[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 144 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING JUNE BLACK FOR TWENTY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE HOUSE OF 
                            REPRESENTATIVES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NIKI TSONGAS

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 2016

  Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my District 
Director, June Black, who has been a steadfast member of my district 
staff for the past nine years.
   Tomorrow marks June's 20th year in public service, having spent 9 
years working in my office, and 11 years working for Marty Meehan, who 
previously represented this district.
   In 2007, June was nominated by then-Congressman Marty Meehan for the 
2007 Congressman John Joseph Moakley Award for Exemplary Public 
Service, which she won thanks to her years of dedication and service. 
The award is presented annually to a staff member from the New England 
congressional delegation ``who works steadfastly on behalf of local 
constituents and significant issues and demonstrates the ideals of 
public service exemplified by Congressman Moakley himself.''
   Since she joined my office at the end of 2007, June has served with 
skill in a variety of roles as a member of my Congressional staff and a 
dedicated public servant. June joined my staff as regional director and 
ran my office in Lawrence, Massachusetts, a similar role to the one she 
held in Rep. Meehan's office. She also served as a guide and mentor to 
all of the caseworkers and economic development staff in the office. In 
recognition of her remarkable contributions and the relationships she 
has developed across the district, June subsequently has taken on the 
roles of Constituent Services Director and District Director where she 
has helped to ensure that constituents are well served and that the 
companies and communities I represent have an accessible federal 
partner.
   June has been key to ensuring that accessibility to the people we 
represent is a hallmark of my office and that we provide prompt, 
respectful and excellent service to our constituents. During her 
tenure, she has overseen a casework operation that has responded to 
thousands of individual concerns and delivered millions of dollars back 
to my constituents, and she has played a principal role in helping the 
communities I represent see their economic development vision realized. 
She is an effective and knowledgeable federal liaison who helps 
constituents and communities better navigate and access the wide array 
of services provided by the federal government.
   June is well-known and very well respected in the communities she 
represents; a reputation that is well earned after two decades of 
service to this region. That service and experience brings 
institutional knowledge, awareness and appreciation of the social and 
economic challenges facing our constituents. It also gives her a unique 
understanding of how to navigate federal services and long-standing 
familiarity of many of the district's economic development projects. 
She has deep and meaningful relationships with key stakeholders and 
elected officials throughout Essex County in the Northern part of my 
district and beyond.
   As a native of Lawrence, Massachusetts, June's affinity for this 
region is evident in her commitment to her work and the mutual respect 
she shares with the constituents and community leaders with whom she 
interacts. She is someone who has dedicated her career to public 
service, particularly to having an impact on the city of Lawrence, and 
helping that city realize its potential.
   Every day, June demonstrates a sincere commitment to the 
constituents of this district as well as to innovative methods of 
serving her community and our country. I am honored to have her on my 
staff and appreciate the opportunity to recognize a truly remarkable 
member of my staff, whose individual achievements are so deserving, on 
this notable milestone.

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