[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 10, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO PAUL OOSTBURG SANZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 10, 2010

  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Paul 
Oostburg Sanz, who until recently served as the General Counsel of the 
House Armed Services Committee. As a result of his confirmation by the 
other body late last week, Paul will soon take a new position as the 
General Counsel of the Department of the Navy.
  Paul Oostburg Sanz became General Counsel of the House Armed Services 
Committee in January 2007, just at the time I had the honor to begin 
serving as committee chairman. In the almost three years since, Paul 
has played a critical role in day-to-day operations of the committee 
and has also been a trusted advisor on the legal issues facing the 
Department of Defense.
  It is no exaggeration to say that Paul's ability to grasp complex 
issues, his attention to detail, and his years of experience on Capitol 
Hill were instrumental in helping our committee and the Congress to 
achieve the enactment of the last three annual National Defense 
Authorization Acts.
  Our committee and the Congress have particularly benefited from 
Paul's expertise on matters related to detainee policy and the Military 
Commissions Act, as well as issues related to counter-narcotics, 
matters related to Southern Command, and international legal issues.
  A look at Paul's resume gives you a good idea about the breadth and 
diversity of his experience. He earned a law degree at Harvard 
University Law School and earned a Master in Public Affairs degree from 
Princeton University.
  His international experience includes service as Peace Corps English 
teacher in Guinea-Bissau, and work in South Africa conducting political 
party training during the historic 1994 national elections. Paul also 
worked on conflict-resolution issues for the U.S. Embassy in Liberia, 
and on democracy and governance programs for the USAID Mission in 
Mozambique.
  Before coming to Capitol Hill, Paul clerked for a U.S. district court 
judge in Puerto Rico. From May 2001 to December 2006, Paul served as 
the Deputy Chief Counsel for the House Committee on International 
Relations, providing strategic and procedural counsel to our 
distinguished colleague, the late Congressman Tom Lantos, who at that 
time was the committee's Ranking Member.
  It is clear that Paul has the education, experience, and intellectual 
gifts to be an excellent General Counsel for the U.S. Navy. I also 
believe Paul has the temperament to serve our country exceptionally 
well in this position. In the time I have worked with Paul, he has 
approached every problem and every challenge thrown his way with a calm 
demeanor and rational analysis. Then he gets to work, and his hard work 
pays off.
  Because of Paul Oostburg Sanz's outstanding ability and work 
performance, I am not surprised the Obama Administration sought him out 
to serve at the Pentagon. The prospect of Paul's departure from the 
Hill gives me no joy, but I am happy that his talents have been 
recognized and that our country will continue to benefit from his 
service. Paul will be missed by all of us on the House Armed Services 
Committee, but I wish him every success in his new role as General 
Counsel of the Department of the Navy.

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