[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 98 (Thursday, June 8, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR ROBERT LEE SIMMONS II

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAC THORNBERRY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 2017

  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express appreciation for 
the work of Robert Lee Simmons II, Staff Director of the House Armed 
Services Committee. True confession--I don't like goodbyes, and I'm not 
very good at them. So I wrote down a few things I want to say and then 
will yield to others.
   Bob Simmons has been a superb leader of the House Armed Services 
Committee staff for 12 years, across four chairmen. That longevity and 
continued confidence in him as chairmen come and go, as Committee 
members come and go, as the challenges that our military and our 
country face come and too often stay, is pretty remarkable, especially 
in the business we are in.
   I would say his greatest achievement is that he assembled, led, and 
inspired an outstanding group of people to give their best for our 
country through not only changing security challenges, but through 
changing political environments. And he has always operated in light of 
the unique responsibilities that the Constitution places on Congress as 
a separate, independent branch of government. Our system is messy, 
difficult, usually inefficient--as Churchill said, it ``is the worst 
form of government except for all of the others that have ever been 
tried.''
   Over the years, Bob has spent the hours, incurred the headaches, the 
time in the car, the frustrations of dealing with knucklehead Members 
like me with the next great idea. And he has done all of that with 
patience and a cheerful disposition--usually. He has made this 
Committee, and helped make this Congress and this system of government, 
work. And our nation has benefited.
   I believe that there is nothing more noble to which men and women 
can devote their lives than to the protection of their fellow citizens 
and the security of our nation. Bob Simmons has devoted his life to 
that cause, first in industry, then with us, now back to industry. But 
it has always been the same cause. And the guiding light has always 
been what's the right thing to do for our country, and for the men and 
women who serve it.
   Everyone who serves in jobs like these does so at some sacrifice to 
family. And so I want to thank Donna and Rob for sharing Bob with us 
these 12 years and for understanding the missed anniversaries and 
birthdays. We were on quite a roll there for a while.
   On behalf of the men and women who have been privileged enough to 
serve in this room at some point over the past 12 years, we are 
incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with Bob, for what you 
have done for us, and for all you have done for that most noble cause.

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