[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 84 (Thursday, May 26, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3283-S3284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           VERMONT FEDERAL EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATION 2016 AWARDS

 Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, to commemorate Public Recognition 
Week, the Vermont Federal Executive Association, VTFEA, recognized the 
more than 4,000 Federal employees working across the State and the good 
work they do every day. I would like to offer special congratulations 
to the 2016 Excellence in Government award winners, who have been 
recognized by VTFEA for their exemplary government service.
  Excellence in Management and Program Support Award, Individual 
Award--Heather Festa, management program analyst, personnel security 
division, Office of Security and Integrity, U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services, South Burlington--Heather demonstrated 
exceptional innovation and professionalism in response to the Office of 
Personnel Management's security breach of electronic systems containing 
background investigation records. When OPM instructed Federal agencies 
to mail all paper documents, many agencies simply halted their 
personnel security processes. However, Heather skillfully designed and 
implemented an action plan for the hard-copy paper forms to ensure 
there would be no interruption in processing security checks within 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
  Excellence in Management and Program Support Award, Group Award--
northeast regional office position description workgroup, northeast 
regional office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, South 
Burlington, including Jeannine Longchamp, Maegan Cutler, Brian 
Johansson, and Laurie Juskiewicz--the northeast regional office human 
resources team led a working group to review supervisory position 
descriptions for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services's entire 
field operations directorate. Not only did the team ensure that all 
positions aligned with Office of Personal Management guidelines, it 
also created supervisory positions at new grade levels that opened up 
previously unobtainable career paths for some employees.
  Professional Award--Peter Banacos and Andrew Loconto, meteorologists, 
National Weather Service, Burlington International Airport, South 
Burlington--Peter and Andrew worked together to develop a snow squall 
identification and forecasting technique that has greatly improved 
winter weather forecast and warning systems for many National Weather 
Service offices. Historically, there has been an overall lack of 
forecaster awareness in identifying the weather conditions in which 
snow squalls can occur, as well as understanding their impact. Peter 
and Andrew's innovation, leadership, and persistent efforts over the 
past 3 years have enhanced the National Weather Service's ability to 
provide useful winter weather information to the public.
  Law Enforcement, Safety and Security Award--Amanda Cahill, special 
agent, Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 
Explosives, satellite office, Rutland--Amanda exemplifies the highest 
traditions of government service: tireless dedication and devotion to 
her agency and the residents of her community. She has singlehandedly 
reestablished a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 
presence in southern Vermont and has begun to fill a void in the law 
enforcement community's fight against armed drug traffickers. She has 
acted as an undercover agent, as well as a lead investigator, and 
recently, she has been recognized for her efforts by the U.S. attorney 
for Vermont.
  Managerial/Supervisory Award--Daniel Whitney, section chief, 
training, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, law enforcement 
support center, Williston--Dan Whitney exemplifies the continued 
pursuit of excellence and an unparalleled record of achievement. The 
law enforcement support center, LESC, is U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement's primary point of contact for law enforcement agencies 
throughout the country. Dan is responsible for ensuring that all LESC 
employees receive continuous training in multiple law enforcement 
databases, including ICE's new enterprise database that his team tested 
to ensure that LESC employees had the training and the tools to provide 
up to the minute information to law enforcement agencies. Dan is 
someone who leads by example and is always willing to do whatever it 
takes to ensure that LESC meets its mission.
  Tina Gurka Community Service Award--registered nurse Sharon Levenson 
and police officer Guy Gardner, VA medical center, White River 
Junction--in January 2016, Nurse Sharon Levenson and Officer Guy 
Gardner demonstrated their dedication to veterans in their local 
community. After one of her patients did not show up for an 
appointment, Sharon contacted the local police department and requested 
a welfare check. When the police department said the situation did not 
warrant a check, VA Officer Guy Gardner contacted a neighbor, and they 
discovered the veteran in serious distress. Thanks to Sharon and Guy's 
efforts, the patient recovered fully. Their commitment to veterans was 
recognized by VA Secretary McDonald during testimony before the Senate 
Veterans' Affairs Committee.
  Interagency Collaboration and Partnership Award--Brian Wood, Border 
Patrol agent, U.S. Border Patrol, Richford--Brian has demonstrated 
exemplary professionalism and work ethic in forming and maintaining 
valuable and productive partnerships with various Federal and State 
agencies in Vermont and across the country. Brian's efforts have 
resulted in the arrest of numerous alien smugglers, drug

[[Page S3284]]

dealers, and human traffickers and the removal of countless illegal 
firearms, heroin, and cocaine from our communities. Brian uses his 
expertise in law enforcement and his ability to collaborate 
successfully to keep our communities and citizens safe.
  Heroic Act Award--John Marsh, Border Patrol agent, U.S. Border 
Patrol, Swanton sector, Beecher Falls Station--in April 2016, while 
returning from a call for assistance in New Hampshire, Agent Marsh 
approached two men on the ground, one pounding the chest of the other. 
Agent Marsh found the person on the ground was choking on food, was not 
breathing, and would not respond to verbal stimulation. After 
requesting emergency medical services, Agent Marsh administered the 
Heimlich maneuver and was able to dislodge the food from the victim. He 
remained with him until the paramedics arrived and took over care. 
Thanks to John's training and his ability to stay calm under pressure, 
the victim is alive and well today.
  Vermont Federal Team of the Year Award--the northwest vermont 
locality pay committee: Brandon Ackel, Transportation Security 
Administration, Robert Brugman, National Credit Union Administration, 
Brian Johansson, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Kelly 
Larsen, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska, Bruce McDonald, 
Transportation Security Administration, Sean McVey, U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection, Mark Nielsen, U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement, Jeff Ostlund, Transportation Security Administration, 
Corey Price, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Texas, Lisa 
Rees, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Krista Scheele, 
Transportation Security Administration--in November 2012, VTFEA 
discussed what initiatives would benefit the most Federal employees, 
and it didn't take long to realize that securing locality pay for 
Vermont was the No. 1 priority. In early 2013, VTFEA created a locality 
pay committee, consisting of employees from six Federal agencies. 
Working tirelessly, the team prepared a locality pay proposal for 
northwest Vermont and, in December 2013, presented it to the Federal 
Salary Council in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, the first proposal was 
denied, so the following year, they tried again. Again, the proposal 
was denied. Not to be discouraged, the team drafted a third proposal in 
November 2015, and committee members traveled to Washington at their 
own expense to support the package and their fellow Vermonters. At the 
hearing, the Council approved the package, which is waiting for 
approval by the President's pay agent and the President. The northwest 
Vermont locality pay committee's tenacity, collaborative spirit, and 
positivity is why Vermont is being considered for locality pay, and it 
is because of their efforts that VTFEA chose them as ``Federal Team of 
the Year.''

                          ____________________