[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 70 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO MR. KEVIN COOK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 2009

  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Kevin 
Cook, former Clerk of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy 
and Water Development, who recently retired after ten years of 
honorable service for the U.S. Congress and over thirty years of 
service with the federal government. During my time serving as a Member 
of this Subcommittee. I had the distinct pleasure of working with Mr. 
Cook and benefiting from his knowledge and counsel on budgetary, policy 
and oversight matters.
  Mr. Cook devoted his career to serving in the federal government and 
spent almost three decades working for various federal agencies and for 
Congress. Mr. Cook started his career as a geologist for the U.S. 
Forest Service before spending over 20 years as a hydrologist, water 
resources planner, project manager and physical scientist for the Army 
Corps of Engineers. Mr. Cook came to the House of Representatives in 
1998, where he served as Science Advisor and Counsel for the House 
Energy and Commerce Committee and then as a Professional Staff Member, 
the Majority and then the Minority Clerk for the House Energy and Water 
Development Subcommittee on Appropriations, where I had the honor of 
working closely with him.
  As clerk for the Subcommittee, Mr. Cook oversaw appropriations for 
the Department of Energy, the Civil Works programs of the Army Corps of 
Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, as well as a number of related 
agencies. In this role, he oversaw appropriations and conducted 
oversight of these programs and worked diligently to uphold the 
interest of the taxpayer to ensure that our taxpayer dollars were spent 
efficiently and effectively. I was a frequent beneficiary of his 
guidance and expertise, as I know were the Chairman, Ranking Member and 
the other members of the Subcommittee.
  Madam Speaker, I believe that we owe much of our effectiveness as 
Members to the hard work and dedication of the staff. Kevin Cook 
exemplifies the highest ideals of public service and served the 
Committee and the federal government with honor, integrity and 
enthusiasm. We will miss his expertise and counsel greatly--his 
knowledge and understanding of the issues at hand will be difficult to 
match. Thank you, Kevin, for your many years of service to the federal 
government, the United States Congress and our nation.

                          ____________________