HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF AVEL GORDLY

HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF AVEL GORDLY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E173] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF AVEL GORDLY ______ HON. MAXINE DEXTER of oregon in the house of representatives Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Ms. DEXTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a dedicated public servant and a beloved leader in Oregon. I rise to honor the life and legacy of a trailblazer, a mentor, and a fierce champion for justice in Oregon, State Senator Avel Gordly. A lifelong Portlander, Senator Gordly made history as the first Black woman elected to the Oregon Senate. For seventeen years in the Oregon Legislature, she served with compassion, intention, and an unshakable commitment to her community. Raised in Northeast Portland, she felt the pull toward justice early in life. At just sixteen years old, she attended a civil rights march protesting the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. She often spoke of that moment as formative--a turning point that deepened her lifelong commitment to social justice and collective liberation. Appointed to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1991, she served three terms before her election to the State Senate in 1996, where she served until 2009. Throughout her tenure, she advanced police accountability, strengthened mental health services, championed environmental justice, and fought for equitable education. She did not simply speak about change, she delivered it for Oregonians across our state. Education was central to her life's work. She established multicultural curriculum requirements in Oregon schools, served as faculty in Black Studies at Portland State University, and coordinated the Black United Front's Saturday School. She understood education as a pathway to dignity, influence, and opportunity. Senator Gordly's deep love and commitment to our community grounded her work. She saw people, and for Oregon's African American community, that led to a level of mentorship, inspiration and empowerment that was deeply impactful. Her legacy lives on, and Oregon is stronger because of her and her service. May we honor Senator Gordly not only with our words, but with action. May we pursue our goals with determination, speak with authenticity, and seize every opportunity to serve our neighbors with selflessness and courage. Her legacy calls us forward. ____________________