[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 17, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E31]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING REPRESENTATIVE PANTELAKOS FOR 44 YEARS OF SERVICE TO NEW 
                               HAMPSHIRE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHRIS PAPPAS

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 17, 2023

  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of former New 
Hampshire State Representative Laura Pantelakos and her 44 years of 
service to the Granite State. Since first taking office in 1978, Laura 
has been a tireless advocate for change in the city of Portsmouth and 
across the State of New Hampshire. Her compassion and willingness to 
engage with her constituents earned her the support of Rockingham 
County in election after election, and her commitment to bipartisan 
solutions helped usher in several decades of prolonged economic success 
for the region.
  During her time in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, Laura 
witnessed tremendous change over the past four decades. In 2008, Laura 
was named Dean of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 
recognition of her service as the longest-tenured member of that body; 
a distinction she proudly held until her retirement. Her tenacity and 
sharp legislative insight also saw her rise to the rank of Assistant 
Minority Leader, where she rallied her party to major legislative 
victories while always looking for opportunities to reach across the 
aisle. During her time in the House, Laura dedicated herself to leaving 
a positive imprint on our state, reforming our criminal justice system, 
and always looking out for children and families. Laura's penchant for 
helping others led her to dedicate her time to a number of causes 
outside of the State House, including her role as Chair of the Fire 
Commission for the City of Portsmouth and her involvement with the 
Seacoast African American Cultural Center. Laura was also a central 
figure in the Portsmouth City Delegation, now known as the Legislative 
Subcommittee, where her ten years of leadership saw major gains for the 
city.
  Laura's leadership was always guided by her deep love for her 
children, grandchildren, and the constituents she proudly served for 
close to half of her life. As Laura begins a well-deserved retirement, 
I look forward to seeing what her next chapter has in store and know 
that she will continue to inspire the next generation of leaders to 
carry on her legacy of service over self. On behalf of the residents of 
New Hampshire's First Congressional District, I thank Laura for 
embodying New Hampshire's highest values and wish her all the best in 
the years to come.

                          ____________________