Congressman Earl Blumenauer Selected as Commencement Speaker
May 01, 2012
At the 2012 Commencement ceremony, PNCA will be proud to graduate over 100 undergraduate and 25 graduate students from nine undergraduate and two graduate programs. The 2012 Commencement Address will be delivered by Congressman Earl Blumenauer.
About Earl Blumenauer
A lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) has devoted his career to public service.
While still a student at Lewis & Clark College, Blumenauer spearheaded the effort to lower the voting age both in Oregon and at the national level. He was elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1972, where he served three terms and chaired the House Education and Revenue Committee in 1977-78.
He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996, creating a unique role as Congress’ chief spokesperson for Livable Communities: places where people are safe, healthy, and economically secure.
A leading environmental advocate both in Oregon and in Congress, Congressman Blumenauer has authored and co-sponsored legislation to preserve and protect public lands, shift the nation’s energy policy towards renewable energy and energy efficiency, curb global warming, and clean our nation’s water bodies. He has worked on specific bills such as The Little Sandy Protection Act (2001), which enhances and protects the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit, the source of drinking water for the Portland metropolitan area.