Following is Congressman Doc Hastings’ prepared statement announcing to the U.S. House of Representatives the passing of Jennifer Dunn.

Hastings first met Dunn in 1975 as both worked to organize support in Washington state for Ronald Reagan’s challenge to Gerald Ford for the 1976 Republican Presidential nomination. In the following decades, they worked together as Dunn served as Chair of the Washington State Republican Party and then as colleagues in the U.S. House for a decade.

“Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I inform the House of Representatives of the untimely death of our dear friend and former colleague, Jennifer Dunn.

Words cannot express the shock and sorrow that I feel today.

I know that all of you join me in keeping her family – sons Reagan, Bryant and stepson Angus Thomson, and her loving husband, Keith Thomson – in our thoughts and prayers.

All of us who have served with Jennifer Dunn in the House have known the kindness, wit and political savvy that she embodied. She was vibrant, she loved life and she always had a kind word for everyone.

She was known as a fierce advocate when it came to supporting Republican women for election, both locally in our State of Washington and nationally.

For 32 years, she was my friend, fellow Ronald Reagan activist, my State Party Chairman, and colleague in the House – where she served the Eight District of Washington from 1993 to 2005.

Always positive. Dignity and poise in everything she did. A loving wife and mother, as well as political leader of great skill.

Today, Washington state and our nation has lost a giant – a true leader and stateswoman in every sense of the word.

She will be missed dearly.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to join the delegation from Washington state in observing a moment of silence in honor of our former colleague.”