[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING HOUSE PARLIAMENTARIAN JOHN SULLIVAN UPON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. MIKE PENCE

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2012

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a man I have come to know and 
respect during my service in the Congress, the House Parliamentarian 
John V. Sullivan, on the occasion of his retirement.
  John Sullivan has served the House for 25 years, starting at the 
House Armed Services Committee and then moving to the Office of the 
Parliamentarian. The last eight years he has held the position of House 
Parliamentarian.
  Prior to his work in the House, Sullivan served in the Air Force. I 
would be remiss, Mr. Speaker, if I did not also mention that Sullivan 
is a Hoosier. He grew up in Northwest Indiana, graduating from Munster 
High School and after attending the Air Force Academy, returning home 
to earn his law degree from the Indiana University School of Law.
  Indiana can take justifiable pride in John Sullivan and his service 
to the Congress and our nation.
  The job of the House Parliamentarian requires integrity, intellect, 
good judgment and the ability to think quickly on your feet. The House 
Chamber can be a pressure-cooker at times, especially during votes on 
major pieces of legislation or at times of heated partisan rancor.
  One of those times was the night of August 2, 2007, when a vote on 
the Republican motion to recommit the Agriculture Appropriations bill 
went awry. John Sullivan was on the House floor that night advising the 
Speaker pro tem, and he exhibited the type of courage and 
professionalism that the rest of us can only aspire to in such a 
difficult situation.
  After that night, a select committee was appointed to investigate 
what happened during the vote, and I was appointed ranking member for 
the investigation. I got to know Sullivan very well during the course 
of the investigation, and I appreciated his honesty, candor and full 
participation in the investigation. From our many conversations and 
what we learned as a committee, it was clear to me that Sullivan could 
not be more dedicated to the House as an institution or his job as a 
non-partisan provider of carefully considered analysis and advice. The 
House was fortunate to have his professional judgment on that night and 
all of the many other days and nights he has spent on the rostrum 
advising Speakers pro tem and Members of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, the House will miss John Sullivan. We wish him the best 
in his retirement and trust that he will enjoy spending more time with 
his wife, Nancy Sands Sullivan, and three children Michael, Margaret 
and Matthew. We thank them for sharing Sullivan with the House these 
many years, and again, Mr. Speaker, we thank John Sullivan for his 
service and wish him well in his retirement.

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