[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          KUDOS FOR THE STAFF

                                 ______


                          HON. WILLIAM D. FORD

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Mr. FORD of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a few minutes to 
talk about some of the people who have helped my predecessors and me 
enact important education and labor legislation over the past couple of 
decades.
  As you and all of our colleagues know, Mr. Speaker, I will be 
retiring from the House at the end of this session. And as you also 
know, it is the 435 Members of this body who come before the cameras 
every day we are session, who get their names in the paper, who get the 
glory of serving our fellow citizens in this great institution. But 
behind us are a group of hard-working, intelligent, dedicated and loyal 
people who do the work of drafting legislation, putting together 
hearings, writing reports, and making sure that the trains run on time.
  In my three decades in the House, I have been blessed to have a great 
number of people working for me to execute the work we were sent here 
to do. And as I leave the chair of the Committee on Education and 
Labor, there are five long-time employees who will be leaving with me. 
All have worked either for me or for the committee, or for other 
Members of Congress, for at least 20 years.
  Barbara Morrison joined the committee staff in 1974 as an executive 
assistant for our friend, Carl Perkins. Over the last two decades, she 
has been an administrative assistant and specialist working in a 
variety of areas, including labor, budget, employment and training, 
human resources, and child care.
  A native of Nashville and a graduate of the University of Tennessee, 
Barbara moved to Washington in 1961, working downtown as a legal 
secretary for 13 years before bringing her experience to the House. 
Over my 4 years as chairman, Barbara has helped us pass legislation 
such as the striker replacement bill, pension reform, and the National 
Service Program.
  Lelia Beall first began working for the committee in 1963 and 1964 as 
a summer intern. Known affectionately as Peanuts, she returned the 
following summer, stepping in as clerk for the Subcommittee on Labor. 
She returned to school at George Washington University that fall, but 
in January 1965, she was asked to come back full time as subcommittee 
clerk. She did, and continued attending George Washington at night 
until she received her degree in 1970.
  Along the way, Peanuts has been a key legislative assistant for the 
full committee, ensuring that our work is carried out in a timely 
fashion and providing institutional memory for the top-level staff who 
have come and gone for the past 28 years. Her shoes cannot be filled 
for a long time.
  Toni Painter came to work as a part-time secretary to the staff 
director of the Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education, 
Jack Jennings, in 1971, and still got home in time to greet her three 
children returning from elementary school. Over the following 5 years, 
Toni's hours increased along with Jack's needs. Toni was one of the 
people who helped us pass this last committee bill of the year, H.R. 6, 
the Improving America's Schools Act.
  Jack Jennings also is leaving. Jack had tried to leave 2 years ago, 
but agreed to stay on to help Dale Kildee and me pass H.R. 6. Jack has 
been writing education legislation since 1967, when our colleague Roman 
Pucinski called Jack right out of law school to leave Chicago and come 
run the Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education. He has 
become the most knowledgeable person in this country about federal aid 
to public education.
  A trade newspaper, Education Week, published a profile of Jack in 
September. It quoted someone as saying, ``There probably isn't an 
important education issue on which Jack hasn't been a key player. He is 
the one person who really ties the creation of these programs to 
today's intellectual and political reality.'' I have to agree.
  Few people are replaceable around here, but as I look at the 
committee and around Washington, I don't see anyone who comes close to 
matching Jack in qualifications or dedication to the interests of 
public education. Personally, I'm pleased I won't have to try to serve 
without his assistance.
  For 11 years, until last year, Janice McDonald was my executive 
assistant. Janice ran my office, administered my personal affairs, 
arranged my schedule, and read my mind. About a year ago she moved over 
to the Committee to become its chief administrative officer. She 
continued to read my mind.
  Janice has been on Capitol Hill since 1969, when she left Michigan to 
work for our beloved friend Phil Hart. That was where I met her. When 
our colleague Joseph Fisher was elected to the House in 1974, Janice 
became his executive assistant, remaining until he left 6 years later. 
After a couple of years in the private sector, Janice joined my 
personal office in 1983. And with my departure, she, too, is taking her 
leave of public service.
  Janice tells me that she has loved every moment of her life on the 
Hill--well, I know that can't be true. But she also says she knows 
enough to write a book, so I'm trying to be careful.
  Mr. Speaker, these five people have between them 123 years of public 
service. Their efforts have made a direct difference to the lives of 
millions of Americans. The Education and Labor Committee is the 
``people committee.'' Its work helps people to acquire the skills they 
need to become contributing members of society, gives them legal 
protection from injury on the job, and secures their pensions. It has 
been my privilege to know these five people, and I wish them the best 
as they pursue their respective endeavors when they leave the Capitol 
at the end of this year.

                          ____________________