[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 190 (Wednesday, December 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO F. BRENT LEATHERWOOD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CONNIE MACK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2007

  Mr. MACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor F. Brent Leatherwood 
for his years of exemplary service in my office and to the constituents 
of the Fourteenth Congressional District of Florida.
  I first met Brent shortly after he graduated from college at the 
University of Central Florida. When I met Brent, he was working for 
former Congressman Bill McCollum. I was impressed by Brent's energy, 
his passion for the Constitution, his dedication to the principles of 
federalism, and his strong work ethic. Because of this, I hired him to 
be my Legislative Assistant when I was first elected in 2004. It was 
here that Brent honed his skills serving in my office.
  Over the past few years, Brent has worked closely with members of 
Congress, his fellow staffers in the House and Senate, and others on 
various projects and legislative initiatives. One of the most important 
of these ventures Brent worked on was the reauthorization of the 
PATRIOT Act. Brent crafted a strategy and worked with members of 
Congress and congressional staff in order to ensure that many 
Constitutional safeguards were included in the final legislation. He 
brought a passion to this debate like no other and was one of my key 
advisers in this arena. Freedom and federalism is at the core of 
Brent's philosophical beliefs and he constantly reminded me of Ben 
Franklin's famous quote, ``Those who would give up essential liberty to 
purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor 
safety.''
  In mid-2005, because of the skill and diligence he brought to the 
job, Brent was promoted to Senior Legislative Assistant. Brent has 
served in that capacity to this date.
  Brent has always had a love, respect, and passion for the rule of law 
and he has now been presented with a tremendous opportunity to return 
to his native Tennessee and begin his formal study of the law. While I 
am excited for Brent to begin the next phase of his life, make no 
mistake about it, he will be greatly missed. He has been a valuable 
member and an irreplaceable part of my team.
  I have valued his advice over the last few years. And I am proud to 
call him my friend. On behalf of the Fourteenth Congressional District, 
I'd like to thank Brent for his years of service to the people of 
Southwest Florida and indeed our nation. He is a true patriot and we 
wish him all the best for a lifetime of happiness and great success.

                          ____________________