[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 197 (Thursday, November 19, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H5937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING LANE LOFTON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Cunningham) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and sincere 
gratitude that I rise today to recognize Lane Lofton.
  A Mississippi native, Lane grew up in the South with his parents, 
Lynne and Bill Lofton, and his brother and sister, Will and Lydia 
Lofton. Not ready to part with his Southern roots quite yet, he 
attended Samford University in Alabama, where he began his life in 
politics.
  Lane moved from the Alabama district operations for House 
Representative Bobby Bright to D.C. in 2009. It was probably the best 
move ever because it was in Washington that Lane met and married the 
love of his life, Anna York Lofton. They both have immense love for 
their two French bulldogs, Duey and Shirley.
  After nearly a decade of service in government relations, Lane 
interviewed to be my chief of staff about 2 years ago. I remember it 
like it was yesterday. It was at the end of a very long day of 
orientation, and he was the last interview of the day. I remember 
saying to myself after he left that we must have saved the best for 
last. Either that or it was a long day and I was overly tired and 
easily impressed, although I firmly believe that it was the former.
  The fact is that there is no one else I would rather have by my side 
over these last 2 whirlwind years than Lane Lofton.
  Together, we entered the 116th Congress with the Nation's longest 
government shutdown and ended it with a global public health and 
economic crisis. But no matter the problems at hand, Lane worked 
diligently every single day to support our office as we passed landmark 
legislation, fostered relationships across the aisle, and then 
sometimes he just reminded me to fix my tie.
  A tried and true public servant, Lane has always put the needs of 
others first, especially the 20-person office that he managed. That 
team can attest that, every single day, even when Lane had a bad day, 
he never showed it. He came to work every day with an ear to listen, a 
voice of reason, and a smile on his face. He sets an incredible example 
of selflessness in the work that he takes on, and he has been an 
invaluable mentor for our younger staffers.
  I look forward to watching the future successes that Lane will find 
in his personal and professional life. I think that his next challenge 
will be one of his biggest because Lane and his wife, Anna, will 
welcome their first son in February. I could not be more excited to 
watch their young family grow.
  Welcome to the No Sleep Club, Lane, and welcome to finding a level of 
love and devotion that you did not know you were capable of.
  From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your service to the 
Lowcountry and for becoming a lifelong friend.

                          ____________________