[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 44 (Friday, March 14, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E417]]
 RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TOWSON UNIVERSITY ANNUAL GEOGRAPHIC 
                INFORMATION SCIENCES (TUgis) CONFERENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN P. SARBANES

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 14, 2008

  Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, on the occasion of its 21st annual TUgis 
Conference, I rise today to recognize Towson University for its 
excellence in geographic information sciences.
  In 1984, Dr. John M. Morgan III, with tremendous vision, created a 
GIS lab at Towson University. He hosted the first statewide GIS 
conference in 1988. Since then, the Towson University Center for 
Geographic Information Sciences, CGIS, has grown to include 
approximately 35 full-time, degreed professionals dedicated to 
assisting government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations 
that use GIS to carry out their mission. As the program has grown in 
size, its reputation has also grown. CGIS has developed strong 
partnerships with several organizations throughout Maryland and has 
attracted first-rate students to Towson University who are interested 
in CGIS and its enormous potential.
  The theme for TUgis 2008 is ``Democratizing GIS: New Tools for 
Meeting the Public Demand for Geospatial Information.'' As a member of 
Congress, I have been interested in better understanding the needs of 
those I represent. One way I have been able to gain this understanding 
is through geospatial information about my district. One of our 
interns, Matthew Sadecki, who will be graduating from Towson University 
with a master's in GIS, has been able to construct maps of the district 
displaying a wide range of information. These maps help me to visualize 
statistical information related to the geographical layout of 
Maryland's Third Congressional District and better address the needs of 
those who live there.
  Madam Speaker, I want to again thank Dr. Morgan and Towson University 
for all they have done to advance GIS to its current form and wish them 
great success with all they have yet to achieve.

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