[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8475-8476]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING THE LIFE OF
                          MRS. VALERIE BENDER

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 9, 2016

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Mrs. Valerie Bender. Mrs. Bender passed away on April 29, 2016, at the 
age of 60 as she valiantly battled breast cancer for seven years. Known 
by all who met her as a selfless individual, Mrs. Bender led a prolific 
career as a reporter and was loved deeply by friends and family.
  Mrs. Bender began her journalism career as a reporter in Florida. 
After having moved to Virginia and working there for a short time, her 
merits earned her the esteemed role of managing editor at the 
Wilmington News Journal. Mrs. Bender went on to work at the Fresno Bee 
where she served for 20 years. While at the Fresno Bee, she held a 
variety of different positions that included serving as Features 
Editor, Assistant Managing Director, Director of Community 
Publications, and Vice President of Custom Publications. In February 
2014 Mrs. Bender was named President and Publisher of the Merced Sun-
Star, a role that was certainly well earned and deserved.
  Among her many activities and passions, Mrs. Bender was an advocate 
for breast cancer awareness and was deeply passionate

[[Page 8476]]

about art. She made it a point to promote mammogram examinations among 
the young women that she met and went on to become part of Sistah's 
Just Surviving, a support group for cancer survivors. Mrs. Bender was 
viewed as a role model by members of the group because of her genuine 
and loving persona. Furthermore, Mrs. Bender was on the board of 
trustees at the Fresno Art Museum and showed constant support for young 
up-and-coming artists in the community. She was able to take her 
passion for art and effortlessly apply it to her career. During her 
time at the Fresno Bee, she became so well known for her ``eye-
popping'' art designs that she was called away by other McClatchy 
newspapers for assistance in making their papers more appealing for up 
to several weeks at a time.
  Throughout her battle with cancer, Mrs. Bender continued to work 
tirelessly and contributed in numerous ways to the Fresno Bee. She was 
known for her kindness and fierce devotion to her friends and family. 
In the wise words of Mrs. Bender, ``Life is precious and while it's 
easy to ask `why me?' the most important thing is still family and 
friends . . . I have a husband and a daughter who love me.''
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the 
House of Representatives to honor the life of Mrs. Valerie Bender. 
Often compared to feminist icon Rosie the Riveter, Mrs. Bender was a 
source of inspiration for all those she touched. She was a loving 
mother, wife, and journalist and everyone around her benefitted greatly 
by having her in their lives.

                          ____________________