[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 624 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 624

  Expressing support for the designation of room G2-24 of the Rayburn 
   House Office Building as the ``Stephen D. Vermillion, III, Room''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 15, 2017

   Mr. Curbelo of Florida (for himself, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Diaz-
Balart, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Soto, 
 Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Sires, Mr. Lowenthal, and Mr. Rodney Davis 
of Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
           the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing support for the designation of room G2-24 of the Rayburn 
   House Office Building as the ``Stephen D. Vermillion, III, Room''.

Whereas congressional staffers play a vital role in assisting Members of 
        Congress to perform their duties;
Whereas Stephen D. Vermillion, III, served in a variety of roles in the United 
        States House of Representatives for 17 years, as Communications Director 
        for the Republican Study Committee from 1986-1987, Foreign Affairs and 
        National Security Legislative Assistant for Representative James 
        Sensenbrenner from 1987-1989, Chief of Staff to Representative Lincoln 
        Diaz-Balart from 1993-2004, and Chief of Staff to Representative David 
        Rivera from 2011-2012;
Whereas Stephen Vermillion was involved in formulating, drafting, and amending 
        various pieces of legislation that were passed into law which promoted 
        human rights, broke down barriers for American goods in foreign markets, 
        and helped advance United States national interests;
Whereas Stephen Vermillion graduated with honors from Loyola University in 
        Baltimore, earned his master's degree in International Affairs from the 
        University of Miami (FL) Graduate School of International Relations, and 
        an advanced degree from the United States Naval War College in Newport, 
        Rhode Island;
Whereas, when he received the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute's 
        Staff Appreciation Award in 2012, Steve Vermillion said, ``if you don't 
        get obsessed with getting credit for something, there's no limit to what 
        you can accomplish'', demonstrating great humility and the sometimes 
        under-appreciated ``behind the scenes'' work of all congressional 
        staffers;
Whereas the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute's Staff Appreciation 
        Award has since been renamed ``The Stephen D. Vermillion, III Staff 
        Appreciation Award'' in his honor;
Whereas Stephen Vermillion was a Senior Fellow of the Stennis Center;
Whereas Stephen Vermillion was an avid athlete and rower, earning 13 National 
        Championships from the United States Rowing Association, Founding Member 
        of the Capital Rowing Club, and Senior Member of the Potomac Boat Club;
Whereas Stephen Vermillion was instrumental in the establishment of the House 
        Staff Fitness Center, the congressional staff gym located in room G2-24 
        of the Rayburn House Office Building;
Whereas Stephen Vermillion was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML-5) on 
        November 15, 2008;
Whereas Stephen Vermillion dutifully continued his congressional service until 
        he was forced to take a medical leave of absence over the summer of 
        2012;
Whereas Stephen Vermillion passed away on November 15, 2012, at the age of 52;
Whereas, in 2016, Stephen Vermillion's teen-aged son, Joe Vermillion, organized 
        and led a campaign in honor of his father that raised $115,000 for the 
        Leukemia and Lymphoma Society;
Whereas Stephen Vermillion has been widely recognized by his peers as a man of 
        great ability, deep integrity, dignity, and commitment to the most 
        admirable human principles; and
Whereas Stephen Vermillion deeply loved the United States of America and the 
        institution of the House of Representatives: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the 
designation of room G2-24 of the Rayburn House Office Building as the 
``Stephen D. Vermillion, III, Room''.
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