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“HONORING WILLIAM HARTWIG ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E955 on May 24, 2006.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING WILLIAM HARTWIG ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT
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HON. JOHN D. DINGELL
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated public servant, William ``Bill'' Hartwig, on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Department of Interior. For the past few years Bill has been serving as Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
I first met Bill in 2000 when he was working as the Regional Director for the Midwest Region. Together we embarked on a project unprecedented in America's history: an international sanctuary for birds, plants, and animals of all kinds. Today, Detroit is blessed with the serene beauty of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. This 2,100-acre refuge provides Southeast Michigan citizens with a previously unimaginable opportunity to experience the magnificence of a lush habitat for hundreds of protected species close to home. To Bill's eternal credit, this remarkable project would never have been possible without his vision and powerful determination.
Long before becoming one of the Nation's great conservationists, Bill was born in Riverside, CA. Recognizing his life's path early, he graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor's degree in outdoor recreation. Between WVU and receiving his master's degree in administration from George Washington University in 1976, Bill served in Vietnam where he received Army Commendation Medals and the Bronze Star.
Bill began his work in the Department of the Interior in 1977. Through the course of his illustrious career there, his care for the environment and all its inhabitants touched an incredible variety of issues ranging from land management to migratory bird conservation. In 1988 he received the Department's Meritorious Service Award and in 1990 was named an ``Unusually Outstanding Employee.''
Bill Hartwig is a great conservationist and his impact on this country is impressive and profound. I personally thank Bill for his invaluable help in creating the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, and I invite you Mr. Speaker, and all my colleagues, to join me in recognizing Bill for his dedication to the out-of-doors, to conservation, and for his long and distinguished career with the Department of the Interior.
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