[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 18 (Thursday, January 25, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E98]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING SENATOR SLADE GORTON

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 25, 2018

  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 90th 
birthday of former Senator Slade Gorton.
  Senator Gorton has had an overwhelming impact on Washington state and 
has touched the lives of countless individuals.
  Senator Gorton graduated from Dartmouth College in 1950, and Columbia 
University Law School in 1953. He served in the United States Army, 
United States Air Force, and United States Air Force Reserve. In 1959, 
he was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives and was 
elected majority leader in 1967. In 1969, he was appointed Washington 
state Attorney General. During his time as attorney general, he argued 
14 cases before the United States Supreme Court.
  In 1980, he was elected to the United States Senate, a position he 
held for 18 years. During his time in the Senate, he was appointed to 
several powerful committee positions including Appropriations; Budget; 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Energy and Natural 
Resources. He also proudly served as counsel to the majority leader. 
Among the legislation he championed was S. 1488, Cardiac Arrest 
Survival Act of 1999. This legislation established programs to 
facilitate the placement of automatic external defibrillators in 
federal buildings. S. 1488 also protects individuals who voluntarily 
acquire or use automatic external defibrillators to help save victims 
of cardiac arrest. Additionally, he sponsored S. 837, Washington State 
Wilderness Act of 1984, which, designated almost two dozen national 
forest lands in Washington state as components of the National 
Wilderness Preservation System.
  After he retired from the Senate, Senator Gorton served on the 9/11 
Commission, arguably one of the most important commissions in American 
history. This commission produced the 9/11 Commission report, which 
analyzed the events surrounding the terrorist attacks on September 11, 
2001.
  In order to educate the next generation of policy experts, Senator 
Gorton helped establish the Slade Gorton International Policy Center. 
The Center facilitates fellowships, internships, and a leadership 
development program to conduct research in economics, trade, energy 
security, energy, and the environment. He also serves on the K&L Gates 
Council and is often a guest speaker for the Jennifer Dunn Leadership 
Institute. His work today allows him to mentor aspiring young 
individuals, one of his favorite pursuits.
  Among his many other civic efforts, Senator Gorton was a member of 
the President's Consumer Advisory Council, the Washington State Law and 
Justice Commission, and the State Criminal Justice Training Commission.
  Senator Gorton is the proud father of Thomas, Sarah, and Rebecca 
Gorton and grandfather of seven. He was married to the late Sally Clark 
Gorton for 55 years.
  Senator Gorton will always be known for his values of principled 
leadership, scholarly pursuit, bipartisanship and honesty. It is truly 
an honor to recognize him for his 90th birthday, and all of his great 
contributions to Washington state and our country.

                          ____________________