[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 90 (Thursday, May 30, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E683-E684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF FRIENDS OF THE CHICAGO RIVER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE QUIGLEY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 30, 2019

  Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Friends of the 
Chicago River as they celebrate their 40th Anniversary.
  Since its founding in August of 1979, Friends of the Chicago River 
has promoted and protected the Chicago River system for

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people, plants and animals. They have worked in areas of policy, on-
the-ground projects and education on behalf of the river system. 
Friends has educated more than 400,000 students about science, nature 
and the environment; received over 200,000 visitors to its McCormick 
Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum and have taken over 20,000 
individuals canoeing to build new and future advocates.
  Each year, Friends Centennial Volunteers and River Action Days 
attract over 6,000 volunteers who participate in restoration activities 
instream and on adjacent lands. Also, each year, Friends' Chicago River 
Day attracts about 2,000 people to around 70 locations across the 
Chicago region for a clean-up effort that removes tons of litter from 
the waterway. The organization has worked on behalf of the Chicago 
River system to raise overall water quality, foster healthier wildlife 
habitat, reduce flooding, and raise public awareness of combined sewer 
overflows.
  Friends has grown from a handful of people concerned about the 
neglect of the river system to an organization of 10,000 members, 
volunteers, and online advocates led by Executive Director, Margaret 
Frisbie, and Board President, Sally Fletcher.
  Generations of Chicagoans now value the Chicago River system as an 
invaluable natural resource.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
Friends of the Chicago River for a long tradition of advocacy on behalf 
of the Chicago River system and its 40th Anniversary.

                          ____________________