[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 4, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        A TRIBUTE TO PAT RISSLER

                                 ______


                        HON. NICK J. RAHALL, II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 4, 1994

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the 103d Congress, the House 
of Representatives will lose one of its finest and most respected 
staffers, Pat Rissler, who is retiring from her position as staff 
director of the Committee on Education and Labor. Her departure will be 
sorely missed by all Members who have had dealings with that committee.
  Pat Rissler is a credit to herself, this institution, and to the 
State of West Virginia. She was born and raised in Charles Town, WV, 
and her first memory of the Nation's Capital was a visit here with her 
father in 1953 when she was 9 years old to see the late Representative 
Harley Staggers, Sr. Pat is a self-made woman, starting her career 
working for the security department of the Charles Town Race Track. She 
then earned a scholarship to attend business school at the Monroe 
College of Business in Winchester, VA. Armed with the secretarial 
skills learned there, she moved to Washington, DC in 1963.
  During her 31 years in Congress, Pat worked for Senator Pat McNamara, 
Senator Phil Hart, and for the last 21 years, for Representative Bill 
Ford. During the last 4 years, she served as staff director of the 
Committee on Education and Labor. Prior to that, she was the staff 
director of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.
  Mr. Speaker, I mentioned that Pat will be missed by all of us who 
have a concern with legislation involving education and labor issues. 
Indeed, as a chief proponent of legislation to provide just 
compensation to coal miners who suffer from the crippling effects of 
black lung disease, I have found Pat's counsel and guidance to be 
invaluable.
  In fact, I well remember the committee markup on the black lung bill 
earlier this year. While not a member of the Committee on Education and 
Labor, I attended the markup session in order to lend whatever 
assistance I could to Chairman Bill Ford. Indeed, Pat Rissler was not 
shy at all in putting me to work. I soon found myself, at her 
direction, in the committee's offices making phone calls to Member's 
offices in order to urge them to appear at the committee session for 
the purposes of achieving a quorum so that the bill could be reported 
to the House.
  At the end of this Congress, Pat will retire from her staff position 
and may enter the private sector for the first time since her days 
working for the Charles Town Race Track. She brought to the House of 
Representatives the type of strong work ethic, honesty, and integrity 
that is so typical of West Virginians. I wish her continued success and 
the best of wishes for whatever new occupation she takes on.
  Thank you, Pat.

                          ____________________