[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 11, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF MOLLY K. MORRISON

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                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 2014

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Molly K. 
Morrison on the occasion of being honored with the Eighth Annual 
Rebecca Lukens Award by The Greystone Society of Coatesville, Chester 
County, Pennsylvania. As an outstanding candidate for this recognition, 
Molly was chosen for this honor for the same love of community she has 
as the award's namesake, Rebecca Lukens.
  A Chester County native, Molly Morrison learned to appreciate the 
importance of land preservation by spending time on her grandparents' 
farm in northern Chester County, a place where her German immigrant 
ancestors had been farming since the early 1700s.
  After pursuing an English degree at Ursinus College and Masters in 
Communications at Syracuse University, Molly worked at the Brandywine 
Valley Association and then for Chester County, where she served in a 
variety of positions over a 21-year period, most recently as Director 
of Policy and Planning. In that role, she oversaw the development and 
implementation of the County's nationally recognized open space 
program, as well as the policy development of and program 
implementation for planning, parks, water resources, and community 
development.
  As President of Natural Lands Trust, she has been instrumental in 
creating conservation strategies for complex land transactions, 
including the acquisition of the 1,263-acre ChesLen Preserve in Newlin 
Township. In addition to providing strategic leadership and fundraising 
for a staff of 60, Molly oversees a network of 42 nature preserves and 
361 conservation easements, totaling more than 44,000 acres. Molly has 
also served on a variety of boards, including the YMCA of Greater West 
Chester, the Chester County Art Association, and the Chester County 
United Way, among others.
  Mr. Speaker, in light of her years of immeasurable contributions to 
the community and litany of outstanding accomplishments, I ask that my 
colleagues join me today in recognizing Molly K. Morrison on the 
occasion of her being honored with The Greystone Society's Rebecca 
Lukens Award.

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