[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20580-20581]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO THE POMONA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL'S FOURTH GRADE CLASS

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                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 10, 2002

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I 
recognize the children of Heidi Nadiak's fourth grade class at Pomona 
Elementary School in Grand Junction, Colorado for the outstanding 
contributions they are making toward the advancement of environmental 
science. The Pomona fourth grade was one of ten classes around the 
country to be selected as part of a nationwide study that is using 
razorback suckerfish to monitor the health of the Colorado River.
  The fish are raised by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and are part 
of a public outreach program providing Ms. Nadiak's fourth grade

[[Page 20581]]

class with the opportunity to use scientific methods to conduct real 
life experiments. The fish will be living in an aquarium in the fourth 
grade classroom, and the students will make daily observations by 
measuring pH levels and monitoring the water temperature.
  The Pomona students are studying the fish as part of a larger project 
to assess the current health of the Colorado River. The razorbacks once 
thrived in the Colorado River but became nearly extinct. By studying 
the fish and assisting in the effort to reintroduce them into their 
natural habitat, the Pomona fourth graders are providing a huge service 
to the advancement of environmental science. For several years, I have 
worked in Congress in the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery 
Program, which seeks to ensure the recovery of the razorback, the pike 
minnow, and several other species of fish. It is a pleasure to see how 
this effort is being complimented by the efforts of Ms. Nadiak's fourth 
grade class.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to recognize Pomona Elementary's fourth 
grade class before this body of Congress and this nation for the 
contributions they are making toward the preservation of our natural 
habitat. Coloradoans are fully aware that our lands and waters are some 
of our state's most precious resources, and I am grateful that our 
tradition of scientifically supported environmental awareness is being 
passed down to such an intelligent and capable group of kids at Pomona 
Elementary.

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