[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 35 (Thursday, March 11, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1426-S1427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING BEN WESTLUND

  Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I rise today to honor my colleague and 
my good friend, Oregon's State treasurer, Ben Westlund, who passed away 
this last Sunday after a protracted battle with lung cancer. A true 
independent voice in Oregon politics, Ben entered the legislature to 
improve the lives of all Oregonians and he remained committed to that 
cause.
  I first met him in 1997 when I was working for the World Affairs 
Council and went down to talk to the legislature about education in 
Oregon. I was fortunate to start serving with him 2 years later, in 
1999. Ben was an unwavering advocate for affordable and available 
health care. He helped stabilize Oregon's college savings plan. He 
increased the State's credit rating. Over the years, I worked with Ben 
on many issues, including setting up Oregon's Rainy Day Fund, a savings 
account to protect Oregon's solvency and critical programs when the 
economy turned down. I also worked with my friend Ben Westlund to 
create Individual Development Accounts to help empower

[[Page S1427]]

low-income families. It is a savings program matched by grants that 
help families buy homes, start small businesses, return to college--
pathways from poverty into middle class.
  It speaks to Ben's belief in helping families succeed that he took a 
lead role in that program.
  Ben's political affiliations ranged at times from Republican to 
Independent to Democrat. But no matter what party he belonged to, his 
focus first and foremost was always on creating a better Oregon.
  In 2003, Ben gave one of the most passionate and moving speeches I 
have ever witnessed in my life. He gave his speech shortly after being 
diagnosed with cancer. He was not sure he would return to the 
legislature, and he wanted us to know we could not retreat in the face 
of the challenge of passing reforms for affordable and quality health 
care. He knew it was an enormous challenge, but he took his personal 
story and turned it to the cause. His work ethic was unmatched. Ben was 
working as recently as just last week. It was an honor to serve with 
Ben in the Oregon Legislature and to consult with him as he took on new 
challenges as Oregon's treasurer.
  If you knew Ben, you knew he was gregarious. He lit up the room. 
Every moment, his enthusiasm for improving our State and our world was 
inspiring. I will miss him. I am sure his passion and his presence will 
be missed throughout our State, and I know all Oregonians join me today 
in honoring the legacy of Ben Westlund.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Oregon.
  Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, my colleague and friend, Senator Merkley, 
has spoken very eloquently about Ben Westlund, and I wanted to echo 
those thoughts and reflect on Ben's special and unique style and 
warmth.
  All of us who have been around government and politics know the 
challenge of the early-morning meeting. Folks are a little bit sleep-
deprived, they are looking for coffee, and maybe they are just trying 
to keep their eyes open at 7:30 or 8 a.m. Senator Merkley and I want to 
tell you a little bit about how Ben Westlund handled those meetings. 
Ben Westlund was able to master, like everything else, the challenge of 
the early-morning meeting in government. I am sure Senator Merkley 
remembers that even at that early hour, Ben Westlund would bound to the 
podium--would not walk, he would bound to the podium--and at the top of 
his lungs, Ben Westlund would shout: Good morning, Oregon. Good 
morning, folks. How are you doing? And within a matter of seconds, as 
Senator Merkley remembers, the entire room would be smiling and 
everybody would feel like attacking the challenge of the day. That was 
Ben Westlund.
  As Senator Merkley noted, he was always on the offensive against 
injustice, always speaking out, for example, on health care.
  Ben Westlund lived his life in full view. He shared his battle with 
cancer with his colleagues in the State legislature because he wanted 
everybody to know what it was like to try to wrestle with an illness.
  He always made the point that he had all of these friends. One of our 
colleagues, Alan Bates, for example, was there for Ben, and Ben would 
always say: What would it have been like without Alan Bates? I have so 
many advantages other people did not have. And that was Ben, always 
sticking up for others.
  He and I were trading calls before he passed--I think Senator Merkley 
will identify with this--because I think Ben was prepared to give me 
heck, and maybe a little stronger, on a couple of the provisions in the 
tax legislation that I just introduced with Senator Gregg. Ben was our 
treasurer. He had mastered the Tax Code in and out. I was trying to 
reach him because I knew that, invariably, Ben Westlund would be right, 
he would give us good input, and his thoughts would come directly from 
the people of Oregon. That was Ben Westlund.
  Both of Oregon's U.S. Senators are going to deeply miss this 
wonderful man, his good counsel, and his companionship. We wanted to 
take a couple of minutes this morning to note that Oregon has lost a 
special person, a special person who did so much for our State and did 
a lot for our country as well.
  I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DORGAN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. DORGAN. I ask unanimous consent to speak in morning business for 
such time as I may consume.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________