[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 158 (Tuesday, October 3, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        HONORING DEBBIE MERRILL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 3, 2017

  Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate Debbie 
Merrill on her retirement. A committed public servant, Ms. Merrill 
faithfully worked to represent her constituents and our country on 
Capitol Hill for over 43 years.
   Ms. Merrill learned the value of public service at an early age. Her 
father, a Native American from the Sioux tribe, served our country in 
the U.S. Army. After his honorable discharge, he attended college with 
help from the G.I. Bill. He later served in the U.S. House of 
Representatives Appropriations Committee as a career staffer. Debbie 
credits the federal help of the G.I. Bill with providing her family a 
path to success, saying that her career choice was a way for her to 
``give back to the country that gave [her] family so much.''
   Over the course of Ms. Merrill's notable career, she worked for five 
Democratic Congressmen. In 1974, she was hired for her first job in 
Congress as a legislative assistant to Congressman Clement Zablocki of 
Wisconsin. She went on to work for Congressmen Nicholas Mavroules and 
Marty Meehan of Massachusetts. In 1994, she joined Congressman Sam 
Farr's office as Legislative Director. Among her many efforts on behalf 
of the people of California's 20th congressional district, she was 
instrumental in establishing in Marina the country's first joint-from-
inception Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs 
clinic; supporting the opening of the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery; 
and creating Team Monterey, a collaborative team environment for local 
defense and national security entities as they seek federal investment. 
Ms. Merrill served in Congressman Farr's office for over 20 years, 
until his retirement. She proudly joined my staff after I was sworn in 
this past January, and swiftly got my office off the ground. Her 
presence proved invaluable as she led our junior staffers in her 
capable hands, ensuring that once she retired, I was left with a 
knowledgeable and strong legislative team. Her background on defense, 
veterans, transportation, and housing issues was exceptional.
   Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Debbie Merrill for all 
she has done to serve the people of the central coast of California, 
Massachusetts, and Wisconsin, and to serve our country. I wish her the 
very best in her retirement and in all her future endeavors.

                          ____________________