[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 100 (Monday, June 22, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S4342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING WENLIANG WANG

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize entrepreneur and 
philanthropist Wenliang Wang for his commitment and dedication to 
restoring one of the world's most impressive wetlands, the Dandong Yalu 
River Estuary Wetland in China.
  Mr. Wang is well-known in his country as the founder and chairman of 
the China Rilin Construction Group, which is among the largest private 
construction companies in China. Rilin is also the owner and operator 
of the Port of Dandong, a vital trading hub in Liaoning Province 
located in northeast China. Though Mr. Wang has important business ties 
to this region, it is his private efforts and personal connection to 
the area that has influenced him to invest millions of dollars in the 
restoration of the Dandong Yalu River Estuary Wetland.
  Not far from Dandong Port, sit the Dandong wetlands. Bird watchers, 
scientists, and outdoor enthusiasts travel from around the world to 
Liaoning to study the area and watch the native species and migratory 
birds, including those that fly from New Zealand to Alaska each year. 
Mr. Wang recognized the significance of safeguarding and enhancing 
these wetlands. With his support, restoration work to revitalize the 
fields, shrimp pond, and tidal basin has made this important migratory 
destination a sanctuary for all of the species that depend on the 
wetland.
  Today, the Dandong wetlands are among the most inhabited wetlands in 
the world, which includes feeding and resting areas for hundreds of 
thousands of migrating and wading birds, such as the rare saunders' 
gull. It is my understanding that there are approximately 14,000 of 
these birds left in the world and more than 1,300 have made the wetland 
their home.
  I applaud Mr. Wang for his commitment to protecting the 
internationally significant Dandong Yalu River Estuary Wetland and wish 
him the very best in his continued efforts to protect our environment 
and restore these important sites.

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