January 8, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E43 

round and regardless of which party is in 

power. Specifically, I would like to pay tribute 

to Steve and Sharon Rusnak, a truly unique 

couple who will both be retired within the next 

few months after serving ‘‘behind the scenes’’ 

in the House of Representatives for a truly remarkable combined service of 70 years. 

Most of our colleagues, along with countless 

numbers of our constituents, have been on the 

other side of Steve’s camera lens and have 

benefited from the skill, talent, and quiet dignity that he has brought to his work in the Office of Photography for the past 32 years. 

Steve joined the staff of the House in January 

of 1977 and has been witness to and chronicled the tremendous changes that have occurred within the Congress and the Nation for 

more than three decades. 

After attending Ohio State University, Steve 

began his career as a lab technician and just 

retired from the House as senior photographer, having also served as acting manager 

for the Office of Photography last year. 

Through his skill, hard work, and long hours 

Steve has made an important contribution to 

the archives of the House, providing a visual 

recorded history and account of the House’s 

work for these many years. 

In addition to being on hand to photograph 

the annual State of the Union Address and 

other official events inside and outside of the 

House chamber, Steve has traveled the four 

corners of the world to record on film the work 

of Members of the House. And for so many 

years he has rushed from office to office and 

to the steps of the House chamber, in all kinds 

of weather, to photograph the visits made by 

our constituents and other groups to Washington. 

In addition to the professionalism and ability 

he brings to his job as an official House photographer, his kind manner and ready smile 

have put many people at ease and given them 

a visual reminder of their visit to Capitol Hill 

which for many is a once in a lifetime opportunity. There is no telling how many people 

Steve has photographed and touched in such 

a unique way. Steve worked long hours and 

missed many lunches to do his job and to do 

it so well, and he was supported throughout 

the process by a woman who is no stranger 

to the long hours and unique workplace that 

exists here in the ‘‘people’s House.’’ 

Sharon Rusnak began her service in the 

House in 1967, as a summer intern to the late 

Congressman Carl D. Perkins, D–KY. After 

graduating from Berea College, she worked in 

his official office and went on to serve as executive assistant for him, and after his death, 

for his son Carl C. Perkins until 1993. In addition to maintaining a very full Hill schedule, 

Sharon earned a master’s degree in education 

from George Washington University. 

After serving as office manager to former 

Representative Lynn Schenk, D–CA, Sharon 

joined the staff of former Congressman E 

‘‘Kika’’ de la Garza, D–TX, and served as 

scheduler for the House Committee on Agriculture until Kika’s retirement in 1996. For the 

next 8 years, she served as office manager for 

the committee’s ranking minority member, 

former Congressman Charlie Stenholm, D–TX. 

Sharon is currently serving as chief administrative officer for the Agriculture Committee 

chaired by Congressman Collin C. Peterson, 

D–MN, and will remain in that position for the 

next few months. 

Despite the long hours and hectic schedules, Steve and Sharon Rusnak have enjoyed 

a happy and productive life away from the 

halls of Congress. They married in 1973 and 

raised two daughters, Shelley Brooke and 

Stacey LeeAnn, and took an active hand in 

helping nurture their children’s educational and 

athletic abilities. Steve served as a youth basketball coach, youth soccer coach, and little 

league coach. A soccer player in her own 

right, Sharon also coached youth soccer, 

worked as a referee, and has experience as a 

liturgical dancer. 

Steve and Sharon’s commitment to their 

children is clear. Shelley graduated from 

Christopher Newport University and Stacey 

took her first degree from Virginia Tech, subsequently earning a nursing degree from 

Marymount University in Arlington, VA. 

There is an expression that ‘‘slow and 

steady wins the race.’’ For more than three 

decades the House of Representatives has 

benefited from the tireless service of these 

very capable civil servants. You won’t see 

their names on the election ballot every 2 

years, but the work of this body would be impossible without individuals such as Steve and 

Sharon Rusnak. Their dedication to their jobs, 

their country and their family are an inspiration 

to us all and I would like to thank and commend them for their selfless service to this 

body. And I hasten to wish them a long, 

happy, and healthy retirement. They have certainly earned it. 

f 

VIOLENCE IN ISRAEL AND GAZA 

HON. HARRY E. MITCHELL OF ARIZONA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Mr. MITCHELL. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to address an issue that is very much 

on the minds of my constituents right now— 

the violence in Israel and Gaza. 

This is a difficult time for Israel, and as its 

ally, I believe we must support its right to selfdefense. 

Before I joined Congress, I had the privilege 

of visiting Israel. It was a trip that I will never 

forget. I have always considered myself a 

friend of Israel, but that trip made me realize 

just how much our two nations have in common. 

We all want peace, Madam Speaker, but 

clearly there can be no peace while Hamas 

continues to launch unprovoked rocket attacks 

into Israel. 

We would not let Hamas launch rockets into 

the United States, and I do not know how we 

could expect Israel to permit these attacks either. 

I am deeply saddened by the casualties the 

recent conflict has inflicted, especially the civilian casualties. Each one of these is a tragedy, 

and I sincerely hope that both sides will do everything possible to avoid them. 

I am encouraged by Israel’s decision to temporarily pause its military operations to allow 

delivery of humanitarian aid, and by Hamas’s 

decision to cease rocket launches during 

these deliveries. While only three hours, this is 

an important step forward. I hope that a longer 

lasting peace can be achieved soon. 

CONGRATULATING RIVERHEAD 

BLUE WAVES FOOTBALL TEAM 

HON. TIMOTHY H. BISHOP OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, 

today I rise to recognize the exceptional 

achievements of the Riverhead Blue Waves 

Football Team: 2008 Long Island Class II 

Champions and the first Long Island squad in 

history to compile a record of 12–0. The Blue 

Waves also earned the overall championship 

for Suffolk County and the Rutgers Award as 

the county’s consensus best team. 

As always, Riverhead’s success was built 

on strong teamwork, solid coaching, and the 

contributions of talented individuals. Anchoring 

a potent offense that averaged 35 points per 

game, senior running back Miguel Maysonet 

was voted the top offensive player in Suffolk 

County by opposing coaches. The same group 

recognized one of their own, Riverhead Coach 

Leif Shay, as coach of the year. 

Madam Speaker, the success of 

Riverhead’s football team has brought great 

pride to their school and the community. I am 

pleased to join all residents of Riverhead in 

congratulating the Blue Waves on their accomplishments, and wish the departing seniors the best of luck in their future endeavors. 

f 

IN MEMORY OF PAUL WEYRICH 

HON. JOE WILSON 

OF SOUTH CAROLINA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam 

Speaker, on December 18, Paul Weyrich, one 

of the founders of the modern conservative 

movement, died. He successfully worked to 

evolve conservatism from a status of negativism to a dynamic movement promoting creative and meaningful reforms. I personally saw 

his success firsthand with the American Legislative Exchange Council developing State legislative reforms. And with Dr. Robert Krieble, I 

served on the delegation in August 1991 of 

the Krieble Institute to Sofia, Bulgaria, where 

Paul Weyrich gave presentations to the newly 

elected democrats of the National Assembly 

who helped Bulgaria emerge from the darkness of totalitarian Communism. Bulgaria 

today is a model free market democracy as a 

valued member of NATO and the European 

Union. His service to our nation will always be 

appreciated. 

John Gizzi, columnist for Human Events 

professionally penned the following thoughtful 

tribute to Mr. Weyrich on the day of his passing. 

[From Human Events, Dec. 18, 2008] 

PAUL WEYRICH: RIP 

(By John Gizzi) 

Paul Weyrich—‘‘The midwife of the New 

Right’’. . . ‘‘Pope Paul’’. . . ‘‘The Man Who 

Taught Conservatives to Network’’—passed 

away this morning after a long illness. 

Weyrich was called a lot of things—and 

some of them that originated on the left are 

unprintable—but one thing admirers and enemies of Paul Weyrich found inarguable: 

that in 66 years of life, the man who 


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