CHICAGO – August 18, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, went on a tour through the Pullman and Calumet region to highlight the positive impact environmental restoration can have on community development.
“In order to preserve the Earth we know and love for generations to come, we must be creative in finding every opportunity possible to combat climate change and protect the green space we have left,” said Rep. Quigley. “The Pullman and Calumet region has such a rich history to conserve and is leading the trend of blending community development and environmental stewardship. I’m proud of Chicago for showing leadership in this area, and appreciate all involved in today’s informative tour.”
“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in setting new standards for clean manufacturing at our South Side Soapbox factory in Pullman,” said Garry Embleton, global vice president of supply chain for method. “We look forward to having Congressman Quigley and his team take advantage of our open-door philosophy to learn more about how our plant is having a positive impact on the economy and environment.”
“We are thrilled to be touring the Calumet region with Congressman Quigley, who has been a strong leader on conservation issues, particularly around the Great Lakes,” said Openlands President and CEO Jerry Adelmann. “Openlands’ mission has always focused on connecting people to nature where they live. With a rich ecological heritage and human history, the Calumet region represents immense opportunities for people to experience the benefits of natural areas that they may not even have realized were there.”
“Congressman Quigley’s passion for protecting our national parks and other public lands is longstanding,” said Lynn McClure, National Parks Conservation Association Midwest director. “We look forward to working with the Congressman to ensure that our national parks, including Chicago’s newest — Pullman National Monument — are well funded for the nearly 300 million park visitors that enjoy these amazing places each year.”
The tour began at the Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives headquarters (CNI), who has played a crucial role in strengthening Chicago area low- to- moderate-income communities. They gave an overview of their role in developing the Pullman neighborhood and Calumet restoration efforts.
After CNI, Rep. Quigley headed over to the Method South Side Soapbox factory, where he toured their environmentally friendly manufacturing facilities with Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Alderman for Chicago’s Ninth Ward, Anthony Beale. Method’s South Side Soapbox is a LEED-Platinum certified plant and distribution center that produces environmental friendly soap and cleaning products. The facility has a number of sustainability features and includes a rooftop greenhouse, run by Gotham Greens.
At Pullman National Monument, Rep. Quigley received an update from the National Park Conservation Association on the next steps now that Pullman has been dedicated a National Monument by President Obama.
Finally at Lake Calumet, Rep. Quigley toured Big Marsh and the Port Property. Big Marsh has been selected to become a new park complete with bike paths and walking trails. Big Marsh is just east of Lake Calumet and consists of about 278 acres of open space.
As a member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, Rep. Quigley has been a stalwart protector of the environment since he arrived in Washington in 2009. Since assuming his role as the only Illinois member of the House Appropriations Committee, he has worked to secure over $600 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). He has urged his colleagues in the House to put partisanship aside and craft America’s first national energy plan to address climate change. Rep. Quigley has opposed the environmentally harmful Keystone XL pipeline and fought for increased protections against oil and gas drilling. During his Chicago Climate Tour of 2013, he visited regional environmental sites to hear from experts on the local impact of climate change and efforts to address the issue.
