[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27515]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DENNIS B. UNDERWOOD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY G. MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 18, 2005

  Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay 
tribute to the life and memory of Dennis B. Underwood, an esteemed 
Western water expert and chief executive officer and general manager of 
the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Mr. Underwood 
passed away November 2 at his home in Alta Loma, California.
  In commemorating the life of Dennis Underwood, I would like to 
highlight some of the notable contributions of his career as a humble 
public servant of this great nation. With a career that spanned nearly 
four decades, Mr. Underwood took part in water resource development and 
management at both the state and federal levels. Perhaps his biggest 
contribution to California's water supply was during his role as the 
Metropolitan Water District's vice president of Colorado River 
resources, which he was instrumental in the development of a plan that 
would bring the state's water use in compliance within its legal 
apportionment of usage from the Colorado River. Additionally, Mr. 
Underwood played a central role in negotiating one of the nation's 
largest habitat conservation programs covering 27 species along 
approximately 450 miles of the lower Colorado River. During his brief 
tenure as CEO and general manager of the Metropolitan Water District, 
Mr. Underwood launched initiatives that sought to further enhance 
relationships with public agencies as well as seeking new partners to 
preserve California's water future.
  Dennis Underwood's desire to serve his country expanded beyond public 
service as he honorably served in the military during the Vietnam War 
as a captain with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Underwood won 
the admiration of his colleagues through his respectful interaction and 
clear sense of leadership; qualities which he carried with him later in 
life.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the life of Dennis B. 
Underwood and recognizing the lasting contributions and accomplishments 
that highlighted his career in water resource development and 
management.

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