[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1813-E1814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF JOYCE C. ROSE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2012

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedication of 
Joyce Rose, who is retiring after 25 years of service to the United 
States Congress. Joyce has worked for the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure since 2001, and has served as the staff director of 
the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials since 
2008.
  Prior to her service with the U.S. House of Representatives, Joyce 
worked for 13 years on the U.S. Senate's Appropriations Subcommittee on 
Transportation. Joyce began her career on Capitol Hill as a staff 
assistant, and through her energy, inquiring mind, and hard work, rose 
to positions of greater responsibility.
  She has worked for a total of 11 different committee and subcommittee 
chairmen and ranking members, and has given each her total loyalty and 
professional expertise. For her entire 25-year career, Joyce has worked 
on transportation policy and funding issues. Over the years, she has 
become a true subject matter expert, particularly in the areas of rail 
and transit policy.
  Joyce has worked for me directly since I became the ranking member of 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in January 2007 and, 
subsequently, became Chairman last year. She was instrumental in 
helping me and my constituents in Central Florida get a new, 61-mile 
commuter rail system called Sun Rail approved and under construction.
  She has advised me on legislation ranging from the 9/11 
Implementation Act in 2007, to the 2008 Passenger Rail Investment and 
Improvement Act, to this year's MAP-21 surface transportation bill. I 
will miss her can-do attitude and deep knowledge of rail and transit 
issues.
  Joyce was born on December 22, 1960 to Mary Jo and Joseph Comer in 
Leonardtown, Maryland. Her parents instilled a love of God and country, 
and strong commitment to public service--though Joyce's original plan 
was to teach music, and in fact, her college degree is in music 
education. I'm told that Joyce ``keeps her hand in'' music by 
volunteering to direct her church choir.
  Joyce has been married for 29 years to Dale Rose, a mechanical 
engineer, and they have two children, Brian and Beau. Beau has Autism, 
and their experience as the parents of a disabled child has given Joyce 
and Dale the gift of advocating for those who can't speak for 
themselves.
  Joyce is leaving us to take on a new position as President and CFO of 
Operation Lifesaver, Inc., a national, non-profit safety education 
group whose goal is to eliminate deaths

[[Page E1814]]

and injuries at railroad crossings and along railroad rights of way.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and all of our colleagues to join in thanking 
Joyce Rose for her years of service to the U.S. Congress and our 
Nation. We wish her well in her new career at Operation Lifesaver.

                          ____________________