[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E20]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING JULIUS (``JULIE'') P. KNAPP

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 9, 2020

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, as we consider this critical 5G security 
and supply chain legislation before us, on behalf of Ranking Member 
Walden, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chairman Doyle, 
and Subcommittee Ranking Member Latta, I would like to commend Julius 
(``Julie'') P. Knapp for the wonderful contributions to civil service 
he has made over his 45 year career.
  Mr. Knapp recently retired from his position as the Federal 
Communications Commission's (FCC) Chief of the Office of Engineering 
and Technology. He is well known in our Committee because he has 
testified before us so many times over the years. We could always rely 
on his technically precise and straight-forward testimony. Mr. Knapp is 
an internationally-recognized expert who is known for his pragmatic and 
fair approach, and his ability to explain, in plain language, 
engineering issues to policymakers on all sides of an issue.
  Julie Knapp's career ran in tandem with the growth of the American 
communications industry. In many ways, it was a symbiotic relationship. 
He graduated from high school in New Hyde, New York, in 1969, and 
received his engineering degree from the City College of New York in 
1974. Less than a month later, he joined the FCC. At 22 years old, he 
started out certifying radio frequency devices. He then rose through 
the ranks to become Chief of the FCC laboratory, then Chief of the 
Policy and Rules Division for the Office and Engineering and Technology 
(OET), and finally Chief of OET, where he has served with extraordinary 
distinction since 2006.
  It goes without saying that Julie Knapp could have taken the 
extraordinary skills he perfected at the FCC to Silicon Valley or to 
one of the trade associations where his work is so well regarded and 
appreciated. Instead, he chose to serve the United States through 
multiple administrations as a public servant, and his longtime 
contributions will make a positive difference for generations to come.
  It's not surprising that Mr. Knapp's outstanding work has brought him 
numerous awards and accolades within the government and in the 
engineering community. In 2012, he received one of the highest honors 
for a civil servant, the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award. He also 
received the FCC's Gold and Silver awards and the Eugene C. Bowler 
award for exceptional professionalism and dedication to public service.
  Here in Congress, we have been the fortunate beneficiaries of that 
dedication to public service. He has briefed generations of Members and 
congressional staffers on the intricacies of how spectrum works and why 
we need to harness it with careful consideration. He has provided 
significant and substantial input on all of the spectrum legislation 
passed by Congress in recent memory.
  Mr. Knapp helped usher in the modern age of communications. He played 
an instrumental role in helping us make spectrum available to fuel our 
nation's economic and innovative growth. If you are accessing a mobile 
device right now, using WiFi or buying the latest wireless gadget, you 
are likely benefiting from Julie Knapp's work.
  Julie Knapp epitomizes the non-partisan ideal of a public servant. As 
the leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, we are grateful 
for his invaluable longtime service to our nation, and extend our 
sincerest thanks to him for dedicating his life to building America's 
communications systems.

                          ____________________