[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 189 (Thursday, December 19, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S7224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MORNING BUSINESS
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                         TRIBUTE TO DABNEY HEGG

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Dabney Hegg, 
who retired from the Senate earlier this year after serving for more 
than 25 years, the last 14 of which were on the Senate Appropriations 
Committee. Through her time in the Senate, Dabney left her fingerprints 
on so much of the crucial legislation to strengthen our Nation's 
transportation infrastructure and help Americans keep a roof over their 
heads.
  Dabney first joined the Senate Appropriations Committee in 2010 under 
Chair Inouye, on the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban 
Development, and Related Agencies. I had the great fortune of seeing 
her work up close for several years, first as the then chair of T-HUD, 
and the past 2 years as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. 
In 2015, Dabney was named clerk of the subcommittee. She served as 
clerk under Senators Reed and Schatz, and we all can attest that she 
was an invaluable member of the team.
  At a time when our Nation is grappling with an affordable housing 
shortage, aging infrastructure, and growing pressures from climate 
change, the investments we make in housing, transportation, and more 
have huge implications for our Nation's future. Dabney worked 
tirelessly to help the Senate make critical investments to address 
homelessness and the housing crunch, ensure communities have reliable 
roads, rails, and bridges, keep planes flying safely overhead, and 
maintain the infrastructure we need to stay strong and keep people 
safe.
  Among her many accomplishments, Dabney helped negotiate the historic 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021, multiple COVID relief 
and disaster recovery bills, and every single T-HUD appropriations bill 
since fiscal year 2011. She was a champion of improving everyday 
Americans' lives by fighting for Amtrak funding and improving rail 
safety, championing the needs of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy so it 
can educate the next generation of mariners safely, always pushing to 
help individuals experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic 
violence, and supporting our long-term disaster recovery efforts. For 
Dabney, the annual appropriations bill was an opportunity to do 
something good, move the ball forward inch by inch and year by year. In 
her last appropriations bill for FY 2024, under the direction of 
Senator Brian Schatz, who is chair of both T-HUD and Indian Affairs, 
Dabney helped to successfully secure a record $1.3 billion for Native 
American and Alaskan Native housing programs, a 32-percent increase 
from the previous year.
  Throughout her years on the subcommittee, she was a tireless champion 
for public transit, supporting and shepherding projects along in every 
corner of the country, including many critical transit projects in 
Washington State. The progress we made on those issues is part of an 
incredible legacy she has written into our Nation's laws through her 
work.
  We all owe Dabney a debt of gratitude for working through many long 
nights and weekends and completing many hard negotiations in service of 
our Nation. As chair of the Appropriations Committee, I depended on 
Dabney's wisdom and counsel, and it is clear to all that her expertise, 
dedication, and ability to work across the aisle to make progress have 
made our country stronger. She is deeply missed.
  On behalf of all the past committee leadership--and all the Senators 
and staff--who have worked with Dabney over the years and who know 
firsthand just how impactful her work and counsel have been, I would 
like to thank you, Dabney, for your service. You are missed, and we 
wish you all the best for what lies ahead. Thank you.

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