Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-07-23

CELEBRATING KATHIE EASTMAN TELL'S RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

Infrastructure

Context

On 2026-07-23, Representative Maxine Dexter (D-OR-3) delivered a floor speech titled "CELEBRATING KATHIE EASTMAN TELL'S RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE" in the House.

Full Text

CELEBRATING KATHIE EASTMAN TELL'S RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 121 (Thursday, July 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 121 (Thursday, July 23, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E734] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING KATHIE EASTMAN TELL'S RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE ______ HON. MAXINE DEXTER of oregon in the house of representatives Thursday, July 23, 2026 Ms. DEXTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Kathie Eastman Tell, who is retiring after a cumulative twenty years of service in the United States House of Representatives. Her public service stretched from the sandy beaches of Hawaii's 1st Congressional District to the rugged coast of Oregon's 4th Congressional District, to the vibrant urban core of Portland in Oregon's 3rd Congressional District. Always strategic, efficient, and effective, Kathie served in almost every role of a House office operation, in both the D.C. and district offices. The handful of positions she never occupied were by her choice--much to the quiet dismay of offices that would have trusted her with all of them. In 1993, she began as a Legislative Correspondent for Representative Neil Abercrombie. She then joined Representative Peter DeFazio in 1998 as a Senior Legislative Assistant, where she was especially active on issues related to transportation and infrastructure investments--a dedication that carried her onward as DeFazio's Legislative Director, and later his District Director. That same commitment to keeping our communities moving continued in Representative Earl Blumenauer's office, where she served as Press Secretary until 2006. Kathie then prioritized raising her two young children, McKenzie and Ben, in Portland, Oregon, with her spouse Jason Tell. Never far from the Oregon delegation and public policy, she took on part-time roles and projects during this time. She returned to Blumenauer's office in 2019, as a favorite Caseworker among constituents and prized Scheduler to the Member. Oregon was lucky to have DeFazio and Blumenauer invested in transportation and infrastructure. They were luckier to have Kathie embrace this legislative portfolio. Most recently, in the office of Representative Maxine Dexter, Kathie efficiently helped build a brand- new district office from the ground up as the Operations Director. Much can be said about Kathie's intellect and work ethic, but not enough can be said about her infectious sense of humor. One colleague recounted that while he learned many things from Kathie, most of them should not go in the Congressional Record. A child of Berkeley, California, who dedicated her career to the people of Hawaii and Oregon, it is fitting Kathie will retire to Southwest Washington, claiming her final Pacific Rim state, in a life spent leaving every person and place she touched wiser, with a bit more grit, and better than she found them. ____________________

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CELEBRATING KATHIE EASTMAN TELL'S RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 121 (Thursday, July 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 121 (Thursday, July 23, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E734] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING KATHIE EASTMAN TELL'S RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE ______ HON. MAXINE DEXTER of oregon in the house of representatives Thursday, July 23, 2026 Ms. DEXTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Kathie Eastman Tell, who is retiring after a cumulative twenty years of service in the United States House of Representatives. Her public service stretched from the sandy beaches of Hawaii's 1st Congressional District to the rugged coast of Oregon's 4th Congressional District, to the vibrant urban core of Portland in Oregon's 3rd Congressional District. Always strategic, efficient, and effective, Kathie served in almost every role of a House office operation, in both the D.C. and district offices. The handful of positions she never occupied were by her choice--much to the quiet dismay of offices that would have trusted her with all of them. In 1993, she began as a Legislative Correspondent for Representative Neil Abercrombie. She then joined Representative Peter DeFazio in 1998 as a Senior Legislative Assistant, where she was especially active on issues related to transportation and infrastructure investments--a dedication that carried her onward as DeFazio's Legislative Director, and later his District Director. That same commitment to keeping our communities moving continued in Representative Earl Blumenauer's office, where she served as Press Secretary until 2006. Kathie then prioritized raising her two young children, McKenzie and Ben, in Portland, Oregon, with her spouse Jason Tell. Never far from the Oregon delegation and public policy, she took on part-time roles and projects during this time. She returned to Blumenauer's office in 2019, as a favorite Caseworker among constituents and prized Scheduler to the Member. Oregon was lucky to have DeFazio and Blumenauer invested in transportation and infrastructure. They were luckier to have Kathie embrace this legislative portfolio. Most recently, in the office of Representative Maxine Dexter, Kathie efficiently helped build a brand- new district office from the ground up as the Operations Director. Much can be said about Kathie's intellect and work ethic, but not enough can be said about her infectious sense of humor. One colleague recounted that while he learned many things from Kathie, most of them should not go in the Congressional Record. A child of Berkeley, California, who dedicated her career to the people of Hawaii and Oregon, it is fitting Kathie will retire to Southwest Washington, claiming her final Pacific Rim state, in a life spent leaving every person and place she touched wiser, with a bit more grit, and better than she found them. ____________________