[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H3675]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE SERVICE OF KATE JENNINGS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Mrs. Bustos) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. BUSTOS. Madam Speaker in 2016, my deputy chief of staff, Kate 
Jennings, first joined our office. After working with political greats 
like then-Senator Barack Obama and Senator Dick Durbin, our team was 
lucky that Kate would be bringing her passion and her dedication to our 
work.
  Over the next 5-plus years, there would not be one day when Kate 
didn't put the people who we serve at the very heart of everything she 
did. When COVID-19 hit Illinois last year, our office learned of a 
family sheltering in a hotel, unable to feed themselves or feed their 
children. So in the middle of this spreading pandemic, what did Kate 
do? She put herself at risk, went to the grocery, packed a box full of 
food, and delivered it to the door at the hotel where this family was 
sheltering so the children would not go hungry.
  And every year, Kate would take Valentines to our veterans to make 
sure that they knew that they were appreciated and that they were 
loved. She would travel thousands of miles across our vast 
Congressional district, and was unwavering in her hard work for all 
14 counties in our district. She never tired and always worked to lift 
up the voices of the people that were fortunate enough to be able to 
serve.

  Madam Speaker, Kate recently began her next chapter, and our entire 
team and our office and I wish her well on her new adventure. This 
week, as we continue to strive to always deliver for the people, I can 
think of no better celebration than to thank the person who spent 
nearly 2,000 days in our office putting the people we serve first.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Kate for her dedicated service, her hard work, 
and her friendship for so many years. Everyone on our team knows that 
she will continue to deliver for the people of Illinois.

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