[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20920]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TROUT UNLIMITED

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, it is with great pride that I pay 
tribute to Trout Unlimited, a national conservation organization 
established in my home State of Michigan. This exceptional organization 
was founded in 1959 on the banks of the Au Sable River, near Grayling, 
MI, by 16 concerned Michigan anglers. These anglers, who met in the 
home of George Griffith, sought to ensure the continued and long term 
health of trout, their habitat, and the sport of angling. Today, Trout 
Unlimited boasts more than 150,000 members in approximately 400 
chapters throughout the United States, including 23 chapters in 
Michigan.
  The founders of Trout Unlimited, or TU, were united by their love of 
trout fishing and by their growing discontent with the State of 
Michigan's practice of stocking its waters with hatchery-raised fish. 
Driven by the belief that Michigan's trout streams could produce fish 
far superior in both size and fight to these ``cookie cutter trout,'' 
in 1962-63, TU prepared its first policy statement on wild trout, which 
persuaded the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to curtail 
``put-and-take'' trout stocking and to start managing for wild trout 
and healthy habitat. Buoyed by this success, anglers subsequently 
founded TU chapters in Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, and Pennsylvania 
with the mission of conserving, protecting and restoring North 
America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.
  Indispensible to the success and strength of Trout Unlimited are the 
thousands of dedicated members and volunteers. TU members have spent 
countless hours restoring trout and salmon habitat, and some of the 
most visible effects have been on hundreds of watersheds nationwide. In 
addition, these members have provided the knowledge and leadership 
necessary to improve environmental policy on the local, state and 
national level and to carry out TU's ambitious conservation agenda.
  Many have contributed significantly to the success of Trout Unlimited 
over the past fifty years. Trout Unlimited has been an important, 
vigilant and effective advocate for coldwater resources in Michigan and 
across the country. I know my colleagues join me in offering gratitude 
and appreciation to Trout Unlimited for a job well done. Protecting our 
natural resources and waterways for future generations is a noble 
endeavor, and I look forward to another 50 years of responsible 
environmental stewardship.

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