[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24406]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE HONORABLE HELEN MARSHALL ON RECEIVING THE ``GREEN 
                           LEADERSHIP AWARD''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Queens 
Borough President Helen Marshall for receiving the prestigious ``Green 
Leadership Award'' from the Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC) on 
November 13th, 2008. APEC, located in Douglaston, Queens, is a superb 
educational center committed to environmental understanding and 
awareness. Helen's dedication and support of environmental education, 
public parks and responsible zoning and land-use in Queens is a great 
example of how we can promote ``green living'' around the nation 
through local political leadership.
  Thanks to Helen's aggressive efforts, over $60 million has been 
allocated to maintain, improve and expand the parks and playgrounds of 
Queens. Recently, Helen was instrumental in procuring resources to help 
begin construction of APEC's new environmental educational facility. 
APEC had a staggering 40,000 New York City area school students visit 
Alley Pond last year. During APEC-run programs, students of pre-school, 
elementary school, middle and high school ages learn about the 
environment and conservation policy. APEC also runs wonderful Teacher 
Workshops to train teachers in methods to enrich and improve their 
natural sciences curriculum when they return to the classroom. Demand 
for APEC's educational programs is so high that over 8,000 students had 
to be placed on a waiting list to visit Alley Pond.
  Borough President Marshall, recognizing APEC's need for space, led 
the way for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to 
allocate resources for APEC's future environmental educational 
facility. Utilizing the $1 million in funds that Helen helped to get, 
APEC will soon start construction of a new green facility that will 
make student waiting lists for APEC's programs a thing of the past. For 
Helen, this kind of action is nothing new. From her time as a teacher, 
to her service as a member of the New York State Assembly and the New 
York City Council, to being the Queens Borough President; she has been 
the most tireless advocate for children's educational and environmental 
resources. From libraries, to remedial programs, to playgrounds and 
parks, no one has done more to make certain that the children of Queens 
receive the help they need for the best education possible.
  Madam Speaker, I highly commend Borough President Marshall for her 
extraordinary dedication to environmental education and for receiving 
the ``Green Leadership Award'' from the Alley Pond Environmental 
Center. Helen embodies the spirit of the award, having devoted herself 
to ensuring that children experience the world's natural beauty in 
America's greatest city. I ask my colleagues in the House of 
Representatives to please join me in congratulating Helen Marshall as a 
recipient of this well-deserved honor.

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