[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 137 (Friday, August 19, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E863-E864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        PAYING TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER, CATHERINE PETTY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GARRET GRAVES

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 19, 2022

  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I want to pay tribute and 
recognize a distinguished member of Congressional staff, Catherine 
Petty.
  With the loss of our friend, the late Dean of the House Congressman 
Don Young, there is presently no member seated from the great state of 
Alaska who may rise and recognize members of his staff within this 
body--even as they continue to serve our nation's largest Congressional 
district. Therefore, it is my distinct honor today to recognize 
Catherine Petty, and to thank her for her years of service.
  Catherine Petty grew up in Boston, Massachusetts where she acquired 
an accent that she proudly never fully outgrew. She joined the United 
States Air Force in 1971 which stationed her in Germany twice, Iceland 
twice, North Dakota, Texas, and New Mexico. In 1983 she left the Air 
Force as a Staff Sergeant in order to devote additional time to her 
young family. She next went to work for the Department of Defense, then 
as a civilian employee of the Air Force. Catherine Petty arrived in 
Alaska at 5:00 p.m. on October 5, 1990, at what was then Elmendorf Air 
Force Base. She continued in federal civilian service until she was 
urged by a friend to apply for a position with Alaska's lone member of 
Congress--the legendary Don Young--who she admitted at the time she 
knew very little about. However, as fate would have it, Catherine 
applied and got the job--starting on June 15, 2006 in his Anchorage 
district office amidst a tumultuous election cycle.
  Catherine Petty's talents and leadership qualities were quickly 
recognized by Congressman Young. In 2007 he promoted her to be his 
Deputy State Director. On a personal level, Catherine became especially 
close with Rep. Young's wife, Mrs. Lu Young, until her passing in 
August of 2009.
  Mrs. Petty continued to faithfully serve Congressman Young as his 
Deputy State Director with great distinction. Her Congressional 
casework accomplishments include personally completing a remarkable 
tally of over 7,000 constituent cases. It is no wonder that Alaskans 
continued to return Congressman Young to the House for a record 25 
terms--with such effective public servants like Mrs. Petty on his team.
  Madam Speaker, Mrs. Petty's service in the office of Congressman Don 
Young and to the

[[Page E864]]

Office of Alaska At-Large epitomizes what it means to be an effective 
caseworker, capable public servant, and loyal staffer. She has mentored 
her fellow staff, gained the admiration of colleagues across agencies, 
and earned the gratitude of countless constituents. Some of Mrs. 
Petty's most memorable successes include aiding constituents faced with 
urgent needs such as passports and visas, assisting Alaskan families as 
they navigated naturalization, and helping servicemembers overcome 
bureaucratic hurdles in order to receive the benefits they have earned.
  Mrs. Petty's lengthy career of service which spans 50 years, 
including in the Armed Services, as a civilian federal employee, and as 
staff with the United States House of Representatives, proves that Mrs. 
Petty's values and work ethic are deeply held. Some of those values and 
work ethic could be witnessed by anyone brave enough to show up to the 
office before 7:00 a.m., or unwise enough to shirk a task they had 
promised to complete. Though never a slouch, Mrs. Petty has always been 
known to be a fan of a good office prank. Her good nature and humor 
will be missed by her colleagues, who all wish her the very best as she 
looks forward to her upcoming retirement.
  Catherine Petty served Congressman Young and the House of 
Representatives for 16 years. On behalf of the institution she has so 
well served, all of the constituents in Alaska she has helped in the 
name of the boss over the years, and as a former Congressman Don Young 
staffer myself, I say thank you to Catherine for a job well done and 
may God bless her.

                          ____________________