[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 125 (Tuesday, September 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE SERVICE OF JEAN FRUCI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 8, 2009

  Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
service of a valued staff member of the Committee on Science and 
Technology, Jean Fruci.
  Jean has served on the Committee staff since July 1995. In 2007, she 
became Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, 
which handles issues related to U.S. energy policy and environmental 
science. It oversees civilian R&D programs within the Department of 
Energy; R&D programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, including climate, weather, and ocean research; and 
research at the Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to joining the 
Committee, she worked as a Legislative Assistant to Rep. George E. 
Brown (D-CA) in the areas of agriculture, resource management, energy, 
and the environment.
  Since becoming Staff Director, Jean has played a pivotal role in 
several of the Committee's key pieces of legislation including the 
Energy Independence and Security Act, the America COMPETES Act, and the 
National Climate Service Act.
  Jean's expertise is unmatched, especially in environmental research 
and development, and weather and climate monitoring. She is a scientist 
at her core--she holds a Ph.D. in soil science from Cornell 
University--but she also can effortlessly negotiate the intricacies of 
policy and government agencies. She is an invaluable resource to 
Members and a mentor to the people working under her.
  Madam Speaker, Jean's service, expertise, and institutional knowledge 
has made her a valued member of the Committee staff. I know that all of 
the Science and Technology Committee's Members and staff wish her well 
with the next phase of her life and career. In closing, I just want to 
say thank you, Jean, for your many years of dedicated and loyal 
service. We will miss you, and we hope that our paths cross again in 
the future.

                          ____________________