[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 34 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PAYING TRIBUTE TO JO SIMPSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 16, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jo Simpson for 30 
years of public service, who will retire on March 31 after 9 years in 
Nevada.
  Jo began working for the Federal Government in 1976, as a public 
affairs specialist in the Washington headquarters public affairs 
offices for the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers. In 1994, she moved to the Bureau of Land Management, first 
working as public affairs officer for the California Desert District. 
There she distinguished herself as a dedicated public servant and 
exceptional citizen. In August of 1997, Jo served as the BLM's Chief 
for the Office of Communications in Nevada. In this role, Jo not only 
assured that key information was made readily available to the public 
regarding their public lands but more importantly, she served as the 
catalyst for assuring that public land stakeholders had a voice in how 
their public lands were managed.
  Jo has been instrumental in directing the work of the BLM's three 
Resource Advisory Councils in Nevada. These councils are made up of 45 
individuals representing the diverse interest of public land 
stakeholders from throughout the state. This amount of citizen 
involvement set the tone for improved working relationship between 
Federal land management agencies and all Nevadans. She appeared 
numerous times before local county commissions and the State of 
Nevada's legislative Council on Public Lands to apprise them of public 
land proposals and to solicit their vital input. This is extremely 
important in a state where 87 percent of the land base is managed by 
the Federal Government.
  Jo and her staff helped members of the Nevada Congressional 
Delegation and local governments during the development of precedent-
setting land bills and her assistance proved extremely beneficial in 
gaining the support of key officials within the Department of the 
Interior for legislative initiatives affecting public lands in Nevada.
  In the course of performing her duties, Jo earned the respect of 
countless people, for her integrity and sincerity. Her deeds represent 
what is good, righteous, and admirable in public service. For that, the 
state of Nevada is grateful for her exemplary service.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Jo Simpson on the floor of the 
House today. I thank her for her service and wish her well in 
retirement.

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