[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 48 (Monday, March 18, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO CHAD PADGETT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 18, 2019

  Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, I want to pay tribute today and thank Chad 
Padgett for his years of service on my staff, the great state of 
Alaska, and to the United States of America.
  Chad Padgett first came to work in my office in 1994 and has served 
as my State Director for more than a decade. Madam Speaker, to put the 
magnitude and demands of his job into perspective requires some 
explanation. There are only seven other states in the U.S. House of 
Representatives that have State Directors. In the other 43 states, the 
position is commonly referred to as District Director. For example, the 
State of California has 53 House District Directors.
  During Mr. Padgett's tenure in my office he has traveled to almost 
every city, town, village and road stop in the state. That's quite an 
accomplishment in and of itself, when you think about how large the 
49th state actually is. Alaska has 6640 miles of coastline representing 
50 percent of our nation's total coastline and is one-fifth the size of 
the entire country. Many of the places Mr. Padgett has traveled to have 
only been accessible by air or water. Remember, even our state capitol, 
the third largest city in the state, can only be accessed by plane or 
ferry. He has traveled by car, truck, jet, single-engine plane, 
helicopter, state ferry, and boats of all sizes and makes.
  Madam Speaker, Mr. Padgett has had a lot of geography to cover in 
Alaska--more than California, Texas and Montana combined. These three 
states have 90 people doing what Mr. Padgett does.
  As mentioned earlier, Mr. Padgett joined my team in 1994 as a 
Campaign Assistant. In 1995, he became a Special Assistant in my 
congressional office and quickly became my Deputy State Director. He 
remained in that position until, under President George W. Bush's 
administration, he received a Presidential nomination to serve as State 
Director for the Farm Services Agency. From there, he became the State 
Director for USDA Rural Development. He remained with the USDA until 
2009, when he chose to come back to work as my State Director.
  As much as I hate to see Mr. Padgett leave my office, I am equally 
pleased that he has been selected to serve as the State Director for 
the Bureau of Land Management in Alaska.
  Mr. Padgett will excel in his new position. He brings to the job the 
right temperament, integrity, experience and knowledge necessary to 
provide leadership and stewardship overseeing our federal lands.
  Mr. Padgett has proven himself as a loyal, competent and respected 
public servant. He has shown care and compassion for literally 
thousands of Alaskans by helping them resolve their problems and 
navigate the bureaucratic mazes.
  He is well-liked by his co-workers and has helped mentor many young 
staffers by instilling his core values of hard work, loyalty, 
responsibility and maintaining a positive attitude.
  To me, Chad Padgett is more than my State Director. Most of all, he 
is a trusted friend. He is an advisor with my best interests always at 
heart. He is like family--and always will be.
  While it is difficult thinking of his departure from my staff, it 
gives me a great sense of pride and comfort knowing he will oversee and 
be the steward for about a quarter-of-a-billion acres of federal land 
in Alaska.
  On behalf of the countless number of Alaskans that he has helped, his 
co-workers, and most of all, my family and me--I thank him and God 
bless.
  We are excited and extend our best wishes to him for the challenges 
ahead.

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