[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 139 (Friday, September 25, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF JERRALYNN NESS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY 
                  ACTION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OREGON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SUZANNE BONAMICI

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 25, 2015

  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jerralynn Ness, the 
Executive Director of Community Action in Washington County, Oregon. 
After more than 40 years of dedicated service, Jerralynn is retiring.
   Jerralynn will leave a remarkable legacy. Her work has made 
northwest Oregon a better place--a place where people can access the 
support they need to escape poverty. Under Jerralynn's leadership, 
Community Action has helped families find housing and afford basic 
utilities, provide quality early childhood education for their 
children, and access prenatal and child care services.
   Connecting families and children with essential services improves 
their health and overall quality of life. Just as important, 
Jerralynn's work contributed to a sense of dignity for the families 
served through Community Action. Because of Jerralynn, more Oregon 
families have clean, comfortable homes; more Oregonians have control 
over their finances; and more children in Oregon are entering school 
healthy and prepared for academic success. The happy, productive lives 
of these families are an appropriate tribute to Jerralynn, who has been 
a selfless champion for those living in poverty.
   During decades of change at Community Action, Jerralynn and the 
organization remained committed to President Johnson's promise of equal 
opportunity and his directive that we ``pursue poverty, pursue it 
wherever it exists.'' Jerralynn spent her entire career helping people 
build better lives. The communities of northwest Oregon will miss 
Jerralynn's leadership, but her legacy will be carried forward through 
the families who are now enjoying lives full of opportunity and 
promise.

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