[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 3, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H2782-H2783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       FAREWELL TO KATHRYN LEHMAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) is recognized for 5 
minutes.

[[Page H2783]]

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, as we have heard from our House 
Republican leadership team, this week the House will lose one of its 
most faithful servants to the private sector, when my good friend 
Kathryn Lehman leaves her post as chief of staff of the House 
Republican Conference after more than 15 years of service here in the 
House on Capitol Hill.
  After graduating from Catholic University with a law degree, Kathryn 
came to the Hill in 1989 to serve then-ranking member, the gentleman 
from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), as his only staffer on the 
Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights.
  After the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) became the 
subcommittee's ranking member, Kathryn continued her work and learned 
much from his example in leadership.
  When the Republicans took over control of the House in 1994, Kathryn 
became the subcommittee's chief counsel and helped usher in some of the 
most important reforms of the first 100 days of our Congress. In 1997, 
Karen began working for Speaker Gingrich, playing an important part in 
many of the most memorable events in Congress's history. She also 
advised Speaker Gingrich on oversight issues involving the committees 
on Judiciary, Education and the Workforce, House Administration, and 
Government Reform.
  In 1998, she took the helm as policy director for then-majority whip, 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay). There, she made her mark on some 
of the most impressive legislative accomplishments of the Congress. 
Kathryn's talents then took her to the Speaker's office, the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Hastert).
  Obviously, she had a hard time keeping a job at any one time, but she 
oversaw his coalitions and outreach efforts. In 2002, Kathryn became 
chief of staff for the House Republican Conference under the leadership 
of my great friend, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce). There she 
effectively crafted our message and led us to new levels of 
accomplishment and unity.
  Kathryn now leaves the House for Holland & Knight where she will 
continue to be what she has always been, a bold woman who is not afraid 
to speak her mind. At Holland & Knight, she will follow in the 
tradition of her and another great mind, the late Congresswoman Tillie 
Fowler, my friend from Florida.
  And Kathryn's long and impressive career is an example of what we can 
all achieve if we stick to our principles and never quit until the 
fight is over. Kathryn has learned much during her tenure, but she has 
taught others much more.
  It is not surprising that Kathryn has so many friends. Through her 
sheer force of character and great personality, Kathryn has forged 
friendships with Republican and Democrat Members and staff alike. The 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) for example, the dean of the 
House, is one such friend; and I know that the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Dingell) shares in my best wishes for Kathryn's future successes.
  Kathryn deserves the thanks of so many Members on an individual 
level, but also deserves the thanks of the House of Representatives as 
a body.
  Few have done more to protect its integrity and its efficacy, as 
Kathryn Lehman; and I know that she will be missed. She is more than 
just a staffer, she is more than just the Chair of so many important 
positions, she is more specially important, my friend, mi amiga, and 
always will be.
  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my best wishes and a 
fond farewell to Kathryn Lehman who is leaving Capitol Hill after 15 
years of service. Kathryn has been like few others: effective, 
universally admired, and respected. And she has always offered blunt 
advice.
  During her Hill career, Kathryn has served two Judiciary Committee 
Chairmen, one Majority Whip, one Conference Chairman, and two Speakers 
of the House--including myself.
  Kathryn cut her teeth on the House Judiciary Committee working for 
then-Ranking Member Sensenbrenner on the Civil and Constitutional 
Rights Subcommittee and, following that, then-Ranking Member Hyde. 
Those tough days in the minority prepared Kathryn for the 
responsibility of her role as Chief Counsel following the Republican 
victory in 1994. She went on to serve as Special Assistant to Speaker 
Newt Gingrich, Policy Director for then-Majority Whip Tom DeLay, my 
Director of Coalitions and Outreach, and finally Chief of Staff for the 
House Republican Conference.
  Kathryn has not only been in the room when some of the most important 
decisions of this House were made, but she also helped to make them. 
From habeas corpus reform to tax reform, Kathryn has touched it all. 
She has impacted more legislation during her career than she'd probably 
care to admit, and each time she acted with strength and conviction.
  Many staffers have a laundry list of legislative achievements and 
career highlights, but Kathryn is more than the sum of her 
accomplishments. Her tenure is marked just as surely by the friendships 
she has made--on both sides of the aisle--than by the laws she helped 
to craft or the bills she ushered through to passage.
  But perhaps Kathryn's most astonishing--and admirable--characteristic 
is her unwavering idealism. Throughout her time on Capitol Hill, she 
has never lost her way and has been guided by her beliefs and values. 
In good times and bad, Kathryn always spoke her mind and kept us all on 
the right track. I will miss her loyalty, her ability to make you 
laugh, and her sound judgment.
  I wish Kathryn the very best and know that she will continue to be a 
standard bearer for what is right in Washington.

                          ____________________