[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17895-17896]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING TINA BATT FOR HER WORK WITH THE MUIR HERITAGE LAND TRUST

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 12, 2006

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite 
my colleagues to join me in congratulating Ms. Tina Batt, the Founding 
Executive Director of the Muir Heritage Land Trust, as she leaves her 
post after eighteen years of dedicated service.
  Under Ms. Batt's leadership, the Martinez Regional Land Trust grew to 
become the Muir Heritage Land Trust, a powerful force for conservation 
in Contra Costa County. She has been directly responsible for 
preserving over 2000 acres of open space in and around the City of 
Martinez, California. Her passion for the environment and dedication to 
preserving our heritage has translated into a highly successful 
fundraising effort that has over the years totaled over five million 
dollars.
  The Muir Heritage Land Trust has also expanded its public agency 
partners to include the Bay Area Ridge Trail, the California Coastal 
Conservancy, California Wildlife Conservation Board, California 
Departments of Fish and Game and Water Resources, the City of Martinez, 
Contra Costa Fish and Wildlife Committee, East Bay Regional Park 
District, the Environmental Enhancement Mitigation Program, the 
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration.
  Critical support from well-established public and private foundations 
has increased dramatically due to Tina's efforts. The list of 
supporters now includes the Bechtel Foundation, East Bay Community 
Foundation, Firedoll Foundation, David B. Gold Foundation, Martinez 
Community Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, David and 
Lucille Packard Foundation, Resources Legacy Fund, the B.T. Rocca, Jr., 
Foundation, the San Francisco Foundation, the Charles Schwab 
Corporation Foundation, L.J. & Mary C. Skaggs Foundation, Strong 
Foundation for Environmental Values, Trust for Public Land, the 
Morrison Foerster Foundation, and the Valley Foundation. She also 
fostered steadfast corporate support from Union Bank of California, 
Conoco Phillips, Mechanics Bank, Shell Oil Products, Tesero 
Corporation, Chevron, Parsons Corporation, Shapell Homes, Telfer Oil, 
Dow Chemical Company, John Muir Health, Overaa Construction, Plumbers & 
Steamfitters Union Local 159, Contra Costa Times, Diablo Magazine, East 
Bay Business Times, and Galilee Enterprise.
  With all of this valued support, Tina Batt has led the Muir Heritage 
Land Trust through a phenomenal period of expansion. The Trust has 
preserved easements, facilitated acquisition of treasured open space, 
and ensured the permanent protection of an important segment of the Bay 
Area Ridge Trail, which runs the length of the Franklin Ridge from 
Martinez to Hercules and Crockett.
  Mr. Speaker, because of Ms. Tina Batt's many contributions to 
acquisition and preservation of open space in Contra Costa County,

[[Page 17896]]

I am delighted to have this opportunity to recognize her tireless 
efforts, and ask all Members of the House to join me in wishing her 
well in her future endeavors.

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