[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 153 (Thursday, September 13, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1252]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING WARDEN NICOLE KOZICKI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 13, 2018

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the 
Honorable Mark DeSaulnier, Jerry McNerney, and Eric Swalwell to honor 
Nicole Kozicki upon her retirement as a Wildlife Officer with the 
California Department of Fish and Wildlife in the San Francisco Bay 
Area.
  Warden Kozicki was born and raised in Oakland, California and 
graduated from Skyline High School in 1986. Post-graduation Warden 
Kozicki attended the California Fish and Game Academy. She was the 
youngest cadet to graduate and one of only thirteen women in the Class 
of 1989. Shortly after graduation, Warden Kozicki was recruited by the 
California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
  Warden Kozicki has been steadfast in her work to protect California's 
wildlife over the past 29 years. She led an investigation of the 
illegal development practices, which threatened two endangered species. 
Warden Kozicki lent her expertise by testifying during the trial and 
the developers were fined $1 million for destroying endangered species 
habitat, among other violations. Her tireless efforts have resulted in 
the preservation of hundreds of acres of land and millions of dollars 
in fines. Warden Kozicki also collaborated with the Fish and Wildlife 
Committee to secure over $1 million from the Annual Contra Costa County 
Fish and Wildlife Propagation Grant to for community projects that 
benefit fish and wildlife in our community.
  Warden Kozicki has been recognized for her incredible work on 
multiple occasions. In 2017, she received both the California 
Department of Fish and Wildlife Officer of the Year Award and the 
Pogue-Elms Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, the latter 
being the highest honor given by the Western Association of Fish and 
Wildlife Agencies. Warden Kozicki was named the Officer of the Year by 
Safari Club International in 2016.
  Mr. Speaker, Nicole Kozicki has dedicated her career to preserving 
and protecting California's precious fish and wildlife. Therefore, it 
is fitting and proper that we honor her here today.

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