Statements For the Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and honor the career of Doug Peterson, who will retire from his position as President of the Minnesota Farmers Union on December 31, 2016.

Doug has worked dutifully on behalf of the people of Minnesota for more than two decades, serving in the Minnesota State Legislature from 1990 to 2002 before leading the Minnesota Farmers Union from 2002 through 2016. It was my profound honor to serve with Doug in the Minnesota State Legislature for eight years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize residents of the historic Rondo neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota as the community comes together to seek hope and healing. Earlier this fall, it was an honor to join community leaders to break ground on a Rondo Commemorative Plaza as a first step toward reconciliation for this neighborhood that was torn apart during the construction of the National Interstate Highway System in the 1960s.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Park Service Centennial Act. This year, our nation is celebrating the first one hundred years of what filmmaker Ken Burns so accurately labelled “America’s best idea”. With this legislation, we are helping to strengthen the National Park Service for its second century of serving visitors and conserving our national treasures.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Minnesota's vibrant Somali-American community and the many cultural, economic and social contributions members make to our state as they begin preparations to celebrate 2017 Somali Independence Day week next summer in Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Saint Paul District on 150 years of service to residents of Minnesota and the entire upper Mississippi region. The Saint Paul district has, over the past century-and-a-half, conserved our aquatic habitats, managed the effects of drought and flood damage, provided outdoor recreation areas for the public, and ensured that the products and services produced in our region have the ability to be transported safely via our waterways. This is only to name a few of the critical tasks performed by the U.S.

Mr. Speaker, my dear friend, Frank J. Indihar, MD passed away on October 23, 2016. He leaves a legacy of both medical excellence and committed service to my community, the state of Minnesota, and our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Established in 1976, this refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides vital habitat for migratory water fowl, fish and other species. The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a wonderful example of Minnesota's commitment to conservation and the environment.