[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PASSING OF JAMIE GRODSKY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 15, 2010

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to offer my 
condolences and sympathies to the family and friends of Jamie Grodsky, 
former counsel for the Natural Resources Committee at the time that I 
served as committee chair. Her funeral took place in San Francisco in 
May of this year, and she will also be remembered in a Memorial Service 
to be held on September 20 in Jack Morton Auditorium at George 
Washington University.
  Jamie passed away on May 22, 2010. She was an extraordinary 
individual, who was both respected and cherished by her numerous 
friends and family members, as well as by her colleagues and students.
  Jamie played many valuable roles in her various jobs in all three 
branches of the Federal Government and in academia. For five years in 
the 1980's she was an Analyst with the Office of Technology Assessment. 
In that capacity she helped write reports and analyses that helped us 
to understand and benefit from changes in information technology and 
economic competition.
  From 1993 to 1995, Jamie returned to the Hill to serve as a counsel 
to the Natural Resources Committee. During that time, Jamie worked with 
me on a wide range of issues, including developing new policies for the 
conservation and use of the natural resources in the Western United 
States, and other environmental issues.
  A native of California, Jamie went to work for Senator Dianne 
Feinstein from California, as a counsel on the Judiciary Committee from 
1995 to 1997. Among other issues she worked on were privacy, civil 
rights, judicial nominations, antitrust, intellectual property, and 
constitutional law.
  Jamie was well educated and loved learning. She received a BA with 
distinction from Stanford University, where she was elected president 
of her class. She subsequently received an MA from U.C. Berkeley in 
Economic Geography, and returned to Stanford to receive her law degree 
where she was Articles Editor of the Stanford Law Review and received 
the Murie Award in Environmental Law and the Ochlmann Prize for Legal 
Writing.
  Jamie left Capitol Hill to clerk for the Chief Judge of the Ninth 
Circuit, the Hon. Proctor Hug, who described her as ``the most multi-
talented person I have ever met.'' From there, Jamie served as Senior 
Advisor to the general counsel of the U.S. EPA from 1999 to 2001.
  Jamie went on to become a well respected law professor, first at the 
University of Minnesota, and, beginning in 2006, as a Professor of 
Environmental Law at George Washington University where she received 
tenure. She was a proficient writer and was one of the Nation's 
preeminent experts in environmental law. Two of her recent articles 
were chosen as being among the top five law review articles in the 
Nation.
  At various times, Jamie also found time to backpack around 
Appalachia, play guitar with the great Doc Watson; walk with Native 
Americans from California to Utah; serve as Educational Director of the 
San Francisco Oceanic Society (where she founded Sea Camp, a children's 
maritime educational camp); and conduct research in marine biology at 
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts.
  There is no question that the Congress and our country are a better 
place because of Jamie's contributions. Jamie displayed not only 
tremendous knowledge, expertise and judgment, but also incredible 
enthusiasm and friendship to all who knew her. I know I speak for all 
of my colleagues on both sides of Capitol Hill, as well as Jamie's co-
workers in the Executive Branch and Judicial Branch, and for her 
students and friends in Washington, D.C., California, Minnesota and 
around the Nation, when I offer my condolences and respect for a life 
well lived and fully enjoyed.

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