[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF JULIA E. HUDSON

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 5, 2007

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I ask the House to recognize Julia Hudson, 
who served as my chief of staff for 8 years and has been a member of my 
staff throughout most of my own service in the Congress. On September 
5, 2007, Julia left the House of Representatives to pursue a career in 
public relations, the field for which she prepared herself in graduate 
school. The loss to my office, to me personally, and to the people of 
the District of Columbia is immense. However, Julia has spent nearly 
her entire professional life in my office serving the people of this 
city with excellence and special dedication to her job and to me in 
pursuit of my work in the House. It is understandable that she would 
want to pursue her chosen profession.
  Julia's career here in the House of Representatives demonstrates the 
opportunities for upward mobility that are available based on hard work 
and proven capability. Starting as a staff assistant, an entry level 
job, she was promoted to legislative correspondent and to a sub-
committee staff position before leaving for a short time to work in the 
Clinton administration in 1999. Because of her great skill, initiative 
and hard work, I later asked her to return, and she continued to work 
her way up to become my chief of staff when political guru Donna 
Brazile resigned after 10 years with me to spearhead the Gore-Lieberman 
2000 presidential bid.
  In addition to her non-stop work leading ``Team Norton,'' as Julia 
christened our staff, Julia, a native Washingtonian, has always 
performed outside public service here in her hometown. She is a member 
of the Links, Incorporated and serves as the chair of the Links' High 
Expectations Mentoring Program. The Links is an organization of 
accomplished, dedicated women who are active in their community here 
and nationwide. The Links members are activists, volunteers, mentors, 
role models and newsmakers who make the name ``Links'' mean not only a 
chain of friendship, but also of purposeful service. Over the years, I 
have watched Julia serve as a mentor and role model for the aspiring 
professionals who interned in our office. She set the perfect example 
for them to strive for the best and to take every opportunity from 
their internship to learn all that they could.
  Julia's cordial relations with others in the Congress was an added 
asset to us in our work. She was always as agreeable and collegial as 
she was efficient and able. She is remembered for her friendships and 
for her professionalism, dedication, generosity, patience and her 
willingness to always ``go that extra mile'' in performing her chief of 
staff duties. She set a gold standard for staff. I ask my colleagues to 
join me in recognizing Julia Hudson for outstanding service to the 
House of Representatives and to the residents of the District of 
Columbia. Julia will remain a dear friend to us all and, of course, a 
life member of Team Norton.

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