[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 40 (Monday, March 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF THOMAS J. GRAFF

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 10, 2008

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Thomas J. Graff, 
senior counsel to the Environmental Defense Fund of California. His 
more than 35 years as a leader in California's environmental and water 
communities is to be commended, a service that he has performed with 
intelligence, passion, and humor.
  Tom joined the California bar after receiving graduate degrees from 
the London School of Economics and Harvard Law School. In 1971, Tom 
founded the first California office of the Environmental Defense Fund. 
The modern environmental movement was in its infancy, but Tom Graff 
learned quickly.
  Tom worked hard to reform California water policy, particularly in 
the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Working closely with colleagues, 
allies and adversaries, Tom contributed to projects such as Mono Lake, 
Imperial Valley, the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, CVPIA, and 
the 1994 Bay-Delta Accord. His efforts in protecting California water 
resources led to his service on the Colorado River Board, where he 
worked with Californians and water advocates from throughout the 
Colorado River basin. A consistent thread in his environmental and 
water advocacy was economic solutions to complex environmental 
problems.
  Tom Graff's influence crossed over into other aspects of California's 
environment and economy as well. In the 1980s, he launched efforts to 
address acid rains and transportation issues. Governor Pete Wilson 
appointed Tom to the Commission on Transportation Investment, where Tom 
participated in infrastructure issues.
  While the law is, by nature, adversarial, Tom's gifted advocacy has 
gained him the respect and admiration of many, even those considered 
his adversaries. Many testify to Tom's practice of active listening in 
order to genuinely understand his adversaries' interests. This often 
resulted in solutions that resolved both sides' concerns. In sometimes 
tense negotiations, Tom was known to insert humor as well as 
perspective to smooth the way toward resolving potentially intense 
conflicts. Tom spoke accurately when he said, ``We cannot repeat the 
water wars of the past.'' ``We have to find a way to work together, or 
we will all lose.''
  Tom's contributions to California's environmental community have been 
public and political, as well as private and personal. Tom has served 
as a lecturer at law schools at the University of California--Berkeley 
and Harvard. His constant practice of mentoring junior colleagues and 
law students has been spoken highly of.
  In everything that Tom Graff has aspired to do, he has helped broaden 
Californians' understanding of the challenges of balancing 
environmental and economic concerns, and the use of California's 
natural resources. It is that effort that I recognize before you today.

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