[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 70 (Friday, May 9, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H4020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING BILL FRANK, JR.

  (Mr. KILMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the Pacific Northwest--
and America--lost a true legend.
  Billy Frank, Jr., the chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries 
Commission, made his mark on so many people and so many issues. His 
legacy on civil rights issues, on ensuring America lives up to its 
tribal treaty obligations and protecting our natural resources, has 
touched generations past and present.
  When Billy spoke, you listened. We saw that firsthand just 2 weeks 
ago, when he commanded a room at a tribal summit in my district that 
included tribal leaders, Federal officials, and the Secretary of the 
Interior.
  After a recent meeting with Billy, I was walking to my car with a 
member of my staff. Midway there, I said, Hold on for a second. He 
asked me what was up. I said, Can we just take a minute and appreciate 
the fact that we got to spend a few hours with an absolute icon.
  I will treasure those hours, the entire time I spent with Billy, and 
the extraordinary work that he did for our region.
  There is a Native American proverb that says we should make decisions 
with an eye toward how they will affect our children seven generations 
into the future. Billy Frank was the embodiment of that ethos. He will 
be missed.

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