[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 68 (Thursday, April 26, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E548-E549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE OF THEODORE ``TED'' VAN DER MEID

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DARIN LaHOOD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 26, 2018

  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to honor and remember the 
life of Theodore ``Ted'' Van Der Meid. A dedicated public servant here 
in the House of Representatives, Ted will be greatly missed by his 
former colleagues and friends.
  Born in Rochester, New York in 1957, Ted displayed natural leadership 
qualities at a young age. During his high school years, Ted traveled to 
Western Europe as part of the People to People Student Ambassador 
Program, which exposed him to cultures and governments veiled by 
Russian influence during

[[Page E549]]

the Cold War. These experiences taught him the importance of coalition 
building and the interconnectedness of humanity; lessons he carried 
with himself into his professional life on Capitol Hill.
  Ted committed his life to service and was known throughout the halls 
of Congress for his compassion, leadership, and his pragmatic approach 
to politics. Ted was a trusted advisor to numerous members of Congress, 
including former House Republican Leader Bob Michel, of Illinois, 
Representative Nancy Johnson, of Connecticut, and, ultimately, the 51st 
Speaker of the House.
  Ted's most enduring physical legacy in the U.S. Capitol is the 
Capitol Visitors Center, which enhances the visitor experience for 
three to five million visitors a year. From his position in the 
Speaker's office, Ted played an instrumental role in the completion of 
the building, which was created in the wake of the Capitol shooting in 
1998 and the terrorist attacks in 2001. The Capitol Visitors Center 
safeguards millions of visitors every year and will remain a lasting 
memory of Ted's abilities. His ability to build consensus, combined 
with the care and compassion he had for those around him, made its 
completion possible.
  We mourn the passing of Ted Van Der Meid, a friend and colleague to 
many. He left a lasting impact on those who had the pleasure of working 
with him and his memory will be forever entwined in the fabric of the 
Capitol.

                          ____________________