HONORING THE LIFE OF AVEL GORDLY

HONORING THE LIFE OF AVEL GORDLY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 48 (Tuesday, March 17, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 17, 2026)] [House] [Page H2548] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE OF AVEL GORDLY (Ms. BYNUM asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a mentor and a true friend, Oregon State Senator Avel Gordly. Senator Gordly, the first Black woman to serve in the chamber, brought a presence that was regal and distinctive. I knew I was standing on the shoulders of a giant because she was not only a mentor to me but a true friend. It was an absolute privilege getting to know her over the last 10 years. Sadly, her tenure as an elected Black Oregonian was so rare that when she came to the chamber of the house floor in the State legislature, many people thought that she was a relative of mine rather than the esteemed public servant that she was. She had dedicated and delivered so much to Oregon. It is because of women like Senator Gordly that I am standing here today. I will miss her phone calls, her inspirational texts, and, most of all, her high expectations of me. Her legacy will continue to inspire generations of women like me to lead, serve, and break barriers. ____________________