[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 150 (Thursday, December 7, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2148]]
          IN RECOGNITION OF GERMAINE ORVILLE ``JERRY'' KOOIMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PETER HOEKSTRA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2000

  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize the work of one of my staffers in Michigan, Germaine Orville 
``Jerry'' Kooiman, who is leaving my office after eight solid years of 
service.
  Jerry has been a member of my staff since I first joined Congress in 
1993, working as my Director of Constituent Services for nearly all of 
that time. Jerry is the person in my district offices who made sure the 
trains ran on time and made sure that the constituents of Michigan's 
Second Congressional District were being served.
  Since 1995, Jerry has juggled this job with the task of being a Kent 
County Commissioner, ably representing the county's 16th District in 
his hometown of Grand Rapids. During his tenure on the county Board, 
Jerry has served as Chairman of the Kent County Board of Public Works 
and Vice Chairman of the county's Legislative and Human Resources 
Committee.
  A native of Waupun, Wisconsin, Jerry's adult life has been dedicated 
to public service. After graduating from Calvin College with a 
Bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1984, Jerry initially worked 
as a campaign worker then as a district staff assistant to Congressman 
Paul Henry through 1992 before joining my office. In all, Jerry has 
been a conscientious Congressional staffer for 16 years.
  However, our loss is Michigan's gain. In January, Jerry will embark 
on the next phase of his life as an elected state legislator, 
representing the 75th District in Michigan's House of Representatives. 
I have no doubt that he will take the many skills that he has developed 
over the past two decades and use them to serve his constituents and 
the entire state of Michigan with the highest standards.
  Thank you, Jerry, for all your hard work and good advice. I wish you 
the best success as you move on to the state Capitol in Lansing.

                          ____________________