[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 180 (Wednesday, November 14, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO JERRY GIOVANIELLO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2018

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
individual whose dedication and contributions to our country have been 
exceptional. After working for many years in the residential and 
commercial real estate industries, Jerry Giovaniello is retiring from 
the National Association of REALTORS.
  After earning a graduate degree in history from New York University, 
Mr. Giovaniello fulfilled an ROTC commitment to the U.S. Army, serving 
as an officer in Vietnam and Washington, D.C. from 1968 through 1970. 
After his military service, Mr. Giovaniello worked as a policy analyst 
and writer for National Journal, a weekly magazine covering the federal 
government and public policy issues. Later, Mr. Giovaniello began 
working on Capitol Hill where he served as chief of staff for two 
members of Congress from California--Rep. Jerry Pettis, R-Calif., 1972 
to 1976, and Rep. Jim Lloyd, D-Calif., 1976 to 1981.
  From 2001 until his retirement this year, Mr. Giovaniello served as 
the senior vice president of government affairs and chief lobbyist of 
the National Association of REALTORS, the nation's largest professional 
association, representing more than one million members involved in all 
aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. Mr. 
Giovaniello managed the association's government affairs staff of 
approximately 40 people in Washington, D.C. He also served as NAR's 
advocate for members of Congress from California, Washington, Nevada, 
Hawaii and Oregon.
  Jerry and I have worked closely together on a number of issues. 
Perhaps the most consequential was our successful effort to stop large 
national banks from entering the real estate business. Had the banks 
prevailed, it would have left home buyers and sellers with fewer 
choices and higher loan fees. More crucially, it would have made the 
economic crisis of 2008 even more severe. We all owe Jerry a debt of 
gratitude for taking on that fight and winning it.
  Mr. Giovaniello has contributed immensely to the betterment of our 
nation and I am proud to call him a fellow American and my friend. He 
played a major role advancing policies that helped Americans realize 
their dream of owning a home. To conclude, Mr. Speaker I want to thank 
Mr. Giovaniello for his service to the residential and commercial real 
estate industries--his dedication, insight and passion will be greatly 
missed.

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