[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S94-S95]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING DR. ROBERT COPE

 Mr. RISCH. Madam President, today I would like to pay tribute 
to Dr. Robert Cope, a public servant and cattle veterinarian of Lemhi 
County, ID, who lost his battle to cancer last month. I had the great 
fortune of being friends and working with Dr. Cope through the many 
public and private roles he served. Those who knew Dr. Robert Cope 
affectionately called him ``Cope.''
  Cope dedicated his whole life to serving agricultural families after 
he received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Kansas State 
University in 1975. Shortly, thereafter, he moved to Idaho, where his 
clients became his extended family. Cope owned and operated the Blue 
Cross Vet Clinic in Salmon, ID, for 44 years. He loved children and the 
youth of his community, and he supported them through 4-H and his 
veterinarian practice. Idaho ranchers can share countless stories of 
Cope's service at all hours of the day and night. Even as his cancer 
progressed, Cope offered his advice and expertise to his loyal clients.
  Cope served as Lemhi County Commissioner for 14 years and sat on many 
committees related to natural resources and environmental challenges. 
In March of 2002, he was inducted in the Eastern Idaho Agricultural 
Hall of Fame.
  With wisdom, common-sense, and humor, Cope tackled life head-on and 
was never afraid to address tough issues and find collaborative 
solutions.

[[Page S95]]

After having a particularly challenging experience with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife over a wolf-killed calf, Cope was tasked with writing a 
Memorandum of Understanding--MOU--to allow the State to allocate 
Federal funds to livestock owners who lost cattle due to predation.
  When I served as Idaho's Governor, I led a collaborative effort to 
adopt the Idaho Roadless Rule. Cope assisted in that effort and served 
on the Idaho Roadless Commission. I trusted his opinion and judgement, 
and he provided invaluable insights from a local perspective in the 
development and implementation of that rule.
  For Cope, his life was about serving people and sustaining the 
Western ranching and farming lifestyle. God broke the mold when he made 
Cope, and he will be missed by many in Lemhi County and the State of 
Idaho. Rest in Peace, Cope.

                          ____________________