Statements for the Record
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.
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.
Mr. Speaker, on May 3, 2014, our former House colleague and dear friend, Chairman Jim Oberstar, passed away. Congressman Oberstar served Minnesota and the families of the 8th Congressional District from 1975 to 2011, including four years as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Prior to being elected, Jim served in the U.S.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the passage of the 1968 National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, signed into law 45 years ago by President Lyndon Johnson. This landmark legislation has resulted in the protection of more than 100 rivers, including Minnesota's Saint Croix River.