[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 195 (Tuesday, November 28, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF CASEY HATCHER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DOUG LaMALFA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 28, 2023

  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service 
of Butte County resident, Casey Corin Hatcher, who passed away in the 
early morning of November 5, 2023, at the young age of 43. She was 
surrounded by her sister, mother, and two lifelong friends.
  Casey was born on February 26, 1980, in Auburn, California to her 
parents Michelle and Tom Hatcher. When she arrived, she was welcomed by 
her big sister Kelci Hatcher who became her lifelong treasure. She was 
inquisitive and had a head for planning, directing and problem-solving 
early in her development. She moved to Chico to attend college in 1999, 
graduating, from California State University (CSU), Chico with a 
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in 
marketing.
  Casey began her professional career with a management consulting firm 
focused on assisting small businesses. She assisted over 60 in total 
during her tenure. The hands-on work with these businesses provided her 
with a solid foundation for continuing her work in economic 
development.
  In 2011, Casey joined Butte County Administration as a member of its 
economic and community development unit, where she began her enduring 
advocacy for the Butte County community that she served with dedication 
for the remainder of her life.
  Casey worked on a variety of community development projects early in 
her career with the County including implementation of disaster 
recovery assistance for homeowners affected by the 2008 wildfires in 
Butte County. Due to her stellar work, she was promoted to Economic 
Development Manager in 2016. She returned to CSU, Chico and received 
her Master's Degree in Public Administration in 2017.
  Casey served in the County's Emergency Operation Center during many 
activations including the Oroville Dam Spillway Incident, the Wall, 
Ponderosa, and La Porte/Cherokee fires in 2017, the Camp Fire, the 2020 
North Complex Fire, and the 2021 Dixie Fire. She worked countless hours 
supporting the response and recovery to these tragedies in Butte 
County. She never wavered, faltered. or tired of her dedication to 
serving the people of Butte County.
  Ultimately. she was promoted to Deputy Chief Administrative Officer 
and assigned to ``lead'' disaster recovery organizing County staff, 
advocating with state and federal agencies, and helping rebuild the 
community for which she cared so deeply.
  Additionally, in October 2021, Casey was asked to testify before a 
congressional committee on disaster recovery where she was provided a 
national platform to advocate for disaster recovery. The systems Casey 
put into place are used today as a model by communities experiencing 
catastrophic disasters, including most recently by the State of Hawaii 
in their response to the Lahaina Wildfire in Maui.
  Casey was a rock; she was a role model; she was a moral compass. She 
was encouraging, challenging, motivating, but supportive. Her family, 
friends, colleagues, and beloved community will cherish her for the 
rest of the days of their lives.

                          ____________________