[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CONGRATULATING THE DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HARRY E. MITCHELL

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Desert 
Botanical Garden on being awarded accreditation by the American 
Association of Museums, which is the highest recognition of a museum's 
commitment to public service, professional standards, and excellence in 
education.
   A small group of passionate, local citizens started the Desert 
Botanical Garden in the 1930s when they saw the need to conserve their 
unique desert environment. The Garden, which is now located on 145 
acres in Phoenix, has emerged as an Arizona treasure. The Garden boasts 
more than 50,000 plants, 1,100 volunteers, and 640,529 attendees every 
year.
   Since the Garden's beginning, it has been steadfast in its 
commitment to advance excellence in education, research, exhibition and 
conservation of desert plants of the world, with emphasis on the 
southwestern United States. For more than 70 years, it has been 
teaching and inspiring visitors from around the world to help them 
understand, appreciate and preserve the desert's natural beauty.
   The Garden now joins an impressive group of 778 institutions 
currently accredited by the American Association of Museums, which 
includes only those museums that have demonstrated a firm commitment to 
providing outstanding programming and experiences to the public while 
also meeting the highest standards of collections care. In fact, it is 
1 of only 44 botanical gardens accredited by the association.
   Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing and congratulating the 
Desert Botanical Garden for its impressive and unique contribution to 
Arizona.

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