[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2380-E2381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE HONORABLE MARILYN MUSGRAVE ON THE OCCASION OF HER 
           RETIREMENT FROM THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2008

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished 
career of the Honorable Marilyn Musgrave for her service to the people 
of Colorado and the United States House of Representatives. 
Congresswoman Musgrave has represented the Fourth Congressional 
District of the State of Colorado for the past six years.
  Born and raised in Weld County, Colorado, Marilyn cleaned houses and 
waited tables to earn a degree from Colorado State University. She 
married her high school sweetheart, Steve, during college and taught 
school for several years before deciding to stay home to raise their 
four children. Marilyn and her husband have owned and operated a farm 
equipment business in Eastern Colorado for over 20 years.
  In 1990, Marilyn won her first election to the Morgan County School 
Board. Two years

[[Page E2381]]

later, she was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives, and in 
1996, she was elected to the state Senate.
  Elected to Congress in 2002, Marilyn quickly stood out from her 
peers. She was named by Newsweek magazine as the ``Rising Star'' in the 
House and the National Journal referenced her as one of two freshman 
congressmen to watch. She is probably most known as the chief House 
sponsor of a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex 
marriage.
  In the U.S. House of Representatives, Marilyn has upheld her strong 
conservative views as a vocal member of the Republican Study Committee 
Caucus as well as founder of the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus. 
She served on the Small Business Committee and as chairwoman of the 
Subcommittee on Workforce, Empowerment, and Government Programs.
  As the top-ranking Republican on the Agriculture Committee's 
Specialty Crops Subcommittee, Marilyn served as a member of the Farm 
Bill conference committee, where she was a leading voice in the 
crafting of the legislation. She worked to obtain nearly $3 billion in 
emergency funding for farmers and ranchers who have been plagued by a 
multitude of natural disasters over the past six years.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a 
dedicated leader and friend to many in this body. I know her family, 
her husband, Steve; her four children, Chad, Becky, Amy, and John; and 
her many friends and colleagues join me in honoring her accomplishments 
and extending thanks for her service over the years on behalf of the 
State of Colorado and the United States of America.
  Marilyn will surely enjoy the well deserved time she now has to spend 
with her family and loved ones. I wish her the best of luck in all her 
future endeavors.

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