[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 3, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO KENT M. RONHOVDE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT A. BRADY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 3, 2010

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share with 
you the life and mourn the death of a remarkable public servant who 
dedicated his career to serving the United States Congress. Mr. Kent M. 
Ronhovde died on February 19 after a valiant struggle with cancer. Kent 
worked for 36 years at the Congressional Research Service, starting as 
an entry-level attorney right after law school and rising to senior 
management positions in the Service.
  At the time of his death, Kent was Associate Director for 
Congressional Affairs and Counselor to the Director. In that capacity 
and for the last 7 years, he was the liaison between CRS and its 
oversight committees in the House and Senate ensuring that CRS and its 
congressional overseers remained in communication over the critical 
issues facing the Service. Regardless of changes in congressional and 
committee leadership, Kent ensured that there were no changes in CRS's 
commitment to its core values of confidentiality, authoritativeness, 
non-partisanship and objectivity.
  This commitment to CRS values manifested itself in Mr. Ronhovde's 
other duties. He oversaw the Review Office, where all CRS products are 
reviewed for consistency with the dictates of objectivity, non-advocacy 
and nonpartisanship. Kent and his office also counseled CRS employees 
and managers on the delicate questions surrounding outside speaking and 
writing and compliance with CRS and Library of Congress regulations and 
policies designed to ensure that all CRS staff maintain the ability to 
be seen as impartial and objective in their work for Congress. These 
are questions whose sensitivity is matched by their importance to CRS 
and to the Congress. Kent understood well the absolute necessity of CRS 
maintaining its reputation for objectivity. Whether reviewing a report 
or memo, determining the propriety of an outside activity of a CRS 
staff member or advising the Director of CRS on a policy question, Kent 
exercised the good judgment and discretion demanded by such sensitive 
questions, questions with potentially profound consequences for the 
institution.
  Mr. Ronhovde's devotion to CRS' mission to serve Congress and 
commitment to its values infused his entire career. He joined CRS' 
American Law Division after graduation from Georgetown Law School in 
1974, law school having been interrupted by service in Vietnam as an 
intelligence officer. In the American Law Division, Kent rose through 
the attorney ranks, became a section head in 1985 and Assistant Chief 
of the division in 1986. During this time, he also earned a Masters of 
Public Administration from American University. Kent became a senior 
manager in the CRS Director's Office in 1996 and assumed his latest 
position in 2003. His portfolio in that position--in addition to the 
committee liaison and policy compliance responsibilities I recounted 
above--touched on the most important and consequential issues facing 
CRS. Director Daniel P. Mulhollan stated that ``Kent provided 
exceptional service to the Congress and to CRS. Colleagues throughout 
the Library and CRS admired his careful and deliberate judgment, his 
insightful examination of the question at hand and his sense of 
equanimity and balance. The Service and I could not have had a better 
counsel.''
  CRS and the Congress have lost a wise and devoted public servant. We 
extend our deepest sympathies to Kent's wife, Juliet, daughters Kristin 
and Brooke and their families and to all his friends and colleagues in 
CRS.

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