[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 164 (Monday, October 6, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6953-S6954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW ENGLAND COUNCIL

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 100th 
anniversary of the New England Council, which was founded in September 
1925 when the six Governors of New England gathered with business 
leaders in Poland Spring, ME, to better collaborate across our region's 
shared and intimately intertwined economic interests. Shortly after, 
the New England Council was founded as a nonpartisan and nonprofit 
entity to facilitate this work. For 100 years now, the council has been 
an indispensable partner advocating for the New England region.
  The New England States--our economies, culture, and interests--have 
been interconnected since before the founding of our Nation. While we 
may have much in common, our States are often considered the most 
``independent-minded'' states. At one time, this tendency may have 
predisposed our States to chart our own paths forward and work 
fervently to protect our individual interests. Indeed, this history of 
self-governance and independence led directly to the events that 
founded the United States and laid the foundation for the principles of 
the Nation that we cherish. Now, and for the past 100 years, the New 
England Council has helped carry our region's independent spirit 
forward by bringing our States' interests together and helping ensure 
that New England is heard on the ever-changing national stage.
  To be sure, the New England Council's ability to be a convener of 
political leaders--on both sides of the aisle--business leaders, 
nonprofits, and academic and health institutions sets the council apart 
from many of its peers. Its ability to do so comes from the council's 
reputation as a nonpartisan, fact-driven organization that represents 
many diverse viewpoints embedded across our staunchly independent 
States. That is to say: when the Council speaks as one, we know the 
issue reflects consensus and is in service to its mission to promote 
New England's economic growth and safeguard a high quality of life for 
all New Englanders.
  The council's mission becomes even greater in times of turbulence. 
Whether during shared national struggles, like World War II or the 
COVID-19 pandemic, or in times of sharp political debate, our region's 
shared economic interests become more pronounced. In these times, the 
council does more than bring people together and advocate for 
solutions; it amplifies the voice of a region. This ability again 
relies on its ironclad nonpartisan reputation. Because it is so well 
regarded, the council can ensure that all New Englanders, even those 
who may not be politically well connected, can be heard by their 
representatives and the Federal Government. That means that when the 
national environment is loud, when there are many different 
stakeholders making their perspectives clear, the New England Council 
can definitively speak in one voice to ensure that our region's 
priorities break through the noise.
  On behalf of Rhode Island, I want to congratulate the New England 
Council, president and CEO Jim Brett, the entire board of directors, 
and all its members on a well-earned centennial. From working to 
address our region's housing shortage and infrastructure challenges to 
advocating for reliable and affordable energy, thank you for a century 
of working to advance Rhode Island's and New England's economic 
interests.

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