its 
programs. He left a lasting mark on many commission products and 
programs including the Strategic Vision for the First Decade of the New 
Millennium and the communications program.
  Alderman Hansen is a life-long resident of Chicago and served as 
Alderman for 20 years, retiring in 2002. He is particularly proud of 
his role on the City Council for environmental and recycling 
legislation, which gave Chicago one of the most aggressive and workable 
recycling programs in the country.
  Alderman Hansen is a true asset to Chicago and to the Great Lakes 
region. Because of his work on the commission, the fishery is stronger, 
the environment is healthier, the people of the region are better off, 
and the commission itself is a better institution. I ask my colleagues 
to join me in thanking him for his remarkable service to the Great 
Lakes.

                          ____________________