[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 3, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES IN OREGON

  Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, as the second week of May is Public 
Service Recognition Week, I wish to recognize the honorable public 
employees who work tirelessly to provide outstanding service to 
Oregonians. These men and women, who serve our Nation as Federal, 
State, Tribal, county, and local government employees work hard to 
support Oregonians and make our State and our country a great place to 
live. I would like to acknowledge the important work that public 
servants do, and I will give just a few examples to illustrate how 
valuable public service work is.
  The Oregon Farm Service Agency is dedicated to helping local Oregon 
farmers with assistance when they face financial risk or a natural 
disaster, as well as providing funding for conservation programs. 
Thanks to the efforts of employees at the Oregon Farm Service Agency, 
countless farmers and their families have been able to sustain their 
livelihoods through hard times. Oregonians are fortunate to have such 
committed public servants in the Oregon Farm Service Agency.
  I would also like to honor the many public service employees that 
work at the Oregon Social Security offices. Their professionalism and 
courtesy in serving Oregonians is commendable. Without this work, 
numerous families could miss out on vital benefits. My staff and I also 
appreciate these offices' assistance in answering our inquiries on 
behalf of constituents. The replies we receive have helped me help 
hundreds of people across Oregon.
  Turning to another Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration--NOAA--Office for Coastal Management is making a 
difference in Oregon in countless ways. For example, NOAA's program on 
Oregon coastal and estuarine land conservation is vital for the 
preservation of Oregon's famous beaches. NOAA also helps with research 
on environmental challenges that Oregon communities might soon face and 
has partnerships with Oregon's Confederated Tribes to create 
opportunities for environmental education.
  Public employees at the NOAA Fisheries office in Oregon also work 
tirelessly to ensure the conservation of fishery resources, eliminate 
overfishing, and maintain healthy commercial and recreational 
fisheries. For Oregon, the NOAA Fisheries office is vital to keeping 
ecosystems like the Willamette River healthy.
  To give one more example, for over 100 years, public employees have 
worked for the National Park Service in order to maintain national 
parks, like the beautiful Crater Lake in Oregon, and to preserve local 
history and celebrate local heritage. National Park Service employees 
also work to provide funding for conservation projects throughout 
Oregon, making sure that Oregonians and people from all over the 
country are able to enjoy our State's natural beauty.
  It is an honor during Public Service Recognition Week to recognize 
the wonderful public employees that work day in and day out to help 
Oregonians. Again, I thank public service employees for their 
dedication and their service.

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