Recognizing Public Service Employees in Oregon

Floor Speech

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Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, as the second week of May is Public Service Recognition Week, I wish to recognize the honorable public employees who work tirelessly to provide outstanding service to Oregonians. These men and women, who serve our Nation as Federal, State, Tribal, county, and local government employees work hard to support Oregonians and make our State and our country a great place to live. I would like to acknowledge the important work that public servants do, and I will give just a few examples to illustrate how valuable public service work is.

The Oregon Farm Service Agency is dedicated to helping local Oregon farmers with assistance when they face financial risk or a natural disaster, as well as providing funding for conservation programs. Thanks to the efforts of employees at the Oregon Farm Service Agency, countless farmers and their families have been able to sustain their livelihoods through hard times. Oregonians are fortunate to have such committed public servants in the Oregon Farm Service Agency.

I would also like to honor the many public service employees that work at the Oregon Social Security offices. Their professionalism and courtesy in serving Oregonians is commendable. Without this work, numerous families could miss out on vital benefits. My staff and I also appreciate these offices' assistance in answering our inquiries on behalf of constituents. The replies we receive have helped me help hundreds of people across Oregon.

Turning to another Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--NOAA--Office for Coastal Management is making a difference in Oregon in countless ways. For example, NOAA's program on Oregon coastal and estuarine land conservation is vital for the preservation of Oregon's famous beaches. NOAA also helps with research on environmental challenges that Oregon communities might soon face and has partnerships with Oregon's Confederated Tribes to create opportunities for environmental education.

Public employees at the NOAA Fisheries office in Oregon also work tirelessly to ensure the conservation of fishery resources, eliminate overfishing, and maintain healthy commercial and recreational fisheries. For Oregon, the NOAA Fisheries office is vital to keeping ecosystems like the Willamette River healthy.

To give one more example, for over 100 years, public employees have worked for the National Park Service in order to maintain national parks, like the beautiful Crater Lake in Oregon, and to preserve local history and celebrate local heritage. National Park Service employees also work to provide funding for conservation projects throughout Oregon, making sure that Oregonians and people from all over the country are able to enjoy our State's natural beauty.

It is an honor during Public Service Recognition Week to recognize the wonderful public employees that work day in and day out to help Oregonians. Again, I thank public service employees for their dedication and their service.

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