[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12246]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO JEAN DIEHL FOR HER MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS OF DEDICATED 
        VOLUNTEER SERVICE WITH THE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 21, 2006

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to take 
this opportunity to pay tribute to Jean Diehl for her more than 30 
years of dedicated volunteer service with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife 
Service, where she has served as a major community force in 
establishing and developing the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at 
Tinicum. Jean's enthusiasm and deep love of the Tinicum Marsh has 
provided decades of consistent strength and leadership through the 
Concerned Area Residents for Preservation of the Tinicum Marsh (CARP) 
and later the Friends of the Heinz Refuge (FOHR), ensuring that future 
generations of Americans will be able to enjoy and learn from the 
treasurers of our Nation's natural heritage protected through our 
National Wildlife Refuge System. I was pleased to work with Jean and 
others to make the dreams of this unique National Wildlife Refuge a 
reality, promoting conservation and a cleaner, healthier environment 
for both wildlife and the citizens of the greater Philadelphia region.
  The history of Tinicum Marsh, the largest remaining freshwater tidal 
wetland in Pennsylvania, goes back to the first settlements in the 
region in 1634. Swedes, Dutch and English diked and drained parts of 
the marsh for grazing. At that time, the tidal marshes measured over 
5,700 acres. The rapid urbanization since World War I reduced tidal 
marshes to approximately 200 acres. The remnant of this once vast tidal 
marsh is protected by the Refuge.
  Jean first discovered the wonders of Tinicum Marsh as a youth while 
exploring the wilds of her neighborhood and learned of their 
endangerment through her involvement with Girl Scouts. Jean soon became 
an active member of CARP, a grassroots conservation organization that 
worked closely with government and political leaders to preserve and 
protect Pennsylvania's largest remaining freshwater tidal marsh. 
Through much of Jean's leadership with both CARP and as President of 
the Friends of the Heinz Refuge, as well as her community work with the 
League of Women Voters and with many other concerned local citizens, 
the Tinicum National Environmental Center (later renamed to the John 
Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum) was established. Jean's 
leadership helped with the passage of four pieces of Federal 
legislation adding both land and funding for the refuge.
  Ever the environmental champion, Jean has worked diligently over the 
past 30 years to ensure the future of the Reserve. Her work helped 
realign Interstate 95 to avoid paving over this important wildlife 
habitat; raise funds for the purchase of the Tinicum Lagoons to be 
included in the Refuge; establish the Tinicum Treasures Bookstore (all 
proceeds of which are used to support refuge educational and biological 
programs); and create the Cusano Environmental Education Center. Jean 
Diehl has, indeed, truly served our Nation as a founding parent of the 
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. I commend Jean Diehl 
for her outstanding service. She is among Pennsylvania's finest, and I 
am honored to bring forth her particular accomplishments at the Tinicum 
Refuge before this body and our Nation today.

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