[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 27, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E55]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING JOHN ROUNSAVILLE

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 2004

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, this month begins a new year in which 
Congress will face new challenges and opportunities. The same is true 
in Mississippi where Governor Haley Barbour presented his first State 
of the State Address last night, after his inauguration earlier this 
month. A new administration requires experienced and talented 
individuals to shape the policy and politic of the state. Governor 
Barbour has one of those rising Mississippi stars in John Rounsaville. 
Today I make these remarks to honor John's service to me, to recognize 
the challenges we faced together as he now embarks on this new 
opportunity.
  It was January 1999 when John Rounsaville first joined my team. After 
graduating from Calhoun City High School, he earned a degree in 
agribusiness and followed that with a Masters of Business 
Administration, both from Mississippi State University. He came to 
Washington, DC to work on my staff to address, among others, 
agricultural issues--a $4.6 billion industry in Mississippi.
  He demonstrated a keen insight on the legislative process and quickly 
grasped the intricacies of Capitol Hill politics. Quickly, he moved 
from Legislative Assistant to Legislative Director, and most recently 
as my Deputy Chief of Staff. Over the years I grew to trust his counsel 
and respect his instincts as we successfully moved legislation into 
law, brought appropriations to Mississippi, protected our state's 
military facilities, and represented the needs of my constituents here 
in the Nation's Capital.
  Now John has returned home to Mississippi and will serve as policy 
adviser to our new Republican governor. Our office will miss his 
experience, knowledge, and skills, but Mississippi will continue to 
benefit from his hard work to the service of our great state.
  Governor Barbour has hired a good man. John mastered the practices 
and methods of success in Washington, but never forgot those 
Mississippi values taught to him by his parents. John never lost his 
roots, never forgot his home, and never lost sight of our goal to serve 
Mississippi. John's heart has always been in Mississippi and now he 
returns there to continue to advance smart, conservative, positive 
public policy.
  John Rounsaville left a formative mark on the shape and operation of 
my office. We will miss his good nature, humor, and dedication to his 
work. But I thank him for his service to this office and to 
Mississippi.

                          ____________________