job is "public service and not a career." Tenure in U.S. House of Representatives In 1996, Furse and Congressman George Nethercutt (R-WA) co-founded the Congressional Diabetes Caucus and authored legislation which passed in 1997 to improve coverage of diabetes education and supplies in the Medicare program. The Congressional Diabetes Caucus has since grown to be the largest health-related Caucus in Congress. She also was a key player in getting funding to extend the TriMet Westside MAX Light Rail project from its originally planned terminus on the Beaverton/Hillsboro border to downtown Hillsboro. TriMet subsequently named the plaza at Sunset Transit Center after her. Other activities Furse and her partner John C. Platt owned Helvetia Vineyards and Winery in Helvetia, Oregon, where the couple planted grapes in 1982, and started their winery in 1992. As of 2007 the vineyard is home to both pinot noir and chardonnay grapes. After retiring from Congress in 1999, she served as director of the Institute for Tribal Government at Portland State University. She also spearheaded the associated educational program, "Great Tribal Leaders of Modern Times" video interviews Her continued involvement in Native American affairs also brought her some attention during U.S. Senate campaigns for her high-profile endorsements of Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR). In a 2006 interview, Furse said her support in 2002 was because they "had a lot in common on tribal issues" and cited Smith's repeated votes against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, votes that defied pressure from Smith's fellow Republicans including Senator Stephens [sic]; she believed "you support those people who have stood up for issues that you care about" and that Smith is a "very moral person [who] if he doesn’t agree with you, he’ll tell you" something that Furse admired. Her continued support during the 2008 campaign included praise for Smith as "one of the first to stand up to George Bush and other Republicans to end this war". In 2014, Furse stood for election to the Washington County Board of Commissioners in District 4, but lost the race to incumbent Commissioner Bob Terry (46.57%–53.10%). She ran with the endorsements of Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and former Governors Barbara Roberts and Ted Kulongoski. Furse was a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One. Death Furse died on April 18, 2021, at age 84, at her farm near Hillsboro, of complications from a fall. See also Women in the United States