[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 200 (Thursday, December 22, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





              CELEBRATING THE SERVICE OF DOUGLAS N. LETTER

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 22, 2022

  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute Douglas Neal Letter 
for his exemplary service as General Counsel of the House of 
Representatives. For four years, Doug has relentlessly defended this 
institution, its Members and its prerogatives. His passion for public 
service and his brilliant legal mind have been essential to this 
Chamber's work For The People.
  Doug's legal career has spanned 40 years of dutiful service--
including a range of senior positions at the U.S. Department of 
Justice, as well as time as a Senior Litigator at the Georgetown 
University Law Center's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and 
Protection. One of our nation's most skilled appellate lawyers and a 
leading expert on Constitutional law, Doug has presented oral argument 
before federal appellate and trial courts in more than 200 cases.
  After four decades of service in the executive branch, Doug answered 
the call to serve the House at the start of the 116th Congress in 
January 2019. Under Doug's leadership, the General Counsel's Office has 
expertly handled complex litigation and provided wise legal advice to 
our Members, Officers, Committees and staff--regardless of political 
affiliation.
  When the House's institutional interests were at stake, Doug and his 
team worked tirelessly to protect the House's critical role in our 
Constitutional structure. Doug successfully argued before the Supreme 
Court in a landmark case advocating the complete enumeration of the 
Census to ensure the accuracy of the apportionment of the House and its 
institutional integrity.
  In addition, Doug successfully led a team of talented attorneys in 
litigating numerous cases to uphold the House's subpoena authority. 
Under a high-stakes national spotlight, Doug and his team successfully 
fought to defend the Committee on Ways and Means' statutory authority 
to obtain tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service. He was also 
successful in defending the Select Committee to Investigate the January 
6th Attack on the United States Capitol's ability to obtain 
presidential records from the National Archives and Records 
Administration.
  Further, under Doug's guidance, the House filed amicus briefs 
articulating its position on several key legal matters, including the 
proper interpretation of the Constitution's Speech or Debate Clause in 
connection with several criminal prosecutions. Numerous Members and 
Committees relied on Doug's litigation expertise in connection with two 
Presidential impeachments, as well as extensive investigative and 
oversight activities. Doug also defended House Members, Officers and 
staff in judicial proceedings at both the trial and appellate levels 
and advised Members and Committees on their interactions with both 
private companies and other governmental entities.
  Upon leaving the House, Doug will join the Brady Center to Prevent 
Gun Violence, where he will continue to provide legal counsel of the 
highest caliber. On behalf of the entire House community, I thank Doug 
for his dedicated service and wish him and his entire family the very 
best in all of his future endeavors.

                          ____________________