[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 42 (Thursday, March 13, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E380-E381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING RICK ALLEN JAUERT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KEITH ELLISON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 2014

  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to today to honor the life of Ricky 
``Rick'' Allen Jauert. Mr. Jauert passed away before his time at the 
age of 59 on June 2, 2013, after a brave battle with Multiple Systems 
Atrophy. Tuesday, March 18, 2014, would have been his 60th birthday.
   Mr. Jauert was born on March 18, 1954, to Russell and Norma (Olson) 
Jauert in Luverne, Minnesota. The fourth of seven children, he was 
raised on a dairy farm outside of Luverne. He lost his father at age 
twelve. Mr. Jauert was active in 4-H and began his political career 
while still in high school. After graduating from Luverne High School 
in 1972, Mr. Jauert was a foreign exchange student in the Philippines. 
He returned and became the first person in his family to attend 
college.
   While at the University of Minnesota-Morris, he served in a wide 
variety of leadership capacities including as resident assistant, dorm 
director and serving as Chairman of the Budget Advisory Committee. He 
was a vociferous lobbyist for students' rights and student involvement 
in the decision making of the campus. He graduated with honors from the 
university in 1976. Soon after, Mr. Jauert moved to Washington, DC to 
intern in Rep. Rick Nolan's congressional office.
   Over the next three decades, Mr. Jauert worked for ten members of 
Congress in various capacities including chief of staff, legislative 
director and communications director. He is part of an elite group of 
people to have worked in so many congressional offices and the only 
person from Minnesota to have done so. In addition to being a savvy 
political operative, Mr. Jauert was a great story teller. He always had 
a witty, wise, and anecdotal story to tell of his childhood or early 
years on the Hill.
   Rick lived on Capitol Hill during his time in Washington, 
maintaining a three-story townhouse just blocks from the U.S. Capitol. 
Rick's

[[Page E381]]

welcoming and generous spirit, as well as hundreds of pieces of 
political memorabilia, drew roommates ranging from members of Congress 
to college interns from Luverne and Morris, and everyone in between. 
Rick had no children, but referred to many of his renters as ``his 
kids.''
   I had the honor of working with Mr. Jauert for the last three years 
of his career. He served as my communications director, senior advisor 
and dear friend. Mr. Jauert practiced the idea that politics is about 
improving people's lives--he would always go the extra mile to help 
someone. He ended every e-mail with this quote from Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr. ``Not only will we have to repent for the sins of bad people; 
but we also will have to repent for the appalling silence of good 
people.'' I have fond memories of Mr. Jauert pushing everyone around 
him to do whatever they could to make the world a better place, or to 
at least put a smile on someone's face.
   Mr. Jauert moved to back Luverne in 2012 after his diagnosis, but 
continued to be deeply involved with politics. He was proud to be able 
to travel to Washington one last time on January 3, 2013, for Rep. 
Nolan's swearing in ceremony. We are all better off because of his life 
of service. Mr. Jauert, thank you for your service and the wonderful 
legacy you left for us to continue fulfilling.

                          ____________________