[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 46 (Thursday, March 11, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING JESSE TOLLESON FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES 
              CONGRESS AND HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 11, 2021

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
thank Mr. Jesse Tolleson for his years of service to the United States 
Congress and congratulate him on his transition to commercial industry. 
A graduate of James Madison University, Jesse has served our country 
for over 22 years beginning as a Staff Assistant on the Armed Services 
Committee and became one of the few people in our committee's history 
to promote directly into a Professional Staff Member position.
  Since 1999, Jesse has been responsible for evaluating and making 
recommendations for legislation, policy, and the authorization of 
appropriations across the entire spectrum of issues within the 
jurisdiction of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee. This is 
a significant responsibility as the complexity and volume of aviation, 
maritime and ground-based weapon systems, equipment, and programs in 
the subcommittee's jurisdiction includes hundreds of items valued in 
the tens of billions of dollars. Committee members have always 
recognized and depended upon Jesse's intelligence, command of 
programmatic and policy details, and uncompromising insistence on the 
objective facts from the defense agencies and industry.
  Over these years, Jesse's recommendations have contributed to the 
readiness and modernization of our Armed Forces. It is no overstatement 
to say that Jesse's determination and commitment in the early years of 
the wars in the Middle East, especially his work in support of 
congressional acceleration of the development and procurement of 
improved body armor and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) 
vehicles, saved the lives of many service members who served in Iraq, 
Afghanistan, and elsewhere. The bipartisan and bicameral success that 
the Armed Services Committee has enjoyed for the last 22 years is due 
in no small part to Jesse Tolleson's professionalism, integrity, 
devotion to the committee's traditions, and collegiality.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House Armed Services Committee, we 
extend our deepest appreciation to Jesse for his dedicated and selfless 
service to the committee, the Congress, and the military and civilian 
personnel of the Armed Forces. We wish him and his family all the best 
as they start this next chapter.

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