[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 507]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO GEORGE HEARTWELL

 Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 
remarkable achievements of George Heartwell who, after 20 years of 
service to the city of Grand Rapids, 12 of them as mayor, won the city 
international acclaim for environmental sustainability and artistic 
creativity.
  Mayor Heartwell, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, 
has served the citizens of Michigan's second largest city with honor 
and distinction. A graduate of Michigan's Albion College, Mayor 
Heartwell served the public in a variety of roles prior to his city 
hall service. Mayor Heartwell helped Grand Rapidians achieve the 
American dream through his work as president of Heartwell Mortgage 
Corporation. Mayor Heartwell led Heartside Ministry, helping the 
homeless of Grand Rapids, and was also president and CEO of Pilgrim 
Manor Retirement Community.
  Mayor Heartwell entered Grand Rapids City Hall in 1992, serving the 
first of four terms as a city commissioner representing Grand Rapids' 
Third Ward. He took office as mayor in January of 2004. Under his 
leadership, the city of Grand Rapids withstood the economic storms 
rattling the State of Michigan, finding methods to deliver city 
services in sustainable ways.
  It is Mayor Heartwell's environmental sustainability efforts which 
have won the city international awards. During his tenure, city 
government implemented a variety of environmental measures, including 
purchase of renewable resource energy, use of alternative fuels in city 
vehicles, continued attention to water quality in the Grand River, and 
widespread implementation of energy conservation measures. In January 
2007, the United Nations recognized Grand Rapids as a Regional Center 
of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development.
  Thanks to Mayor Heartwell's leadership, Grand Rapids is widely 
recognized as one of the most sustainable cities in America. In 2010, 
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce gave Grand Rapids the Nation's Most 
Sustainable City award, and in 2012, Mayor Heartwell was given the 
first place Climate Protection Award by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. 
More recently, Mayor Heartwell was one of only 20 individuals chosen to 
serve on President Obama's Task Force for Climate Preparedness and 
Resilience.
  Mayor Heartwell has also focused on making Grand Rapids a more 
socially equitable city. Concurrently, the city has enjoyed a decrease 
in crime rates and an increase in its economic strength. Grand Rapids 
is widely recognized for its support of the arts and was recently named 
as number 20 of the 52 Places to Go in the World in 2016 by the New 
York Times.
  It is my great pleasure to congratulate Mayor George Heartwell on the 
lasting impact he has made throughout his service to his hometown, the 
city of Grand Rapids.

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