Senate Confirms Speck to Join International Joint Commission
The Editors
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Mr. Sam Speck of Ohio has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as one of the three U.S. members of the International Joint Commission (IJC). Under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty, the IJC prevents and resolves disputes between the United States and Canada over the waters they share and pursues the common good of both countries as an 
independent and objective advisor to the two governments. Among other matters, the IJC is currently studying whether and how water levels on the Great Lakes might be more effectively managed.
Previously, Mr. Speck had served for eight years as Ohio's Director of Natural Resources. Prior to that, he had been President of Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio for over a decade. He also served as an associate director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under President Ronald Reagan and as a member of the Ohio House and Senate for 13 years while on the Muskingum College faculty.
While in office as Ohio's Director of Natural Resources, Mr. Speck served as a member and chair of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and Great Lakes Commission. He also served as chair of the Council of Great Lakes Governors and Premiers’ Water Management Working Group, which developed the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and Agreement. In July 2004, he was one of three state officials in the United States to receive the National Governors Association's Annual Award for Distinguished Service in State Government. Mr. Speck grew up on a farm in northeastern Ohio, graduated of Muskingum College and earned masters and doctoral degrees in government from Harvard University.
Mr. Speck’s confirmation along with the appointment of Pierre Trépanier to the Canadian Section in April gives the IJC a full compliment of six Commissioners.
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