[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 130 (Wednesday, September 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10145-H10146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1915
   MOURNING THE PASSING OF THE LATE JENNIFER DUNN, FORMER MEMBER OF 
                                CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sires). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, today I join my colleagues and friends and 
the entire State of Washington in mourning the loss of former 
Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn. She was my predecessor here in the House 
of Representatives, represented the Eighth District of Washington 
State. I'm shocked and saddened by the news of her death today, and my 
condolences go out to the family: her husband, Keith; her children, 
Bryant, Reagan, and Angus; their wives; and the grandchildren, who 
meant so much to her.
  And today as we were on the floor voting, Mr. Speaker, the news was 
presented to the Members of this body by a good friend, a longtime 
friend of hers, Doc Hastings is his nickname, from Central Washington. 
He had known Jennifer for over 30 years. And as Doc Hastings announced 
the news of her unexpected death, you could hear the sadness. You could 
hear the sadness. You could hear the gasp as the air went out of this 
room.
  Jennifer Dunn served this House for 12 years. She was a well-
respected Member of this body. She was in leadership in the Republican 
Party, one of the first females in leadership in this House. She was 
one of those Members who reached across the aisle; who worked with all; 
who had a dedicated, compassionate drive to represent the people of the 
Eighth District. She served with passion and the heart of a servant.
  I first met Jennifer Dunn back in 1997 as I became the first elected 
sheriff in King County, Seattle, Washington. And I had the opportunity 
to travel back and forth between Washington State and Washington, D.C. 
to meet with our delegation. And Jennifer Dunn was always so gracious 
in allowing me time as the sheriff to come in and present the issues 
that were facing us in King County law enforcement.
  She was very proud of the fact that she helped start the school 
resource officer program with grant funds. She was very proud of the 
fact that she helped acquire funding for the so important fight against 
methamphet-
amines that really are the scourge of this Nation today. She helped 
plant the seed of an effort in Washington State that still goes on 
today in the form of the Washington State Meth Initiative, people 
meeting today, deciding how to spend the money the Federal Government 
still provides as a result of her efforts in fighting the deadly 
addiction that meth causes in our communities.

[[Page H10146]]

  But one of the things that she was most proud of was her effort in 
passing legislation that led to the Amber Alert system that we have 
throughout this Nation that, as everyone knows across this country, has 
saved many lives, lives of our children, our most vulnerable of 
citizens and victims.
  So I am so honored and so proud to be the person who has been given 
the privilege to follow in such a great lady's footsteps.
  Jennifer Dunn, we will all miss you. Our prayers and thoughts go with 
the family.

                          ____________________