[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 98 (Monday, June 23, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LESLIE BARBOUR

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 23, 2014

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a friend and 
colleague, Leslie Barbour of the Nuclear Energy Institute, who will be 
retiring from NEI later this summer. In some circles, Leslie is known 
as the ``First Lady of Nuclear Energy'' and her presence and insights 
will be missed.
  When I came to Congress sixteen years ago, I met Leslie Barbour for 
the first time. In many ways, Leslie is the face of the nuclear energy 
industry that many Members of Congress and congressional staff see the 
most. Whether it is in a meeting, at a hearing or a mark-up, Leslie 
Barbour is there on behalf of the nuclear industry.
  Leslie is an extremely effective advocate for the nuclear energy 
industry and she has a unique ability to explain complex technological 
issues in understandable terms. Leslie is an educator and an advocate 
and she has created events like the Nuclear Energy Research and 
Development Summit that bring political leaders, nuclear industry 
officials and union representatives together to discuss the best 
strategies and options for moving nuclear energy forward.
  As the representative of Idaho's Second Congressional District, I 
have the honor of representing the Idaho National Laboratory, the 
nation's lead lab for nuclear energy research and development. The 
Idaho National Laboratory and the Nuclear Energy Institute work very 
closely together, and over the years Leslie has organized tours of the 
lab and brought lab employees to Washington, DC to help educate 
policymakers on the benefits of nuclear power. Leslie is always looking 
for new ways to reach new audiences and educate new Members of Congress 
on the role nuclear energy plays in our nation's energy strategy.
  In addition to her professional work, Leslie Barbour is also an 
active member of her community. For a number of years, Leslie has 
served on the Board of Directors of the Capitol Hill Group Ministries, 
a non-denominational organization that addresses the social needs of 
the men, women and children living near Capitol Hill. In fact, in 
recognition of her efforts, in 2011 Capitol Hill Group Ministries named 
Leslie the Volunteer of the Year.
  After twenty years with the Nuclear Energy Institute, Leslie is 
retiring from NEI but she will still be active here in Washington, DC. 
It has been a joy to work with Leslie, and I wish her and her husband 
Gary all the best as they take on new challenges and new opportunities.

                          ____________________