[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 82 (Friday, May 13, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4959-H4960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CELEBRATING MOTHER NATURE'S GIFTS

  (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, as spring moves into full bloom, new life is 
bursting forth along the southern-most shore of the Great Lakes along 
Lake Erie. Over 100,000 nature tourists are flocking to the Ottawa and 
Cedar Point Federal Wildlife Refuges adjacent to Magee Marsh and Maumee 
Bay State Park. Nearby freshwaters hum with new life: pickerel, perch, 
and even salmon.
  This week our region is celebrating the 30th anniversary of what has 
grown into the biggest week in American birding. Over 100,000 visitors 
head to our northern Ohio heartland region for fishing, boating, 
hiking, and, yes, bird watching to fully welcome and celebrate the vast 
array of two-winged creatures that fly and thrive along our freshwater 
coast and wetlands: bald eagles, egrets, trumpeter swans, blue herons, 
indeed, every species one might imagine.
  This splendid, colorful display by nature occurs at the crossroads of 
the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways. Nearby the Great Lakes Black 
Swamp Bird Observatory is raising funds to build a new welcome and 
education center to

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introduce youth from across our world to Mother Nature's power and the 
beauty and value of our environment.
  Nature tourism is not only healthy, it gives an over $40 million 
economic boost to our region just during May. Northern Ohio welcomes 
guests from around the world as we celebrate the gifts that we have 
been given to shepherd to generations to come. Congratulations to all 
who responsibly steward our region forward and our precious corner of 
Mother Earth.

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