[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 174 (Friday, November 9, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H13428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COMMUNICATION FROM THE GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE HOUSE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following 
communication from the General Counsel of the House of Representatives:

                                         House of Representatives,


                                Office of the General Counsel,

                                 Washington, DC, November 9, 2007.
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Speaker,
     House of Representatives.
       Dear Madam Speaker: I am writing to tender my resignation 
     as General Counsel to the House of Representatives, effective 
     the close of business on November 12, 2007. It has been an 
     honor and a pleasure to serve under three Speakers, including 
     yourself, for the past twelve years. Over that time, I have 
     tried to maintain a nonpartisan office that, both by 
     reputation and in practice, provides thoughtful and effective 
     legal advice and representation to all Members of the House, 
     without regard to political affiliation, and whose highest 
     obligation is to the long-term interests of the House. I 
     believe the other attorneys in the office and I have 
     succeeded in meeting these objectives. We have worked very 
     closely with Members and staffers from both sides of the 
     aisle on many matters, as well as with the House Officers and 
     the many institutional offices in the legislative branch. I 
     expect that the Office of General Counsel will continue to 
     fulfill this role for the House, and that the Office will 
     maintain the respect and trust it has enjoyed all these 
     years.
       I would like to recognize and thank the staff of the 
     Office: first, my very good friend and colleague who came 
     with me to the House over twelve years ago--Deputy General 
     Counsel Kerry Kircher, who will continue in that capacity and 
     provide excellent service to the House as he has always done. 
     I would also like to recognize the other attorneys, Assistant 
     Counsels David Plotinsky, Christine Davenport, and John 
     Filamor, who have all been with the Office for a long time 
     and who are well known to and respected by so many Members, 
     Officers and staff of the House. Finally, I would like to 
     recognize our Office Administrator, Czesia Constantine, who 
     has taken care of every aspect of the office's functions, 
     including watching every penny as though it were her own 
     money. Her service, and that of the many evening law students 
     who have worked as full time law clerks for the Office over 
     those years, have made it possible for the attorneys to 
     provide the quality of service for which the Office is known 
     and appreciated.
       I will greatly miss the many friends I have made here. I 
     congratulate my successor, Irv Nathan, on his appointment and 
     wish him every success. Thank you again, Madam Speaker, for 
     the opportunity to serve you.
           Sincerely,
                                              Geraldine R. Gennet,

     General Counsel.

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