[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN TRIBUTE TO EVE BUTLER-GEE, HOUSE JOURNAL CLERK, ON THE OCCASION OF 
                       HER FORTHCOMING RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 25, 2003

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, the hardworking, dedicated employees who sit 
here on the dias behind the Well of the House are the heart and soul of 
this institution. Their sacrifice and service are the glue that enables 
the House to proceed with its business and that helps all of us to 
serve our constituents and the American people.
  On a daily basis, the employees who sit on the dais are an invaluable 
resource to all of us who are privileged to serve in the House of 
Representatives. They serve all of us, without regard to party. Every 
day that the house is in session, and certainly when we have weeks as 
lengthy and as challenging as this one, we all surely have to admire 
the selfless devotion to service that keeps the House staff at their 
posts working to serve all of us.
  Whether it is two or three o'clock in the morning during a heavy 
legislative week, or simply recording the proceedings on a routine 
Suspensions Monday, no matter what the challenges may be, our reading 
and journal clerks are always here to assist us and serve this 
institution.
  It is all too rare that we say thank you for their hard work, their 
patience, their good humor, and their devotion to this body. Today, 
however, is a very special occasion and I want to take this time to 
thank and salute one of the giants of the staff of the House.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank and pay tribute to the House's 
Chief Journal Clerk, Eve Butler-Gee, who will be retiring when we 
adjourn at the end of this legislative week for our Summer recess. 
According to the Congressional Research Service, Eve is the first woman 
Journal Clerk in the history of the House of Representatives.
  Ms. Butler-Gee and her three Assistant Journal Clerks are always on 
duty at the rostrum to ensure that the House meets its constitutional 
responsibility to maintain an official record of the parliamentary 
proceedings of the House. Eve has done a great deal to modernize 
Journal procedures and enhance the professionalism of the Journal 
clerks.
  Eve began her professional career in the House while in her early 
twenties. She left the House in the middle of her working years to work 
for a charitable foundation, and then returned to the House in 1987 
when then Minority Leader Bob Michel appointed her as the Minority 
Enrolling Clerk of the House.
  In her tenure as the Journal Clerk, like all those who have preceded 
her and all those Clerks who will follow her, Eve has been a witness to 
history, to events of great joy, those of great sadness, events that 
often truly have changed the shape of our world. What remarkable 
stories she will take with her as she concludes her service!
  I could use my time to review more of Eve's professional 
accomplishments, but those of us who are privileged to know her, and to 
experience her wisdom, her humor, her warmth and friendliness, know 
that Eve is so much more than her resume.
  Eve has been a good friend to all of us and a person whose service 
has brought great credit upon this institution. I understand that Eve 
intends to spend her retirement traveling, enjoying her family, 
pursuing her interests in writing and community theater, and continuing 
active service with the Episcopal Church.
  I value Eve's ability and her diligent service greatly. What I value 
even more is the friendship and warmth that she brought to all of her 
contacts with me, and, I know, with so many other Members.
  So I conclude simply by saying: Thank you, Eve for your pioneering 
service, for your professionalism, and for your friendship. I wish you 
well and know that the future will continue to hold great things for 
you. Congratulations and Godspeed in your retirement.

                          ____________________