[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 134 (Thursday, October 20, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2134-E2135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING SAMANTHA ``SAM'' DIXION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 20, 2005

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my thanks 
and appreciation to Ms. Samantha ``Sam'' Dixion for her exemplary 
public service as Westminster City Councilwoman for the past sixteen 
years. Her tireless efforts have made a positive difference in the 
lives of many people in Westminster and the surrounding communities. 
Although she is stepping down from the Westminster City Council, I know 
that she will continue to stay involved in important community matters.
  Ms. Dixion began serving on the Westminster City Council in 1989 and 
has served as mayor pro tem twice, from 1995 to 1997 and again from 
2000 to 2002. In addition to serving on the City Council, she has been 
involved in a variety of community boards and councils. Among these 
include the Economic Development and Private Industry Councils of both 
Adams and Jefferson Counties, Arvada High School's Cooperative 
Occupational Education Program, Westminster Community Artist Series, 
Colorado Municipal League's Policy Committee, and the Westminster Human 
Services Board. She is also a founding member of Front Range Foundation 
for Educational Excellence and Westminster DARE Foundation. She served 
as a council liaison to the city Human Services Board and the City's 
representative to the Adams County Economic Development Board, which 
she chaired in 1997.
  Ms. Dixion's passion for her community extends to important issues 
affecting the entire region, especially the cleanup and closure--and 
future use--of the former U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Rocky Flats 
nuclear weapons production facility west of Westminster. She has been 
an early and active voice on addressing the environmental issues at 
this site, and has been working with her colleagues in the surrounding 
communities to make sure the cleanup and closure of this site is 
thorough, safe and effective. The expertise she developed on this issue 
resulted in her being selected as the City's primary liaison on Rocky 
Flats issues. In that capacity, she has been a member of the Rocky 
Flats Coalition of Local Governments (Coalition) since its creation and 
also served on many predecessor community oversight groups and 
committees.
  Her work at Rocky Flats lead to her selection as Chair of the Energy 
Communities Alliance (Alliance) in 1999 after having served as vice-
Chair from 1998 to 1999. The Alliance is composed of local governmental 
officials and others from across the country to advise DOE on the 
environmental aspects and other issues associated with nuclear weapons 
production facilities. Her work on the Alliance is a testament to her 
dedication to making sure that the public's health and safety is 
protected around these facilities.
  Ms. Dixion also finds time to be a teacher-tutor with the Cooperative 
Occupational Education Program at Arvada High School. Her commitment to 
quality education can be observed through her participation in the 
Arvada Senior High School's Drop-Out Program and the Jefferson County 
District 1 Judicial Review Committee where she is a past chair.

[[Page E2135]]

  Ms. Dixion is a well-recognized leader in the Westminster community. 
Her honors and awards include Jefferson County Mother of the Year, 
Metro North Chamber Volunteer of the Year and several marketing 
achievement awards.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in expressing my 
gratitude to Ms. Dixion for her tireless work. Although her work and 
the issues she has championed are serious and important, she brought a 
refreshing, positive outlook that was infectious. Through all of this 
work--at times difficult and controversial--she maintained a sense of 
humor and humility in her interactions with others, without 
compromising professionalism or respect of others and their views. In a 
time when faith in our political system is faltering, we should 
recognize and acknowledge people like Ms. Dixion who have an innate 
devotion to enhancing the quality of life in our communities. I am 
proud to offer my appreciation for her work and wish her continued 
success in all her future endeavors.

                          ____________________