[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO GERASIMOS C. VANS ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 30, 2006

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Gerasimos 
(Gerry) Vans, who is retiring after more than 25 years of distinguished 
service to this institution. Throughout his years of service to the 
House, Gerry has tackled a wide range of institutional challenges. In 
every aspect of his service to the House, Gerry has demonstrated his 
characteristic professionalism, knowledge, and creativity, and has 
without exception conducted himself with the utmost integrity.
  Gerry, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin began his career with summer 
intern positions in the House and Senate while attending college. 
Following his graduation from Marquette University, Gerry pursued a 
masters degree at The George Washington University while employed in 
the House mail room. Gerry began his congressional career in earnest 
following his appointment to the U.S. Capitol Police force where he 
remained for two years. His next appointment was as the Executive 
Assistant to the House Sergeant at Arms, where he served as secretary 
to the U.S. Capitol Police Board and primary Capitol Police liaison for 
the Sergeant at Arms. Gerry had primary operational responsibilities 
for major House events and congressional funeral delegations, and was a 
key staffer in Capitol security planning.
  Since joining the Office of the Clerk's front office staff in 1991, 
he has served under four Clerks, first in a support capacity to senior 
management, and since 1995 as a senior manager--as Special Assistant, 
Assistant to the Clerk, 1999, and Deputy Clerk, 2003. Because of his 
fluency with congressional operations and practice, he is frequently 
called upon to brief visiting foreign parliamentarians and senior 
officials, and has participated in various legislative-related 
conferences.
  Gerry has also been instrumental in the development and 
implementation of the Lobbying Disclosure Act; the five-year project to 
move the Legislative Information Management System, LIMS, from a 
mainframe to a client-server platform; the Document Management 
Initiative: conversion of all legislative documents to a common 
Extensible Markup Language (XML) standard; Continuity of Operations: 
development and planning leading to the first comprehensive House-wide 
continuity of operations apparatus; and the development of the History 
and Preservation Office.
  Over the years, Gerry's responsibilities have grown to include the 
day-to-day oversight and operations of the Clerk's 9 departments and 
270 employees, which provide legislative and information services to 
the House and the general public. He is involved daily and directly 
with such issues as Member of Congress relations, House floor 
operations, planning, personnel, procurement, information technology, 
printing, oversight of vacant congressional offices, and event 
planning.
  There is no doubt that the House as an institution is losing one of 
its hardest working public servants. Gerry's dedication and 
professionalism has spanned both Democratic and Republican majorities, 
during which time his mission has always been to complete any task, big 
or small, with the same tenacity and thoroughness. Gerry will be dearly 
missed by the House of Representatives and by all those among us who 
have had the pleasure of working with him during his more than 25 years 
of service.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of this institution, I wish to extend to Gerry 
Vans our heartfelt gratitude for his tireless service to the House, and 
wish him the very best as he embarks upon his new career.

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