[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 19, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          GEORGE BATH HONORED

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2001

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my good 
friend George Bath, a native of my district, who is on his way back to 
his hometown of Edwardsville after a long career here on Capitol Hill. 
A farewell party will be held for George on December 18th.
  After graduating from Wyoming Valley West High School and Wilkes 
College, George moved to the Washington, D.C., area to begin his career 
in the procurement field. While working here, he earned a Masters in 
Business Administration from Frostburg State University in Maryland. 
His strong negotiation skills, coupled with an unyielding commitment to 
quality management and teamwork, have earned him the respect of his 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the Hill.
  George arrived on Capitol Hill in June of 1989, working as a 
Purchasing Agent for the Senate Sergeant At Arms Office in the start-up 
procurement office. During his tenure, he helped to mold an office that 
saved millions of dollars for the taxpayer while also receiving the 
highest quality goods and services.
  In August 1996, George transferred to the House side, where he became 
a Procurement Specialist in the Office of Procurement under the Chief 
Administrative Officer. George possessed exceptional knowledge of 
procurement practices and principles and worked superbly well with 
Member, Leadership and Committee offices and all other House Officers. 
No job was too small or too great for George. Just as he had done on 
the Senate side, he focused on saving taxpayer money, while achieving 
the highest quality product for the offices he served. George's uncanny 
knack for resolving disputes for the offices he served consistently 
resulted in win-win outcomes.
  In 1998, George became a Senior Procurement Specialist because of his 
ability to handle high-stress and high-visibility projects on behalf of 
a very demanding customer base. His accomplishments and talents in this 
position include diligence and attention to the House's unique needs 
for improved vendor performance, using the Internet to post 
procurements, and opening the realm of competition to a wider range of 
vendors. He worked in conjunction with the Committee on House 
Administration in providing House-wide briefings to all House offices, 
and it would be hard to find an office that has not heard the name 
George Bath. After all, he developed a training manual and class and 
then taught House personnel on how to effectively manage contracts.
  In June 2000, George received recognition for his exemplary 
contributions to the organizations of both the Chief Administrative 
Officer and the Architect of the Capitol by earning the Distinguished 
Service Award. George was honored for his management of the procurement 
process supporting a first-of-its-kind project demonstrating the 
ability of these offices to work together to produce a successful 
delivery. As part of this process, George oversaw the installation of a 
state-of-the-art audio-visual system for the International Relations 
Committee hearing room. Perhaps his greatest story involved the 
delivery of a 10-feet-square-by-40-feet-long crate for the hearing room 
through the front door of the Rayburn Building as he was suddenly 
surrounded by police.
  In November 2000, George ultimately became the head of the Office of 
Procurement because of his excellent overall performance. He became a 
known commodity unto himself throughout the House, recognized for his 
ability, responsiveness and candid, reliable advice. Bill Dellar, 
Associate Administrator of Procurement, has said, ``George Bath has 
indeed served the House with pride, energy, and creativity. His shoes 
will be hard to fill!'' Mr. Speaker, I heartily agree.
  But, Mr. Speaker, George's new life back in Pennsylvania has been on 
hold since October of this year. You see, he was supposed to start his 
new job there in October, but he was called into action after the 
September 11th terrorist strikes and October 17th anthrax attacks and 
has extended his time here to put the House in a better and more secure 
position. His devotion and dedication to the emergency contract 
challenges that followed have proven exemplary. The challenges he 
encountered were frequent and varied, but George's engaging personality 
and recognized professionalism met these needs effectively.
  Now George's wife, Diane, and two sons, Stephen and John Paul, are 
patiently awaiting his return to Pennsylvania, and we, here at the 
House, need to let him go. His professionalism and performance bring 
great credit upon himself, to the House of Representatives, and, I am 
sure, to his new employer, the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
Center in Wilkes-Barre.
  I will close by repeating the words of the Chief Administrative 
Officer, Jay Eagen, about George: ``If I have a complaint about George 
Bath, it's that he tried to do too much, for too many people. But of 
course, that's not really a complaint, it's a compliment.'' Mr. 
Speaker, I am pleased to call George Bath's public service to the 
attention of the House of Representatives, and I send my best wishes to 
him and his family.

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