[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 177 (Wednesday, November 16, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE WORK AND RETIREMENT OF WILLIAM ``CHIP'' R. MURRAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BRUCE WESTERMAN

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 16, 2022

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of William 
``Chip'' R. Murray, for his retirement after a stunning 47-year career 
in service to two of our Nation's greatest resources: our forests and 
the millions of Americans who own and manage them.
  After beginning his career at the U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Chip found his way into forestry in 1989. Chip focused on forestry 
issues for more than 20 years at the American Forest & Paper 
Association, where he served as Deputy General Counsel and Executive 
Director of Forestry. In that role, he oversaw forestry programs that 
helped forest owners manage their land to meet the objectives of the 
Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act. Chip also spearheaded 
important improvements to various legislation impacting the forestry 
sector.
  In 2010, Chip joined the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) as 
Vice President for Policy, and General Counsel. His work at NAFO over 
the last 12 years has focused on ensuring that policymakers understand 
and appreciate private forestry's deeply rooted culture of 
sustainability and the vast environmental benefits private working 
forests provide--from climate mitigation and clean air to clean water 
and wildlife habitat.
  Chip's work on wildlife conservation is perhaps his most enduring 
legacy. Chip led the development of the Wildlife Conservation 
Initiative, a pioneering partnership between private landowners and the 
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) to conserve at-risk and declining 
species on private forestlands. Under Chip's leadership, NAFO's 
Wildlife Conservation Initiative has become the gold standard of 
collaborative species conservation. Today, NAFO members and the USFWS 
are partnering on voluntary conservation projects in every legacy USFWS 
region in the country.
  Throughout his career, Chip has led and participated in a wide 
variety of forestry sector organizations and coalitions. He is widely 
known for his encyclopedic knowledge of forestry, his rich 
institutional memory, and the passion he brings to any issue he 
touches. Chip is generous with his time, insights, and mentorship, to 
the great benefit of several generations of forestry professionals.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 
outstanding career of Chip Murray, spent in service to our nation's 
abundant privately owned forests. Today we honor Chip and the lasting 
impact he has had on the forestry community, both inside and outside of 
government. We wish him and Ellen well as they start the next chapter 
of their lives--enjoying many adventures that undoubtedly will include 
time well spent in the forest.

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