[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 5, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E458-E459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING JOSEPH KOLB

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE QUIGLEY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 2017

  Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a constituent of 
mine, Joseph Kolb, a native Chicagoan, who is set to retire after a 
lengthy and illustrious career in law enforcement.
  Mr. Kolb began his career in 1983 as a Deputy Sheriff with the Cook 
County Sheriff's Department. In 1987, Mr. Kolb began his federal 
government service career with the former United States Immigration & 
Naturalization Service (INS) and during his tenure was promoted to the 
rank of the Assistant Port Director for INS at O'Hare International 
Airport in Chicago, Illinois.
  When Congress created the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 
in March of 2003, Mr. Kolb was selected by the U.S. Customs & Border 
Protection (CBP) Assistant Commissioner in Washington, D.C. as the 
interim Assistant Director for Immigration Policy and Programs at the 
Chicago Field Office. His vast knowledge of immigration law and 
policies combined with experienced leadership skills proved invaluable 
during the creation and implementation of the newly created agency.
  Assigned as the Chief CBP Officer Program Manager for Admissibility 
Passenger and Programs, Mr. Kolb served as a subject matter expert, 
administering admissibility and immigration policy, managing and 
developing admissibility programs for the Chicago Field Office 12 state 
area.
  He also performed the important role of liaison to the Foreign 
Consular Corp, Immigration Law Advocate groups, Community Based 
Organizations, U.S. Department of State, FBI, City of Chicago and 
Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
  Later, Mr. Kolb was assigned to Washington, D.C. for CBP and DHS 
Headquarters to author and administer national immigration policy, as 
well as provide guidance to the field. This latter task involved 
contributing to a number of national programs along with writing 
recommendations to Congress regarding special projects.

[[Page E459]]

  Mr. Kolb's long career took him to international posts throughout the 
world, working with the U.S. Department of State and DHS Headquarters 
in London, Amsterdam, Rome, Dublin, Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia.
  For his outstanding service, Mr. Kolb was nominated in 2016 by the 
Chicago Federal Executive Board as Employee of the Year.
  Mr. Kolb graduated from Gordon Technical High School and holds a Law 
Enforcement degree from Oakton College. In 2001, he received the Alumni 
of the Year Award from Oakton College.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing Mr. Kolb's 
distinguished service to our country and his exemplary career as a law 
enforcement official.

                          ____________________