Date: 2011-09-20
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate and recognize outstanding employees of the Officers (Clerk of the House. Sergeant at Arms. and Chief Administrative Officer) and the Inspector General of the U.S. House of Representatives who have reached the milestone of 25 years of service to the U.S. House of Representatives. as well as the recipients of the House Employee Excellence Award. The Houses most important asset is its dedicated and exceptional employees. whose work often behind the scenes. is vital in keeping the operations and services of the House running smoothly and efficiently. The employees we recognize today are acknowledged and commended for their hard work. dedication. professionalism. support of House Members and their staffs and constituents. and for their contributions dayin and dayout to the overall operations of the House. These employees have a wide range of responsibilities that support the legislative process. assure the security of the institution. maintain our technology and service infrastructure. and contribute to a more effective and efficiently operating House support structure. They have accomplished a great many things in a wide range of activities. and the House of Representatives and its Members. staff. and the general public. are better served because of them. We honor the individuals named below for 25 years of dedicated service to the House. Collectively. this group has provided two hundred seventyfive (275) years of service to the U.S. House of Representatives: Gretchen Ewers. Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. Kevin Harris. Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. Darius Holmes. Office of the Sergeant at Arms. Thomas E. Mako. Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. Craig D. Pence. Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. Dean Phan. Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. Paul Rossiter. Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. Airlie Shoemaker. Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. David Sparling. Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. Matthew B. Smith. Office of the Clerk. Saundra E. Watkins. Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. We also recognize and congratulate four House employees for receiving the Employee Excellence Award. This is a meritbased award. given to one employee from each House Officer organization. and the Office of Inspector General. Selected employees exhibited outstanding overall job performance and displayed a willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty throughout the last year. We honor the individuals named below for receiving this prestigious award. Traci L. Brasher. Office of the Sergeant at Arms. Faye Cobb. Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. Michele Herzfeld. Office of the Clerk. Gregory M. Roberts. Office of Inspector General. On behalf of the entire House community. I extend congratulations and once again recognize and thank these employees for their professionalism and commitment to the U.S. House of Representatives as a whole. and in particular to their respective House Officers and the Inspector General. Their long hours and hard work are invaluable. and their years of unwavering service. dedication. and commitment to the House set an example for their colleagues and other employees who will follow in their footsteps. I celebrate our honorees. and I am proud to stand before you and the nation on their behalf to recognize the importance of their public service.