[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 8, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF PAUL J. SASS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM GRAVES

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 8, 2022

  Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize my 
long-time staffer, Paul Sass, as he marks his last week on Capitol Hill 
after more than 20 years.
  Every Member knows that nothing would get done around here if it 
weren't for the dedication and commitment of our staff. I have served 
in Congress for 22 years, and I have had a lot of great staff over that 
time. Paul has worked for me in a variety of different roles over the 
course of his Capitol Hill career, in both my Congressional Office and 
the two committees I have had the privilege of leading. Paul is my 
longest serving staffer and is unquestionably one of the best and 
capable staffers I've ever had.
  In 2002, I hired Paul fresh out of college as a Staff Assistant, 
where he was tasked with making the coffee and answering the phones. 
And as I like to remind him, he was our third choice for the job at the 
time. Despite that, Paul was determined to prove himself, and he 
quickly climbed the ranks of my legislative team, rising to Legislative 
Director and eventually to Deputy Chief of Staff.
  After I was elected by my colleagues to serve as the Republican 
Leader of the Small Business Committee, Paul served there as my Deputy 
Staff Director from 2009 to 2015. After my time as Chairman was done, I 
asked Paul to return to my personal office as Chief of Staff to help 
lead my internal campaign to succeed my friend Bill Shuster as 
Republican leader of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. 
In 2019, I was fortunate enough to be elected to that position, and it 
was an obvious choice to ask Paul to come with me again and lead the 
Republican Committee staff as Staff Director. And for the last three 
and a half years, he has done a fantastic job.
  During this time, Paul oversaw and led our staff in negotiations on 
multiple bipartisan, bicameral legislative efforts of great consequence 
to our Nation, many of which were signed into law. He has worked on two 
Water Resources Development Acts; an aircraft certification bill, which 
was crafted in response to two major international aviation accidents; 
the CARES Act, which was the first major comprehensive legislative 
response to the COVID-19 pandemic and included significant support 
targeted toward the transportation industry; two Coast Guard 
reauthorizations; and efforts to reauthorize the surface transportation 
programs.
  While Paul's accomplishments are not limited to legislative 
achievements and bills signed into law, they do represent some of the 
very real and tangible impacts his 20-year career of public service has 
had on our Nation. If you asked Paul, he would say his real legacy and 
career accomplishments are best measured by the relationships he has 
developed over the past two decades--from those he served under and 
beside at the beginning of his career--to those he has since hired, 
mentored, and guided in their own careers. And even to those he met 
extending his Hartwick College baseball career into a ``legendary'' 
softball career as part of the Lawn Wranglers and Owego dynasties, 
coaching the Republican Congressional baseball team, or just talking 
politics over a beer at the storied, now sadly shuttered, Capitol 
Lounge, without a doubt, Paul has put his imprint on the offices, 
committees, policies, and colleagues across Capitol Hill he's been 
involved with throughout his career, and we are all better for it.
  As Paul enters the next phase of his already-successful career, I 
thank him for sticking with me for over 20 years. I thank him for his 
advice and guidance. And I thank him for his loyalty and friendship. 
When I look back at my Capitol Hill service, it is those dedicated 
staffers like Paul that I am most thankful for in helping me address 
the needs of Missouri's Sixth District and the Nation at large. I thank 
Paul and I wish him continued success in his next endeavors.

                          ____________________