[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 9, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1050-E1051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING MARTIN LEONARD SKUTNIK

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. PAUL RYAN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 9, 2010

  Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and 
to say thank you to Martin Leonard Skutnik. Lenny is retiring after 30 
years of service to the Congressional Budget Office. As you know, Madam 
Speaker, the Budget Committee relies heavily on CBO and on the 
professionalism, dedication, and competence of its staff--and those are 
the very traits I think of when I think of Lenny Skutnik: professional, 
dedicated, and competent. Lenny paid perhaps one of the highest 
compliments an employee can pay to his employer when he said recently 
that he was ``proud to have been a part of it [CBO].'' That pride was 
evident in his work and the support he provided CBO in ensuring its 
products were printed and disseminated in a timely manner.
  Lenny had a career at CBO of which he can be proud and Lenny--through 
his unforgettable actions on a cold day in January nearly 30 years 
ago--filled this nation with pride even as we watched the fate of Air 
Florida Flight 90 in horror. On that January 13th, which will forever 
be remembered by those who then lived and worked in and around 
Washington, DC, Lenny provided a very real face to heroism. Lenny 
pushed his own safety to the back of his mind, defied logic, and 
willingly jumped into the icy waters of the Potomac to help those in 
need. Lenny's humility and grace keep him from acknowledging he did 
anything extraordinary, yet we know differently. Lenny's actions 
provide inspiration to us all and provide a vivid example for us to use 
when describing the concept of heroism to our children.

[[Page E1051]]

  Madam Speaker, the Congress was fortunate to have Lenny Skutnik as an 
employee for the last 30 years and this nation is proud to call Lenny 
one of its own. I wish him a long, healthy, and happy retirement. He 
has earned it.

                          ____________________