[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 96 (Thursday, June 16, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING MR. KENNETH H. HOFMANN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 16, 2016

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. 
Kenneth Hofmann, owner of the Rancho Esquon Wildlife Area and wetlands 
steward par excellence, for his commitment to community development and 
wildlife preservation.
  Mr. Hofmann, a lifelong Californian, has spent most of the past three 
decades working to promote philanthropy, educational and artistic 
initiatives, and wildlife conservation. In 1990, Mr. Hofmann purchased 
Rancho Esquon, a sprawling agricultural property in Butte County, and 
began working to restore its natural habitat. Today, the ranch boasts 
over 900 acres of wetlands, is home to more than 20,000 trees and 173 
species of birds, and serves as a valuable educational resource. Over 
4,000 students have taken class field trips to Rancho Esquon, many of 
whom have returned to visit the site's egg salvage facility.
  Today, to further expose and educate regarding the importance of our 
wetlands, Mr. Hofmann is in the process of building the Pacific Flyway 
Center, a world-class museum and zoo facility in Suisun Marsh. The 
Center is dedicated to inspiring conservation of the Pacific Flyway, a 
critical migratory route stretching from Alaska to Patagonia. Every 
year, at least one billion birds migrate along the Flyway, and its 
importance to waterfowl populations cannot be overstated. Upon 
completion, the Center will offer educational opportunities for local 
students and citizens.
  Mr. Hofmann's charitable organization, The Hofmann Family Foundation 
(HFF), has worked for over 20 years to help young people in need. In 
1995, a $1 million donation from the HFF created the Concord Community 
Youth Center, which today provides educational and athletic 
opportunities for 1,900 underprivileged young people. And in 2014, Mr. 
Hofmann donated funds to create the De La Salle Academy, a division of 
De La Salle High School dedicated to providing high-quality education 
for boys whose financial circumstances would otherwise prevent private 
schooling. By the end of 2016, the Academy will have 80 students 
enrolled in the fifth and sixth grades.
  Mr. Speaker, Kenneth Hofmann has dedicated his time and resources for 
nearly 40 years to enriching the lives of California's young people and 
protecting its environment. Mr. Hofmann's efforts have benefitted our 
community enormously, and it is fitting and proper that we honor him 
here today.

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