[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 188 (Thursday, November 29, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN APPRECIATION OF THE SERVICE OF JOAN O'DONNELL CONDON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDWARD R. ROYCE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 29, 2018

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
appreciation for Joan O'Donnell Condon, a Senior Professional Staff 
Member who has served on the Committee on Foreign Affairs for more than 
18 years.
   I first came to know Joan while I was chairing the Africa 
Subcommittee, during which time she helped me advance key initiatives 
to promote security, rule of law, and economic opportunity across the 
continent. She worked tirelessly to bring attention to the atrocities 
of the Lord's Resistance Army, genocide in Darfur, and the rise of al 
Qaeda-aligned terrorist organizations in East Africa and the Maghreb. 
In recognition for her efforts to support the peace processes in 
Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Cote d'Ivoire, she was invited to attend the 
opening arguments against Liberian warlords Charles Taylor before the 
Special Court for Sierra Leone, and then joined me in celebrating as he 
was sentenced to life in prison for war crimes and crimes against 
humanity.
   As Chairman of the Committee, I knew I wanted Joan on my team. When 
I asked her where she would travel if she could go anywhere in the 
world--and she responded with a list of disaster zones--I knew I had 
made the right choice. She now serves as one of my trusted senior 
staff, covering the U.S. foreign assistance portfolio. Her diligence, 
commitment, and integrity have earned her the respect of her 
colleagues. She has helped bring nearly two dozen Public Laws across 
the finish line, including four bills to authorize and extend the 
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the first bill to 
authorize International Disaster Assistance in 30 years. I look forward 
to seeing what she does next as I depart the chairmanship. I know she 
will continue her excellent work.

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