[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING STATE REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN PARKER

                                  _____
                                 

                      HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 6, 2016

  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a good friend and 
public servant, State Representative Kevin Parker, who is retiring as 
the representative for Washington State's 6th District in the state 
legislature.
  Kevin has represented parts of Spokane, Cheney, Medical Lake and 
Airway Heights in my congressional district for four terms in the state 
legislature. Kevin also is an entrepreneur who manages 80 employees at 
his six coffee shops and teaches in the Whitworth University and 
Gonzaga University MBA programs.
  During his time in the legislature, Kevin became known as a 
compassionate conservative who focused on solutions to help the less 
fortunate in his district and around the state. He said his most 
memorable achievements were legislation providing temporary IDs to the 
homeless to enable them to find work and this year's Cancer Can't bill 
allowing certain cancer drugs to be included in the state's charitable 
pharmacy program.
  Kevin also was chosen by his peers to serve as Assistant Ranking 
Member on the House Appropriations Committee where he was intricately 
involved in budget negotiations. His experiences in the private sector 
and in the higher education classroom as an instructor helped lead to 
one of the most successful and widely accepted state budgets in recent 
legislative history.
  In May, Kevin announced that he will not seek reelection to a fifth 
term. He has said that ``serving the citizens of Spokane and the 6th 
District has truly been one of the highest honors of my life. Engaging 
with people and finding solutions to their problems is an abundantly 
rewarding occupation.'' He emphasized, however, that ``what I do as an 
elected official needs to take a back seat to my role as a father and 
husband.'' I certainly understand the challenges associated with 
raising children as a public official, and commend Kevin for balancing 
his public and private responsibilities extraordinarily well.
  Mr. Speaker, Kevin has said that he hopes he's remembered as a hard 
worker whose door was always open to anyone and any ideas. That's a 
model all public officials should emulate. I can say without hesitation 
that he has served his constituents and his community diligently and 
effectively. Although the legislature will miss his insight and 
expertise on matters important to our state, I know Kevin will carry on 
his service to Eastern Washington in many other ways. I wish him and 
his wife, Kerry, and their three children the best in the next chapter 
in their lives.

                          ____________________