[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 132 (Thursday, September 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1561-E1562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONGRESSIONAL TRIBUTE HONORING MS. SYLVIA S. SCHWAB, HOUSE 
  CONGRESSIONAL LIAISON OFFICER, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS (RETIRED)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 8, 2011

  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to rise to honor Ms. Sylvia 
S. Schwab, House Congressional Liaison Officer, Office of Legislative 
Affairs, United States Marine Corps, for her decades of service on 
Capitol Hill and twelve years as an invaluable Civilian Marine.
  Ms. Schwab is an alumna of Mary Washington College, and has 
undertaken graduate studies in social work at the Catholic University 
of America. Ms. Schwab's personal decorations include twenty-five years 
of outstanding performance and monetary awards as well as numerous 
letters of appreciation and training completion certificates. Ms. 
Schwab was a valued staffer to Representative Tom Bevill (D-4-AL), who 
served in this body for 30 years. Representative Tom Bevill (D-4-AL) 
and my father, Representative Walter B. Jones, Sr. (D-1-NC), both 
served together in Congress for many years and were close and personal 
friends.
  Ms. Schwab brought her unique experience and perspective to numerous 
roles, including Senior Legislative Assistant/Director of Casework and 
Deputy Chief of Staff/Constituent Relations Director. Since that time, 
Ms. Schwab has served with distinction as Special Assistant to the 
Chief of Legislative Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Navy, as 
Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower 
and Reserve Affairs, and as Special Legislative Liaison, Office of 
Legislative Affairs, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
  As House Congressional Liaison Officer, Ms. Schwab has served four 
Commandants and five Legislative Assistants, providing her mastery 
skills and knowledge to the Marine Corps environment. She brought with 
her a keen insight into the inner workings of the House of 
Representatives. Ms. Schwab's two decades of experience on Capitol Hill 
and at Marine Corps Headquarters have provided her with the ability to 
capitalize on long-standing relationships with congressional staff 
members to ensure that the Marine Corps message was being delivered and 
received in a manner that ensured open and effective communication 
between Congressional Staff and the Marine Corps. Ms. Schwab 
represented the Marine Corps on all Marine-related matters and guided 
the Marine Corps' most difficult and challenging legislative 
initiatives with great success. Through direct interaction with Members 
of Congress, and their staffs, she ensured that the Marine Corps 
requirements were widely known and understood, thereby guaranteeing the 
best possible support. Examples of her success include the procurement 
of the MV-22 Osprey, the acquisition of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected 
(MRAP) vehicles and wide-ranging Congressional support for the 
establishment of the Wounded Warrior regiment.
  Ms. Schwab's uncompromising professionalism, astute judgment and 
strong interpersonal skills contributed substantially to the 
development of many Marine Corps plans, programs, policies, and 
activities. She consistently worked to reinforce the Marine Corps 
policies and ensured that the guidance was widely disseminated to 
influential, keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps 
and the United States Naval Service.
  I had a long professional relationship with Ms. Schwab and always 
found her to be the consummate professional. It was a pleasure to serve 
with her.
  It is for these outstanding personal qualities, dedication to 
service, and exceptional performance both on Capitol Hill and with the 
United States Marine Corps that we express to her our heartfelt pride 
and best wishes in her surely successful future endeavors.

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