[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THANKS TO SUBHASRI RAMANATHAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 28, 2006

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to give 
thanks to Sue Ramanathan, Democratic deputy staff director and chief 
counsel of the United States House of Representatives Committee on 
Homeland Security.
  Sue was one of the original staff members of the Select Committee on 
Homeland Security from the 108th Congress, and has been a dedicated 
public servant whose leadership on border security and immigration 
issues has helped us proficiently tackle those hard issues and whose 
counsel has been a vital element of our homeland security efforts.
  Sue began her tenure on Capitol Hill as a legislative fellow for 
Senator Joseph I. Lieberman and as a member of the Washington, DC, 
staff of the American Bar Association before joining my colleague Zoe 
Lofgren as her senior policy advisor and counsel. While working for 
Congresswoman Lofgren, Sue earned an LL.M in international and 
comparative law from Georgetown University Law Center. It was on behalf 
of Congresswoman Lofgren that Sue was able to contribute to the 
conversation surrounding our Nation's immigration policies, the same 
policies that she and her family were first subject to as immigrants to 
our great Nation. The Congresswoman joins me in commending Sue today, 
as demonstrated by her comments to follow.
  She left the Hill for a brief period to work on a Presidential 
campaign, before returning in 2004 to join the Select Committee of 
Homeland Security under Ranking Member Jim Turner of Texas. At the 
beginning of this Congress, when I became ranking member, I named Sue 
chief counsel and deputy staff director. In addition to helping develop 
the legislative and oversight activities of the Democratic Committee 
staff, Sue also led our immigration and border security team efforts. 
In this capacity, Sue played a critical role in implementing the 
committee's legislative agenda.
  Mr. Speaker, this was no small task.
  One particular debate that I will not soon forget pertained to the 
House's consideration of comprehensive border security legislation this 
past year. Committee staff spent countless sleepless nights and early 
mornings working on behalf of the American people to mitigate the risk 
posed by this Nation's porous borders. Sue coordinated the committee's 
floor time on H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and 
Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005. In particular, she worked 
closely with my colleague Silvestre Reyes on the Democratic motion to 
recommit. Mr. Reyes had this to say about Sue, ``as a member of 
Congress representing a district on the U.S.-Mexico border, my staff 
and I had the pleasure of working with Sue Ramanathan on several pieces 
of homeland security legislation in recent years. In every instance, I 
was impressed by her knowledge, professionalism, and dedication. Though 
we are sorry to see her leave the staff of the Homeland Security 
Committee, we are fortunate that she will continue to work on the many 
homeland security issues facing our country in her new position. We 
wish her all the best.''

  In addition, she was one of the committee's key staffers on the 
committee's first two authorization bills, as well as on legislation to 
correct and restructure the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, 
in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
  Sue's expertise and dedication will be deeply missed in the House. I 
am comforted, however, by the fact that Sue's insight and expertise 
will not be lost to the Members of this House. Unlike so many others 
who turn in their congressional ID cards for large paychecks in the 
private sector, Sue has maintained her commitment to public service. 
Thankfully, she will remain a public servant, dedicating this new 
chapter in her career in the Homeland Security and Justice Division at 
the U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO, and helping to ensure 
Congress's critical check and balance on the executive branch of 
Government. Mr. Speaker, I wish Sue, the committee's favorite Cherry 
Hill native and Rutgers graduate, the best in her new venture. I look 
forward to seeing great things from Sue and her new family at GAO as 
they, undoubtedly, work to ensure that America gets homeland security 
right once and for all.

                          ____________________