[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 3 (Thursday, January 20, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E49-E50]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING MARTY RALSTON ON HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 20, 2005

  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a valued staff 
member--Marty Ralston--who has announced her retirement and will be 
leaving us at the end of this month. She is one of the longest serving 
Democratic staff members in the history of the Committee on Science, 
and will be greatly missed.
  Marty came to the committee in the 95th Congress and for more than 27 
years, has carried out her duties during the tenure of seven different 
chairmen and eight different ranking minority members. Marty initially 
served on the staff of the Science, Research, and Technology 
subcommittee, but eventually moved to the staff of Natural Resources 
and Environment subcommittee and then to that of the full committee.
  In addition to her current work as the staff assistant of the 
Environment, Technology, and Standards Subcommittee, Marty organizes 
the Committee's legislative hearings. It is commonly acknowledged that 
Marty has staffed more hearings than anyone else in the history of the 
Committee on Science. One former subcommittee staff director described 
her as ``marvelous'' and Marty is widely known for her warmth, 
kindness, and unflagging dedication to both the Committee and its 
staff. Others describe her as a ``life-saver'' whose attention to

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detail and proven experience has helped countless fellow staffers go 
the extra mile in their work each day.
  Marty has persevered in the face of personal trials and family 
challenges. Her dedication to our team is eclipsed only by her 
dedication to her son Sean, daughter-in-law Julie, and the pending 
arrival of her first grandchild.
  Marty is an important part of the Committee's institutional memory 
whose welcoming demeanor and ready answers are tools our staff has come 
to expect and rely on. The Science Committee's Members and staff wish 
Marty well as she moves on to new endeavors, a relaxing retirement and 
life as a devoted grandmother. Thank you, Marty, for your many years of 
dedicated and loyal service.

                          ____________________