[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 94 (Wednesday, June 3, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CELEBRATING THE HONORABLE MARY MUSHINSKY ON THE OCCASION OF HER 
                     RETIREMENT FROM PUBLIC SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 3, 2026

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the Wallingford 
community in celebrating the career of my good friend, State 
Representative Mary Mushinsky, as she retires after serving more than 
forty years in the Connecticut General Assembly. A legislator, mentor, 
community leader, and friend, Mary has served the Town of Wallingford, 
its residents, and the State of Connecticut with integrity and 
compassion, leaving a legacy of public service to which we should all 
strive.
  Mary's passion for public service is rooted in her deep interest in 
and commitment to environmental activism, consumer advocacy and 
improved energy policies. A biologist, Mary has been the leading 
proponent in the Connecticut legislature of major environmental 
legislation since she was first elected in 1980. Mary has served on the 
legislature's Environment Committee since she was first elected and in 
that time she has focused much of her energies on developing and 
implementing public policies that have put Connecticut at the forefront 
of the debate on environmental protections. Over her first two decades 
in the General Assembly, she headed legislative efforts that resulted 
in mandatory recycling, packaging reduction, open-space preservation, 
global warming mitigation and endangered species protection laws. 
Mary's work became the cornerstone of both statewide and local 
environmental policy, which is still being built upon today.
  Over the years, Mary and I have worked together on numerous projects 
to preserve and protect habitats here in Connecticut, but I clearly 
recall her staunch advocacy for the Quinnipiac Linear Trail--a multi-
town recreational trail that follows the original route of the Meriden, 
Waterbury, and Connecticut River Railroad. Through Mary's efforts and 
engagement with this project, we were able to secure federal funding to 
move the project forward. Now complete, it runs from Community Lake 
Park to Fireworks Island, is a paved and mostly level trail through 
cedar junipers and red maples that offers views of a stone labyrinth, 
and one of the state's largest Red Oaks. Mary's involvement in this 
effort has continued to this day and she is currently serving as co-
chair of the Quinnipiac River Linear Trail Advisory Committee.
  Mary's commitment to environmental stewardship extends well beyond 
her work in the Connecticut General Assembly. She has dedicated both 
her professional and personal time to these efforts. When not 
fulfilling her roles as a legislator or Executive Director of the 
Quinnipiac River Watershed Association, she can often be found guiding 
canoe trips or taking in the beauty of Connecticut's nature trails. She 
also served on the Wallingford Energy Conservation Commission, which 
promoted the energy audit and energy management recommendations now 
implemented by the Town of Wallingford school system. Mary is also a 
member and the legislative liaison for the Coalition for a Better 
Wallingford, which seeks to reduce drug and alcohol abuse.
  During my tenure as the United States Representative from 
Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District, I have had the opportunity 
not only to work with Mary but to build a valued friendship with her as 
well. Mary is an advocate, mentor, teacher, and steward like no other--
spending countless hours educating, training, and inspiring the next 
generation of environmental advocates and leaders. I am honored to 
stand today to join her husband, Martin, their two sons, Martin and 
Edward as well as the Wallingford community to extend my deepest 
thanks, sincere appreciation, and heartfelt congratulations to Mary 
Mushinsky as she marks the end of her legislative career. Mary's 
tenacious advocacy will certainly be missed in the halls of 
Connecticut's capitol building as well as by the thousands of people 
and families she served.

                          ____________________