[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 41 (Thursday, March 8, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E282-E283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2018

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the City of Mount 
Clemens, Michigan, as it celebrates its 200th Anniversary of its 
founding and designation as the county seat of Macomb County. I have 
been proud to represent this vibrant community for more than 25 years.
  In 1818, Governor of the Michigan Territory, Lewis Cass, established 
the County of Macomb, and designated Mount Clemens, which had been 
settled by explorer Christian Clemens, as the county seat. When 
Michigan became the 26th state admitted to the Union in 1837, Clemens's 
settlement was incorporated as a village and then later voted to become 
a city.
  In the 1870's mineral water wells were discovered throughout Mount 
Clemens and soon people from all over the world were traveling there to 
experience the healing waters, including Hollywood stars Clark Gable 
and Mae West, and sports icons Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey. Mount 
Clemens became known as ``Bath City'' and the bath industry thrived in 
this community.
  The ``Capital of Macomb'', Mount Clemens, has a lot to offer its 
residents and the surrounding communities. Not only is it the hub of 
county government and services, but Mount Clemens is also the center of 
many cultural and recreational activities. It is home to vibrant 
institutions, including the Anton Art Center and the Crocker House 
Museum, along with several other historical museums. From its parks and 
riverfront to its growing downtown, the city offers many community 
concerts, festivals, and a weekly Farmers Market. And every Fourth of 
July, residents gather together for a bike parade through the 
neighborhood to celebrate the holiday.
  Oakland University has a campus in downtown Mount Clemens, and the 
city is home to two strong hospital systems, McLaren Macomb and Henry 
Ford Macomb, and a community health center, MyCare. A favorite 
gathering place in the community is the Mount Clemens Public Library, 
one of the two oldest public libraries in Michigan.
  Over the years, I have been especially grateful to be able to spend 
time with the students in Mount Clemens. Whether it's been playing 
basketball with them at the Jermaine Jackson Community Center or 
talking to the students at the High School about the civil rights 
marches in Selma and the passing of the Voting Rights Act, I have seen 
firsthand their passion and thoughtfulness about the community and 
about important issues. My office has also worked closely with the 
community to support and grow the Mount Clemens Community Coalition for 
Youth and Families, a community anti-drug coalition leading the way in 
preventing substance abuse and creating a safe and healthy city for our 
young people.
  Over the years, I have been proud to work with city leaders and to 
fight for federal dollars to support this hardworking community. The 
Recovery Act provided funding for public safety and public housing 
programs. And through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, the city 
was able to purchase several blighted and vacant residential buildings 
slated for demolition and acquire property to become part of Clemens 
Park.
  Money through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has helped 
improve the Clinton River that flows through the city and supported 
habitat improvements on the Clinton River Spillway that connects the 
Clinton River to Lake St. Clair. We worked with the city of Mount 
Clemens to get funding to dredge the Clinton River channel in downtown. 
And we joined with other members of the delegation to bring funding to 
replace deteriorated sidewalks with pedestrian and bike trails.
  Residents and leaders will gather on March 10, 2018, to celebrate the 
past, present and future of this great community. As the City of Mount 
Clemens commemorates this milestone, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating the leaders, residents, churches, businesses, and 
organizations that make this

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city so great. And I especially want to thank the residents of Mount 
Clemens who have provided me with the honor of representing them in 
Congress for more than 25 years.

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