[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK

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                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 12, 2009

  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, El Paso, Texas has a strong history of 
public service. Everywhere in our community we are surrounded by people 
working for the common good and devoting their lives to helping others. 
Our city is very fortunate to count on local, county, state, and 
federal employees, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that 
our children are taught, our sick are provided the medical care they 
need, and everyday citizens have access to vital services.
  Our public servants are not recognized or thanked enough for the work 
they do. In honor of public service recognition week, I would like to 
take this opportunity to express my appreciation for our public 
servants in El Paso, Texas. Here are just a few examples of those who 
continue to make significant contributions to our community.
  Mrs. Deborah Hamlyn is a homegrown El Pasoan and veteran City 
employee of over 30 years. After being recruited by the City of El Paso 
for an internship with the Planning Department, Ms. Hamlyn continued to 
advance within the organization. She maintained various planning 
positions and in 1987 ultimately became the first female Director of 
Community and Human Development where she remained for over 15 years. 
Ms. Hamlyn now serves as Deputy City Manager and has worked tirelessly 
to improve the quality of life of her fellow El Pasoans.
  Mr. Ray Resendez, III serves as the Regional Liasion Manager for the 
Governor's State Division of Emergency Management. After 20 years of 
serving the El Paso community as a firefighter, Mr. Resendez spends his 
energy making sure that our community is prepared for any unforeseen 
disaster or emergency. In these times of a heightened state of alert, 
Mr. Resendez serves the people of El Paso well, with great dedication 
and passion.
  Another great example is Mr. Rodney Thompson at the Veterans Affairs 
Office in El Paso. He has worked diligently over the years to ensure 
that our nation cares for our veterans and affords them the dignity and 
respect that they deserve. He manages our veterans' cases and has been 
a great partner.
  In addition to Mr. Thompson, our seniors and veterans in El Paso are 
fortunate to have people like Mrs. Rosanna Monge, a nurse practitioner 
at the El Paso Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinic. Mrs. Monge has been 
a reliable advocate for our veterans when it comes to their health 
needs and is passionately committed to taking care of these men and 
women who have given so much.
  Mrs. Nellie Velez is another great example of an outstanding public 
servant. She is the District Manager at the Social Security 
Administration in El Paso and takes great care in advocating on behalf 
of our seniors.
  Ms. Isabel Mullens, the Acting Assistant Director of Field Operations 
at Customs and Border Protection in El Paso, has also devoted much of 
her life to serving our community. She started her career with the 
federal government on November 12, 1973. Initially hired as a GS-02 
clerk at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, she has risen to her 
current position through years of hard work and dedication. Thousands 
of people cross back and forth from El Paso, Texas to Ciudad Juarez, 
Mexico both on foot and by car as our communities share strong 
economic, social, and cultural ties. Mrs. Mullens serves our community 
with compassion and vigilance ensuring that our ports facilitate trade 
and commerce and are safe and secure.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent the people of the 16th 
Congressional District. Our community is vibrant and strong because of 
the individuals I have highlighted and the thousands of other public 
servants in El Paso who take pride in their work and their service to 
our nation. I salute all our public servants and honor them for their 
efforts.

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