[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18827-18828]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO GREG COOKE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 20, 2006

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
great sadness to pay tribute to my good friend and one of Texas' most 
outstanding public servants, Greg Cooke. Greg Cooke passed away 
recently at the age of 51.
  Mr. Cooke served as the top ranking EPA official in the area that 
encompasses Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.
  Mr. Cooke was an outstanding and dedicated citizen, and his 
commitment to Texas was instrumental in developing clean air plans for 
both Dallas-Ft. Worth and Houston-Galveston in partnership with the 
State of Texas.

[[Page 18828]]

These plans contained innovative provisions that incorporated economic 
incentives, as well as, traditional mandatory measures. His clean air 
plans also included development of an innovative ``compact'' to 
facilitate early compliance with EPA's upcoming 8-hour standard for 
such cities as Austin and San Antonio, Texas.
  Mr. Cooke served as Regional Administrator of EPA Region VI for the 
past 4\1/2\ years. He was appointed to the post by President Clinton 
and was the only political appointee in the EPA retained by current 
President George W. Bush.
  Greg Cooke exuded class--not only in the way he practiced law but 
also in the way he lived his life. He had a straight-ahead, just-the-
facts writing style that belied his passion for environment.
  Mr. Speaker, with Greg Cooke's passing, we have lost an impressive 
individual and a true leader. He championed the interests of Texas and 
environmental issues. Greg Cooke was a caring and compassionate man and 
a tremendous political leader and public servant. I extend my deepest 
sympathy to Greg Cooke's family.

                          ____________________