[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 156 (Tuesday, September 27, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5049-S5050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO DAN DINNING

 Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, along with my colleagues Senator Jim 
Risch and Representative Russ Fulcher, we thank Dan Dinning for serving 
as Boundary County commissioner for more than 20 years.
  Dan Dinning began his service as Boundary County commissioner in 2001 
and, throughout, worked steadily to strengthen his community. A native 
of Boundary County who attended the University of Idaho, Commissioner 
Dinning has been the longest serving commissioner for his county. This 
comes as no surprise, given his deep commitment to his hometown, 
Bonners Ferry, Boundary County, and Idaho.
  Dan is extremely hard working, and we are told there has rarely been 
a meeting in Boundary County that Dan did not attend. This dedication 
is also apparent in the remarkable number of State and community groups 
he has served in and led. This includes the Governor's appointment of 
Commissioner Dinning to serve on the Idaho Roadless Rule Commission. 
Dan served on the Selkirk-Cabinet Yaak Grizzly Bear Conservation 
Subcommittee; multiple committees for the Idaho Association of 
Counties; served as chair for the Idaho Department of Environmental 
Quality Panhandle Basin Advisory Group; and so much more.
  Natural resources issues in north Idaho, like in many parts of Idaho 
and the West, tend to be very controversial, and Commissioner Dinning 
has not shied away from those challenges. When meetings grew 
contentious, Dan was always a calm voice reminding attendees that we 
all care about the same things, just disagree on possible solutions. He 
rarely is the first one to speak. Rather, he listens first and then 
makes thoughtful comments. These productive characteristics have been 
instrumental in his leadership in starting and sustaining the Kootenai 
Valley Resource Initiative, KVRI. KVRI changed the tone of natural 
resource conversations, and tensions eased as the community saw what 
collaboration can accomplish.
  In preparing this tribute, there was no shortage of great thoughts 
and stories that have been shared about Dan Dinning. They include a 
touching moment shared by Patty Perry about a trip to Washington, DC, 
when Dan was adamant about visiting the Vietnam Memorial Wall. His 
reason was to find a family's son's name on the wall and create a 
rubbing to bring home to them in Boundary County, since they would 
never get to see it. Patty recalled that, of course, it brought tears 
and was a reflection of the kind of guy Dan is.

[[Page S5050]]

  Dan is a man of high moral character, a salt of the earth, family man 
devoted to his community. Of all his achievements, we hear that he 
would cite his family as his greatest accomplishment. He and his wife 
Mary have three children, Lisa, Brian and Kevin; two granddaughters; 
and three grandsons. Thank you, Dan, for your service to your beloved 
community, county, and the entire State of Idaho. We look forward to 
continuing to hear your stories and you sharing your deeply valued 
thoughts and perspective with us on how to continue to strengthen our 
great State.

                          ____________________