[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 139 (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S5720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO KITTY PIERCY

 Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I wish to state my congratulations 
to Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy on her retirement after 12 years of 
service.
  Throughout my time in public office, I have worked with Mayor Piercy 
at countless events and meetings covering a range of important issues. 
In my experience with Mayor Piercy, I have been particularly impressed 
by her work to save our environment with a new sustainability 
commission and local ordinance to cut carbon emissions, to fight for 
women and families, to revitalize downtown Eugene, and to move forward 
through a difficult recession.
  Whether it be serving as a grassroots activist, the House Democratic 
Leader in the Oregon State Legislature, a board member for the Lauren 
Hill Center for individuals with mental illnesses, or the public 
affairs director for Planned Parenthood Health Services of Southern 
Oregon, Mayor Piercy has always been a fierce advocate for vulnerable 
community members in need.
  When elected mayor of Eugene in 2004, Mayor Piercy took her 
commitment to her community to a new level--especially through her work 
on environmental justice. She was a key leader on the U.S. Conference 
of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, working with 800 mayors across 
the country to push for changes at the congressional level. At the 
beginning of her time in office, she led an 18-month initiative to 
examine how Eugene could support the growth of businesses that create 
sustainable products or those that adopt more sustainable practices. 
Thanks to Mayor Piercy's commitment to environmental issues, Eugene has 
decreased its city carbon emissions by 10 percent.
  Throughout her time in office, Mayor Piercy acted on her concern for 
children and families by serving as chair of the Lane County Commission 
on Children and Families and the Oregon Commission for Child Care. With 
these groups, she worked to strengthen families through early 
intervention and prevention services, as well as advised the Governor 
and legislature on the importance of high quality child care to 
Oregon's families and its economy. Mayor Piercy has also been a 
tireless advocate for homeless youth as a member of the State 
Commission for Children and Families, linking local efforts with those 
at the State level and advocating with the Oregon Coalition for Runaway 
and Homeless Youth for an effective State response to the many homeless 
youth in our State.
  We need more leaders like Mayor Kitty Piercy in office. I thank Mayor 
Piercy for her hard work and dedication to public service and wish her 
the best in her well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________