Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Oso landslide. On that tragic day, 43 people lost their lives when an entire hillside collapsed, smothering the town and burying it in mud. Washington State was forever changed. Among the victims were veterans, a nurse, and even elementary school students. They were parents, grandparents, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and children, all beloved members of their tight-knit community along State Route 530, and we remember them today. As we mark 10 years since this tragedy--and it feels as if it was yesterday--I would like to extend my condolences to the friends and family members of those victims. While we can't change the past, we can honor those who passed away by working toward a safer future. As the Representative of this community, I have worked to increase funding for emergency communications and services and supported the National Landslide Preparedness Act, all of which help ensure that we understand what conditions make such a landslide more likely and are ready if such a disaster strikes again. People of Oso and the surrounding communities along SR 530 are in my heart today. ____________________”