[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 27, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO ANNE WOIWODE

 Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Anne 
Woiwode of Okemos, MI, as she ends 35 years of service with the Sierra 
Club's Michigan chapter. Through her leadership, the organization's 
work has been critical in preserving numerous wilderness areas, 
tracking and curtailing pollution, and leading the fight for clean 
energy in the beautiful State of Michigan. I am honored to acknowledge 
Ms. Woiwode's career-long commitment to safeguarding the flourishing 
habitats and environmental wonders Michigan has to offer.
  Ms. Woiwode began her involvement with the Sierra Club as a young 
mother after moving to Michigan with her husband, Tom, in 1980. Her 
impact was felt immediately, and the environmental community grew 
quickly. In 1983, Anne became the chapter chair, and in 1985 she became 
its first executive director. Knowing the power of collaboration in 
changing policy, she helped form the Michigan Environmental Council, 
MEC, in 1980, serving in many leadership roles over the years. Thanks 
to her direction, the MEC is a fully independent organization with over 
70 member groups, and it continues to provide policy expertise to the 
environmental community.
  Breathtaking wildernesses like the Nordhouse Dunes and Sturgeon River 
Gorge exist due in part to Ms. Woiwode's dedication. She was 
instrumental in the establishment of 90,000 acres of protected 
wilderness under the Michigan Wilderness Heritage Act of 1987. Today 
countless species of plants and animals flourish in these protected 
ecosystems.
  In addition to working to preserve Michigan's diverse ecosystems, Ms. 
Woiwode also dedicated over a decade of work to reducing pollution from 
concentrated animal feeding operations, CAFOs, or animal factories. Ms. 
Woiwode came to listen when rural residents and small family farms 
reached out for help, even though they were too intimidated by their 
CAFO neighbors to provide names. Countless stories and evidence of 
animal waste carried into Michigan's waterways, toxic fumes from 
millions of gallons of raw sewage spread on massive farm fields, and 
sickness were responded to in attempts to reduce CAFO pollution. While 
it's still a problem in Michigan, thanks to Ms. Woiwode, the Sierra 
Club's Michigan chapter is recognized as the national expert in 
tracking CAFO pollution.
  While her commitment to protecting Michigan's ecosystems and tracking 
pollution are worth acknowledging alone, Ms. Woiwode's leadership in 
turning Michigan toward a clean energy future is perhaps the most 
important step in preserving Michigan's environment. Through the Clean 
Energy NOW Coalition, she organized environmental and citizens groups 
to protest the construction of eight proposed coal power plants in 
Michigan without additional review by the Governor. The coalition's 
emphasis on citizen pressure and legal avenues led to a Governor's 
executive directive requiring further review of the proposed plants and 
eventually a complete stop in construction.
  I am honored to ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing Ms. 
Anne Woiwode's service to the Sierra Club's Michigan Chapter. While her 
passion and leadership will be dearly missed, I know she has inspired 
future generations to continue fighting for the natural wonders and 
beautiful, vibrant ecosystems of Michigan.

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