[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 157 (Tuesday, October 27, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING MR. RICHARD REUSS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 27, 2009

  Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Richard Reuss 
of Glenview, Illinois, who recently retired after thirty years as an 
Advisor to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Mr. Reuss and I share a 
passion for the Great Lakes and I thank him for his tireless work over 
the past three decades to protect and improve the fishery.
  Mr. Reuss represented the public-at-large on the Commission's 
Committee of Advisors since he was first nominated to serve in 1980 by 
Governor James Thompson. The Committee is charged with advising the 
Commission about all matters relating to fish stocks shared by Canada 
and the United States, as well as providing an avenue for citizens to 
be heard on issues that matter to them. Mr. Reuss's responsibility was 
to consider ways in which all citizens could benefit from protecting 
and restoring the Great Lakes and then to provide the best advice 
possible to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission about how the Commission 
could better achieve its objectives.
  As an Advisor, Mr. Reuss was a consistent and strong advocate for the 
Great Lakes. He stayed in regular contact with boaters, fishers, and 
elected officials, was constantly up to date on Great Lakes issues, and 
worked tirelessly to keep the Commission and others informed. For 
years, he volunteered his time to help educate fishers and citizens 
about the Great Lakes, the sea lamprey problem, and ways in which we 
could all work together to improve the resource. He was particularly 
outspoken about the need for effective invasive species measures, 
whether they be measures to control sea lampreys, to prevent Asian 
carp, or to address the ballast water vector. In 2004, the commission 
honored Mr. Reuss with the C.D. ``Buzz'' Besadny Award for Fostering 
Great Lakes Partnerships, the Commission's highest recognition.
  For the first time in its 50-year history, the Commission has created 
the position of Advisor Emeritus and has asked Mr. Reuss to serve in 
that capacity. So, while Mr. Reuss is formally retiring from the 
Committee of Advisors, the Commission and the Great Lakes community 
will not lose his invaluable service.
  I am proud to honor Mr. Richard Reuss as he retires from the Great 
Lakes Fishery Commission's Committee of Advisors and I ask my 
colleagues to join me in thanking him for his remarkable service to the 
Great Lakes.

                          ____________________