[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H10959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           THANKING THE STAFF

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, as the first session of the 107th Congress 
draws to a close, I wish to thank the staff for their assistance 
throughout this eventful year. None of us could discharge our 
responsibilities without the help and support of the staff.
  Let me begin by expressing gratitude to the employees of the 
Architect of the Capitol, who maintain the Capitol buildings and 
grounds. Without the vital work of engineers, carpenters, painters, 
electricians and others, especially the custodians who clean our 
offices each night, we could not work. AoC employees do a wonderful job 
under difficult circumstances, and they deserve special recognition.
  Next, I wish to thank the three House Officers and all their 
employees, who collectively maintain the framework in which the House 
operates. Jay Eagen, our Chief Administrative Officer, and his deputy 
Lawrence Davenport, manage a diverse organization that provides us with 
everything from furniture and carpets to office supplies and 
information technology, child care and other personnel-related support, 
including food services and even our paychecks. Bill Livingood, our 
Sergeant at Arms, and his deputy, Kerri Hanley, oversee Capitol 
security for the benefit of Members, staff, dignitaries, tourists and 
others who visit the complex every year, working in conjunction with 
the brave men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police. Our Clerk, Jeff 
Trandahl, his deputy, Martha Morrison, and their staff compile the 
House Journal, tally our votes, enroll our bills, transcribe our 
debates, and generally ensure that our legislative process functions 
smoothly. Jeff also oversees the Page program, which provides an 
enriching experience for the Pages, who do a great job.
  Let us all give thanks for the House Chaplain, Father Daniel 
Coughlin, who tends his flock superbly. Charles Johnson, our 
distinguished Parliamentarian, and his learned duputies and assistants 
John Sullivan, Tom Duncan, Muftiah McCartin, Tom Wickham, Ethan Lauer, 
Gay Topper, Brian Cooper and Debby Khalili, provide invaluable 
procedural guidance to the Speaker and Members who preside over the 
House. I recall being greatly comforted by their presence when, during 
an earlier era, I occasionally occupied the Chair.
  The General Counsel, Geraldine Gennet, and her staff well represent 
the House in legal matters. The Law Revision counsel, John Miller, and 
his staff organize our legislation into a useful body of laws. The 
Inspector General, Steve McNamara, and his staff help us seek ways to 
improve the administration of the House. For all of them we are 
grateful.
  We are also greatly indebted to the Legislative Counsel, Pope Barrow, 
and his staff for helping us draft legislation. They work long hours, 
often under intense pressure, transforming our public-policy ideas into 
the magic words of bills and amendments, doing so with grace and 
magnanimity and making it look easy. I want to applaud one particular 
legislative counsel, Noah Wofsy, whose help has been indispensable to 
the Committee on House Administration, most recently on the landmark 
Help America Vote Act (H.R. 3295). I greatly value Noah's help and 
expertise, and look forward to working with him again during the second 
session.
  We also owe special thanks to our cloakroom staffs, who always have 
the answer to our favorite question (``when's the next vote?''), and to 
our leadership and floor staff, who are crucial members of the team.
  We should also remember our ``extended'' staff, including Dan 
Mulhollan and his experts at the Congressional Research Service, and 
Dan Crippen and his Congressional Budget Office staff, all of whom 
provide excellent support to our deliberations. The Attending 
Physician, Dr. John Eisold and his staff, have coped superbly with the 
anthrax attack and its aftermath, inspiring confidence. As always, the 
professionals of the Government Printing Office and the General 
Accounting Office have provided exceptional support. Our tour guides 
provide constituents wonderful tours of the Capitol, for which we, and 
they, are always thankful.
  Finally, I wish to thank the committee and joint-committee staffs, 
and the personal staffs of Members, whose efforts are also highly 
valued. I am obviously most grateful for the work of my own staff, 
beginning with Cory Alexander, John Bohanan, Betsy Bossart, Tom 
Craddock, Chonya Davis-Johnson, Stacey Farnen, Wanda Hardesty, Corey 
Jackson, Dayle Lewis, Kenya McGruder, Kathy May, Scott Nance, Faron 
Paramore, Andy Quinn, Thomas Richards, Betty Richardson, Betty Rogers, 
Erica Rossi, and Ryan Seggel of my personal office; Keith Abouchar, 
Robert Bean, Kevin Cyron, Connie Goode, Michael Harrison, Charles 
Howell, Ellen McCarthy, Matt Pinkus, Bernard Raimo, David Ransom, Brian 
Romick, and Sterling Springs of the House Administration Committee; Rob 
Nabors, of the Treasury, Postal Appropriations Subcommittee; and 
Marlene Kaufman, of the Helsinki Commission. I could not fulfill my 
responsibilities without them.
  Mr. Speaker, Members aren't always aware of what all the staff do, 
and the staff aren't always aware of what Members do. But together, we 
make this House work for the American people. I hope all Members will 
join me in thanking the staff, wherever they work and whatever they do, 
for all their hard work this year.

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