[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 17583-17584] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]RECOGNITION OF PETE HOSKINS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE PHILADELPHIA ZOO ______ HON. CHAKA FATTAH of pennsylvania in the house of representatives Thursday, September 7, 2006 Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Alexander L. (Pete) Hoskins, who has diligently served as President and CEO of the Philadelphia Zoo for the past 12 years. Pete is the Zoo's 12th president and the fourth-longest serving leader since it opened in 1874. America's first zoo and one of the region's foremost conservation organizations, the Philadelphia Zoo is home to more than 1,500 animals, many of which are rare and endangered. The Zoo, fulfilling its mission of conservation, science, education and recreation, supports and engages in conservation efforts to protect endangered species around the world. I am proud to have known Pete, not only as head of the Zoo, but also during his tenure at the Fairmount Park Commission and the City of Philadelphia. Pete has been serving the citizens of Greater Philadelphia for over 30 years. His vision and cultural destination advocacy reaches beyond the Zoo. He championed a plan to promote a network of family-friendly attractions in Fairmount Park, revitalizing the Park and positioning it as a family destination with the Zoo as anchor. The relocated Please Touch Museum will be a key step in making the ``Centennial District'' a reality. I am pleased that Pete, farmer chair of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, will continue to work on behalf of the arts and culture community in the Philadelphia region. During his tenure at the Zoo, Pete led an unprecedented, $100 million capital investment, including the Zoo's spectacular, $20 million Bank of America Big Cat Falls exhibit that recently opened. The list of new facilities and other Hoskins-led initiatives includes: New Animal Health Center, PECO Primate Reserve, Reptile House Renovation, Dodge Rare Animal Conservation Center, Lorikeet Landing, Monkey Junction, and Channel 6 Zooballoon. Pete also has laid the foundation to raise capital for three more master plan projects, including a series of new bird exhibits, a new elephant habitat, and a new children's zoo. In 1997, he guided the Zoo's Board and staff through the development of ``Vision 2020'' and the Zoo's master plan as the Zoo renewed and strengthened its mission to educate visitors and inspire them to take action in their [[Page 17584]] own lives to protect animals and their natural habitats. All of the Zoo's new exhibits now include key conservation messages and opportunities to engage in conservation outreach. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to pay tribute to Pete Hoskins. His knowledge, dedication and vision for Philadelphia are truly an asset. I would like to thank him for his Zoo leadership and sincerely look forward to working with him for the betterment of Philadelphia into the future. ____________________