[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 214 (Monday, December 13, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE CAREER OF STEVE RICHARDSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 13, 2021

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of 
hardworking public servant, Steve Richardson. After serving nearly 40 
years with the Social Security Administration spanning three different 
field offices, Steve will head onto the next chapter of his life this 
on December 31st, 2021. Steve has dedicated his life to serving and 
informing the public, and his loss is a notable one for the Social 
Security Administration and the Boston region as a whole.
  As a fellow native New Englander, Steve graduated from Northeastern 
in 1984 with a Bachelor's in Political Science. As someone who place 
strong value in an education, he also went on to obtain a Master's in 
Public Affairs from Boston's Emerson College in 1999. Equipped with an 
impressive Massachusetts education, Steve was destined to serve the 
public of Connecticut's neighboring state.
  Before even completing his Bachelor's, he began with the Roxbury 
Social Security Administration's Field Office in 1982 as a claims 
representative, working to prove his professionalism and wealth of 
knowledge from the get-go. It was because of his experience and 
dedication to the public that he was able to expand his career with the 
Administration to the Roslindale and Chelsea field offices while 
wearing numerous hats including the additional roles of supervisor and 
regional public affairs specialist. He most recently transitioned to 
the role of regional communications director for the Boston regional 
office in 2018, where he has remained responsible for the coordination 
of the Administration's public activities in all six New England 
states.
  Madam Speaker, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet 
Steve and know of his work on all things related to Social Security. He 
has been an invaluable resource for my office and longtime Social 
Security caseworker Karen Weseliza, and has acted as a strong leader, 
creative teacher, and an excellent administrator to those who have 
worked with and for him. Even with Karen's sharp expertise, he could 
always be relied on as the first person to call on the hardest cases 
and could always be relied upon to assist my casework team with any 
complications. To that end, I ask that my colleagues join me in 
celebrating Steve's life of hard work and congratulating him on a well-
earned retirement.

                          ____________________