House Passes Bonamici Bill to Rename Post Office in Honor of Former Rep. Elizabeth Furse

The House passed legislation led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) to redesignate a Hillsboro post office in honor of the late Rep. Elizabeth Furse.

Furse represented Oregon’s First Congressional District for three terms from 1993-1999 and established her legacy as a champion for human rights and social justice. The post office at 125 South 1st Avenue in Hillsboro, located in the district Furse served, will be designated as the Elizabeth Furse Post Office Building.

“Elizabeth was a trailblazer and an inspiration to many, including me,” Bonamici said on the House floor. “She dedicated her life to service, bolstering the lives of people in NW Oregon. I’m privileged to have been able to call her a mentor and a friend. Elizabeth lived many places before she came to Oregon in 1978, but she made our state her home, and she will always be remembered as one of the smart, courageous women who shaped the Oregon of today.

"When she faced adversity, she overcame it and opened doors for others to walk through.

"She pursued a non-traditional career path and she fought tirelessly for justice.

“I am honored to sponsor this legislation to recognize her contributions to NW Oregon by naming this post office – which is close to the home where she spent her final days – in her honor so people will be inspired by her example for years to come,” Bonamici continued. “I know that I will continue to draw inspiration from her legacy and her commitment to justice.”

Video of Bonamici speaking in support of the legislation

Furse was the first woman elected to represent Oregon’s First District and helped secure funding to expand TriMet’s MAX Blue Line into Hillsboro. She was a key figure in the restoration of federal recognition for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. Furse also served as director of the Oregon Peace Institute and founded both the Institute for Tribal Government at Portland State University and nonprofit Clean Water Columbia. She died in 2021 at age 84 at her Hillsboro farm.