[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13719]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSERVATION CORPS OF MINNESOTA 
                                AND IOWA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 17, 2013

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 80th 
Anniversary of the Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa. The 
Conservation Corps has a rich history of providing first-hand 
experiences with environmental stewardship to youth all over the State 
of Minnesota. The Conservation Corps has a distinct goal of assisting 
young adults from diverse backgrounds and engaging them in various 
leadership opportunities while building skills and learning about 
environmental initiatives. Through this critical involvement in the 
community, young people are able to gain insight as well as employment 
skills. This organization thrives through the many programs offered, 
whether it's the Home Energy Squad installing a programmable thermostat 
in a home or AmeriCorps Youth Leaders engaging teens in outdoor 
service-learning summer camps. The reach of the Conservation Corps is 
far and wide.
  The Conservation Corps began in the 1930s and were called the 
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) which provided much needed employment 
to young men during the Great Depression. The CCC allowed these workers 
to provide for their families through the dismal economic times with 
natural resource jobs. By the 1970s the Youth Conservation Corps was 
launched by the federal government along with the year-round Young 
Adult Conservation Corps. When federal support for the Conservation 
Corps ended in 1981, the Minnesota Legislature stepped in and created 
the Minnesota Conservation Corps and continued to provide these 
invaluable opportunities through the Minnesota Department of Natural 
Resources.
  In 1999 the Friends of the Minnesota Conservation Corps, made up of 
community supporters and program alumni, was incorporated as a 
nonprofit organization. In 2003, they joined with the Conservation 
Corps and began to operate under the Minnesota Conservation Corps. In 
2010, the organization changed its name to Conservation Corps Minnesota 
to maintain consistency with the branch created in Iowa. The 
organization, now headquartered in Ames, Iowa, continues to provide 
service-learning opportunities at their site though the reach of the 
organization extends far beyond our neighbors to the south. The effects 
of the Conservation Corps can be seen throughout the Midwest in 
Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. No 
matter the location, the legacy of restoring our natural resources and 
changing lives remains the same. Minnesota, known for its 10,000 lakes 
and abundant natural resources, is indebted to the many hours, years, 
and volunteers that Conservation Corps has dedicated to preserving our 
environment.
  Mr. Speaker, in honor of the community, history, and legacy of the 
Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa, celebrating their 80th 
Anniversary, I am pleased to submit this statement.

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