[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H16914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO JOYCE HAMLETT: A WOMAN CONTINUING TO BLAZE NEW TRAILS AS 
                           KEEPER OF THE MACE

  (Mr. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give honor to one 
of our great House employees here that works in this Chamber every day, 
and that's Joyce Hamlett.
  Joyce has had the opportunity to be appointed as Assistant Sergeant 
at Arms in charge of the mace of the House of Representatives. I think 
this is a very high accomplishment for someone like Ms. Hamlett who has 
a meek-like spirit and very nice lady, and I've been working with her, 
and she's been working not only with me but my mother and other Members 
that have served here in the House.
  She's the first African American woman to serve as keeper of the 
mace. Her high moral upbringing prepares her for this honorable 
position.
  Mr. Speaker, I can go further, and I do as it relates to my 
Congressional Record statement, but we honor not only her presence 
here, but we honor the fact that she gives God all of the grace and the 
glory for her accomplishments here in the House of Representatives.
  Mr. Speaker and Members of Congress, as a Member of Congress, I am 
moved by Ms. Joyce Hamlett's trust in patience, trust in truth and 
trust that God has planned a great path for her life.
  I rise to ask you to join me in recognizing the excellent service and 
continued professional success of Ms. Joyce Hamlett, newly appointed 
Assistant Sergeant of Arms for the U.S. House of Representatives.
  Congressional business begins when the Mace is set, and ends when it 
is lifted.
  There is one woman with the great responsibility to ensure that the 
Mace is available for this historical purpose.
  And, in times of emergency, one woman guards the Mace and preserves 
its protection.
  Ms. Joyce Hamlett is the first African American woman to serve as the 
Keeper of the Mace. Her moral upbringing prepared her for this 
honorable position.
  Ms. Hamlett was raised by her grandfather in a church community that 
fostered the importance of honesty and faith.
  Indeed, Ms. Hamlett's strong heritage has served as the guiding force 
throughout her career on Capitol Hill.
  In the early 1980s, Ms. Hamlett departed Broadway, North Carolina and 
began her successful professional journey alongside her mother, Betty 
Pearson, at the Capitol Cafe.
  Within five years, Ms. Hamlett rose to cook for lawmakers upstairs in 
the Capitol Hill restaurant.
  Her respectable interaction with lawmakers continued when she went on 
to serve as elevator operator under the Architect of the Capitol. 
During that time, she formed long-lasting friendships with many Members 
of Congress.
  In the early 1990s, Ms. Hamlett interviewed for the position of 
chamber security, and soon after began to firmly enforce House rules on 
the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
  As chamber security, she was well-known as one who worked hard to 
safeguard the principles and rich tradition of the U.S. House of 
Representatives.
  Because of her excellent service, Ms. Hamlett was promoted to her 
current position as Keeper of the Mace.
  Ms. Hamlett is not only Keeper of the Mace, but she is also keeper of 
a strong moral foundation and keeper of the wisdom and principle 
represented by the Mace's solid-silver eagle.
  Mr. Speaker and Members of Congress, I congratulate Ms. Joyce 
Hamlett, a woman that continues to blaze new trails with distinction as 
Assistant Sergeant of Arms for the U.S. House of Representatives.
  Thank you Mr. Speaker and Members of Congress.

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