[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 28, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    THANKING PATRICIA ORSINI FOR HER DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CANDICE S. MILLER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 28, 2016

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and 
thank Ms. Patricia Orsini who is retiring on September 30, 2016, as the 
Director of the Wounded Warrior Program at the United States House of 
Representatives.
  Patricia joined the House of Representatives in February 2008 after a 
long and distinguished career in the Marine Corps. For the past eight 
and a half years, Patricia has served as the first, and only, Director 
of the House Wounded Warrior Program. To embark on this endeavor, 
Patricia relied on the skills and instinct honed as a Marine and 
quickly rose to the challenge of creating a brand new program for our 
Nation's Wounded Warriors.
  Through Patricia's guidance, assistance, and expert placement, many 
Members of Congress have come to rely on the Fellows as talented 
advisors and reliable advocates for military and veterans affairs 
issues. Every day, the Fellows are asked to attend and lead meetings 
with constituents, conduct policy analysis on complex issues, handle 
important and sensitive casework with the utmost care and compassion, 
and serve as a liaison with the Departments of Defense and Veterans 
Affairs.
  However, one only needs to look at the results of the program to 
understand and appreciate that the true benefit rests with the Veterans 
and their families. Over the course of the program's eight year 
history, Patricia helped place 142 Wounded Warriors into fellowships in 
Washington, DC and District Offices nationwide. Of those, 23 Fellows 
transitioned to full-time employment with the Member office. An 
additional 53 accepted a full-time position outside of the House of 
Representatives. Fifteen other Fellows advanced their career path by 
accepting a job with the Department of Veterans Affairs. All in all, 75 
percent of the Wounded Warrior fellows either accepted a full-time 
position or returned to college after completing their assignment with 
the Member office.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to commend and thank Patricia for her 
military service. Patricia began her career in the Marines in 1975 as 
the Assistant Editor at the Marine Corps Institute in Washington, DC. 
Over the next 33 years, she rose to become a Master Gunnery Sergeant, 
which is the highest rank an enlisted Marine can achieve. Patricia 
retired from the Marine Corps in 2008 as the Program Manager for the 
Wounded Warrior Regiment in Quantico, Virginia.
  Clearly Patricia's background in the Marine Corps made her the right 
candidate to serve as the first and, up to this point, only Director of 
the House of Representatives Wounded Warrior Program.
  On behalf of the entire House community, we extend congratulations to 
Patricia Orsini for her many years of dedication, outstanding 
contributions, and service to the United States House of 
Representatives and to our grateful Nation.
  We wish Patricia many great years in fulfilling her retirement 
dreams.

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