[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13779]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. DICK CHAMPION

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Mr. Dick 
Champion, director of the Independence Water Pollution Control 
Department.
  Mr. Champion is an exceptional leader and public steward dedicated to 
the improvement of Missouri's and the Nation's environment and public 
health. It is my pleasure to congratulate Mr. Champion on becoming the 
new president of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, 
NACWA, formerly the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies, 
AMSA, Mr. Champion is ideally suited for this national leadership 
position.
  Mr. Champion began his career in water pollution control in 1969. He 
has been with the City of Independence, MO, Water Pollution Control 
Department for the past 27 years and has been director of the 
department since 1983. The department is responsible for the Sanitary 
Sewer Utility, the Storm Water Management Program, the Household 
Hazardous Waste Management Program, and related environmental 
compliance.
  He was appointed by the Jackson County Executive and legislature to 
the Jackson County Stormwater Commission, to coordinate regional 
stormwater policy and planning. Since its creation in 2001, Mr. 
Champion has been serving as vice-chair of the commission.
  He has been an active member of NACWA since 1992, was elected to the 
board of directors in 1999, and now serves at NACWA's vice president 
and chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. Mr. Champion will become 
NACWA's president on July 18--an impressive accomplishment and one that 
will no doubt help secure NACWA's role as the leading advocate for 
sound water quality policies.
  Mr. Champion earned a BS degree in political science with an emphasis 
in local government and public administration from Central Missouri 
State University in 1973. As a student and throughout his career Mr. 
Champion has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public service 
and the improvement of water quality in Missouri. The fish and 
fishermen of Missouri owe a great deal to his tireless work to 
guarantee clean water.
  With Mr. Champion as president, NACWA will no doubt build on its 
reputation as the leading advocate for responsible national policies 
that advance clean water and a healthy environment. Simply stated, when 
I hear the term ``environmentalist,'' I think of public servants like 
Mr. Champion first.
  Again, it is my sincere pleasure to congratulate Mr. Champion on 
becoming president of NACWA. I look forward to working with him and 
NACWA to ensure continued water quality progress for Missouri and the 
Nation.

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