[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 74 (Monday, May 7, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRATULATIONS MARJORIE (GIGI) KELAHER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 7, 2007

  Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Marjorie 
Kelaher on the occasion of her retirement from the position of Deputy 
Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, which became effective as 
of May 1, 2007.
  For over 25 years, Gigi Kelaher has worked for the House of 
Representatives in a number of different roles. Like many before her, 
Gigi got her start on Capitol Hill as an intern. Although many young 
people choose to leave the Hill once their internship has concluded, 
Gigi found a home in these halls. Though she was in the earliest stages 
of her career, her work in the fall of 1978 for Congressman Silvio O. 
Conte (R-MA) would be the beginning of a lifetime of public service.
  Following her graduation from Villanova University in 1979, Gigi 
returned to Capitol Hill and became a full-time employee for 
Congressman Conte, the Ranking Minority Member of the House 
Appropriations Committee. She remained in his office in several 
different capacities until the Congressman's death in 1991. In 
September of that year, Gigi became the Federal Agency Coordinator for 
the White House Conference on Aging under President George H. W. Bush, 
before joining the office of former Congressman Peter I. Blute (R-MA) 
in 1993.
  If her early career enabled her to serve a single Member at a time, 
Gigi soon discovered a way to serve every Member of Congress--by 
joining the Office of the Clerk of the House. In 1995, she began her 
position as Chief of Legislative Operations with the Clerk. In that 
position, Gigi managed a staff of twenty who supported day-to-day House 
Floor operations. She continued to build upon her experience in the 
Clerk's office, and was appointed Assistant Clerk of the House in 
December 2003. Her duties included the operations and planning of a 
250-person organization responsible for the administration of the 
legislative processes of the House. In April 2006, Gigi was promoted to 
Deputy Clerk, where she continued to monitor Floor operations and 
administration for the Clerk's organization. This month, Gigi will 
retire from her position to devote more time to her family in Holyoke, 
Massachusetts. While she will be missed terribly, I admire the 
commitment to her family that led to Gigi's decision to retire. After 
so many years serving the public, it is no surprise that she is once 
again putting the needs of others first.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to commend Gigi Kelaher for her years of 
public service and devotion to the House of Representatives. Without 
the hard work of dedicated staff like Gigi, the ability of Members of 
Congress to represent the American public would suffer tremendously. I 
know that my colleagues join me in thanking her for her assistance over 
the years, and in wishing her the best now, and in all her future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________