[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 134 (Friday, August 9, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF JOSH SYRJAMAKI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DEAN PHILLIPS

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 9, 2019

  Mr. PHILLIPS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the decades-long 
service of Mr. Josh Syrjamaki and to congratulate him upon his 
retirement from Congressional service. A native of the Iron Range of 
Minnesota, Josh dedicated himself to bettering his neighbors' lives, 
both in his home state and across the country. His tenure in government 
began over 25 years ago, as a Committee Clerk in the Minnesota State 
Senate, and continued through prominent roles in the United States 
Senate and House of Representatives.
  A public servant of the highest order, Josh was a listener whose 
finger always rested firmly on the pulse of his office's constituents. 
As a senior aide to the late Senator Paul Wellstone, Mr. Syrjamaki 
visited every corner of Minnesota, hearing the stories, dreams, and 
concerns of everyday citizens. His collaborative approach to government 
continued in his work as Representative Tim Walz's Chief of Staff, 
where he met with farmers, businesspeople, and local leaders across 
Minnesota's first district, determined to affect meaningful change and 
to build a stronger community. This, Madam Speaker, is what 
representational government is all about.
  Mr. Syrjamaki selflessly advocated on behalf of the American people, 
forcefully supporting needed improvements for our nation's brave 
veterans. As a National Coordinator for the United Steelworkers Union, 
Josh organized grassroots campaigns to ensure that laborers received 
fair wages and job security. In his last months as a Congressional 
staffer, Josh joined me in structuring my office and developing key 
strategies to best serve the people of Minnesota's 3rd Congressional 
District.
  Above all, Mr. Syrjamaki always believed, ``We all do better, when we 
all do better.'' That collectively, people can unite to cultivate a 
brighter tomorrow. His ability to strategically motivate and inspire 
fellow citizens produced decades of leadership that improved schools, 
bettered working conditions, improved the lives of our nation's 
veterans, and expanded access to health care.
  While his tenure in the federal government ended this past March, 
Josh's unwavering commitment to his fellow citizens continues today in 
Minnesota. As the Chief of Staff in the State's Bureau of Prisons, Mr. 
Syrjamaki wields his belief in every person's potential to establish a 
reformed correctional system that focuses on education, sharply 
reducing the likelihood that an inmate will reoffend, and producing a 
more vibrant society.
  I am joined by my colleagues here in the U.S. House of 
Representatives, countless former staff members, and citizens across 
the great State of Minnesota in expressing my sincere appreciation for 
Josh's tireless service to this country. I look forward to witnessing 
his continued success and wish him well on his Congressional 
retirement.

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