[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 148 (Monday, September 16, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JAMES MIDDLETON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, Dr. James Middleton has spent nearly 
every day of his adult life caring for others. As a family physician in 
Hart County, KY, he has dedicated himself to promoting the health and 
well-being of his community. When he inherited the family farm and its 
150-year-old history, James also made a pledge to conserve that land 
for all those who might enjoy it.
  Recently, my friend was recognized for the exceptional care he has 
provided to his community with the Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award. 
I would like to take a moment to congratulate him on this prestigious 
recognition and to thank him for his years of conservation to protect 
our environment and benefit Kentucky communities.
  Our Commonwealth is blessed with a rich ecosystem and picturesque 
landscapes. James' home, including the years-old tobacco farm, is near 
two of our most remarkable natural treasures: the Mammoth Cave system 
and the Green River. In an effort to help protect these magnificent 
features, James chose to participate in the Tobacco Buyout, which was 
created by legislation I introduced to free Kentucky farmers from a 
Depression-era tobacco quota system. He set out on a new agricultural 
path and focused on crops that would protect his region and one of the 
most bio-diverse rivers in the world.
  James designed a new style of land management specifically to benefit 
the natural environment of his community and our country. He began 
growing hay, raising pasture-fed cattle, and harvesting hardwoods. By 
his estimation, he has planted more than a million trees, and the 
majority of his farm is now forestland. As a result, his 600 acres of 
vegetation have formed a natural barrier to protect the Green River 
from runoff and other threats.
  I would like to congratulate my friend for his remarkable leadership 
in Hart County and his important conservation work that has benefited 
Kentucky and our environment. He is certainly deserving of this 
distinguished award, and I ask my Senate colleagues to join me in 
honoring Dr. James Middleton for his passionate protection of our 
heritage.

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