[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E23]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING GREG KOSTKA IN HONOR OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE HOUSE 
                   OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 10, 2018

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, each year for the past 57 years 
the Congress has passed annual legislation to authorize the policies, 
programs, and activities of the Department of Defense. Today, we refer 
to this important legislation as the National Defense Authorization 
Act. Crafting this bill is no easy task, and it couldn't be done 
without the countless hours of work put in by the House Armed Services 
Committee staff and the attorneys at the House Office of Legislative 
Counsel. Today, I rise to honor a member of the legislative counsel 
team to thank him for his 31 years of service to the House of 
Representatives, and especially to the House Armed Services Committee.
  A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, Greg Kostka 
joined the House Office of Legislative Counsel in 1986 and has had a 
hand in the drafting of each National Defense Authorization Act since 
the Fiscal Year 1989 bill. While Greg's focus areas have been in 
military personnel, military justice, military construction, and 
readiness, he is known by his colleagues as someone capable of drafting 
in virtually any area of defense law if called upon. And from 2016 to 
2017, Greg served as the defense team lead in the Office of Legislative 
Counsel.
  Greg's expertise and interest in the military extended beyond his 
time drafting legislation in his office. As an amateur historian of the 
Civil War, Greg wrote an unofficial history of the role of the Third 
U.S. Regular Infantry during the American Civil War. I understand that 
he also participated in Civil War reenactments.
  Greg was a regular participant in annual legislative update programs 
for the military's Judge Advocate Generals and accompanied committee 
staff on visits to several military installations. Greg brought his 
expertise and interest with him every day, and his work showed that he 
cared deeply about the men and women who serve in uniform.
  Greg's professionalism and institutional knowledge have been greatly 
appreciated by his colleagues in the Office of Legislative Counsel as 
well as by Members and staff who have had the pleasure of working with 
him over the years. After 31 years of dedicated service to the House of 
Representatives, Greg announced his retirement from the Office of 
Legislative Counsel on December 31, 2017.
  On behalf of all the Members and staff of the House Armed Services 
Committee, I offer my sincere gratitude to Greg for his expertise and 
wise counsel over the years and wish him, and his wife Jeanine, all the 
best in his retirement.

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