[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 62 (Monday, April 12, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1872]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING BRIGID McDONOUGH

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, today I rise in remembrance of my dear 
friend Brigid McDonough. Many years ago, she agreed to be the treasurer 
of my Senate campaign and stayed in that volunteer job for over a 
decade. That was a courageous thing to do in this political climate. 
But that was the kind of friend Brigid was: loyal and always there. She 
wanted to serve the people.
  She loved her family. She loved her husband, Reid. I know how hard it 
was for Reid and Brigid at the end, and the last few years the two of 
them had together were so precious. Brigid loved her extended family of 
course. I will always remember being at the Lumberjack Days Parade in 
Stillwater, and Brigid would run up and give me a big hug--and her 
sister would run up and give me a big hug and then some other McDonough 
would. Her affection was contagious.
  Since her admission to the Minnesota bar in 1984, her life and career 
were rooted in how she could best lift others up. She believed that 
government and the law can be used to help people achieve equity and 
social justice in a world where playing fields are not often level. She 
used her impressive legal acumen to achieve good things on behalf of 
many people in our State.
  Brigid recognized the power of political and community organizing, of 
getting involved. She was inspired by the DFL tradition and the honest 
conviction to fight for what is just. If you asked me what politician 
she was most inspired by, I would have to say Senator Paul Wellstone. 
He was her hero. Campaigning for Paul is how I first met Brigid; She 
was a true believer, happily working at a law firm by day, and spending 
her free time out there holding up those green signs for Paul.
  Providing affordable housing to underserved communities was a major 
goal for Brigid, and she approached her volunteer work with the same 
focus she had at the law firm. Whether she was representing immigrant 
and refugee families through her pro bono work, supporting her alma 
mater and community by serving on the Macalester College alumni board 
and the Hmong Partnership board, or chairing the St. Paul DFL--that 
alone is a career unto itself--Brigid always brought this earnest 
conviction to fight for what was good, often on behalf of people who 
couldn't always do it for themselves.
  Brigid did so much through the valuable guidance she offered to 
dozens of local, State, and national political campaigns. She was 
especially dedicated to electing women and people of color to public 
office, and she was really good at it.
  Brigid was kind and generous, loyal to friends and colleagues, and 
compassionate, smart, and really funny. She and Reid loved traveling 
and both were voracious readers. I always admired her adventurous 
spirit and valued hearing her opinions on everything from Minnesota 
politics to Bruce Springsteen. Friends considered her a font of wisdom 
and ideas, and she always shared recommendations on books, movies, and 
music, with warmth and affection.
  There are certain people who have a way of seeing and bringing out 
the very best in others. Brigid was one of those people.
  Let's remember Brigid's fierce love of life. That is what made the 
time we spent with her so special. Her friendship and her commitment to 
making a difference in the world are true gifts that will continue to 
benefit all of us who were lucky enough to know her.

                          ____________________