[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 112 (Friday, July 13, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1519]]
    TRIBUTE TO MR. CHRISTOPHER WESTHOFF, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL 
                  ASSOCIATION OF CLEAN WATER AGENCIES

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 12, 2007

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and 
pay tribute to Mr. Christopher Westhoff, Assistant City Attorney--
Public Works General Counsel with the City of Los Angeles, California.
  Mr. Westhoff is an environmental champion for the City of Los 
Angeles, the State of California, and the nation. He is an exceptional 
leader and public steward dedicated to the improvement of L.A.'s water 
quality and public health. It is my pleasure to congratulate Mr. 
Westhoff on being named the new President of the National Association 
of Clean Water Agencies, NACWA.
  Mr. Westhoff has been a public servant in California for almost his 
entire career. He began as a prosecutor with the Los Angeles City 
Attorney's office and has been the General Counsel to the Board of 
Public Works for over 15 years. Mr. Westhoff is the Public Works 
Department's legal counsel on wastewater and other environmental 
regulatory issues including air and stormwater.
  Mr. Westhoff has played a leadership role in guaranteeing clean and 
safe water for future generations of Californians by helping ensure an 
upgrade of the Hyperion Treatment Plant to full secondary treatment, 
developing and defending policies that have helped clean up the Santa 
Monica Bay, and achieving 100% beneficial reuse of the city's 
biosolids.
  His role in negotiating a landmark settlement agreement for L.A.'s 
collection systems resulted in benefits to all parties and led to a 
reduction in sewer spills of more than 70%.
  Another achievement of Mr. Westhoff's of particular significance is 
his role in developing and defending Los Angeles' model program to 
increase the participation of minority and woman-run business 
enterprises as part of city contracts. Mr. Westhoff successfully 
defended this vital program before the California State Supreme Court.
  Mr. Westhoff will become NACWA's president later this month, after 
serving as NACWA's Vice President and Chair of the Strategic Planning 
Committee. The City of Los Angeles is a founding member of the 
Association and Mr. Westhoff was elected to the Board of Directors in 
1999.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues of the 110th Congress to please 
join me today in congratulating Chris Westhoff on becoming President of 
NACWA and for his tireless commitment to Los Angeles, our state of 
California and our country. With Chris Westhoff 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. I am certain the association will continue to flourish 
under his able leadership.

                          ____________________