[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 83 (Thursday, May 13, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2273-H2274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CELEBRATING THE RETIREMENT OF JOHN McAULIFFE

  (Mr. KATKO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the retirement of 
John McAuliffe, a central New York native, visionary, and driving force 
behind the Onondaga Lake cleanup effort.
  In 2002, John McAuliffe was named program director for the Honeywell 
Company's $450 million cleanup of Onondaga Lake, one of the most 
polluted sites in America caused by Honeywell's predecessor.
  McAuliffe tirelessly worked with Federal and State environmental 
regulators and oversaw teams of engineers and technicians to clean up a 
lake laden with more than 165,000 pound of mercury and other toxic 
substances.
  Today, Onondaga Lake is the site of the Loop-the-Lake Trail, as well 
as the Lakeview Amphitheater, a popular music venue, and hosts 
thousands of boaters, fishers, and nature enthusiasts each year. It has 
also become a favorite place for bald eagles, especially in the winter 
months. The lake has experienced an extraordinary revival due to John 
McAuliffe's remarkable vision and unwavering commitment.

[[Page H2274]]

  Central New York owes John a debt of gratitude for an enduring legacy 
of doing something that many thought was impossible. I wish John a 
happy retirement.

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