[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 168 (Friday, November 25, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE SERVICE OF MAJOR MATT SCHARDT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER P. GIBSON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 25, 2016

  Mr. GIBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the service of Major Matt 
Schardt of the United States Army for his extraordinary dedication to 
duty and service to our Nation. Major Schardt distinguished himself 
through exceptionally meritorious service from May 5th, 2013 to January 
3rd, 2017, while serving as an Army Congressional Fellow and 
Legislative Liaison in the Army House Liaison Division.
  From May 5th, 2013 through January 5th, 2015 Major Schardt served as 
an Army Congressional Fellow. During this time Matt graduated from The 
George Washington University with a Master's Degree in legislative 
politics and served as my military legislative assistant (MLA). As my 
MLA, Matt served as the national security, foreign affairs, homeland 
security, intelligence, and veteran's affairs policy advisor for my 
office. Matt developed, drafted, and managed my legislative 
initiatives, provided vote recommendations, prepared me for 
Congressional hearings, and met with senior government officials and 
constituents. In all of his actions, Matt demonstrated the 
professionalism Members of Congress and the American public expect of 
its military officers.
  In January, 2015 Major Schardt transitioned from my office to the 
Army House Liaison Office to serve as an Army legislative liaison. In 
his role as a legislative liaison in the Army's House Liaison Office, 
Major Schardt served as the primary liaison between Members of the 
114th Congress, their Staffs, Legislative Committees, and the U.S. 
Army. In this role, Major Schardt planned, coordinated, and accompanied 
Congressional and Staff Delegations on numerous worldwide fact-finding 
and investigative missions and worked to increase the trust the U.S. 
Congress has in the U.S. Army.
  Major Schardt is a native of Littleton, Colorado who has served in 
combat units across the U.S. Army including the 25th Infantry Division 
and the 4th Infantry Division. A veteran of the conflicts in both Iraq 
and Afghanistan, Major Schardt is married to the former Amy Meersman of 
Littleton, Colorado and the proud father of two children--Kyle and 
Cora. This spring, Major Schardt and his family depart for their next 
assignment with the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the selfless service of 
Major Matt Schardt as he and his family proceed to the next chapter in 
his remarkable career and continue to serve our great Nation.