[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 201 (Friday, December 23, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1350-E1351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING NICOLE DAMASCO FOR HER DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERRY McNERNEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 23, 2022

  Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing my Chief of Staff, Nicole Damasco, for her outstanding 
commitment and dedication to serving California's 9th Congressional 
District, the former

[[Page E1351]]

11th Congressional District of California, the great state of 
California, and our country. Nicole is one of the most exceptional 
staff members, leaders, and public servants that I have had the 
pleasure of working with, and it has been an honor to have had her 
leading my staff for the past 16 years during my time in Congress.
  Nicole was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and grew up wanting to make 
positive change in her country and the world. Her father and 
stepmother, Jude and Julia Damasco, instilled in her a strong work 
ethic and the importance of serving the community and those in need, 
and she credits her grandmother, Maria Damasco, for being an 
inspiration in her life and always being there for her. Throughout high 
school, she spent time registering voters in San Francisco and the Bay 
Area and volunteering for the San Francisco Democratic Party. Although 
she is a talented artist and studied architecture in Italy during 
college, she felt the best way to make a difference in her community 
was to pursue a career in public service. She transferred to University 
of California, Santa Cruz to pursue a degree in Politics. While there, 
she interned for the Santa Cruz County Women's Commission for 2 years 
and participated in the University of California, Washington DC (UCDC) 
program, interning in Senator Barbara Boxer's Washington, DC office.
  After graduating from University of California, Santa Cruz in 2002, 
Nicole was hired as a Constituent Representative in Senator Barbara 
Boxer's office in San Francisco. She proved to be a skilled and 
dedicated employee and was soon promoted to Assistant to the Director 
of Constituent Services. In 2004, she became a Legislative 
Correspondent in Senator Boxer's Los Angeles office and was part of a 
team that changed how legislative correspondence was handled by 
transitioning to a centralized, digitized, state-based constituent 
correspondence system. It was an innovative approach that allowed the 
Senator to quickly receive and send constituent responses. Nicole did 
not know it at the time, but her team helped lay the groundwork for how 
state and district-based constituent correspondence is now handled in 
many congressional offices.
  In 2006, Nicole returned to the Bay Area and continued to work in 
Senator Boxer's San Francisco office. During that time, she volunteered 
for my Congressional campaign because she felt that I could truly help 
improve the lives of people in our community. Thanks to the hard work 
by many excellent staff and volunteers like Nicole, I was elected to 
Congress that same year, and I asked Nicole to join my team as my 
Director of Constituent Services and Field Representative. Nicole went 
to work right away, laying the foundation for and building my casework, 
field outreach, and constituent services programs from the ground up. 
She made it her mission to make sure that everyone who reached out to 
my office for assistance would receive the best service possible. She 
ensured that quality constituent service was engrained in the culture 
of my office. Thanks in large part to her tireless efforts, I am proud 
to say that my office has helped many thousands of individuals over the 
years.
  It was clear that Nicole was a natural leader when I hired her, and I 
promoted her to District Director in less than a year of her being on 
my staff. She took over, leading my entire District team at a time when 
people in the country and my district were hurting the most. During the 
subprime mortgage crisis in 2008, people were losing their jobs, homes, 
and lifesavings. Continuing to lead with a constituent-focused approach 
to her work, Nicole put together a team that would be laser focused on 
serving the people of California's 11th and 9th Congressional Districts 
throughout those difficult times. She immediately acted to help 
organize the first-of-its-kind housing and mortgage assistance events 
in the country with the purpose of keeping people in their homes. She 
also helped organize job fairs and events that connected thousands of 
people with jobs, and made sure struggling veterans and seniors were 
informed of and received the services available to them. I know without 
a doubt that because of Nicole's perseverance and tenacity, we made an 
impact on many people and were there for them during some of the 
darkest periods of their lives.
  Nicole stood tall and helped lead my team, all while facing great 
adversity herself. At the beginning of her career with my office, she 
provided care for her half-sister, Jessica, who ended up tragically 
taking her life in 2009. Nicole's stepfather and grandfather had also 
taken their lives shortly before, all of which took a toll on her 
mother and made it clear that Nicole needed to step up and help care 
for her other half-sister, Alaina. Throughout all this tragedy, Nicole 
kept a brave face, continuing to work hard and lead my office while 
also becoming Alaina's legal guardian and providing a stable home for 
her sister. Unfortunately, Nicole's mother also ended up taking her 
life, but thanks in part to Nicole's support, her sister has thrived, 
graduating from high school and with highest honors from University of 
California, Berkeley, studying and traveling around the world, and 
starting a successful career of her own. Nicole is very proud of her 
sister's accomplishments and is grateful for the special bond they 
share.
  After serving as my District Director during some of the greatest 
challenges in our nation's history and following some very hard-fought 
campaigns, I asked Nicole to move across the country and become my 
Chief of Staff. She didn't hesitate and since 2013, she has led my team 
as Chief of Staff with great dedication and conviction. Due largely to 
Nicole's efforts, my office has had one of the highest retention rates 
and one of the most diverse staffs in Congress. Throughout her time as 
Chief of Staff, she has greatly contributed to my success in Congress, 
helping move forward my legislative priorities and those of my district
  As a strong leader and with her creative, out-of-the-box thinking, 
Nicole empowered and motivated my staff to take every opportunity to 
serve my district and lead on important issues that make a difference 
in people's lives. This was especially evident during the COVID-19 
pandemic, at which time Nicole immediately transitioned my staff to 
remote work and successfully kept my office operating at full capacity 
to continue serving our constituents and bring them the most up-to-date 
information without knowing what the days, weeks, and months ahead had 
in store.
  Throughout my time in office, Nicole has helped pave the way for my 
major accomplishments, from the long-awaited construction of a 
veterans' clinic in French Camp, to helping improve our water, 
technology, energy, and environmental policy. Nicole made sure that my 
constituents and my district always came first and that bringing 
services and resources to our community always remained the priority.
  I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Nicole's dedication to 
serving others not only extends to humans but to animals, too. Over the 
years, she has opened her home to over 15 animals--including rabbits, 
cats, dogs, a hamster, and even an iguana. Nicole has also personally 
rescued over 25 stray and injured animals from the streets of my 
district. She took them in, rehabilitated, and rehomed them, and with 
the invaluable and generous help of Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary in 
Stockton, ensured that the animals that crossed her path found good, 
loving homes. Her heart knows no bounds, and she continuously 
demonstrates the true meaning ofselflessness.
  Nicole's colleagues describe her as compassionate, understanding, and 
always there for them when they need her, no matter how big or small 
the issue. She does everything possible to see that staff have the 
tools and support they need to see the job through. Beyond being a boss 
and supervisor, Nicole is a friend and mentor to many and is there for 
the team when they need advice and support.
  Nicole Damasco is an outstanding employee, boss, colleague, friend, 
mentor, and leader. Her commitment, focus, kindness, and compassion are 
unrivaled. She has dedicated over 20 years of her life to public 
service and is the embodiment of what a public servant should be. 
Throughout my career in Congress, she has supported me and my team and 
has made a lasting impact on the lives of my constituents. With great 
appreciation and admiration for her, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing Nicole Damasco for her distinguished and invaluable 
service.

                          ____________________