[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2303-S2304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING POCATELLO-CHUBBUCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

  Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I rise with my colleagues Senator 
Mike Crapo and Representative  Mike Simpson to celebrate the 125th 
anniversary of the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce.
  The history of Pocatello and Chubbuck begins with the Oregon Trail, 
which ran through the Portneuf Gap just south of the two cities, 
drawing pioneers, gold miners, and settlers to the region. The city of 
Pocatello was founded in 1889 and quickly became a hub for 
transportation and agriculture. This traffic was followed by stage and 
freight lines, then the railroad. Pocatello was aptly named the Gateway 
to the Northwest, as it quickly grew into a trade center and 
transportation junction. Chubbuck, named after railroad conductor 
Walter Chubbuck, was incorporated in December 1949. The towns, 
separated only by a city limits sign, are joined together through the 
Chamber of Commerce, which works for both communities.
  The chamber originally began in 1893 as the Pocatello Commercial Club 
and formally became a chamber of commerce in 1901. What started as a 
booster-style club quickly expanded in influence to support the 
construction of the American Falls dam. Then, in 2014, after a few name 
changes, the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce came into being, 
with a mission of representing trade in Pocatello, Chubbuck, and the 
surrounding area.
  The creation of the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce aligned 
with the region's early boom period. This marked a busy time for early 
members tasked with recruiting and representing new businesses, 
coordinating civic improvements, and promoting downtown commerce. Now, 
125 years later, the chamber advocates for local businesses at the 
State and Federal level, promotes tourism, and runs community 
campaigns, including the Leadership Pocatello-Chubbuck Program, the 
Youth Pocatello Leadership Program (LEAP), the Chamber Young 
Professionals, the Chamber Champions Committee, and beautification 
programs.
  For more than a century, the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce 
has played a vital role in shaping the region from a railroad town to 
one of the largest communities in Idaho. Home to Idaho State 
University, major corporate headquarters, and multinational companies, 
the area has emerged as a hub for the Gem State. The chamber has been a 
driving force in this effort and, more importantly, preserving the 
heart and soul of Pocatello and Chubbuck.
  Congratulations to the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce on 125 
years. Today, we proudly recognize the chamber's hard work and 
continued dedication to driving economic growth in Idaho. 

[[Page S2304]]

  

                          ____________________