[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E178-E179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. FRANK J. MRVAN

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 3, 2026

  Mr. MRVAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect and sincere 
admiration that I rise to celebrate Women's History Month and its 2026 
theme--Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future. This 
year's theme honors the women who are reimagining and rebuilding 
systems to ensure long-term sustainability and create a future that is 
rooted in equity, justice, and opportunity for all.
  As we celebrate women who have dedicated their lives to shaping a 
more sustainable future, I would like to recognize the extraordinary 
women whose vision and leadership shaped one of Northwest Indiana's 
most enduring conservation organizations. Save the Dunes was founded by 
Dorothy Buell in her Ogden Dunes home in 1952, a time when women rarely 
centered in public policy debates. The group, composed of all women, 
was committed to preserving the Indiana Dunes within the protective 
boundaries of a National Park. What began as a living room conversation 
grew into a national grassroots movement that ultimately led to the 
creation of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, now the Indiana Dunes 
National Park.
  Many extraordinary women joined Dorothy in shaping Save the Dunes, 
including the organization's first Executive Director, Charlotte Read, 
who led efforts for the park's first successful expansion bill. Lee 
Botts brought national attention to the importance of protecting the 
Great Lakes. Sylvia Troy and Ruth Osann defended the dunes from intense 
development pressures and mobilized community members for key advocacy 
campaigns during pivotal moments in the organization's history.
  Over 70 years later, Save the Dunes remains a women-led organization, 
which is a testament to the enduring leadership of women in 
conservation. Presidents including Susan MiHalo, Melli Hoppe, Dorreen 
Carey, and Nancy Moldenhauer have guided the organization through 
periods of growth and strategic impact. Executive Directors, including 
Nicole Barker, Natalie Johnson, and Betsy Maher, have strengthened its 
role as a leading partner to the Indiana Dunes National Park, expanded 
habitat restoration initiatives, deepened community engagement, and 
advanced environmental advocacy across Northwest Indiana. Today, women 
serve in professional staff roles and as members of the Board of 
Directors, guiding governance and strategy. For

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their environmental stewardship and generational leadership, the women 
who volunteered their time and efforts to the Save the Dunes 
organization are worthy of the highest praise.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in celebrating Women's History Month and recognizing the women of 
Save the Dunes, who continue to shape a more sustainable future for 
Northwest Indiana and our Nation.

                          ____________________