[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12030]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  IN HONOR OF VINCENT J. BILARDO, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 26, 2002

  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
an outstanding individual and dedicated public servant from the State 
of Missouri. On July 26th, Vincent J. Bilardo, Jr. will be ending his 
current assignment from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City 
District in which he has served as the Kansas City Brownfields Federal 
Showcase Program Director. He will leave a lasting legacy of tireless 
commitment to the betterment and preservation of our community and 
region.
  Prior to joining the Corps in 1992, Mr. Bilardo began his career in 
public service with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA) where he spent ten years at four different NASA facilities 
throughout the nation. His assignments included serving as a systems 
engineer in the Space Station Program at NASA Headquarters, a Space 
Shuttle propulsion systems engineer at NASA Kennedy Space Center and 
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, and as the manager of a branch 
of fifteen research scientists charged with developing closed loop 
environmental control systems for future lunar and Mars exploration 
missions at Ames Research Center.
  Mr. Bilardo began his current position with the Kansas City 
Brownfields Federal Showcase in 1999 which consists of both the City of 
Kansas City, Missouri and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/
Kansas City, Kansas. He has been responsible for developing federal and 
state grant applications, providing technical assistance to a number of 
important regional initiatives, and managing several Brownfields 
redevelopment projects. His efforts have earned the program national 
acclaim as an award winning initiative that has significantly enhanced 
regional investment, economic growth, and environmental quality in the 
communities he serves. Under Mr. Bilardo's leadership the Kansas City 
Brownfields Federal Showcase has partnered with economic and industrial 
associations to implement an aggressive strategy to rebuild 
infrastructure, expand operations, and improve facilities in the 
region.
  The crowning achievement of Mr. Bilardo's tenure has been in his 
diligent guidance and development of the Kansas City Riverfront 
Heritage Trail, for which he serves as the Bi-State Program Director. 
The Kansas City Riverfront Heritage Trail is an 18 mile long, bistate 
system of bicycle and pedestrian trails, pocket parks, restored 
ecosystems, and trailheads that has successfully leveraged municipal, 
state, federal, and private funding resources. Upon completion, the 
Riverfront Heritage Trail will connect critical riverfront activity 
centers to provide recreation, promote economic investment, wetland 
habitat restoration, and feature the rich historical and cultural 
highlights of our metropolitan area's past including Lewis and Clark's 
Corp of Discovery expedition and their two stops along the southwestern 
most bend of the Missouri River. Anyone who has been involved with the 
Riverfront Heritage Trail is cognizant of Mr. Bilardo's immeasurable 
contribution to this project and of the fact that it would not be the 
success it is today without his passion and tireless commitment.
  Mr. Bilardo will leave a large void to be filled as he returns in 
August to NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. He will 
be fondly remembered by his peers and coworkers as a tireless and 
dedicated leader. Mr. Bilardo's amazing barbeque skills will be sorely 
missed by everyone who had the pleasure to work with him. It is with 
deep gratitude and honor that I recognize Vince Bilardo for his 
remarkable service to the State of Missouri. His devotion is an example 
to us all.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking Mr. Bilardo and wishing him 
and his wife Heidi and their two daughters, Kendall and Rachel 
continued success and happiness in the adventures that await them.

                          ____________________