[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 205 (Wednesday, December 18, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LESLIE ALBRIGHT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 18, 2019

  Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Leslie Albright, a 
member of the professional staff of the House Appropriations Committee, 
who plans to retire after 17 years with the Committee.
  Leslie, who earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the State 
University of New York in Plattsburgh and a Master's degree in Public 
Affairs from Boston University, started her Federal career in 1991 
working for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration. She later went 
on to become a management and budget analyst for the Department of 
Commerce.
  In 2001, Leslie joined the House Commerce, Justice, State 
Appropriations Subcommittee where she was responsible for funding and 
oversight of the Department of Justice. In the wake of the horrific 
terrorist attacks that happened on September 11th of that year, Leslie 
and Chairman Wolf worked tirelessly to ensure that the Department of 
Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in particular, 
had the resources necessary to protect the nation. Leslie's efforts 
helped reform the FBI from an organization focused on criminal 
investigations into an intelligence organization capable of addressing 
today's security threats.
  Leslie's work protecting our nation did not end with the FBI. She 
went on to work for the Defense Subcommittee where should focused on 
national security programs.
  After having her son, Marion, Leslie worked for the Committee's 
Surveys and Investigations staff where she conducted programmatic 
reviews of the Departments of State and Veterans Affairs and the U.S. 
Capitol Police.
  In 2011, Leslie rejoined the Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee. 
Here she worked to improve fisheries management, weather forecasting, 
disaster response and protection of intellectual property rights. She 
also worked with the National Science Foundation to increase the amount 
of basic research conducted in the United States and worked with the 
National Space and Aeronautics Administration (NASA) on space 
exploration. Leslie and Chairman Culberson worked not only to ensure 
that NASA had the resources required for a robust space exploration 
program but challenged NASA to develop executable and achievable plans. 
When NASA returns to the Moon, explores Mars, and finds life on another 
planet or the Jupiter moon, Europa, know that Leslie helped lay the 
ground work for these missions to be developed and appropriately 
resourced.
  In 2019, Leslie became the Republican Clerk of the Defense 
Subcommittee. It is in this position that I began working closely with 
Leslie. In short amount of time, she became an expert on the operations 
of the Defense Department and has been a critical advisor to myself and 
Ranking Member Calvert.
  I am very thankful for Leslie's hard work, over numerous years and at 
great sacrifice to her family, to support the Appropriations Committee 
and operations of the Federal government. Leslie's contributions have 
improved so many Federal programs and agencies. She has protected our 
nation from countless threats, advanced science in America, and pushed 
NASA to dream big and inspire the nation.
  I know Leslie is looking forward to spending more well deserved time 
with her family. We wish her well, thank her for everything she has 
done for the country, and know that she will excel at any future 
endeavors she pursues.

                          ____________________