[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1336]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO JEANNE KOHL-WELLES

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and congratulate 
Mrs. Jeanne Kohl-Welles on her retirement following 30 years of work in 
elected office. Jeanne retires from Washington's King County Council, 
where she has served as vice chair of the council and chair of the 
committee of the whole and been an extraordinary asset to our State and 
the greater Seattle-King County region for the last 30 years.
  Under Jeanne's leadership, King County Council was able to address 
countless issues facing King County and its communities. From 
supporting our communities through the COVID pandemic by leveraging the 
13 budgets she passed as budget chair, to leading the creation of the 
King County Regional Homeless Authority, Jeanne has been dauntless in 
facing down tough challenges, tackling complex problems head on to make 
meaningful progress for King County and its communities.
  Jeanne's devotion to King County and the State of Washington as a 
whole started long before her tenure on the county council. Jeanne 
spent over two decades in the Washington State Legislature, first in 
the house and then in the senate. For many of her 20 years in the 
Washington State Senate, Jeanne chaired the senate higher education and 
labor and commerce committees and led legislative efforts to legalize 
medical marijuana and same-sex marriage, tackle income and gender 
inequality, and address human trafficking and child sexual abuse. 
Before that, she was an early advocate for addressing hate crimes and 
homelessness in Seattle.
  A constant theme in Jeanne's work has been her tireless dedication to 
truly representing her constituents. Jeanne has organized many Women's 
History Month panels; expanded access to ballot drop boxes; implemented 
crucial investments in youth education; and worked with constituents 
countless times to introduce legislation that matters to them, like 
when she worked with middle-schoolers on legislation to regulate puppy-
mills. Jeanne has shown a truly exceptional ability to champion what is 
important to those she represents. Whether it was pushing for the 
construction of the current stadium for our Seattle Seahawks, 
sponsoring legislation to make transit safe and available to all, or 
securing funding for the preservation of Washington State history--from 
Pike Place Market to the National Historic Landmark vessel S.S. 
Virginia--time and again, Jeanne has fought for the rights, needs, and 
histories of Washington State and King County communities.
  Being a woman in politics isn't always easy; when I first got to the 
Senate, there wasn't even a women's bathroom off the Senate floor. 
Every day, we are having to fight for our most basic rights, even as we 
advocate for all of our constituents. But every day, women like Jeanne 
are setting an example for young girls that with hard work, they can 
follow their dreams and make a real difference. Jeanne's retirement 
won't be a quiet one; she has plans to not only spend more time with 
her a family and travel, but also to pursue other passions.
  It has been a great privilege to work with Jeanne, a true 
trailblazer, over the last three decades. And it is my honor to thank 
her for her lifetime of dedicated service to people in King County, the 
State of Washington, and the entire country. I wish her the very best 
during her well-earned retirement.

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