[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21713-21714]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBRANCES OF SAM VOLPENTEST

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise this evening to share the very sad 
news that Sam Volpentest--a name many of us in Congress know well--
passed away last night at the age of 101.
  Here in our Nation's Capital, Sam was a near constant fixture--always 
searching for new ways to help his beloved community of the Tri-Cities 
to move forward.
  To fully appreciate Sam's contributions, you have to understand 
something about the geography and history of my State. The Tri-Cities--
which are Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick--are located on the Columbia 
River in the southeastern region of Washington State.
  From the Hanford nuclear facility, to the pristine beauty of the last 
free-flowing stretch of the Columbia River, to the many varied 
agricultural and business challenges, the Tri-Cities are diverse and 
very unique.
  Located across the Cascade Mountains from Seattle and other 
population centers, it could be pretty easy for these three communities 
to have their needs overlooked.
  Well, Sam made sure that never happened.
  Whenever something important was happening in the Tri-Cities, I could 
always count on Sam to show up in my Senate office to share it with me, 
even if I didn't know he was coming.
  I vividly remember many years ago when the chair of the Energy 
Committee cut funding for the construction of HAMMER. HAMMER is a 
world-class training facility located in Richland, WA.
  Well, I like to think I am always on top of the issues affecting my 
home State, but Sam kept me on my toes. I showed up at my office one 
morning at about 7:30 a.m. Guess who was already there, standing there, 
waiting for me outside my door. Sam Volpentest.
  Although Sam may have only had about an inch or two on me, that man's

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passion could move mountains. And on that day, his passion was for 
building HAMMER.
  Well, I didn't want to mess with Sam, so I marched right into that 
Energy Committee chairman's office, and I fought side by side with Sam 
to restore those cuts. And we won.
  I was proud to stand with Sam at the HAMMER groundbreaking ceremony 
in July of 1995. Sam was 91 years young at that time. I still have that 
shovel on display in my office as a reminder of what we can all do if 
we have passion and heart, and if we work together.
  Just look at HAMMER today. It is a first-rate facility that keeps 
Hanford workers safe.
  HAMMER has created jobs. It has created economic opportunities and 
development, and it has the potential now to be a Homeland Security 
training center for first responders across the country.
  Our entire country owes Sam a debt of gratitude for all he has done 
for so many people.
  During my years in the Senate, I have worked with a lot of people. 
But no one--no one--has come close to matching Sam's energy, his 
commitment, and his success.
  Sam has been a role model to me and to all of us who want to spend 
our lives giving something back to the communities we care about most. 
I thank him for helping me be a better representative for all the 
people of my home State.
  Sam was a one-person Chamber of Commerce. He was a visitor's center 
and he was a cheerleading squad all wrapped into one. Sam Volpentest 
was the heart and soul of the Tri-Cities. He was one of a kind. Sam 
will be dearly missed, but he will not be forgotten.

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