[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 195 (Thursday, December 15, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





           HONORING THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF COLLEEN KENNEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN M. PALAZZO

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2022

  Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a former member 
of my congressional staff, Colleen Kennedy of Ocean Springs, 
Mississippi. For 5 and a half years, Colleen served as an essential 
member of my D.C. team, ending her time in my office as the 
Communications Director. Colleen has always had a passion for helping 
others, and it was through her experiences following Hurricane Katrina 
that she decided to pursue a career that allowed her to serve her home 
state of Mississippi
  Colleen arrived in Washington in 2016 to serve as an intern in my 
office. She was then hired as Staff Assistant. Colleen continued to get 
more involved in serving the state of Mississippi when she joined the 
Mississippi Society of Washington, D.C., as a board member, it was her 
way of bringing pieces of home to our nation's capital.
  Colleen was promoted to Legislative Assistant, where she volunteered 
to handle my office's flood insurance policy portfolio, a significant 
undertaking. Colleen led a coalition of Republicans in the House in 
stopping rate increases, defeating harmful flood insurance reforms in 
the House. Without her leadership, expertise, or dedication, nearly 
65,000 south Mississippians would face more expensive premiums. Colleen 
stepped up to tackle a long-standing issue from the Affordable Care Act 
that would have negatively impacted hospitals in the state of 
Mississippi and the care available to Mississippians.
  Colleen was passionate about legislative issues, but her true talent 
was communications roles. From being a press assistant to ending as the 
Communications Director, Colleen thrived being the spokesperson for 
myself and south Mississippi.
  I am so grateful for all her great work for south Mississippi, from 
mailers, letters, meetings, tele-town halls, interviews, social media, 
and legislative portfolios. Colleen always served with integrity, 
loyalty, and passion, often sharing our inside saying of ``vote right'' 
as I left for votes. South Mississippi was her home for decades and 
will always hold a special place in her heart. And knowing her, there's 
only one way to conclude these remarks, vote right.

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