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.
“HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ALEXANDRA ``SANDY'' BRESLIN” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E764-E765 on June 6, 2017.
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:
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ALEXANDRA ``SANDY'' BRESLIN
______
HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with the heaviest of hearts that I rise today to join the many family, friends, colleagues, and community leaders who have gathered to pay tribute to one of our community's most ardent and passionate advocates, Alexandra ``Sandy'' Breslin, who lost her battle with cancer just days ago. Sandy was an extraordinary woman, whose compassion, dedication, and commitment to public service touched the lives of many and helped to shape the very character of our great state.
Sandy was many things to many people--advocate, activist, mentor, and most importantly, friend. I first met Sandy as a newly elected Member of Congress when she sought me out to talk about the need to preserve and protect the Long Island Sound and the invaluable habitats along its shores. Few have had a larger impact on the preservation and protection of the Long Island Sound than Sandy. She worked with me and others to secure millions of dollars in federal funding to support conservation efforts up and down the Sound's coast and was instrumental in the passage of the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act. She also served as the Connecticut Co-Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee of the national estuary program for Long Island Sound where she fought for horseshoe crab sanctuaries that protected this ancient creature and helped establish standards for harvesting menhaden that set the stage for the return of whales to the Sound.
Sandy's passionate activism helped to make real many land conservation projects including such local environmental jewels as Kelda, the former Griswold Airport, Long Beach West, The Preserve, and Suffield and Barn Island Wildlife Management Areas; and to expand the Stewart B. McKinney the Silvio 0. Conte National Wildlife Refuges. Her outstanding contributions have been recognized with three national awards including a U.S. Department of the Interior Environmental Achievement Award; a Teaming with Wildlife Member Achievement Award for establishing a Connecticut Conservation License Plate; and a Coastal America Award for conservation teamwork at Long Beach West.
In addition to her environmental work, Sandy was also a dedicated advocate for the Town of Bethany, Connecticut. She served as a member of the Inland Wetlands Commission for more than two decades, she worked to renew State funding that resulted in creation of a municipal open space and watershed matching grants program that helped protect Clover Nook Farm, Veteran's Memorial Park and Monument Stables and for more than a decade she served as Bethany's representative on the Regional Policy Board of the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, and on its Land Use Committee.
Sandy was also a dedicated member of Connecticut's Democratic Party. She served as the Democratic Town Chair of Bethany for many years and it was under her leadership that the first Democrat in nearly a century was elected First Selectman. In neighboring Woodbridge, she was a driving force behind the election of the first woman to serve as First Selectman in the town's history. Her contributions to local and state politics earned her the respect and admiration of many across the state.
Sandy was a great friend to me and several members of my staff. There was not a time when we could not call her for advice, information, and council. There was not an environmental event in the state that she did not attend--and she likely had a hand in its organization as well. Even under the most frustrating of circumstances, she was there with a smile, ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work. Sandy was the best--an embodiment of everything we strive to be as advocates for others. Like so many others, I consider myself fortunate to have called her my friend.
Sandy leaves behind her mother, Ruth, as well as scores of family, friends, and colleagues whose lives were touched by her good work. I am proud to stand today and take this opportunity to pay tribute to her lifetime of public service, to thank her for her invaluable contributions, and to honor her lasting memory. Alexandra ``Sandy'' Breslin has left an indelible mark on the State of Connecticut, the Town of Bethany, and in the hearts of all of those fortunate enough to have known and worked with her. Though her presence will be deeply missed, hers is a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of activists and advocates to come.
____________________
