[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 145 (Thursday, October 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                RECOGNIZING DYKE MARSH WILDLIFE PRESERVE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 6, 2009

  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 701, 
honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve.
  Fifty years ago, commercial dredging and dumping operations 
threatened the very existence of Dyke Marsh. In 1959, Congress 
designated Dyke Marsh as a protected wetland habitat, allowing it today 
to provide a vital habitat for over 6,500 species of animals and 
plants, and serve as one of the national capital area's most cherished 
wetland and wildlife preserves.
  I am proud to have taken part in the designation of Dyke Marsh. The 
best times of my life were hunting and fishing with my dad and, later 
in life, with my children. I want to ensure others are able to enjoy 
the outdoors in that same meaningful way.
  This anniversary reminds me of the great times John Saylor, Henry 
Reuss and I shared while working on environmental and conservation 
legislation together. They were great friends and legislators, and I am 
proud of what we were able to accomplish. John was wise to have once 
said: `We are a great people because we have been successful in 
developing and using our marvelous natural resources; but, also, we 
Americans are the people we are largely because we have had the 
influence of the wilderness on our lives.'
  I am also reminded of a quote by another great leader, Winston 
Churchill. Churchill, as you know, enjoyed the occasional drink. One 
day he was meeting with a group of women who were offended by his 
consumption of alcohol. They said `Mr. Churchill, if you lined the 
walls of your office with the alcohol you have consumed, it would be up 
to here.' Churchill looked up, thought for a moment, looked at the 
ladies and said, 'So much to do, so little time.' We should be proud of 
the good our work towards conservation has done, but remember we have 
more to do
  The Gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Moran, is to be commended for his 
hard work in protecting Dyke Marsh and for the good work he has done 
from his perch in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the 
Interior. Important conservation programs are better off because of his 
wisdom and diligence.
  I also want to take a moment to recognize the hard work of the 
Friends of Dyke Marsh. This organization, currently under the 
leadership of Glenda Booth, has done a great job of protecting this 
beautiful space and getting the story of Dyke Marsh out. Friends of 
Dyke Marsh is an outstanding advocacy organization and they have much 
of which to be proud.
  I urge all my colleagues to rise and commemorate the 50th Anniversary 
of the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve.

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