[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 27, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO KATIE STAM, MISS AMERICA 2009, AND RYAN GUTHRIE, CHIEF OF 
                                 STAFF

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Hill) for 5 minutes.


                Tribute to Katie Stam, Miss America 2009

  Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, I rise for two reasons this morning, on this 
snowy day in Washington, DC.
  Number one is to congratulate Katie Stam, who is the new Miss 
America, who won her crown last Saturday in Las Vegas. Katie is from my 
hometown of Seymour, Indiana, and we could not be more proud of Katie 
and her accomplishments, more than ever before. This is a real tribute 
to her. She is a talented young lady. I know her personally. I had the 
opportunity to speak with her on Sunday to congratulate her on her 
accomplishments. She is a great singer and a beautiful woman.
  She is also a friend of the family. She and my youngest daughter, 
Libby, know each other very well, and we all speak very highly of 
Katie. I know for certain that she is going to represent not only 
Seymour, not only Indiana, but the entire United States of America as 
America's not only beautiful person outside, but beautiful person 
inside as well.
  We are immensely proud of Katie. I know her family very well. They 
are great people. It is just a proud moment for all of us to stand here 
in the well of the House today to congratulate Katie on all of her 
accomplishments that she has done.


                Tribute to Ryan Guthrie, Chief of Staff

  Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, the second reason that I rise here this 
morning is to honor my Chief of Staff, Ryan Guthrie, who is moving on 
to bigger and better things.
  Ryan Guthrie has been with me since day one, when I began the 
campaign for Congress back in 1998. He is a graduate of Indiana 
University. He is also from Seymour, Indiana, my hometown. He has been 
with me from the get-go.
  Madam Speaker, in this business of politics you get to a point where 
you have to depend reliably on people that you trust, and I can't think 
of anybody that I trust more than Ryan Guthrie. He has been a stalwart 
companion of mine. He has been there with me from day one. He has been 
through the battles. He has been through the victories and through the 
defeats. We have laughed and cried together, and I am going to miss him 
very much, but I wish him well.

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