[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 22 (Thursday, February 9, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E172-E173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MEMORIAM FOR FRANK CUSHING, APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE STAFF DIRECTOR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 9, 2012

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Frank Martin Cushing, who gave more than 30 years of service to the 
Nation as a congressional staffer, culminating as the staff director 
for the House Appropriations Committee. Frank passed away on Monday, 
Feb. 6, 2012 at the age of 59.
  Frank was a fabulous person, a true leader and someone who you could 
always count on to get an extremely difficult job done right--while 
leaving everyone feeling good about it when it was finished. He was a 
mentor and friend to so many of the wonderful staff who work for the 
Appropriations Committee, and one of the best people I ever worked with 
in my career in public service.
  I first came to know Frank well when he came to work for me as staff 
director of the House Appropriations Committee on Veterans Affairs, HUD 
and Independent Agencies in 1994. He immediately helped craft a bill 
that reduced spending by several billion dollars, but at the same time 
won over many agency heads and executive branch officials who found him 
tough but fair and extremely knowledgeable about their needs.
  Frank was a giant of a man. Members on both sides of the aisle--in 
both the House and Senate--respected him for his integrity, compassion, 
pragmatism and mastery of the political process. When I became 
Appropriations Committee chairman in 2005, there was no doubt in my 
mind who should be staff director

[[Page E173]]

of the full committee. I was extremely gratified when Frank agreed--and 
became just the 12th staff director of the House Appropriations 
Committee in U.S. history.
  His legacy remains on the committee in the many excellent staff 
members he hired and trained. And he will be missed by the hundreds of 
members and staff throughout the House and Senate who came to know and 
admire him. I have no doubt that many will join me in reaching out to 
his wife, Amy and their four children, and express their sympathy at 
her loss and their gratitude for having known Frank Cushing.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide the obituary for Frank in order 
for my colleagues to understand what a truly remarkable person and 
public servant he was:

                          Frank Martin Cushing


                     April 9, 1952-February 6, 2012

       Frank Cushing, loving husband, son, father, grandfather, 
     brother, and mentor died at his home in Falls Church on 
     Monday, February 6, 2012. He was 59 years old.
       Widely respected for his deep faith, integrity, and love of 
     family and country, Cushing left an indelible mark in public 
     policy through more than 30 years of public service in the 
     House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and Washington, DC 
     business community. Cushing was widely regarded as one of the 
     most knowledgeable individuals in Washington concerning the 
     congressional appropriations and Federal budget processes.
       Cushing graduated from the University of Idaho in 1974 with 
     a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and completed 
     graduate level work in public policy administration at the 
     University of Idaho and Boise State University in 1974-75. He 
     came to Washington, DC in 1977 to work as a legislative 
     assistant for Senator James McClure of Idaho. Cushing served 
     as clerk of the Senate Interior and Related Agencies 
     Appropriations Subcommittee for Chairman McClure from 1981-84 
     under full committee Chairman Mark Hatfield of Oregon, and as 
     staff director for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources 
     Committee under Chairman McClure from 1984-91.
       Following a three-year stint as Corporate Vice President of 
     a Fortune 50 energy firm, Cushing returned to Capitol Hill in 
     1995 to serve as Clerk and Staff Director of the House 
     Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development (VA-HUD) and 
     Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee for then 
     Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Lewis of California under full 
     Committee Chairman Bob Livingston of Louisiana. He left the 
     Hill in 2003 to become a partner at a firm specializing in 
     appropriations consulting but returned to the House in 2005 
     as the Clerk and Staff Director of the full House 
     Appropriations Committee under newly elected Chairman Lewis. 
     Cushing was the twelfth Clerk and Staff Director of the House 
     Appropriations Committee in U.S. history and today his 
     portrait hangs in the U.S. Capitol with his predecessors 
     dating back to 1865.
       Cushing retired from the Hill in 2008 to become a partner 
     in a D.C. law and consulting firm where he devoted his time 
     and energy to public policy, particularly relating to funding 
     for science and education. His integrity, compassion, 
     pragmatism, and masterful political skills were admired by 
     House Members, Senators, and staff on both sides of the 
     aisle. Cushing also served as an At-Large Trustee of the 
     Consortium for Ocean Leadership. He also served on the 
     Advisory Board of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the 
     University of Idaho.
       Cushing is survived by his wife, Amy Hammer of Falls 
     Church, VA; his mother, Elizabeth Cushing of Arlington, VA; 
     his brother, William P. Cushing, Jr. of Norristown, PA.; 4 
     children, Christina Abel of Caldwell, ID, Jennifer Dewing of 
     Crandon, WI, Amy Catherine Cushing of Falls Church, VA, and 
     Nathaniel Allen Cushing, of Falls Church, VA; and 12 
     grandchildren. Friends and family were blessed to join him at 
     home over the last weeks of his life on earth for a time of 
     reflection, confirmation, and joy.
       A memorial service celebrating the life and memory of Frank 
     Martin Cushing will be held on Monday, February 13 at 3 p.m. 
     at Columbia Baptist Church, 103 West Columbia Street, Falls 
     Church, VA, where Cushing served as a deacon.
       In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be 
     designated to the Frank Martin Cushing Public Policy 
     Scholarship through the University of Idaho Foundation, Inc., 
     P.O. Box 443147, Moscow, ID 83844-3147, as a part of the 
     James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research 
     for which Cushing served on the Advisory Board. Contributions 
     may also be directed to CrossLink International, 427 North 
     Maple Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046.

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