[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 189 (Monday, December 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC SERVICE OF VICKIE WALLING

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                          HON. JOHN S. TANNER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 14, 2009

  Mr. TANNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and our colleagues 
to join me in recognizing and thanking Vickie Walling for her years of 
distinguished work on Capitol Hill. Vickie is retiring at the end of 
this year after 35 years of public service to the 8th District of 
Tennessee and to our country.
  Vickie and I are from the same hometown, Union City, though she is 
fortunate to be a number of years younger. She attended Union City High 
School and the University of Tennessee-Martin, where, incidentally, she 
was roommates with another woman many of us greatly respect, UT Lady 
Vols Head Coach Pat Summitt.
  Vickie came to work in the House of Representatives in 1974 and soon 
after joined the staff of Congressman Ed Jones, my predecessor in 
representing the 8th District in this chamber. She immediately began to 
distinguish herself as a dedicated staff member and a leader among her 
peers on Capitol Hill.
  Fortunately, Vickie and other members of Mr. Jones' superb staff 
agreed to continue their service to the 8th District when Betty Ann and 
I were honored to come to DC in 1989 following Mr. Jones' retirement. 
In fact, many of Mr. Jones' former staff members--Kathy Becker, 
Margaret Black, Betty Hardin, Doug Thompson and Vickie--still serve 
alongside us to assist and represent West and Middle Tennesseans.
  Over the years, Vickie has become a true leader not just within our 
office but across Capitol Hill. Her dedication, tireless work ethic and 
keen understanding of legislative issues such as health care, 
bipartisan welfare reform and strategic demobilization have put her in 
a class all her own. Vickie has also been instrumental in helping us 
form and develop the Blue Dog Coalition, having been there when we 
first began meeting almost 15 years ago. Since then, with Vickie's 
help, we have been able to grow the Coalition to more than 50 Members, 
and the Coalition has become an important voice in representing 
millions of Americans.
  Many of us in this chamber and others have sought Vickie's guidance 
and counsel over the years. Her insight and honesty are invaluable.
  I often tell our constituents that serving in elected office is 
similar to a turtle finding itself on top of a fence post; one simply 
cannot get there alone. Vickie and the others serving in the 8th 
District offices are dedicated public servants whose work is crucial to 
ensuring our constituents are well-represented. Though they may not 
know her as well as we do, Tennesseans have been very well served by 
Vickie's many efforts on their behalf.
  Madam Speaker, please join Betty Ann, our staff, our colleagues and 
me in expressing gratitude to Vickie Walling for her commitment to 
service and helping enact effective public policy. We wish Vickie all 
the best in her retirement and know her daily presence here will be 
greatly missed.

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