The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“CELEBRATING THE DEDICATION OF THE HOBE SOUND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN HONOR OF NATHANIEL P. REED” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E468 on April 15, 2019.
The Department oversees more than 500 million acres of land. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the department has contributed to a growing water crisis and holds many lands which could be better managed.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
CELEBRATING THE DEDICATION OF THE HOBE SOUND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
IN HONOR OF NATHANIEL P. REED
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HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS
of florida
in the house of representatives
Monday, April 15, 2019
Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedication of the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge in honor of the late Nathaniel P. Reed. Nathaniel, who was known as Nat, was an enviromnentalist and champion of Florida's environment. He served as Assistant Secretary of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks at the United States Department of the Interior from 1971 to 1977, under President Richard Nixon and President Gerald Ford. Furthermore, had it not been for Nathaniel, our nation would be without the Marine Mammals Protection Act, the intact and expanded Redwoods National Park, the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act.
Originally born in New York City, Nathaniel spent much of his time growing up in Hobe Sound, Florida. His concern for the environment developed from his firsthand experience with the threat of overpopulation to Florida's natural landscape and by the example of his mother, who was a lead organizer in opposing the development of a theme park on an island near their home.
Nathaniel started his career in the family real estate and hotel business in Florida, where his concern for the environment steered him into public service. He went on to serve six Florida governors.
He was a member of many environmental advocacy groups, most notably the 1000 Friends of Florida, an organization which he founded, and served as president and chairman. He also served on the boards of the Everglades Foundation (which he helped found), the Nature Conservancy, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Audubon Society, Yellowstone National Park, the National Geographic Society, and the South Florida Water Management District. Throughout his career, he was one of the most eloquent and effective advocates for fish, wildlife and nature of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The Hobe Sound National Wildlife refuge is a part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge system, and is the type of vulnerable land Nathaniel dedicated his life to protecting. The newly named Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge will rightly honor his life's work.
Madam Speaker, Nathaniel was a powerhouse of Florida politics, but more than that, he was a dear friend and a mentor to me, as well as to countless others. During his six decades of activism, he was a tireless crusader for the environment and the Everglades. Nathaniel inspired generations of conservationists, and what he did for America's River of Grass is immeasurable. Hobe Sound represents the starting place of Nathaniel's love for our nation's environment, and this dedication of the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge in his honor will allow his life and legacy to always endure.
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