[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 127 (Friday, July 29, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF ROSEMARY O'NEILL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2022

  Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the life 
of Rosemary O'Neill, who dedicated her life and career to public 
service.
  A native of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and daughter of former Speaker 
of the House, Thomas ``Tip'' and Millie O'Neill, Rosemary was born on 
March 20, 1943. Following in the family tradition of public service and 
diplomacy, Rosemary first began what would be an extensive career with 
the Department of State as special assistant to George Feldman, 
Ambassador of Malta and Luxembourg, shortly after graduating from 
Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross. Rosemary then continued to work at 
the Department of State's headquarters in Washington, D.C. for several 
years, before receiving her posting as a foreign service officer in 
Morocco in 1980.
  In 1992, Rosemary was elected chair of the Secretary of State's Open 
Forum, and was tasked with supervising the Open Forum Channel, 
monitoring the Dissent Channel, and managing the Open Forum's Speaker 
Program. The Secretary of State's Open Forum was established in 1967 to 
encourage U.S. government employees to share new or alternative policy 
recommendations with the Secretary of State in a confidential manner, 
free of bureaucratic restraints. Under Rosemary's leadership and 
guidance, the Speaker's Program and Open Forum Working Group on 
Conflict Resolution, Civil Society, and Democracy flourished.
  An advocate for strong American Irish relations, Rosemary served as 
advisor to the Department of State's Director of Policy Planning on 
Northern Ireland. Even in retirement, Rosemary continued her 
relationship with the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition and often 
travelled to her family's ancestral home of Mallow, County Cork, 
serving as the Grand Marshall of Mallow's St. Patrick's Day Parade in 
2017. Whether travelling to the USSR to promote human rights for 
individuals with disabilities or working to establish the State 
Department's Afghan Women's Program to advance educational 
opportunities for women and girls throughout Afghanistan--Rosemary 
dedicated her life and career to bettering the lives of all, across the 
globe.
  After a remarkable career as a Foreign Service Officer, Rosemary 
retired in 2004. However, retirement did not stop her from continuing 
to help and support those in her community. Rosemary went on to serve 
as Chair of the Board of the Family Pantry of Cape Cod and on the 
Harwich Democratic Committee. Surrounded by family and loved ones, 
Rosemary left us too soon on July 20, 2022, at the age of 79. 
Rosemary's legacy will carry on through the lasting impact she left on 
the lives of so many through her work advancing women's rights and 
advocating for underrepresented and underserved groups.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor the life of Rosemary O'Neill. I 
ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing her life's commitment to 
serving her community and country.

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