Sierra Club

NEWS RELEASE
Sierra Club - John Muir Chapter
222 South Hamilton St, Madison, WI 53703
(608) 256-0565 http://wisconsin.sierraclub.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 21, 2014
Contact: Shahla M. Werner, PhD., Chapter Director, (608) 332-6079
The Sierra Club – John Muir Chapter Recognizes Senator Bob Jauch with Torchbearer Award
Madison: On November 20 Senator Bob Jauch received the 2014 Torchbearer Award from staff and volunteer
leaders of the Sierra Club – John Muir Chapter at his office in the State Capitol. The Torchbearer Award, given
to organizations and individuals external to the club, recognizes decision-makers that consistently promote
legislation, regulations or practices that protect the environment.
Senator Jauch earned the Torchbearer award for his unwavering, strong support for protecting Lake Superior and
other water, land, and wildlife resources during his three decades of excellent service to his constituents in the
Wisconsin state legislature. Senator Jauch was involved in bipartisan negotiations which led to the adoption of
2007 Act 227, the Great Lakes Compact. Sen. Jauch was the lead author of both 2009 Act 32 and 2009 Act 7,
which added the Totogatic River and the Brunsweiler River to the State Wild Rivers Program. He also coauthored the bi-partisan effort to amend the proposed 2012 GTAC mining bill, and he helped defeat the version of
the bill for that session that failed to include protections for natural resources and local communities.
“As anyone from northern Wisconsin knows, it is second nature to want to protect our land, water, and wildlife.
Our natural resources not only drive our economy, they sustain our way of life. I sincerely appreciate this
recognition of the work I’ve done during my tenure in the Legislature to protect those resources,” said Senator
Bob Jauch.
“Senator Jauch has been a tireless advocate for clean water, for tribal rights and for all of his constituents in
northern Wisconsin. Whether it be pushing for local road repair after a tough winter, or standing up for public
workers when collective bargaining rights were under attack, he always stood for what was right,” said Shari
Eggleson, Sierra Club member who nominated Senator Jauch for the Torchbearer Award from Washburn, WI.
“Throughout his tenure, Senator Jauch has been a voice of reason, successfully leading bi-partisan efforts to
protect Wisconsin’s water, land, and wildlife,” said Caryl Terrell, Legislative Chair and former staff lobbyist,
Sierra Club - John Muir Chapter.
“Senator Jauch opposes special favors for out-of-state mining companies that shortchange local communities.
That is why he fought against the new law that closes off public access to thousands of acres of managed forest
land around GTAC’s proposed mine, and that is why he opposed attempts to gut mining safeguards needed to
protect clean water throughout the Bad River Watershed,” said Dave Blouin, Mining Chair, Sierra Club - John
Muir Chapter.
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Founded in 1892 by John Muir, the Sierra Club is America’s oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental
organization. The Sierra Club’s mission is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote
the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality
of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out those objectives. The Sierra Club – John
Muir Chapter is made up of 15,000 members and supporters from throughout Wisconsin working to promote clean energy
and protect land and water resources.