January 8, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E51 

THANKING LONG-TIME STAFFER 

DAVID RANSOM FOR HIS SERVICE AND CONGRATULATING HIM 

ON HIS MOVE TO A MAJOR LAW 

FIRM 

HON. STENY H. HOYER OF MARYLAND

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, today, I want 

to thank one of my former staffers, David Ransom, who recently left the Majority Leader’s 

Office to join one of our Nation’s premier law 

firms, for his 9 years of service as my principal 

speechwriter, as a key member of my communications team, and as a senior advisor who 

always offered strong recommendations based 

on solid reasoning. 

There are few people who have served on 

my staff who know my position on issues better than David does. 

At a going-away luncheon for David, I told 

the assembled staff that I needed them to step 

up as David had, and to give me their best advice and counsel—even if that meant that on 

occasion they might be disagreeing with me or 

other staff. As a good lawyer, David clearly 

appreciates the importance of making a compelling argument. But he also recognizes the 

necessity of anticipating and considering opposing points of view and policy positions. 

This approach not only has made David a 

valued member of my staff, but also has enabled me to better serve my constituents in 

Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District, this 

great institution and our Nation. 

During his more than 9 years on my staff, 

David demonstrated that he is a team player 

and problem solver who has exceptional analytical, writing, and communication skills. Over 

that period, he drafted everything from short 

statements, to countless Floor statements, to 

major speeches, to substantive policy documents, to advocacy materials for members of 

the Democratic Caucus. 

While I am certainly sad to lose a trusted, 

valued member of my staff, I am very pleased 

that David has joined such a great law firm— 

McDermott Will & Emery, one of the top law 

firms in America. There’s no question that his 

insight into the congressional leadership and 

the Members who serve here will be of great 

value to McDermott Will & Emery’s clients. 

I wish David and his family—his wife, Lori, 

and two children—all the best in the future, 

and again thank him for his efforts on my behalf. 

f 

HONORING THE DISTINGUISHED 

SERVICE OF THE HONORABLE 

ALAN AUTRY 

HON. JIM COSTA OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today 

along with my distinguished colleagues from 

California, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. NUNES, and 

Mr. CARDOZA to pay special tribute to Mr. Alan 

Autry for 8 years of distinguished public service to the city of Fresno, CA. Mr. Autry has 

completed the maximum numbers of years of 

service allowable by city charter as the mayor 

of the city of Fresno. He is to be honored at 

a Roast and Recognition reception on Thursday, December 18, 2008. 

During his two terms, Alan has remained 

strongly committed to fulfilling the mission of 

Fresno, as a ‘‘united city working together to 

ensure equal access to opportunity, education 

and quality of life for every man, women, and 

child, regardless of their race, religion, age, or 

socio-economic status.’’ Mayor Autry’s efforts 

have focused on crime reduction, educational 

reform, economic development, availability of 

affordable housing, addressing homelessness, 

raising awareness on the water issues of our 

Central Valley and on government reform. 

Throughout his notable career, Alan has 

served on numerous commissions and boards 

at the local, State and Federal levels. He has 

been a part of the Advisory Council on Historic 

Preservation, the U.S. Conference of Mayors 

Advisory Board, the U.S. Conference of Mayors Education Standing Committee, the U.S. 

Conference of Mayors Arts and Entertainment 

Standing Committee, the U.S. Department of 

Commerce’s Strengthening America’s Communities Secretarial Advisory Committee, the 

League of California Cities Board of Directors, 

the California Partnership Board, the League 

of California Cities Housing Task Force, the 

Fresno County Transportation Authority Board 

and the Fresno County Council of Government 

Board. Mayor Autry was a founding board 

member of the Operation Clean Air Board and 

the Regional Jobs Initiative Board. 

His service and work have been acknowledged through countless awards and honors, 

not the least of which is his recognition as one 

of the most effective advocates ever in terms 

of garnering a fair share of State and Federal 

resources for the Central Valley. 

Madam Speaker, it goes without saying that 

throughout his career, Alan Autry has proven 

to be a highly motivated leader, striving for excellence in public service, keeping his city safe 

and making it the best city possible for all the 

residents of Fresno. As he gets ready to 

spend more time on other endeavors, we 

thank him for his service and wish him continued success and fulfillment in the future. 


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