[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 5, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3156-H3158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK
Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1247) expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives that public servants should be commended for their
dedication and continued service to the Nation during Public Service
Recognition Week, May 3 through 9, 2010, and throughout the year.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1247
Whereas Public Service Recognition Week provides an
opportunity to recognize and promote the important
contributions of public servants and to honor the diverse men
and women who meet the needs of the Nation through work at
all levels of government;
Whereas millions of individuals work in government service
in every city, county, and State across America and in
hundreds of cities abroad;
Whereas public service is a noble calling, involving a
variety of challenging and rewarding professions;
Whereas Federal, State, and local governments are
responsive, innovative, and effective because of the
outstanding work of public servants;
Whereas the United States is a great and prosperous Nation,
and public service employees contribute significantly to that
greatness and prosperity;
Whereas the Nation benefits daily from the knowledge and
skills of these highly trained individuals;
Whereas public servants--
(1) defend our freedom and advance the interests of the
United States around the world;
(2) provide vital strategic support functions to our
military and serve in the National Guard and Reserves;
(3) fight crime and fires;
(4) ensure equal access to secure, efficient, and
affordable mail service;
(5) deliver Social Security and Medicare benefits;
(6) fight disease and promote better health;
(7) protect the environment and the Nation's parks;
(8) enforce laws guaranteeing equal employment opportunity
and healthy working conditions;
(9) defend and secure critical infrastructure;
(10) help the Nation recover from natural disasters and
terrorist attacks;
(11) teach and work in our schools and libraries;
(12) develop new technologies and explore the earth, moon,
and space to help improve our understanding of how our world
changes;
(13) improve and secure our transportation systems;
(14) promote economic growth; and
(15) assist our Nation's veterans;
Whereas members of the uniformed services and civilian
employees at all levels of government make significant
contributions to the general welfare of the United States,
and are on the front lines in the fight against terrorism and
in maintaining homeland security;
Whereas public servants work in a professional manner to
build relationships with other countries and cultures in
order to better represent America's interests and promote
American ideals;
Whereas public servants alert Congress and the public to
government waste, fraud, abuse, and dangers to public health;
Whereas the men and women serving in the Armed Forces of
the United States, as well as those skilled trade and craft
Federal employees who provide support to their efforts, are
committed to doing their jobs regardless of the
circumstances, and contribute greatly to the security of the
Nation and the world;
Whereas public servants have bravely fought in armed
conflict in defense of this Nation and its ideals, and
deserve the care and benefits they have earned through their
honorable service;
Whereas government workers have much to offer, as
demonstrated by their expertise and innovative ideas, and
serve as examples by passing on institutional knowledge to
train the next generation of public servants;
Whereas May 3 through 9, 2010, has been designated Public
Service Recognition Week to honor America's Federal, State,
and local government employees; and
Whereas Public Service Recognition Week is celebrating its
26th anniversary through job fairs, student activities, and
agency exhibits: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends public servants for their outstanding
contributions to this great Nation during Public Service
Recognition Week and throughout the year;
(2) salutes government employees for their unyielding
dedication and spirit of public service;
(3) honors those government employees who have given their
lives in service to their country;
(4) calls upon a new generation to consider a career in
public service as an honorable profession; and
(5) encourages efforts to promote public service careers at
all levels of government.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.
General Leave
Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and add any extraneous materials.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection.
Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I now yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, as chairman of the House subcommittee with
jurisdiction over the Federal workforce, postal service, and the
District of Columbia, I am pleased to present House Resolution 1247 for
consideration. This legislation expresses the sense of the House of
Representatives that public servants should be commended for their
dedication and continued service to the Nation during Public Service
Recognition Week and throughout the year.
As the original sponsor of the resolution, along with my friend and
colleague, Mr. Chaffetz of Utah, I'm proud to say that House Resolution
1247 has the support of 60 Members of Congress. I'd like to take this
opportunity to thank Mr. Chaffetz for jointly introducing the
resolution with me and for his work on bringing this to the floor
today. I'd also like to thank the Partnership for Public Service for
their role in organizing this annual celebration week, as well as for
their superior work promoting careers in the public sector.
Madam Speaker, this week marks the 27th anniversary of Public Service
Recognition Week. From May 3 through May 9, 2010, Public Service
Recognition Week is designed to commemorate the hard work, dedication,
and sacrifice made by our Nation's Federal, State, and local government
employees. It's highly appropriate that we take a moment each year to
fully appreciate the extraordinary deeds that are performed by our
public employees throughout our country and abroad. Among other things,
public servants fight fires and they enforce our laws; teach in our
schools and libraries; defend our Nation; and protect the environment
and our national parks. These individuals deserve our highest praise,
although too often they are criticized and undervalued.
There are millions of individuals who work in government services in
every city, county, and State across America and in hundreds of cities
abroad. We all benefit enormously from the hard work of these dedicated
individuals, and I'd like to take this opportunity to highlight a
terrific example from my own district of a good Federal employee
[[Page H3157]]
who performs on a daily basis tasks that are vital to a lot of people
that we worry about--and that is within the Veterans Administration
Boston health care system. The VA system is a consolidation of
facilities which delivers high-quality patient care to our Nation's
veterans in areas such as mental health services, occupational therapy,
and the women's veterans' homeless programs. The employees of all of
these centers help to ensure that our Nation's heroes receive the
health care they deserve. In particular, Cecilia McVey, who is the
Associate Director of Nursing and Patient Care Services at VA Boston,
who began her Federal career in 1972, and continues to be recognized as
a leader of the Boston VA health care system.
Madam Speaker, our public servants are being recognized this week. I
just want to talk about a few of them very, very briefly.
For example, Pius Bannis works for the field office of the U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Service. He has worked tirelessly and
selflessly providing assistance to Haitian orphans in the aftermath of
the devastation of the January, 2010, earthquake.
Sergeant Kimberly D. Munley and Sergeant Mark A. Todd, Sr., both
civilian employees, members of AFGE, the American Federation of
Government Employees, who responded to the shooting at Fort Hood. These
are civilian employees but they confronted an armed gunman and also
mass chaos. The two civilian Defense Department police officers brought
an end to the tragic carnage and rampage at Fort Hood that killed 14
people and wounded 43 others.
Also, Sara Bloom, an attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office in my own
district of Massachusetts. Sara Bloom led the legal case against one of
the major drug manufacturers and recovered $2.3 billion on behalf of
the American people in fines and penalties--the largest health care
fraud settlement in the history of the United States.
Jamie Konstas, an Intelligence Analyst at the FBI. He provided vital
resources in the fight against commercial and sexual exploitation of
children, which has resulted in the conviction of more than 500
individuals and predators and the rescue of more than a thousand child
victims.
Also, Carl W. Pike and the Project Coronado Team. They led the
largest strike against the La Familia Mexican drug cartel, resulting in
more than a thousand arrests, plus the seizure of 1\1/2\ tons of
methamphetamine and $32 million in cash.
Also, Terry Glass and the Army Medical Support Systems Team, which
developed a state-of-the-art medical evacuation kit to provide
lifesaving treatment and emergency transportation to soldiers severely
wounded by roadside bombs.
Lastly, Robert James (RJ) Simonds, who dedicated his 20-year career
to fighting the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, advising policymakers on the
creation of lifesaving programs and working in developing nations to
assure those families receive those services.
Those are just a handful of the public servants that we recognize
this week. They are a wonderful reflection of what a lot of people do
every day. Madam Speaker, our public servants' hard work and dedication
contribute significantly to the greatness and prosperity of our Nation.
It is for this reason that, with the help the gentleman from Utah (Mr.
Chaffetz) I introduce this resolution, and I urge its adoption. Public
servants improve our lives on a daily basis. I hope this Congress will
take the time to honor all of those who have dedicated their life to
our country by voting in favor of House Resolution 1247.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1247, commending
public servants for their service and dedication to our Nation during
Public Service Recognition Week. Every day, millions of hardworking and
highly talented Americans serve their country and help make the United
States even stronger. As a Nation, we owe public servants everywhere
our gratitude for the work that they do.
Americans rely on public employees to keep us safe. Every day, men
and women in uniform worldwide protect our freedom and allow us to live
our lives in peace and security. When we have an emergency, we depend
on firefighters and police officers to help us out in a dangerous and
difficult situation. Only a few days ago, we witnessed the heroic
actions of the Coast Guard in coming to the rescue of over 100 oil
workers trapped on the burning Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of
Mexico. During many natural disasters, the dedicated members of the
National Guard leave their own families and help people and their
communities recover and rebuild in times of peril.
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On normal days, all American lives are enriched by public employees.
Whether it's the postal employee who delivers our mail regardless of
the weather or the public schoolteacher whose constant enthusiasm
inspires our children to succeed in school, we enjoy the benefits of
the work our public servants give us constantly.
Much of the work of public employees we take for granted and do not
even realize. There are people on every corner in this country who step
up and do the right thing. Now, from time to time we hear about a
public employee who does the wrong thing, and that usually will make
the news, as it should, because it is not the norm. It is not regular
for that to happen. We will highlight those. We will be vigilant in
making sure that our public servants are doing what they're supposed to
be doing in serving the public.
Whether it's at the local, State, or Federal level, pubic servants
are a significant part of the fabric of this country, and we could not
be the great Nation that we are today without their tireless efforts on
our behalf.
Madam Speaker, it is my honor to support this resolution today which
commends the service of the millions of Americans who serve our country
daily. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I also
encourage all Americans to take some time to thank the public employees
that they see for all they do to improve our lives and strengthen our
country.
Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res.
1247, which commends public servants across the United States for their
continued service to the nation during Public Service Recognition Week
and throughout the year. This legislation honors the men and women who
recognize that service is a solution to serious challenges and
selflessly dedicate themselves to the betterment of communities across
the country.
I thank Chairman Towns for his leadership in bringing this bill to
the floor. I also thank the sponsor of this legislation, Congressman
Lynch, for acknowledging the importance of a strong culture of service
in the United States.
It is important that we continue to honor and commend the public
servants who tirelessly dedicate their lives to serving our nation. I
have personally witnessed the transformative power of public service in
my own state. Last year, in California, the Corporation for National
and Community Service helped 230,000 individuals of all ages and
backgrounds meet local needs, strengthen communities, and increase
civic engagement through 366 projects state-wide.
We also must honor and commend employees at all levels of government,
many of whom dedicate the majority of their lives working to ensure
that government is responsive, innovative, and--most importantly--
attuned to the needs of the American people. Public servants in
government are critical to promoting and protecting the core American
values of democracy and representation.
Finally, we cannot forget those in the medical profession who care
for the sick, young and old; the teachers who educate our children to
become future leaders in our classrooms, colleges, and universities;
the police and firefighters who protect our streets and keep us safe;
or the construction workers who build our roads and bridges so we can
get to work. Public service comes in many forms, all of which are
equally vital in promoting the economic and moral strength of our
nation.
Madam Speaker, it is entirely fitting that applaud those who serve
the public good--whether through their careers, community
organizations, or on their own in their spare time--and commend them
for their efforts improve the lives of millions of Americans.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1247.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the
aisle, and I want to thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) for
his support on this resolution and cosponsorship. I ask my colleagues
to
[[Page H3158]]
join us in supporting House Resolution 1247.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1247.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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