[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 13, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E171-E172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO PATRICK DEVLIN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 13, 2019

  Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
dedicated public servant and long-time Congressional aide, Patrick J. 
Devlin, Sr. Patrick is retiring after 31 years of Congressional service 
this month, and I offer him a heartfelt thanks for his contributions 
and wish him well in his future endeavors.

[[Page E172]]

  Patrick was born in Fairfax, Virginia and is the youngest of six 
children of the late-LTC John J. Devlin (U.S. Army) and Nancy L. Devlin 
of Fairfax. He credits his father, a hero of World War II and the 
Korean War, as his inspiration to pursue a career in public service. A 
talented athlete and fierce competitor, Patrick earned a football 
scholarship to Carroll College in Helena, Montana and graduated with a 
bachelor's degree in political science from Virginia Tech.
  He began his career as an intern and landed his first job on Capitol 
Hill straight out of college, working as a staff assistant on the U.S. 
House Armed Services Committee under the leadership of Chairman Les 
Aspin. He went on to spend three years working on defense policy as a 
legislative assistant to Texas Representative Jim Chapman, and then 
served as legislative director for Connecticut Representative Rosa 
DeLauro, a leader in the fight to protect Medicare, Medicaid and school 
lunches. Patrick spent the next 11 years as Legislative Director for my 
good friend North Carolina Representative Bob Etheridge, working to 
strengthen public schools in America.
  In 2008, Patrick moved to the Senate side where he served two years 
as Communications Director for U.S Senator Jon Tester from Montana, the 
only dirt farmer in the United States Senate. Bob Etheridge brought him 
back to the House to serve as his Chief of Staff in 2010. Following 
Bob's departure from Congress, Patrick joined my staff in 2011 as 
Communications Director for the Assistant Democratic Leader office.
  Patrick has played various leadership roles working on Democratic 
Congressional staffs under a diverse group of members. As a member of 
my senior staff, he has been intimately involved in my work on the so-
called Supercommittee to determine budget priorities, the 
conceptualization of the Background Check Completion Act to combat the 
proliferation of gun violence, and the promotion of the 10-20-30 
formula to target federal resources into communities of need. He is a 
superior writer, strategist and institutionalist. His professionalism, 
expertise and loyalty have been the hallmarks of his service on Capitol 
Hill.
  He is married to Helen Devlin, and they have two teen-aged sons, 
Patrick, Jr. and Michael. Patrick Sr. has served as a guest lecturer at 
the Georgetown University Government Affairs Institute and as a Senate 
Press Secretaries Association board member. He currently serves on the 
board of the Fort Hunt Youth Athletic Association, where he has been a 
youth sports coach for many years.
  Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in expressing 
our sincere thanks for the service Patrick Devlin has rendered to the 
United States Congress. May his retirement be productive and 
fulfilling.

                          ____________________