REMEMBERING RYAN WHITEHOUSE

REMEMBERING RYAN WHITEHOUSE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 41 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S798] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING RYAN WHITEHOUSE Ms. DUCKWORTH. Mr. President, I come to the floor to honor and commemorate a man whose service to our State and Nation was extraordinary. Ryan Whitehouse was the director of national legislation for Illinois Farm Bureau and advocated relentlessly for Illinois' farmers and rural communities across the Nation for over 12 years. Ryan unexpectedly passed away late last year. Agriculture is a critical part of Illinois' economy, culture, and identity, and the organizations that represent our farmers on the national stage, like Illinois Farm Bureau, have no easy job. But Ryan made it look easy. He had a way of bringing people together, and I looked forward to every interaction I had with him, not only for my conversations with him, but knowing that he would be introducing me to even more of our State's best-in-the-world farmers. Ryan has touched the lives of so many people, not only in Illinois, but around the country. Ryan was kind, well respected, and a strong leader who gave over a decade of his life to the tireless work of advocating for the best interests of our farmers and donated his free time to fighting against childhood cancer as part of multiple fundraising event boards for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. My staff and I had developed a strong personal and working relationship with him and will greatly miss his guidance and friendship. To Ryan's family and friends, I have no words to ease the pain of this profound loss, but I hope you find some comfort in knowing how deeply admired Ryan was. His absence is strongly felt here on Capitol Hill, all over Illinois, and across the country. Ryan, from Galena to Cairo and Quincy to Danville, your efforts to make people's lives better have made a substantial impact. Illinois and the United States are stronger because of you, and your endlessly kind and caring presence will be dearly missed. ____________________