[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 124 (Wednesday, July 29, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4332-S4333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO RICH BRIERRE

 Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 
retirement announcement of Rich Brierre as the executive director of 
the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG) in Tulsa, OK. Under 
his leadership, the Tulsa region has experienced significant change and 
growth that will benefit generations to come. The transportation, 
housing, and economic development projects that have come to fruition 
over the past two decades can often be directly or indirectly 
attributed to Rich.
  Originally from St. Louis, MO, Rich attended college at the 
University of Tulsa, graduating in 1973. Upon graduation, Rich started 
as a housing planner at INCOG, and what began as an entry-level 
planning position evolved into a remarkable career spanning housing, 
community development, transportation, environmental planning, and 
regional governance. Rich has worked at INCOG his entire professional 
career and has shared his passion for transportation, housing, and 
community development across Green Country.
  In his more than 50 years working at INCOG, Rich has worked on 
countless projects that have improved communities and quality of life 
for all those living in the Tulsa region. Whether it was Vision 2025, 
construction of the Gilcrease Expressway, initiating the Tulsa/West 
Tulsa Levee project, establishing a new interstate, or creating a new 
county bridge program, Rich was there in the background ensuring that 
these major initiatives were pushed forward and completed.

[[Page S4333]]

  Rich was appointed Executive Director of INCOG in January 2008, 
replacing long-time director Jerry Lasker. Rich assumed leadership of 
the region's principal planning organization, serving approximately 50 
local governments across the five-county Tulsa metropolitan area. Under 
his leadership, INCOG continued to expand its role as a regional 
convener, providing expertise in transportation planning, environmental 
programs, community development, aging services, land-use coordination, 
economic development, and public infrastructure planning.
  Rich's leadership was anchored in the unwavering belief that the best 
way forward was always when communities work together across 
jurisdictional boundaries. This belief was perfectly captured through 
his contributions in the planning and coordination of Vision 2025, an 
$885 million public investment initiative that the voters of Tulsa 
County approved in 2003. The initiative involved substantial 
coordination among local governments, businesses, and citizens that 
ultimately brought investments in economic development, education, 
recreation, and transportation.
  One cannot recognize Rich without highlighting his passion for 
transportation projects and initiatives. Throughout his tenure, he has 
championed projects designed to enhance mobility, support economic 
growth, and improve connectivity in northeastern Oklahoma. Among the 
major infrastructure initiatives associated with his leadership are 
planning and development efforts related to the Gilcrease Expressway, 
Creek Turnpike, and the region's expanding trail network. He was able 
to utilize innovative financing programs to help fund the construction 
of the Gilcrease Expressway with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and 
Oklahoma Department of Transportation. His work helped advance the 
concept that transportation infrastructure should not only move people 
efficiently but also improve quality of life, create economic 
opportunities, and strengthen community connections.
  During his tenure as Executive Director, Rich became a skilled 
advocate for securing Federal and State funding for regional 
initiatives. Over the past two decades, INCOG has successfully secured 
more than $80 million in competitive Federal grant funding. Rich was 
also able to successfully advocate and secure State funding for 
projects such as the Tulsa/West Tulsa Levee project, the Rural Economic 
Action Plan (REAP) program, and a new program dedicated towards 
structurally deficient bridges. Beyond large infrastructure projects, 
Rich has also consistently emphasized housing, community development, 
and neighborhood revitalization.
  Rich was never the loudest person in the room, and in fact, he 
usually was the quietest. However, over the decades, he became a 
trusted adviser to local elected officials, civic organizations, State 
agencies, and Federal partners, helping communities navigate growth, 
infrastructure investments, and long-range planning challenges. When 
Rich spoke, people would listen because they knew he was a man of 
integrity and that his ideas and knowledge of the issues would be 
respected. He became a subject matter expert on transportation, 
economic development, planning, and State and Federal programs.
  As Rich retires, he leaves behind a legacy that will have a lasting 
impact across northeast Oklahoma. His expertise and institutional 
knowledge acquired from his 53-year career will be sorely missed. If 
you ask him, he has plenty of stories he can share about his former 
neighbor and Senator Jim Inhofe and numerous other Federal, State, and 
local officials that he has had the chance to interact with over his 
career.
  Rich currently resides in Tulsa with his wife Claudia, a fellow 
lifelong INCOG staff member. His daughter Catharine lives and works in 
Tulsa, OK, and his son Will and family live in Fort Collins, CO. He is 
an avid cyclist, a member of First Presbyterian Church, and a lifelong 
St. Louis Cardinals fan. I know that he will enjoy spending even more 
time with his children and family in the years ahead. Rich, thank you 
for your leadership.

                          ____________________