[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 113 (Thursday, June 18, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E547-E548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING DEBRAH MARRIOTT ON HER RETIREMENT AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 
                   LOWER COLUMBIA ESTUARY PARTNERSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SUZANNE BONAMICI

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 18, 2020

  Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Debrah Marriott on her 
retirement as Executive Director of the Lower Columbia Estuary 
Partnership at the end of this month.
  Throughout her career, Debrah has been a steadfast champion for 
protecting and advocating for the Lower Columbia River. Debrah has led 
the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership since its inception, and there 
is no doubt that the river's habitats and water quality are improved 
today because of Debrah's leadership, particularly her work on the 
Columbia River Basin Restoration Act.
  As Co-Chair of the Congressional Estuary Caucus, I have relied on 
Debrah's expertise for years. Her thoughtful perspective and extensive 
network through the National Estuary Program have been invaluable. Most 
recently, she and her staff helped inform my work on the bipartisan 
Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act. Last year, I had the pleasure of 
joining Debrah at the groundbreaking of the Steigerwald Reconnection 
Project, a 960-acre habitat restoration project on the mainstem of the 
Columbia River that will help salmon, wildlife, and the larger 
ecosystem flourish. Projects like Steigerwald and countless others 
along the Columbia River would not exist without Debrah's commitment to 
collaboration with regional partners. I appreciate her dedication to 
the ecological benefits of a project, and also her commitment to 
supporting the region's economic, social, and cultural needs. Even 
during the coronavirus pandemic, Debrah joined me for a virtual panel 
discussion earlier this month on how to revitalize our coastal 
communities.
  Debrah's tenacity and dedication to protecting our lands and waters 
has created an incredible legacy of conservation for our region. I 
thank Debrah for her more than 25

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years of dedicated service to Northwest Oregon and congratulate her on 
her retirement.

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