[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 44 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF SCOTT BILLINGSLEY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor to pay 
tribute to Scott Billingsley. Scott died suddenly and unexpectedly on 
March 25, 2002. He was only 31 years old.
  Scott had served ably as Counsel to the Committee on Government 
Reform for two years before recently leaving to become Legislative 
Director for Congressman Tancredo. In his time with the Committee, 
Scott displayed the best characteristics of a Capitol Hill 
professional: idealism, honesty, dependability, and selfless devotion 
to his work. His endearing spirit and infectious good cheer were a 
blessing to his co-workers with whom he spent countless long hours and 
late nights. Everyone who knew Scott liked him, and those who knew him 
best will love and remember him forever. Scott wanted to make a 
difference in the world, and he did--not just professionally but 
personally as well. Others can speak more eloquently about Scott's 
unique personality, and they have done so in the eulogies that Mr. 
Tancredo will place into the Record. I want to take this opportunity, 
however, to say a few words about Scott Billingsley's work for the 
Committee.
  Scott's deeply held belief in the importance of integrity and 
accountably in government led him to become a Counsel for the Committee 
on Government Reform. In that position, he played a vital role in our 
oversight investigations in recent years. Most recently Scott was 
responsible for drafting the largest and most important section of the 
Committee's report on abuses of the Presidential pardon power--a 
chapter on the pardons of Marc Rich and Pincus Green. Scott's work on 
this chapter represented a substantial share of the final product and 
formed the solid foundation on which others built. Even though Scott 
left the Committee before the report was complete, he generously 
returned to our offices on many occasions to assist the staff in 
completing what he had begun. He did this under no obligation and on 
his own time, which says a lot about the kind of person he was. Now, we 
know how precious little time Scott had left, and we are honored that 
he chose to spend some of it at the Committee.
  Scott's parents--and his fiance, Katie--should be proud of his 
professional accomplishments. Scott was an excellent lawyer who chose 
to defend the principles he held dear. He gladly sacrificed the lure of 
private sector salaries in favor of public service, working tirelessly 
to promote what he believed in so passionately. Scott's work reflected 
his strong conviction that public corruption should be opposed 
vigorously. His commitment to honesty and integrity in government 
deserves to be remembered and honored, as does his drive and 
determination to work toward those goals. Therefore, as a token of our 
appreciation for his service to the Committee, I will be presenting to 
Scott's family a special copy of the pardon report on which he worked 
so diligently--dedicated to the memory of an extraordinary 
professional: Scott Billingsley.
  May he rest in peace.

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