[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 149 (Monday, August 23, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN RECOGNITION OF ONEIDA NATION'S CONSERVATION EFFORTS

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                          HON. MIKE GALLAGHER

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, August 23, 2021

  Mr. GALLAGHER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the Oneida Nation 
for receiving the Lake Michigan Champions of Conservation Award.
  The Lake Michigan Champions of Conservation Award honors people, 
programs, community groups, and businesses for outstanding achievements 
in the restoration, protection, or promotion of Lake Michigan. The 
Oneida Nation continuously provides critical services and programs to 
preserve, restore, and enhance our environment, and are extremely 
deserving of this recognition.
  The Oneida Nation has a long history of caring for our environment 
and understands that preserving and protecting the environment is a 
responsibility given to us all by our creator. The Oneida Nation has 
made environmental conservation a priority, administering conservation 
programs, like the Tribal Environmental Response Program, a program 
intended to address the release of hazardous and regulated materials 
into the environment. Additionally, the Oneida Nation has played a 
crucial role in the restoration of our watershed by returning wildlife 
habitat land back into natural areas, wetlands, forests, and 
grasslands. They also frequently partner with local governments, 
agencies, and private landowners to continue improving water quality 
standards locally.
  The Oneida Nation offers unique community education programs 
consistent with the culture, vision, and priorities of the Oneida 
Nation. The Nation works to weave Traditional Ecological Knowledge 
(TEK) practices into each of their projects by incorporating cultural 
information and practices. To further raise awareness, they opened 
their restoration projects to field tours and educational experiences 
by other resource professionals and interest groups.
  The Oneida Nation's service to the conservation of Northeastern 
Wisconsin has been incredibly valuable and is deeply appreciated by the 
members of our community. The Oneida Nation's sincere efforts do not go 
unnoticed. I commend the Nation for all its efforts to be champions of 
conservation in Northeast Wisconsin.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all members of this body to join me in 
congratulating the Oneida Nation for receiving the Lake Michigan 
Champions of Conservation Award.

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