[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 106 (Friday, June 16, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E580-E581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF BARBARA WAINMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ABIGAIL DAVIS SPANBERGER

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 16, 2023

  Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Barbara Wainman 
and to recognize her 44 years of dedicated public service to our 
country.
  Over the last 44 years, Barbara has served the public through her 
work in Congress and the U.S. Department of the Interior. She has 
played a key role in the funding and policies of the Interior 
Department and has led communication and outreach efforts on a myriad 
of natural resource issues that had major impacts at the national 
level.
  Barbara graduated in 1974 from T.C. Williams High School, now 
Alexandria High School. In 1978 she graduated from Smith College with a 
bachelor's degree in political science and government. She began her 
career as a reporter with the Easton Bulletin, a local paper in 
Massachusetts. Soon after, she returned to Virginia and landed her 
first congressional job with the House Republican Conference by 
networking while waiting tables in Alexandria. In 1981, she 
transitioned to the late Congressman Ralph Regula's team, which she 
credits with teaching her about leadership--lessons that she carried 
with her throughout her career. While working on the U.S. House 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Barbara worked to help expand 
the National Heritage Corridors within the National Park System.
  In 1997, Barbara left Capitol Hill to continue onto her next role 
with the Bureau of Land Management as the chief of Congressional and 
Legislative Affairs. In 1999, she was promoted to assistant director of 
the Office of Communications at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 
becoming a member of the Senior Executive Service. At USGS, she led 
numerous communications and outreach efforts, including overseeing the 
communications response to some of the Nation's worst earthquake, 
volcano, and flooding disasters. In 2017, Barbara made the final move 
in her Federal career to become the assistant director of the Office of 
Communications at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), where she 
has overseen public engagement, congressional affairs and media 
communications, and partnerships with national organizations. At FWS, 
Barbara has been responsible for developing and launching FWS's first-
ever content management system, a project that spanned nearly 8 years 
and has improved public engagement and access to information over the 
internet. She is also responsible for establishing FWS' first-ever 
internal communications platform that proved to play a key role in 
successfully communicating with employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  For more than four decades, Barbara has mentored dozens of public 
servants and has been a role model for current and future leaders. Her 
dedication to the career development of her employees will inspire 
public servants long into the future. Her service and outstanding 
contributions were recognized in 2022, when she was granted the highest 
honor of the Interior Department, the Distinguished Service Award.

[[Page E581]]

  Throughout her career, Barbara has also been a devoted mother. Her 
two children have expressed their admiration for her work ethic and for 
her abiding love. She was their biggest cheerleader at baseball games 
and swim meets.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in honoring 
Barbara Wainman. Her commitment and passion for public service and for 
our country has been immeasurable. I wish her the best as she takes the 
next step in life to enjoy time with her family and friends.

                          ____________________