[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THANK YOU, CYNDY WILKINSON, FOR YOUR LOYAL SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JACK FIELDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 30, 1996

  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it was with mixed emotions that I 
announced last December 11 my decision to retire from the House at the 
conclusion of my current term. As I explained at the time, the decision 
to retire was made more difficult because of the loyalty and dedication 
of my staff, and because of the genuine friendship I feel for each of 
them. They have served the men and women of Texas' 8th Congressional 
District in an extraordinary way.
  Today, I want to thank one member of my staff--Cyndy Wilkinson, a 
counsel with the House Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee, who 
formerly served as chief minority counsel on the House Merchant Marine 
and Fisheries Committee, on which I was the ranking minority member.
  A native of Galveston, TX, Cyndy is a 1970 graduate of Lamar 
University. She graduated with honors from the Potomac School of Law, 
where she attended classes at night while working on Capitol Hill 
during the day.
  Cyndy has a long and distinguished record of service on Capitol Hill, 
having served on the staffs of U.S Reps, Jack Brooks, D-TX, from 1970 
to 1971, and Mario Biaggi D-NY, from 1971 to 1978 prior to joining the 
staff of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee.
  On the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, Cyndy's knowledge of, 
and advice on, maritime and environmental issues was widely respected 
by Democratic and Republican members of the committee. Indeed, she 
served as a member of the Democratic committee staff in a variety of 
capacities from 1978 to 1993. In 1993, she joined the Republican staff 
as minority chief counsel.
  In her various capacities, she worked to pass the Oil Pollution Act 
of 1990, which greatly enhanced the Nation's ability to prevent and 
respond to oil spills and other threats to our maritime environment. 
She also worked to reform the Endangered Species Act, enhance private 
property rights related to Federal wetlands regulations, and promote 
cruise ship safety. Her breadth of knowledge of maritime and maritime-
related issues, her keen political acumen, and her eagerness to achieve 
consensus on vital issues affecting the maritime industry won her many 
friends in the merchant marine industry, including management and 
labor, and among Coast Guard officials.
  In the 104th Congress, when I assumed the chairmanship of the House 
Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee, I asked Cyndy to become a 
counsel on the House Commerce Committee. In that position she has 
worked on legislation to reform public broadcasting, and reduce its 
reliance on Federal funding. Due to Cyndy's hard work, public 
broadcasters reached an agreement for the first time ever on a 
legislative proposal to make their industry more financially self-
reliant.
  Cyndy is one of those hard-working men and women who make all of us 
in this institution look better than we deserve. I know she has done 
that for me, and I appreciate this opportunity to publicly thank her 
for the dedication, loyalty, and professionalism she has exhibited 
throughout the time I have worked with her.
  Cyndy's future plans after I retire are as yet uncertain, but knowing 
her as well as I do, I am confident that the skills and professionalism 
she has demonstrated in the past will lead to continued success in the 
future.
  Mr. Speaker, I know you join with me in saying thank you to Cyndy 
Wilkinson for her loyal service to me, to the men and women of Texas' 
8th Congressional District, and to this great institution. And I know 
you join with me today in wishing Cyndy a very happy birthday.

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