[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 164 (Tuesday, September 22, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H4645-H4646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING THE SCHEDULER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Shimkus) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank a group of courageous 
Federal employees: Matt Nordquist; Janet Hartman, now Schmautz; Jake 
Gibson; Carren Crossley; Virginia Mueller, now Partridge; Jordan 
Haverly; Joy Henrichs; Perry Ford Stamp; and Molly Mackenzie Harris.
  There is no more difficult job in Washington than that of a 
congressional scheduler. My thanks and apologies go to those who served 
in my office these past 24 years.
  For me, being away from home was the worst part of the job. Who 
booked the flight and told me I had to get back to D.C.? The scheduler 
did. Who would meet me in the office at 7:30 a.m. to get me to a 
breakfast meeting at 8 a.m.? Who would hang around to pick me up at 9 
a.m., just to race me to the Hill for a 9 a.m. meeting? The scheduler 
did. Who received an irate call from me wondering why no one was at the 
meeting in HC-5, only to be told that if I had looked at my schedule, I 
would have seen that the meeting location had changed to the Capitol 
Hill Club? The scheduler did.
  Who took the frustrating call asking how I can be in a meeting in the 
Capitol from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., and then in my office in the 
Rayburn Building for an 11 a.m. meeting? The scheduler did. Who took 
the blame when I finally cried out that I needed a bathroom break after 
consecutive 30-minute meetings? The scheduler did. Who picked me up 
after votes at 6:30 p.m. to hit a reception at 6:45 p.m., another

[[Page H4646]]

one at 7 p.m., and then dinner at another location at 7:30 p.m.? The 
scheduler did.
  Who scheduled the flight to get me home, and then had to sweat as to 
whether I could make the early flight or not? Who received my 
continuous calls asking them if I thought I could make it? The 
scheduler did. Who waited in the car for that final vote just to see me 
run down the stairs and tell them, let's go, just to get caught in 
traffic in the plaza, traffic on Independence Avenue, and traffic on 
Interstate 395? The scheduler did.
  Who had to put up with the worst backseat driver in Washington, D.C.? 
The scheduler did. My schedulers took the brunt of my frustration as we 
tried to fit 36 hours of work into a 24-hour day. They took the barbs 
of criticism when I missed my family.
  If there was ever a single group that I need to apologize to, it is 
them. Having said this, this group of workers professionally conducted 
their job with poise, confidence, efficiency, and compassion. I can say 
without hesitation that because of me, the toughest job in my office is 
that of the scheduler. Matt, Janet, Jake Carren, Virginia, Jordan, Joy, 
Perry, and Molly, I thank you.

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