[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 69 (Monday, April 20, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E342-E343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE CAREER OF LOIS BRUINOOGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 20, 2026

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary 
constituent and pay special tribute to Lois Bruinooge, who retires from 
The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) this month after 20 years of 
dedicated service to the organization. TLGV is a non-profit 
organization connecting residents to the Last Green Valley National 
Heritage Corridor, a landscape of farmland and forest spanning 35 towns 
across Eastern Connecticut and South-central Massachusetts. As TLGV 
transitions to new leadership under Ms. Francesca Kefalas, I would like 
to recognize Ms. Lois Bruinooge for her dedication to protecting the 
Last Green Valley.

[[Page E343]]

  Ms. Bruinooge began her career serving as an environmental lawyer 
protecting waters and woods with the Massachusetts Department of 
Environmental Protection. She later joined TLGV as a deputy director in 
2006 and was promoted to executive director in 2014. Her command of 
environmental law and leadership drove her to success in spearheading 
efforts to care for the last stretch of dark night sky between Boston 
and Washington, D.C.
  Ms. Bruinooge has led impressive initiatives to educate people about 
the environment. In 2009, she led the effort to paddle the entire 
Thames as a part of the TLGV Source to Sea Program. She also expanded 
TLGV's water quality monitoring, created a trail assessment program, 
and bald eagle monitoring. Moreover, she encouraged resident and youth 
participation in TLGV's programming. One of her most impressive 
accomplishments was organizing the annual Walktober event, attracting 
up to 120,000 visitors to participate in over 250 hikes, bikes, and 
paddles each year.
  Ms. Bruinooge's time at TLGV was one of transformational, positive 
change for the organization. She forged ties between TLGV and 
agricultural, land trust, historical, and cultural organizations to 
build stronger conservation and sustainability efforts. In 2016, TLGV 
received over $6 million from USDA and millions more from regional 
programs to preserve their forests. In turn, TLVG has provided over $4 
million in grants to local partners. Her collaboration with financial 
partners has increased revenue, created endowment funds, and heightened 
investments into environmental conservation. Her passion for outreach, 
financial expertise, and creativity have set TLGV on a path of 
undeniable success.
  Ms. Bruinooge is a graduate of Boston College Law School and a 
resident of Waterford, Connecticut.
  Mr. Speaker, as the Member serving the 2nd District of Connecticut, I 
have had the pleasure of seeing the impact of TLGV on the environment 
of Eastern Connecticut. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives 
and the American people, I express deep gratitude for Ms. Bruinooge's 
contributions during her two decades of service with The Last Green 
Valley. I join Ms. Bruinooge's family, friends, and colleagues in 
wishing her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________