[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 84 (Friday, May 14, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H2343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE SERVICE OF MICHAEL LONG
(Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and some emotion that
I rise to honor an outstanding and longstanding member of my staff who
has been a pillar of my office for nearly 15 years, my Senior Advisor
and Director of Member Services, Michael Long.
To Members of Congress and all who work and serve in this Chamber,
the name Michael Long is synonymous with excellence.
Michael is a coalition-builder and a communicator, a liaison and a
leader with an extraordinary talent for forging enduring, effective
connections, both within and outside the Capitol. I have watched him
with great pride over the years as he welcomed young people to the
Capitol, including the Boy Scouts, as an Eagle Scout himself, showing
his leadership from early on, whether it is his communication with his
many friends and admirers in the Congressional Black Caucus or with the
Members across the Congress on both sides of the aisle.
We all know and are grateful for his unwavering patience and
perseverance and his remarkable ability to anticipate and meet the
needs of Members.
Michael comes from a family that is committed to the civil rights
movement. He has it in his DNA, although he is younger than the
movement.
For this and other reasons, many of us were privileged that Michael
came with us, under the leadership of Karen Bass and the Congressional
Black Caucus, to Ghana.
Mr. Whip, you were a leader in that delegation, and you know how
moving it was.
But Michael brought, in his DNA, the spirit of his father, Isaac, who
was watching down from Heaven and saw Michael be part of that historic
trip. The whole time, he wore Isaac's cufflinks as Isaac looked down
with pride, and his mother, Naomi, and sister, Veronica, looked on with
love from here, taking great pride in Michael.
Mr. Whip, it is such an honor that you are in the Chair as I pay
tribute to Michael, a real tribute to him and his work.
Michael has been a tremendous asset to the Speaker's Office and my
leadership team over the years, and to the entire Democratic Caucus and
the entire Congress, ensuring that we can deliver progress For the
People.
He can take pride, as I do, in knowing the key role that he has
played in our passing legislation to lift up working families across
America. That happened because of his leadership.
While Michael's trusted presence on this floor and on Capitol Hill
will be missed, we are grateful for his service, as well as for his
work as a mentor and leader to forge a path for others to follow.
Indeed, his tenure has been both historic and impactful.
On behalf of the House of Representatives, I thank Michael Long and
wish him the best in the next stages of his journey.
With great admiration and appreciation, thank you, Michael Long.
____________________