[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 6, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RETIREMENT OF JIMMY MILLER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 6, 2012

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the service of one of this 
body's most able, dedicated and respected employees, James R. ``Jimmy'' 
Miller.
  After 53 years of combined service here on Capitol Hill and a 
distinguished career in the United States Air Force, Jimmy is retiring 
from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
  Mr. Miller has ensured the smooth operation of the Committee's 
hearings, meetings, and functions for decades. And he has been the 
person that Committee Members and staff have gone to when we simply 
needed to get something done, because no one else has a better 
understanding of how the House of Representatives functions on a daily 
basis.
  It has been said that every committee has a Jimmy Miller, but 
Transportation has THE Jimmy Miller.
  Jimmy has been much more than a long-serving staffer; he has been a 
trusted friend to me, to other Members of Congress, and to his 
countless Hill colleagues for more than 30 years. While his family is 
undoubtedly happy they'll be seeing more of him in the coming days, we 
on Capitol Hill will feel his considerable absence.
  Jimmy's service to our country began when he joined the United States 
Air Force in 1959, where he rose to the rank of Command Sergeant Major, 
the highest rank possible for an enlisted airman.
  During his 28 years of distinguished service in the Air Force, Jimmy 
served under three Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Earle 
Wheeler, General George Brown, and General David C. Jones.
  In 1980, Command Sergeant Major Miller became the Air Force 
legislative liaison to the House of Representatives.
  In 1987, he retired from the Air Force and was subsequently appointed 
by Chairman Bob Roe to join the staff of the House Committee on 
Science, Space and Technology. Jimmy then came with Chairman Roe to the 
Committee on Public Works and Transportation in 1991.
  Jimmy has shepherded numerous delegations of U.S. officials to 
meetings with their foreign counterparts all over the world. He has 
crossed the globe more times than most people, having been to more than 
170 countries, and he has established many friendships along the way.
  Jimmy embodied a bipartisan spirit over the years, serving under six 
chairmen, Republicans and Democrats alike. In fact, Jimmy insisted that 
he equally serve all the Members of the Committee, regardless of which 
party led the House.
  Jimmy accorded all of us on the Hill with the same respect over the 
years, whether we've wielded a gavel or a paintbrush, and we all admire 
his humble professionalism and dedication.
  Jimmy was born on August 22, 1940 to Alyce and Robert Miller in 
Paulding, Ohio and was one of nine children. His parents instilled in 
them the values of family, God, and country and helped shape their 
children's personal lives and their public citizenship.
  Even with all of his successes, including meeting many of the world's 
leaders, Jimmy's most important achievement has been his own family. He 
has been a caring, loving, and proud father to his children, Kim, Bob, 
Chris, and Shawn. I know Jimmy is looking forward to spending more time 
with his four children, nine grandchildren, one great grandson, and his 
wife Peg.
  I will personally miss Jimmy. I consider him a close friend and I 
know that the House of Representatives will miss him. On behalf of this 
body, which he has served so well, I want to thank Jimmy for his 
dedicated service to our Nation and wish him a happy and healthy 
retirement.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and all of our colleagues to join in thanking 
Jimmy Miller for his years of service to the House of Representatives 
and our Nation. We wish him a wonderful retirement and want him to know 
we all appreciate his service and friendship.

                          ____________________