Maxine Dexter

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks, a defining landmark connecting Oregon and Washington across the Columbia River Gorge.

Spanning 1,858 feet and soaring 140 feet above the water, this steel- truss cantilever structure has become an important transportation link used by residents, visitors, cyclists, and Pacific Crest Trail hikers.

The bridge's distinctive name is a reference to Klickitat oral histories of a natural land bridge that once crossed the Columbia River Gorge following the massive 15th-century Bonneville Landslide. The modern bridge was built near the upstream end of the former crossing and opened on October 26, 1926. It became an immediate economic asset, allowing drivers to make a 100-mile loop along both the scenic Evergreen and Columbia River highways.

As the Bridge of the Gods approaches its century of service to the Gorge, I join the community of Cascade Locks in celebrating all the connections it has helped foster in the region.

Mr. Speaker, I care deeply about the people who I represent. Working families in Oregon are doing everything right, and still they are falling behind.

Instead of making life more affordable, this administration has cost the average American household an additional $3,800 since last year. What are Republicans doing about it? Not a single thing.

That is why I fought to subpoena Oracle executives over a $27 billion VA contract yesterday. Corporate greed should never come before veterans and our taxpayers. We kept the government funded, but where are the votes to lower rent, grocery bills, healthcare costs, or gas prices?

Republicans are focused on giving tax breaks to billionaires and lining their pockets, all while lying to the American people about what is going on.

Mr. Speaker, I grew up as a working-class kid. I had the shot at the American Dream because the government chose to invest in families like mine. My opportunity should be there for every child across this country.

The Federal Government should put the American people first and not billionaires and corporations. A better future is possible if we fight for it.

Mr. Speaker, I can assure you that I came to Congress to do just that. Stay loud.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Kathie Eastman Tell, who is retiring after a cumulative twenty years of service in the United States House of Representatives.

Her public service stretched from the sandy beaches of Hawaii's 1st Congressional District to the rugged coast of Oregon's 4th Congressional District, to the vibrant urban core of Portland in Oregon's 3rd Congressional District.

Always strategic, efficient, and effective, Kathie served in almost every role of a House office operation, in both the D.C. and district offices. The handful of positions she never occupied were by her choice--much to the quiet dismay of offices that would have trusted her with all of them.

In 1993, she began as a Legislative Correspondent for Representative Neil Abercrombie. She then joined Representative Peter DeFazio in 1998 as a Senior Legislative Assistant, where she was especially active on issues related to transportation and infrastructure investments--a dedication that carried her onward as DeFazio's Legislative Director, and later his District Director. That same commitment to keeping our communities moving continued in Representative Earl Blumenauer's office, where she served as Press Secretary until 2006. Kathie then prioritized raising her two young children, McKenzie and Ben, in Portland, Oregon, with her spouse Jason Tell. Never far from the Oregon delegation and public policy, she took on part-time roles and projects during this time. She returned to Blumenauer's office in 2019, as a favorite Caseworker among constituents and prized Scheduler to the Member. Oregon was lucky to have DeFazio and Blumenauer invested in transportation and infrastructure. They were luckier to have Kathie embrace this legislative portfolio. Most recently, in the office of Representative Maxine Dexter, Kathie efficiently helped build a brand- new district office from the ground up as the Operations Director.

Much can be said about Kathie's intellect and work ethic, but not enough can be said about her infectious sense of humor. One colleague recounted that while he learned many things from Kathie, most of them should not go in the Congressional Record.

A child of Berkeley, California, who dedicated her career to the people of Hawaii and Oregon, it is fitting Kathie will retire to Southwest Washington, claiming her final Pacific Rim state, in a life spent leaving every person and place she touched wiser, with a bit more grit, and better than she found them.