[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 5, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF FORMER STATE SENATOR CATHIE WRIGHT

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                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2012

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
sadness regarding the recent passing of former State Senator Cathie 
Wright, who represented the Simi and Santa Clarita Valleys in the 
California legislature for 20 years, and with whom I was proud to 
serve.
  Born in Old Forge, Pennsylvania on May 18, 1929, Cathie Maranelli 
Wright launched her political career in the 1970s as a member of the 
Simi Valley City Council. Wright was the city's mayor when she ran for 
and won an open Assembly seat in 1980. During her tenure in the 
Assembly, Wright carried several pieces of legislation to address local 
issues, including a bill that added the valley's four water purveyors 
to the Castaic Lake Water Agency. The legislation brought the water 
purveyors to the table for the purpose of negotiating a valley-wide 
management plan, something the local water community continues to do on 
a regular basis. She was an early and ardent supporter of the creation 
of the City of Santa Clarita, which incorporated in 1987.
  In 1992 Wright, ascended to the state Senate when former Los Angeles 
Police Chief Ed Davis retired and served until 2000. As a Senator, 
Wright helped craft California's welfare and child support laws. She 
was instrumental in securing funding for the College of the Canyons, 
particularly a new library and a media & fine arts building. Senator 
Wright worked tirelessly to develop a Systems of Care approach that 
would provide early intervention for at-risk mentally ill youth.
  Mr. Speaker, Cathie Wright's two decades of dedicated public service 
make her an outstanding example of her generation and its commitment to 
our Nation. It is appropriate therefore that we honor her life and 
contributions today.

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