[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 66 (Thursday, May 10, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E760-E761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ACLU RECOGNIZES SHARON KISSEL

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2012

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I enter this statement on behalf of the 
American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU. The ACLU is a non-partisan 
organization with more than 500,000 members, 53 state and local 
affiliations, and countless additional activists and supporters, 
dedicated to the principles of equality and justice as set forth in the 
U.S. Constitution and in our laws protecting individual rights. The 
ACLU asked me to enter the following statement into the Record 
recognizing Sharon Kissel, a DC resident who serves as Legislative 
Librarian for the organization.
  On the 15th anniversary of Sharon Kissel's tenure with the American 
Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office, her colleagues and 
many friends would like to honor her tremendous work over the past two 
decades on many of our nation's most pressing civil rights and civil 
liberties issues. In her role as the Legislative Librarian, Sharon is 
one of the unsung heroines in the ACLU's efforts to achieve equal 
justice, freedom, and fairness for all. Over the past 15 years, 
Sharon's work has been critical to a wide range of issues, including 
the ACLU's advancement of the Fair Sentencing Act, the Violence Against 
Women Act, and the ACLU's national security advocacy.
  Sharon has been a key participant in some of the most important civil 
liberties and civil and human rights campaigns over the past 15

[[Page E761]]

years. One area of concern particularly in which she has been involved 
is the restoration of the rule of law in interrogations and detention 
practices in violation of human rights and the U.S. Constitution. She 
has participated in one of the leading coalitions against torture and 
indefinite detention, as a researcher, writer, and source of wise 
counsel for her colleagues.
  Further, her work has been an integral part of the ACLU's efforts to 
protect our democracy from Constitutional amendments that would 
diminish the basic rights afforded to all Americans. Her research and 
advice were important to helping prevent an array of constitutional 
amendments, including the flag desecration amendment, the school prayer 
amendment, the federal marriage amendment, and the so-named victims' 
rights amendment. Without the work of Sharon and her coalition 
partners, the Bill of Rights would have been riddled with exceptions.
  No matter what the issue, Sharon always approaches research with a 
joy and a curiosity that is contagious, which is part of the reason she 
is beloved by her current and former colleagues. Sharon is also 
described by her colleagues as a ``genius'' for her ability to find 
arcane tidbits of legislative history. Her daily in-depth review of the 
Congressional Record and other legislative research provides incredibly 
timely information. By feeding her colleagues these buried nuggets of 
information, Sharon helps the rest of the legislative staff shine as 
advocates for their issues. Sharon is the ACLU's secret weapon--pouring 
over 800-page bills and the barrage of amendments attached to omnibus 
bills. Her keen attention to Congress and broader public policy debates 
has enabled the ACLU to address many potential challenges to civil 
liberties, even before they reach the House or Senate floor. Moreover, 
Sharon has ushered the entire ACLU team's legal research capacity into 
the 21st century. She works continually to maximize resources and 
expand access to online research tools for her colleagues nationally. 
Throughout her career, Sharon's colleagues have also celebrated and 
admired her perennial role as a patient teacher and a devoted mentor to 
many who have worked with her over the years.
  In addition to her invaluable work at the ACLU, Sharon's impressive 
career as a librarian spans over 40 years, and includes her work at the 
White House, the World Bank, the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Department 
of the Interior, the Bar Association of the District of Columbia, and 
Shea & Gardner. Sharon also organized and managed the information 
resource center for President Bill Clinton's transition team after his 
election in 1992. Furthermore, Sharon's accomplishments in the field of 
library science extend to her professional affiliations--she has 
previously served as the President of the Law Librarians' Society of 
Washington, DC, and as a Member of the Board of Directors of the 
National Equal Justice Institute Library. Sharon has also worked as a 
faculty member for the American Association of Law Libraries Summer 
Institute.
  Sharon came of age during the civil rights movement, and her passion 
for civil rights and social justice extends to her personal life. She 
has been actively engaged in DC politics for decades and is the go-to 
resource on local civic and political issues, with a particular 
interest in safety and zoning issues. Many in the office, who have been 
working in national politics for decades, go to Sharon for information 
on local DC matters. Sharon's strong personal belief in the Bill of 
Rights and her devotion to her local community occasionally have 
sparked her to take action, such as the time she organized a 
demonstration of roughly 30 librarians in front of Kramer books when it 
appeared that the bookstore was going to comply with Kenneth Starr's 
subpoena of private book purchases in 1998. The owner of the store 
ultimately decided to challenge the subpoena on constitutional grounds.
  Sharon and her beloved husband of over 40 years, Peter, also are 
active alumni of their alma mater, Syracuse University, and they 
established an endowed fund at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and 
Public Affairs to support activities that contribute to public 
understanding of civil rights and liberties. Sharon actually decided to 
pursue a career in librarianship after a work-study job in the Maxwell 
School Library, and Sharon and Peter have long maintained close ties to 
the school. She also received an M.L.S. from the University of 
Maryland, where she was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society.
  Beyond her many professional accomplishments and contributions, 
Sharon is a dear friend to many at the ACLU. She has a generous and 
compassionate spirit. Sharon is always willing to share her deep love 
of Ireland and Irish politics, which has been a shared passion of her 
and her husband throughout their lives, and she will often bring back 
food or treats from her trips to Ireland with Peter to share with her 
colleagues. She is devoted to her family and enjoys her dogs, 
traveling, gardening, art, and music--especially Irish music! The 
personal and professional lives of her ACLU colleagues are richer 
because of Sharon's contributions, and we honor her 15 years of service 
to the ACLU and hope for many more.

                          ____________________