[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 65 (Monday, April 15, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2737-S2738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO SUSANNAH MORGAN

  Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, today I want to recognize and honor 
Susannah Morgan for her past decade of work serving as president of the 
Oregon Food Bank. Susannah may be retiring from an amazing career at 
the Oregon Food Bank, but Oregon will long feel the positive impact of 
her work.
  For over 26 years, Susannah has dedicated herself to ending hunger in 
many States across the country, and Oregon has had the fortune to 
benefit from her work for the past decade. Under Susannah's 
administration at the Oregon Food Bank, the first national policy 
leadership council was established. The first of its kind, this council 
worked directly with individuals who experienced food and hunger crises 
firsthand to inform the Oregon Food Bank's policy agenda and make the 
connection between food access and other needs, like housing. Many food 
banks across the Nation are looking to Oregon Food Bank's model and 
working to include the leadership of people with lived experiences in 
efforts to end hunger.
  In addition to the creation of the policy leadership council, 
Susannah's work has transformed food systems in the State. Under her 
leadership, Oregon Food Bank made food assistance sites more welcoming 
to everyone by expanding best practices like shopping-style food 
pantries, which allow families greater choices. The Oregon Food Bank 
established a ``Food Finder'' tool that is offered in 19 languages and 
makes it easy for Oregonians to find free food assistance sites near 
them. All this gives Oregonians most in need access to fresh and 
culturally-flexible produce, meats, and dairy.
  Her decades of experience were also an essential asset during the 
COVID pandemic. The pandemic created an incredible challenge of feeding 
thousands of families at a time where everything was shut down. The 
Oregon Food Bank stepped up to the plate and mobilized over 1,400 food 
pantries across Oregon

[[Page S2738]]

to support families in need. I have personally seen, through my trips 
in Oregon, how programs and initiatives led by Susannah have impacted 
families in a positive way. This is the Oregon Way.
  In her personal capacity, Susannah, along with her wife Dr. Jocelyn 
Krebs, have been staunch advocates for strengthening the mental health 
system for youth. Susannah is vocal about her own family's struggles to 
get appropriate and responsive care for their children. Time and time 
again, Susannah offered her time to share her story and reflect on the 
problems with our system and how we can all do better to give children 
the best care possible. It was their desire to make a difference for 
children with complex health needs that led to Dr. Krebs to accept a 
position at the Armellino Center of Excellence on Williams Syndrome at 
the University of Pennsylvania.
  I know that I speak for Oregonians statewide as I express my 
gratitude for Susannah's dedication, talent, mentorship, leadership, 
and persistence in public service and in the betterment of food bank 
systems throughout Oregon. Thank you, Susannah. My family and I are 
wishing you and your family all the best in your future endeavors.

                          ____________________