[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 82 (Wednesday, June 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF DAVID H. KOSHGARIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 19, 2002

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor David H. Koshgarian 
who has served as my Chief of Staff since my first election to 
Congress. Over the past fifteen and one half years David has been an 
outstanding leader for my office and a partner with me in carrying out 
all my Congressional duties. I, and the people of Maryland's Third 
Congressional District, have been well served by his commitment, 
knowledge and skill. It is with all sincerity that I thank him for his 
service to the nation.
  For more than 25 years, David Koshgarian has served on Capitol Hill 
working for several Members of the House of Representatives, including 
Richard Kelly of Florida, Geraldine Ferraro of New York, and Chet 
Atkins of Massachusetts. Having grown up in Rhode Island and attended 
George Washington University here in Washington, Dave and his family 
have long made their home in Maryland and I appreciate that his longest 
service has been to a Maryland Representative.
  The United States House of Representatives is the world's greatest 
democratic institution. As much as any staffer I have ever worked with 
on Capitol Hill, Dave has taken joy in the democratic process of 
governing this nation. His interest and enthusiasm has always 
enlightened my work, as well as that of our staff and interns. Dave's 
presence and spirit has always made my office a better place to work.
  Dave came to my office after serving as Legislative Director for Rep. 
Chet Atkins and he never lost his primary interest in legislation and 
policy. Throughout my service on the Ways and Means Committee, Dave has 
handled tax and budget issues. Dave's deep intellect and long 
experience have been well tested in this position on a great variety of 
complex issues. He has mastered each challenge and often been most 
successful in effecting change in the Committee's consideration of key 
issues.
  I am also proud that after many years of Ways and Means tax policy 
work in ``Gucci Gulch'', where the concerns of wealthy and corporate 
interests are most often heard, David has unfailingly focused on the 
lives and struggles of the neediest among us and worked to ensure that 
the policies of the nation provide real opportunity to low-income and 
working class Americans. His efforts have been in the best traditions 
of the Democratic Party. The dramatic expansion of the Earned Income 
Tax Credit is one recent example of our successful work in this area.
  Dave has made a specialty of pension issues--an area where few people 
have long focused, but where much good can be done. At this point I am 
confident he knows as much as any staffer on Capitol Hill in this 
complicated facet of tax law. Pension policy is an area where sound 
federal policy can directly benefit the lives of every working 
American. Dave's effective work in this area is the clearest 
demonstration of his commitment to the people who most need our help.
  Passage of the individual retirement and pension enhancement 
provisions of HR 1836, the 2001 Economic Growth and Tax Relief 
Reconciliation Act is testament to Dave's skills and commitment. I 
doubt those provisions would have been enacted without David's ongoing, 
focused work on this issue. Dave should leave Capitol Hill proud of his 
many legislative accomplishments over the years.
  David has also proven himself a solid administrator and inspiring 
leader and educator of staff. With many offices facing great turnover 
and little historical knowledge of a Member's work for a District, my 
office has always been very different, with relatively long and 
accomplished tenures by staff people. To large extent this is a result 
of Dave's daily caring and concern for staff. His joy in our 
responsibilities and spirit in the office will be greatly missed.
  The hard work of the many loyal staff to the House of Representatives 
is too little rewarded and too rarely acknowledged. David, on behalf of 
the people of the nation, Maryland, the Third Congressional District, 
the many staff people and interns you have worked with and most of all 
myself, I want to thank you for your proud career of public service.
  Best wishes for all your future endeavors.

                          ____________________