Political Quotes

“Earlier this week, the Pacific Northwest-- and America--lost a true legend. Billy Frank, Jr., the chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, made his mark on so many people and so many issues. His legacy on civil rights issues, on ensuring America lives up to its tribal treaty obligations and protecting our natural resources, has touched generations past and present. When Billy spoke, you listened. We saw that firsthand just 2 weeks ago, when he commanded a room at a tribal summit in my district that included tribal leaders, Federal officials, and the Secretary of the Interior. After a recent meeting with Billy, I was walking to my car with a member of my staff. Midway there, I said, Hold on for a second. He asked me what was up. I said, Can we just take a minute and appreciate the fact that we got to spend a few hours with an absolute icon. I will treasure those hours, the entire time I spent with Billy, and the extraordinary work that he did for our region. There is a Native American proverb that says we should make decisions with an eye toward how they will affect our children seven generations into the future. Billy Frank was the embodiment of that ethos. He will be missed. ____________________”