[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 63 (Friday, May 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             COMMEMORATING PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2004

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 20th annual Public 
Service Recognition Week. I am proud to be a co-chair of the 
Congressional Public Service Caucus, proud to have been a federal 
employee, and proud to represent in Congress a large number of my 
constituents who are federal employees. These employees are a national 
asset who perform hard work day after day with professionalism and 
dedication.
  Federal employees are the backbone of our government. They can be 
found working to find cures for diseases at the National Institute of 
Health, helping seniors with their Social Security benefits, 
representing our interests overseas in the State Department, serving as 
stewards of parks in the National Park Service, helping our country 
defend the homeland at the Department of Defense and at the Department 
of Homeland Security. These are but a few examples of the many areas in 
which federal employees are serving our country.
  We must not forget those federal employees who are risking their 
lives in the war against terrorism. The first combat death in 
Afghanistan in the wake of September 11 was CIA officer Johnny Micheal 
Spann, one of my constituents. And today, federal employees can be 
found throughout the globe fighting the war against terrorism in many 
different ways.
  The sacrifice and hard work of our federal employees, whether abroad 
or at home, should never be forgotten. Federal employees deserve a 
proper pay raise--which is why I have been pleased to support pay 
parity for our federal employees since I have been in Congress.
  They deserve adequate health care--which is why I have supported 
legislation to make sure federal employees get the health benefits they 
need.
  And retired federal employees must not be forgotten--which is why I 
have supported legislation to aid federal employees in their 
retirement. Federal employees deserve to be honored during Public 
Service Recognition Week. But we must always remember the hard work 
they do for our country throughout the year.

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