[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 150 (Monday, September 15, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6587-S6588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        Tribute to Kathy Ottele

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I come to the floor to recognize and honor 
an exceptional Oregonian. For 27 years, Kathy Ottele has served as a 
volunteer for the American Cancer Society and has been instrumental to 
the work and accomplishments of this unique organization.
  The mission to eradicate cancer is deeply personal to Kathy. She is a 
seven-time skin care survivor, and she lost her dad, her mom, and her 
two younger sisters to this horrible disease. Kathy understands the 
importance of sharing her story.
  From local community events to the halls of government in both Oregon 
and the Nation's Capital, she has made it her personal mission to 
connect with as many people as possible about the critical work at the 
American Cancer Society.
  I have personally seen through my time with Kathy how her advocacy 
has helped families in a very positive way. Oregonians will long feel 
the positive impact of her tireless dedication to finding a cure for 
cancer. At home, we call it the Oregon Way.
  She has also made it a personal priority to raise awareness and 
funding for the cause each year. I could stand here all day and 
announce a long list of things she has achieved during her 27 years of 
service. I will name just a few.
  Through her efforts, she has consistently been one of the American 
Cancer Society's top fundraisers. Last year, she raised over $17,000 
for this cause. In recognition of her steadfast volunteer and advocacy 
efforts to help make cancer a national priority, she was named the 
State Lead Ambassador by the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action 
Network in 2020.
  She has also been a member of the American Cancer Society's 
organization in Oregon and Southwestern Washington. She has been on the 
board of directors for the last 7 years.
  Part of the reason why she is so deserving of all these important 
honors and responsibilities has been because of her advocacy and fight 
for early cancer detection blood testing--hugely important--such as in 
the bipartisan bill that I sponsor with our colleagues Senators Crapo 
and Bennet. It is one of the best ways we know of to make sure people 
can stop cancer early and save lives.
  For the last 5 years, Kathy aimed her advocacy efforts at promoting 
groundbreaking early cancer detection advances--known as Multi-Cancer 
Early Detection tests--to help more cancer victims learn their 
diagnosis far earlier and survive the disease at far higher rates. 
Kathy actually participated in a clinical trial of the new technology 
conducted at Oregon Health Sciences University, and she came away from 
that experience committed to winning broader access to this lifesaving, 
groundbreaking advance.
  Kathy has played a critical role in educating community and 
policymakers in Oregon about the importance of access to multi-cancer 
early detection screening coverage, and I am proud to be a lead sponsor 
with Senators Crapo and Bennet, S. 339, the Nancy Gardner Sewell 
Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection--MCED--Screening Coverage Act 
that will help ensure access to screenings that can detect cancer at 
earlier, more treatable stages. As a testament to Kathy's advocacy, 
every single Member of the Oregon delegation serves as a cosponsor of 
our legislation.
  As Kathy celebrates her 27th year as a Society volunteer, she shows 
absolutely no signs of slowing down. Her rigorous dedication in service 
continues to make a lasting impact on the mission to ending cancer as 
we know it, and she does that for everyone.
  I know that I speak for Oregonians in every nook and cranny in our 
State as we express our gratitude for her commitment, her talent, her 
mentorship, her leadership, and particularly in the constant effort to 
better cancer research and treatment.
  So on behalf of our whole State, this afternoon here on the floor of 
the U.S. Senate, I would like to thank Kathy Ottele for her tireless 
work and service. She has literally dedicated her life to this cause, 
and the people of Oregon are better for it. I look forward to our

[[Page S6588]]

continued partnership on these important efforts as I work as a senior 
member of the Senate Finance Committee, and she continues her 
incredible volunteering at home.
  I yield the floor.