[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 7, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONOR OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS THIS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 2014

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize our Nation's 
public servants and to thank them for their important contributions to 
our country.
   In every community across America, federal employees work to make 
sure the government is effective and keep us safe; their daily 
contributions to their fellow citizens and to the cause of freedom are 
simply innumerable. And in America's First District, there are many 
hardworking and dedicated patriots who serve the people of this nation 
every day.
   As we celebrate Public Service Recognition Week, which started on 
Sunday, May 4, and ends on Saturday, May 10, I want to express my 
utmost gratitude to the country's federal employees as well as our 
dedicated state, county and local public servants for their tireless 
service. I am proud to represent the tens of thousands of federal 
employees and retirees who live in the First District of Virginia.
   Congress charges these individuals with important duties and expects 
these duties to be performed with the highest caliber of expertise--but 
rather than being recognized for their service, these public servants 
see their salary and benefits continually used as a pawn in the game of 
politics. I have opposed these efforts because I believe that as 
Congress continues to ask our federal civilian workforce to do more 
with less, we should instead be standing with them in recognition of 
their service.
   From the CIA agents on the front lines of the War on Terror to the 
FBI agents finding suspected terrorists--our Nation's public servants 
perform critical national security jobs that make our country a safer 
place. As the House votes to establish a new Select Committee on 
Benghazi, it is important to note that the Foreign Service officers 
representing our government at the U.S. consulate and annex where the 
September 11, 2012, attack occurred were federal employees.
   In addition to serving abroad, our Nation's federal employees 
frequently risk their lives to protect us here at home as well. The 
Customs and Border Patrol and DEA agents working to fight illegal 
immigration, human trafficking and drug running operations are federal 
employees.
   These men and women often get little to no recognition for their 
work, but day in and day out are repeatedly put in harm's way.
   We must also recognize the public servants who are not directly in 
dangerous situations, but on a daily basis perform duties imperative to 
our safety. Defense civilian riggers, machinists, refuelers and 
engineers who repair sophisticated weaponry systems at our Army depots, 
Air Force bases and shipyards are the federal employees who support our 
military personnel.
   The scientists at Department of Energy laboratories, NASA 
astronauts, engineers and researchers all work to keep America 
competitive in the ever increasingly global economy. Meteorologists at 
the weather service track life-threatening storms, such as hurricanes, 
tornadoes, tsunamis and blizzards so that we can prepare to the best of 
our ability for inclement weather and natural disasters.
   The nurses and doctors at the VA who mind for our veterans and 
wounded warriors, researchers at NIH working to find a cure for cancer, 
diabetes and Alzheimer's--all are federal employees. The FDA public 
health inspectors who track E. coli and salmonella outbreaks to make 
certain that our food is safe to eat are federal employees.
   Air traffic controllers at FAA work to have safe skies for 
travelers. Federal firefighters protect homes and businesses during a 
national forest fire. National Park Service rangers facilitate safe 
hiking on historic grounds and camping in our parks and tours of our 
battlefields.
   These are only but a few of the vital services federal employees 
provide to our Congressional Districts and the Nation alike. The 
federal workforce is full of dedicated and committed citizens who 
exemplify patriotism in everything they do and I hope my colleagues 
will join me in honoring them for their service to ensure the security 
of our Nation.

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