[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 171 (Wednesday, December 4, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H7492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PAYING TRIBUTE TO MAJOR THOMAS E. LAMB'S DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR 
                                 NATION

  (Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, one of the great pleasures of serving on 
the Defense Committee is that we get to be associated with a large 
number of people who are in the Armed Services, and one such 
acquaintance and friend is Major Tom E. Lamb.
  Tom Lamb is the congressional budget liaison for the Army to the 
Appropriations Committee, does an excellent job in that capacity. He 
was also the military fellow in our office and got to know the good 
folks in south Georgia and our staff, and we all grew to love Tom.
  I am going to submit for the Record a number of things about Tom's 
life, but I have got to tell one story about him. And you, Mr. Speaker, 
as a member of the military, will appreciate this.
  We were traveling in a remote part of the world and had to make an 
unexpected stop because of a weather delay in our travel and had to get 
into a dirt runway in a particular location, and then we had to split 
up the group because of a weight problem and weather problem and just 
complications. So one of Tom's duties was to reassign people on a new 
and a different airplane that was a smaller airplane, and he was having 
trouble getting everybody on board because of the weight issue. And 
finally, I said to Tom: Tom, what is the problem? I am counting up the 
number of seats, and there should be enough room.
  He said: Sir, we have to go by weight, and I have asked each Member 
of Congress what their weight is and, sir, not everybody is giving me 
their accurate weight, and so I am having to do a little bit of 
balancing and avoid embarrassment to everybody.
  It was just amazing to me that here is this guy, a military officer, 
an Iraqi and an Afghan veteran, and yet he had the aplomb and the 
diplomacy to handle a situation like this with a smile, with humor, and 
get us out of this location by splitting up everybody and not causing 
any turmoil or friction.
  That is just a small example of the kind of things that today's 
military leaders can do. And I know there were a lot bigger issues that 
he dealt with when he was in Iraq and Afghanistan and, indeed, working 
in the budget office--I worked with him on lots and lots of different 
issues--but Tom Lamb, to me, Mr. Speaker, represents the finest in the 
military and the finest in the United States of America.
  I wish Tom and his wife, Emilie, the best in their next duty 
assignment.
  Tom, thank you for all the great service you have given the United 
States Government, the Congress, and our office in particular.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Major Thomas E. Lamb for his 
extraordinary dedication to duty and service to the U.S. Army and the 
United States of America. Tom has served for the last 2 years as a 
Congressional Budget Liaison for the United States Army and will soon 
depart for his next duty assignment. A native of Washington State, Tom 
earned his commission at the United States Military Academy at West 
Point in 2002. As our nation's armed forces were at war combating the 
evils of terrorism, Tom prepared to join that fight soon after 
graduation. At his first duty assignment with 1-4 Air Defense Artillery 
in Germany, Tom deployed and led an infantry scout platoon in combat in 
Iraq. Following his first combat tour, he then served in the 2nd 
Infantry Division, forward deployed on Freedom's Frontier in the 
Republic of Korea from 2004 to 2005. After returning to the United 
States for five months, Tom again deployed to Iraq in 2006 to serve as 
a staff officer and deputy commander of a Military Transition Team 
charged with training Iraqi Security Forces. After a year and a half 
stateside, Tom deployed once again, this time to Afghanistan in 2009, 
as a company commander.
  After returning from his third deployment and a total of 35 months in 
combat, Tom began his studies as an Army Congressional Fellow, earning 
a Master of Professional Studies degree in Legislative Affairs from The 
George Washington University. He was then assigned as a Congressional 
Fellow in my office and served as my principal advisor on defense 
matters. He provided critical insight and assistance to me in my role 
on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. As Representative to four 
major military installations and the many brave Soldiers, Sailors, 
Airmen and Marines that call the 1st District of Georgia home, I relied 
daily on Tom's military acumen. He transitioned to the Pentagon for 
assignment as a Congressional Budget Liaison Officer in the office of 
the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and 
Comptroller where he was tasked with managing the Army's challenging 
military construction, installations, energy and environmental 
portfolios. Tom skillfully advised the Army's senior leaders, fostering 
and strengthening the relationship between the Congress and the United 
States Army.
  Major Lamb's leadership throughout his career thus far has positively 
impacted his peers and superiors, Soldiers and civilians alike. As a 
Congressional Budget Liaison Officer he worked directly with the House 
and Senate Appropriations Committees to inform Representatives, 
Senators, and staff about the diverse and important Army installations 
and infrastructure that support the training and well being of our 
Soldiers. On behalf of a grateful nation, I join my colleagues today in 
recognizing and commending Major Tom Lamb for over a decade of active 
service in the United States Army.
  We wish Tom and his wife, Emilie, all the best as they continue their 
journey of service to our great Nation.

                          ____________________