[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E15-E16]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO NANCY RUSSELL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 6, 2009

  Mr. WU. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember a courageous and 
pioneering Oregonian who we lost on September 19, 2008, Nancy Russell. 
Her love of the outdoors and of Oregon history led her to co-found an 
organization that assisted in obtaining Federal protection for the 
Columbia River Gorge--``Friends of the Columbia River Gorge.''
  Madam Speaker, and my fellow colleagues, if you have never seen the 
Columbia River Gorge, let me explain to you: It is Oregon's Grand 
Canyon, our Yellowstone, the crown jewel of Oregon's natural heritage, 
a spectacular and unique 80-mile-long, 4,000-feet-deep sea level cut 
through the Cascade Mountain Range. The Gorge is home to more than 800 
species of wildflowers, six endangered and threatened animal species, 
and more than 40 other sensitive species.
  As a self-taught wildflower expert, Nancy shared her love of 
wildflowers by developing the Wildflower Walkers program for the 
Portland Garden Club, which helped others understand and love the Gorge 
the way Nancy did.
  In the late 1970s, development in the Portland area was threatening 
to spill into the Gorge, and a group of prominent conservationists 
recruited Nancy to lead the effort for Federal protection. In the face 
of pressure from opponents of scenic area designation, and even bumper 
stickers that read ``Save the Gorge from Nancy Russell,'' she and her 
fellow supporters persevered in 1986, when

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President Reagan signed into law the Columbia River Gorge National 
Scenic Area Act. This act, quite notably, was the only stand-alone 
environmental legislation passed during the Reagan administration, and 
was the first such designation.
  After a tremendous accomplishment such as this, most people would 
claim victory and rest on their laurels. However, Nancy proved tireless 
and continued to pursue further Gorge protection. She successfully 
advocated for the purchase of 40,000 acres that were passed into public 
ownership, and personally purchased more than 30 properties to ensure 
their protection from development.
  Sadly, in 2004 she was diagnosed with ALS, also know as Lou Gehrig's 
Disease, but like any true champion, her dedication did not fade. Nancy 
made one final trip to the Gorge in August with close friends. I am 
sure that she was thinking that no matter how much you do in your 
lifetime you always want it to carry on for others to learn from and 
enjoy.
  Madam Speaker, the Columbia River Gorge continues to see threats from 
unwanted development, but I know that the organization she founded, and 
the strength and spirit that Nancy Russell left us all with is the 
strength and spirit to not budge an inch on our commitment to the 
protection of the crown jewel of Oregon's natural heritage. That 
commitment is what I want to commemorate today, Madam Speaker, and that 
commitment is what I will continue to draw strength from in my fight to 
protect the Columbia River Gorge.

                          ____________________