[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 159 (Friday, September 30, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1005]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE WORK OF FORMER SENIOR CONSTITUENT SERVICES ADVOCATE 
                               LAURA RUDE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHERI BUSTOS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 30, 2022

  Mrs. BUSTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and recognize 
the work of Laura Rude, my former Senior Constituent Services Advocate 
in Rock Island, Illinois.
  Laura has given nine years of dedicated service to the communities 
that make up Illinois' 17th Congressional District. She oversees our 
Congressional Record program, where she writes and edits submissions, 
and has nearly doubled our output per year during our final term in 
Congress. Laura has also written over 3,000 congratulations letters to 
constituents on my behalf. During her time in our office, Laura 
successfully closed over 2,500 cases, encompassing every single type of 
casework and working with every federal agency. She is truly a jack of 
all trades.
  Laura, who received her Master's Degree in Social Work from Illinois 
State University, is truly the ``do-it-all'' caseworker. She is 
profoundly kind and understanding when assisting constituents, and has 
handled every type of miscellaneous case that others would consider 
out-of-the-box or difficult. One of her most memorable cases was 
assisting Laura Thomsen, who contacted our office because she was 
approved for Social Security Disability Insurance in November 2021, and 
had waited past the 120-day wait period to receive her benefits. Laura 
swiftly contacted the Social Security Administration on Ms. Thomsen's 
behalf and kept her updated on the case. Finally, on July 14, 2022, the 
Social Security Administration released the $71,317.81 in backpay that 
was owed to Ms. Thomsen. This is a lifechanging amount of money for 
anyone, let alone someone who was unable to work due to a disability. 
Without a doubt, Laura has made a significant difference in the lives 
of countless constituents.
  It is because of kind and dedicated leaders such as my former Senior 
Constituent Services Advocate, Laura Rude, that I am especially proud 
to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Madam Speaker, I would 
like to, again, formally celebrate the exceptional work of Laura Rude.

                          ____________________