[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 70 (Thursday, April 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E427-E428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING JEFF SIMERING ON RETIREMENT FROM THE COUNCIL OF THE GREAT CITY 
                                SCHOOLS

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 28, 2022

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, last month, one of the most 
impactful and consistent forces in urban education policy retired. Jeff 
Simering stepped down as the Director of Legislative Services for the 
Council of the Great City Schools, ending his fifth decade of working 
to improve schools in urban school districts. His impact on education, 
and especially those who have taught and learned in our urban schools, 
has been immeasurable.
  Jeff had been with the Council since 1994, where he directed the 
federal legislative activities of the Council, worked with federal 
agencies, and advised member school districts on the implementation of 
national legislation. Prior to joining the Council, Jeff operated a 
consulting firm that aided school districts and worked directly for 
Chicago Public Schools. Jeff received his law degree from the 
University of Baltimore.
  Jeff fought for urban schools to get the resources they needed for 
decades. While at Chicago Public Schools, Jeff worked with some of the 
legislative titans of the time--Sid Yates and Dan Rostenkowski--to 
ensure Chicago Public Schools had the resources to support its students 
and teachers and foster diversity. Throughout the 90s and beyond Jeff 
was one of the preeminent experts helping guide Congress on how best to 
target federal education funding to the school districts which needed 
it the most.
  Jeff provided counsel to Members of the Education and Labor Committee 
for decades. His advice helped inform us on how to target resources and 
pursue reforms to strengthen schools. Most importantly his advice 
assisted us in producing more effective legislation. For instance, Jeff 
was instrumental in helping the Committee construct funding formulas 
that ensured school districts with concentrations of low-income 
children in rural, urban and suburban America received their fair share 
of resources.
  Jeff fiercely represented his clients--urban schools and the children 
who attend them. And above all, Jeff knew how to help the Committee 
come to a bipartisan consensus on issues. For example, Jeff's 
assistance led to bipartisan agreement on multiple Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act reauthorizations, including the Improving 
America's Schools Act in 1994, the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, 
and the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015. His work also influenced 
the reauthorizations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 
in 1997 and 2004, and the Career and Technical Education Act in 1998 
and 2006.
  Best wishes to Jeff on his retirement. His knowledge and approach 
will be missed. I hope in the coming months and years, he will be able 
to spend more time with his family, play tennis, and ride his Harley.
  I thank him for all he has done to support our Nation's schools.

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