Congressman Dingell has been a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission since 1969.

It’s not often that we can feel history being made as it happens. The significant events in our lives usually pass by in a blur, their importance understood only when we revisit them years later.

That wasn’t the case today – the last day that Congressman John Dingell held a seat on the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. Everyone in the room understood that an era was ending, the likes of which we probably won’t see again. 

In a few days, Congressman Dingell will likewise end his long tenure in the House of Representatives, confronting us with the nearly unimaginable reality of a United States Congress – and a conservation movement – without him. 

His retirement means that for the first time since 1933 – when his father, John Dingell, Sr. was sworn in – that a John Dingell won’t represent Michigan in Congress. Congressman Dingell succeeded his father, John Dingell Sr. in 1955. His departure, along with that of Congressman Ralph Hall of Texas, also leaves Congress without any World War II veterans in its ranks for the first time in nearly 70 years. 

We have all been extraordinarily privileged to work with Congressman Dingell, who has done as much as anyone in the past century to ensure that our nation’s fish and wildlife resources are sustained for future generations. Through his leadership and hard work, millions of Americans are able to hunt, fish and observe wildlife every day at thousands of wildlife refuges, parks, nature reserves and other amazing places across the nation. 

Congressman Dingell played a pivotal role in the passage of nearly every significant environmental law of the past half century, including the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.  As a result, hundreds of species have been saved from extinction, many endangered species have shown tremendous population rebounds, and our nation’s air and water are cleaner.

Congressman Dingell has also served more than 40 years on the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, helping to build a network of habitat for North American waterfowl and other wildlife.  He has been a tireless advocate for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and has received several awards for his waterfowl conservation legacy.

In addition, he is a founding member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus.

And thanks to his father, John Dingell Sr., the Dingell name sits atop the Sport Fish Restoration Act, otherwise known as the Dingell-Johnson Act, which has funded nearly $8 billion in improvements to fishing and boating access. Congressman Dingell has defended and expanded this vital conservation tool for nearly 60 years. 

His efforts in these areas have helped sustain America’s great hunting heritage.  It is thriving today:  The number of hunters and anglers rose to 37.4 million in 2011, and the number of Americans who engaged in some type of wildlife-related recreation topped 90 million in 2011.

Regardless of whether they hunt or fish, Congressman Dingell has been dedicated to making sure that all people have access to the outdoors.

Director Dan Ashe (second from right), Regional Director Tom Melius (third from left) and Congressman John Dingell (middle) joined local students and conservation partners in breaking ground for the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Gateway Visitor Center. Photo by Tina Shaw/USFWS.

He was a catalyst for the nearby Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, North America's first international wildlife refuge, and he still is one of its No. 1 fans.

Last November, Congressman Dingell and I helped mark more than 10 years of restoration work at Detroit River by witnessing the groundbreaking of a new visitor center on what used to be a Chrysler plant.

At the event, he recalled his youth spent in the outdoors there and added: “This groundbreaking is yet another step in preserving and protecting land so important to our region and so dear to my heart. The visitor’s center will open the doors to all kinds of people to learn and appreciate the great outdoors as I have all my life here on the banks of the Detroit River and Lake Erie.”

Even in the speech when he announced his retirement, he touted Detroit River.

It’s good to know that his legacy will live on, in so many ways. And there will still be a Dingell representing the 12th District. Congressman Dingell’s wife, Debbie, won the election to succeed him and will continue the Dingell family’s long history of public service.

On behalf of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and our nation’s natural resources, I want to express my admiration and deep gratitude to John Dingell for a job well done.  

Congressman Dingell, Our country is a cleaner, brighter place because of you. May you enjoy many more years exploring the wildlife and wild places you did so much to protect. 

We look forward to helping conserve Congressman Dingell’s conservation legacy.