[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THANKING TINA TATE FOR HER PUBLIC SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2007

  Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, today I pay tribute to the career and 
personal achievement of one of the House's own--Tina Tate, who will 
retire on May 17 as the Director of the House Radio and Television 
Gallery after 34 years of service to this wonderful institution.
  During the last three and one-half decades, Tina has worked 
tirelessly with the People's House and the media to chronicle the 
sometimes tumultuous but always lively day-to-day history of the 
Congress. She has gracefully assisted Democrats and Republicans in 
their interaction with the press during a period when technological 
advances changed the manner in which the media informed the American 
people about their government.
  In 1969, Tina moved from her native Georgia to Washington, DC, with 
her husband and young son. Three years later, during the Nixon 
Administration and Carl Albert's Speakership, she was hired as the 
first female employee of the House Radio and Television Gallery. At 
that time, there were only three national television news 
organizations, and it was still one year before CBS radio took the bold 
step of launching a ``news on the hour'' service.
  In 1981, she was selected Superintendent of the Radio TV Gallery--the 
first female to head that office. This was the first year of Ronald 
Reagan's Presidency and the fifth year of Thomas P. ``Tip'' O'Neill's 
service as Speaker. Since then she has overseen the historic coverage 
of the transition of power in the House, first from Democratic to 
Republican hands in 1994, and then a return to Democratic governance in 
2006.
  During her service, Tina served five Speakers of the House, guiding 
the House and those who cover it with integrity, honesty and a desire 
to help all sides succeed in a rapidly changing, frequently challenging 
environment.
  Madam Speaker, Tina has left her mark on Congress and those who cover 
us for the people. For the press, she has been an advocate and steady 
hand in working with Congress to expand openness and access. For 
Members of Congress, she has been a faithful guardian of the 
institution's interests and the precedents that protect this body.
  In addition to helping reporters gather news within the halls of 
Congress, Tina and her office have helped more than 5,000 members of 
independent radio and television organizations cover every national 
political convention. That makes sense, since once a nominee became 
President she oversaw their subsequent State of the Union Addresses.
  Tina not only arranged logistics, she innovated. She developed new 
platforms for coverage, whether that be utilizing Statuary Hall to 
allow Members to talk to national and local media, or paving the way 
for new technologies like HDTV to find their place in the coverage of 
newsworthy events. She has had a hand in making all of this work and 
finding new ways to open up our government.
  Tina's contribution will continue into the future. Since 2000, she 
has been working to establish a necessary and appropriate foothold for 
the electronic media in the Congressional Visitor's Center. As the 
technology and press have changed in 34 years, so have their needs and 
the needs of Members of Congress. She foresaw that growth and has 
worked with us to make the House successful in the years to come.
  Let me close by thanking Tina for her service, friendship and 
gracious guidance. She leaves the House of Representatives the better 
for her service.

                          ____________________