[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 159 (Tuesday, September 15, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H4390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    COMMENDING OREGON'S FIRST RESPONDERS ON FRONT LINES OF HISTORIC 
                               WILDFIRES

  (Mr. SCHRADER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, over the last week, historic wildfires 
have ravaged my home State of Oregon. I have three major fires in my 
congressional district alone.
  These fires continue to burn at an alarming rate. The extent of loss 
of life and property is still unknown.
  However, without the heroic lifesaving work of our firefighters, 
police, and sheriffs' offices, the sheer magnitude of that loss would 
have been far greater.
  First responders from Lincoln, Marion, Polk, Clackamas, and Tillamook 
Counties have been working around the clock to evacuate families while 
the winds have changed most rapidly and dangerously, putting their own 
lives in peril.
  Currently, Oregon experiences the worst air quality in the world and 
has been enveloped in absolute dense smoke for 1 week.
  Many of those battling these fires live in impacted communities and 
have continued their work as their families evacuate and their homes 
are lost.
  There are not enough words of thanks to give to these heroes, but I 
know that I speak on behalf of all Oregonians when I say that we are 
forever grateful to you.

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