[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E195-E196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         TRIBUTE TO JOY BRYSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 26, 2002

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to undertake a sad, yet 
heart-warming mission--to honor a most cherished staff member, Mrs. Joy 
Bryson, on her retirement from the Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee.
  Joy has been serving for the past eight years as Administrator to the 
Minority. Previously, she served for nine years as Chief Clerk to the 
then majority--a position she devoutly wished to reclaim. Throughout 
all of these years she served all of the Members of the Committee and 
to staff with grace, uncommon ability, and a cheerfulness that always 
bespoke her name--with joy.
  Prior to joining the Committee, Joy served as Office Manager for our 
late distinguished Chairman, Jim Howard. More importantly, Joy served 
for 14 years the people of the Third Congressional District of New 
Jersey as if they were her own family, in the process earning their 
gratitude and affection.
  In recognition of her abilities, Chairman Howard asked Joy to take on 
the important position of Committee Administrator. She continued in 
this position under the following three Chairmen, Glenn Anderson, Bob 
Roe, and Norm Mineta, and filled a similar position when we became the 
minority in 1994. I know that Chairman Roe and Secretary Mineta share 
my gratitude for Joy's many important contributions to the effective 
operation of the Committee and its staff.
  Joy has been the Committee's expert on the intricacies of the rules 
governing the Congressional Administrative process; such as our 
internal budget rules, and our rules on travel, ethics, and retirement. 
As a former congressional staffer I know well the complexities 
involved. When someone knows the rules and procedures as well as Joy 
does, she can anticipate and solve problems of which Members and staff 
may be blissfully unaware. I know of many occasions when Joy's 
expertise saved Members and staff much time and effort, and ensured 
that administrative actions were done right, the first time.
  Although Joy knows all the rules and procedures, she is anything but 
a ``green eyeshade'' type of public servant. Her professional talents 
include considerable literacy skills. She has a graceful writing style 
and a good sense for the telling ancedote--told with a special Southern 
charm. Joy's talents were particularly well displayed when she helped 
Members prepare speeches, letters and extensions of remarks, expressing 
our appreciation for distinguished public service, or our thanks for 
assistance we received.
  Joy was also an excellent recruiter for the Committee. Through her 
efforts, the Committee consistently attracted an exceptional group of 
staff assistants, who were highly competent, enthusiastic team players; 
invaluable for the successful functioning of the Committee.
  Joy's greatest contribution to the Committee flowed from her personal 
qualities--her cheerfulness, her interest in her colleagues, and her 
maturity and common sense. Joy worked with a number of Staff Directors 
most of whom had little supervisory experience. She took it upon 
herself to carry out the sometimes thankless task of breaking them in 
to the human side of the job, their responsibilities in dealing with 
personal and work problems of the staff. Joy's dedication to this task, 
her empathy for the perspective of the administrative staff, and here 
charm and perceptiveness, gave her great influence, and made the 
Committee a much better place to work.
  Supplementing her public service, Joy has been an active volunteer in 
community service. I particularly appreciate her dedicated service on 
behalf of the Jo Oberstar Memorial Lecture Series on Breast Cancer 
Awareness,

[[Page E196]]

sponsored by the George Washington University Hospital Breast Care 
Center in memory of my late wife. Joy played a major role in organizing 
last year's highly successful lecture and fundraiser.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time we are in the midst of an Olympic season. 
If medals were bestowed in the halls of Congress to those staffers who 
most deserve the title of ``champion'', Joy Bryson would be one of 
those on the dais with a medal of gold. As Joy returns to her beloved 
family, her husband Lit and her children, Chris and Jeni, she carries 
with her out gratitude for her service, and our prayers for her well 
being and, most of all, for her happiness.

                          ____________________