[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM D. McNAMEE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 16, 2009

  Mr. WU. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Service Field Office Director William D. 
McNamee. Director McNamee will be retiring in July 2009 after thirty 
years of service to our country.
  Former Oregon Governor Tom McCall once said, ``Heroes are not giant 
statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say, `This is my 
community, and it is my responsibility to make it better.' '' Bill 
McNamee truly is an American hero, for he has devoted much of his life 
to making his country and community better.
  Bill McNamee began his career with legacy Immigration and 
Naturalization Service (INS) as an inspector in Calais, Maine, in July 
1978. During the next thirty years, Bill worked not only in the United 
States, but also in Canada and Germany. As the INS officer in charge in 
Frankfurt, Germany, from June 1998 to July 2001, one of Bill's many 
successes was helping approximately 60,000 Bosnian refugees obtain 
permanent resettlement in the United States. His commitment and empathy 
for this vulnerable population was extraordinary and deserves to be 
recognized.
  In my home state of Oregon, we were fortunate to have Bill McNamee 
assigned to our INS Office in 2001. He became district director in 2004 
and has led this office with compassion, integrity, and a sense of 
dedication to the immigrants he serves. His colleagues, his employees, 
and the public all respect Bill for his efforts to provide excellent 
service: a rare distinction.
  Bill McNamee's commitment to public service is also evident in his 
work with the Federal Executive Board. The Board coordinates all 
federal, state, and local government organizations to ensure that every 
agency is better prepared for emergencies. Due to Bill's dedication to 
this mission, he was instrumental in obtaining permanent congressional 
funding for the Board.
  It is an honor for me to recognize Director McNamee for his service 
and for providing a heroic example to us all.

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