[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 103 (Monday, August 1, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 1, 1994]


 
                      TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH A. FISHER

                                 ______


                           HON. JOHN T. MYERS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 1, 1994

  Mr. MYERS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, it is with mixed emotions of 
praise and regret that I announce the impending retirement of my 
experienced and dedicated staff director on the House Post Office and 
Civil Service Committee, Joe Fisher. Joe is one of the rare individuals 
who has shown dedication and commitment to public service. Joe first 
came to the Hill back in 1969 as press secretary to the former Senator 
Ralph Smith of Illinois. He then moved over to the newly formed Postal 
Rate Commission and served as the secretary to the Commission. Joe 
returned to Capitol Hill and served as staff director on the House Post 
Office and Civil Service Committee for former Representative Edward 
Derwinski of Illinois. He retained this post through three successive 
ranking minority members including former Representative Gene Taylor of 
Missouri, Representative Ben Gilman of New York, and myself.
  Joe has demonstrated a keen political savvy while adroitly working 
with Members on both sides of the aisle. He oversaw legislation 
reforming the Civil Service, the Federal Employees Retirement System, 
the Postal Service, and Government ethics. Anyone with even a passing 
interest in committee issues agrees that Joe is universally recognized 
as an expert in civil service and postal issues. Staff members sharing 
his dedication to public service are hard to find these days and his 
abilities and institutional memory will prove irreplaceable.
  Before coming to Capitol Hill, Joe served as a member of the fourth 
estate and worked as a reporter and editor for several Illinois daily 
newspapers. He first worked as a reporter the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. 
He later served as the State capitol reporter for the Rockford 
Register-Republic. Joe was later promoted to chief political editor for 
the Rockford Morning-Herald and Register-Republic. Joe is a Chicago 
native and received both his bachelors and masters degrees from 
Northwestern University.
  I know I speak for all the members and staff of the Post Office and 
Civil Service Committee when I extend my best wishes to Joe and his 
wife Eleanor, his five daughters, and grandchildren for a happy, 
healthy, and fulfilling retirement.

                          ____________________