[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1815-E1816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PAYING TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL HESSE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 5, 2004

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I consider it a great privilege to 
recognize an outstanding individual who, for many years, has honorably 
served the interests of my district and the State of Colorado. Michael 
Hesse has served as my chief of staff, and during that time he has 
worked to improve the lives of many of his fellow Coloradans through 
his compassionate activism. Mike is a dedicated public servant and a 
dynamic leader whose devotion to Colorado is unparalleled. I am honored 
to recognize his service before this body of Congress and this Nation 
today.
  Mike earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Denver 
School of Business in 1987. After graduation, President George H.W. 
Bush appointed Mike as the Assistant to the Health and Human Services 
Secretary, Louis Sullivan, from 1989 to 1992. In that capacity, Mike 
coordinated the President's National Initiative for Childhood 
Immunization and the Presidential Health Mission to Africa.

[[Page E1816]]

  Mike has also played a vital role in furthering and representing the 
interests of his party. He served as the primary spokesperson and 
overall manager of the Bush-Quayle 1992 Colorado campaign, and was the 
1992 executive director of the Colorado Republican Party. Mike's strong 
leadership and focused management led to effective candidate 
recruitment and significant improvement in fundraising goals by 
tripling the traditional party base support. Mike's political 
experience and dedication to the Mountain West made him a natural 
candidate for his position as the regional political director of Bob 
Dole for President. There, Mike was instrumental in building support 
for Western priorities while establishing close working relationships 
with officials on both the federal and local levels.
  I learned firsthand of Mike's skills as an effective manager and team 
builder when he became my Chief of Staff in 1998. Through his 
direction, my office has been able to provide consistently high quality 
service to the people of Colorado's Third Congressional District. Mike 
has recruited a respected congressional staff who are committed to 
constituent casework and who work tirelessly to help me pass a number 
of sizable legislative initiatives, even in the face of seemingly 
insurmountable odds. Mike has implemented a strong organizational 
structure throughout the office that has enabled greater staff 
interaction and has stressed personal responsibility, by providing 
timely and substantive responses to inquiries from my constituents. 
Mike has also fostered valuable relationships with city, county, and 
State officials, and has a successful working relationship with many of 
my colleagues in Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, Mike Hesse is a natural leader and a passionate public 
servant whose dedication to the State of Colorado and this Nation 
serves as an inspiration to us all. Indeed, the legislative and policy 
successes I have enjoyed over the last 6 years would not have been 
possible without Mike's leadership within my office. I consider it a 
great honor to recognize his service and accomplishments before this 
body of Congress today. I want to personally thank Mike for his many 
years of commitment to our home state. I have never worked with such a 
fine individual as Mike Hesse.

                          ____________________