[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 214 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1170]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING MY CHIEF OF STAFF BRIAN THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 17, 2020

  Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my first 
and only Chief of Staff, Brian Thomas. I have had the high honor of 
serving in Congress since 2005, and Brian Thomas has been my right-hand 
man every step of the way on this amazing journey. Through the good 
days and the most difficult ones, Brian has been a constant 
professional and source of wise counsel. I consider myself very 
fortunate and blessed to have only had one Chief of Staff during my 
entire service in the House, and I could not have asked for a better 
man for the job than Brian Thomas. Brian will soon retire as the Dean 
of the Texas Republican Chiefs of Staff, an honor he has held for the 
last several years.
  Brian's service to the people of his home state of Texas did not 
start in my office, as he worked for our former colleagues Sam Johnson 
and Jeb Hensarling, in addition to our current colleague Mac 
Thornberry. Hailing from Denver City, Texas and a graduate of McMurry 
University in Abilene, Brian never forgot his Texan roots, though he 
did do two tours outside of the Texas delegation for Charlie Norwood 
and Chuck Hagel. Brian celebrates a collective twenty-five years of 
Congressional service this month, a truly outstanding accomplishment 
that only a small number of Congressional staffers ever reach.
  We could not do our jobs without the dedicated service of our staff 
who are always working behind the scenes. Brian's advice, experience, 
and especially his hard work, which often occurs at odd hours of the 
day and night, have all played a large role in helping me best 
represent the 24th Congressional District.
  Brian will be greatly missed by so many upon his retirement as a 
Congressional staffer. His constant service is something not often 
found on the Hill, where frequent transitions are the norm. Throughout 
his career, Brian served as a mentor to staffers in not only my office, 
but also to those working for other members. No task was ever too big 
or too small for Brian, from answering the main line of the office 
telephone, to dealing with intense negotiations with leadership, Brian 
was always there for me and his colleagues. I hope that in the coming 
years, Brian's friends and colleagues will continue to ask for his sage 
advice--once a hill staffer, always a hill staffer.
  I congratulate Brian on his remarkable twenty-five years of 
Congressional service and for leading my Washington, D.C. office for 
the people of the 24th Congressional district the last sixteen years. I 
wish him, his wonderful wife Amy, and their three adorable children, 
Allie Ross, Jack, and John all the very best for the holiday season and 
a well-earned Congressional retirement for Brian.

                          ____________________