[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 168 (Friday, October 13, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF KAREN McGINNIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAN NEWHOUSE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 13, 2023

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, today I rise to recognize 
Karen McGinnis, a dedicated leader hailing from Central Washington, who 
tragically lost her fight to cancer this past month. In 2018, I stood 
where I am now to praise Karen for her passion for worker safety, and 
it saddens me that rather than announcing her next great achievement, 
I'm instead mourning her life.
  Karen McGinnis graduated from Washington State University with a 
degree in agriculture economics and was the founding leader of the 
Volpentest HAMMER Federal Training Center near Richland, Washington. 
Her legacy includes growing the HAMMER Center into a world-class 
training facility for Hanford workers and other federal employees, 
where she instructed them on emergency response and promoted a culture 
of safety on the job.
  Her ability to build the Center into a training facility--not only 
for domestic workers, but also for international partners--was 
legendary. In fact, she received the Special Achievement Award for 
outstanding leadership in furthering the DOE's Voluntary Protection 
Program. After 40 years of hard work alongside Hanford, she retired in 
2018, but her legacy continued.
  Karen was a fearless advocate for her workers, a natural leader, and 
a friend. While she will be missed, her legacy will continue in the 
great (and safe) work performed at the Hanford Site each and every day.

                          ____________________