Harry Reid: “last summer, I came to the Senate floor to say a few words about the untimely death of a great wilderness advocate and…”

“last summer, I came to the Senate floor to say a few words about the untimely death of a great wilderness advocate and friend named Sally Kabisch. I spoke then of how one person can and does make a difference. It is with a heavy heart that I return today to honor another great Nevadan who died too young and in tragic fashion. Pam White hailed from Wyoming, she spent time in California, but settled in Ely--in eastern Nevada--and became a great Nevadan. Just last Thursday, Pam joined me and Senator Ensign for breakfast here in the Capitol. She had traveled to advocate for wilderness in White Pine County, the place she called home. Pam's enthusiasm and conviction were infectious. She worked doggedly to build support for wilderness in rural Nevada. She served on local committees and advisory groups because she cared about the management and protection of our public lands. She deserves credit for depoliticizing the wilderness debate in eastern Nevada. She also deserves credit for supporting economic development in her adopted home town of Ely. What I also appreciated about Pam was that she knew the importance of adoption. She adopted Nevada as her State, Ely as her home, and a young boy named Connor as her son. Connor White has been dealt some tough cards in his life. His birth parents had serious drug problems and he ended up in foster care. Pam White became his advocate, his protector, and his mother. It takes a special person to care for a special needs child.…”