[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 123 (Tuesday, July 18, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H3643-H3644]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING JEROMY SULLIVAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Kilmer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man of profound 
courage and vision: Jeromy Sullivan, the late chairman of the Port 
Gamble S'Klallam Tribe.
  From his early years, Jeromy was molded by his surroundings, 
nurturing a love of the land and the water and their gifts.
  His early experiences digging for clams or catching crab and salmon 
imbued him with a deep connection to his culture and to his 
environment. Besides being an experienced leader, he was still a 
relatively young man when we lost him last month.
  I loved to see Jeromy's pride and enthusiasm for the progress being 
made by his Tribe. Once, he gave me a tour of the Tribe's new health 
facility, and it mattered to him that Tribal members could get care in 
a quality environment, that they had the respect and the dignity that 
all Americans deserve.
  He was proud that not only was the facility first class, but rather 
that the care that people would receive would be first class as well.
  Jeromy was also a passionate advocate for Tribal treaty rights. 
Jeromy saw his role as Tribal chairman to be one of not only advocating 
for today's fishermen or geoduck harvesters, he was a champion for the 
rights of future generations of Port Gamble's S'Klallam Tribal members.
  I can't tell you how many conversations I had over the last 10 years 
about discussions with the Navy in which Jeromy was unbending in his 
belief that he had a responsibility to ensure that his people could 
enjoy the rights promised to them in their treaty.
  Last year, I visited a new housing development the Port Gamble 
S'Klallam Tribe was undertaking, and Jeromy beamed as he explained that 
these weren't just investments in shelters; they were investments in 
families. He said: Think of what this will mean to our Tribal members.
  Jeromy often told me that he prayed for the leaders of his Tribe and 
for the leaders of our country, that he asked for strength and wisdom, 
and Jeromy showed those every day.
  To those who loved him most, Jeromy was a loving family man, survived 
by his wife, Toni; their children, Samantha and Jacob; and his 
brothers, Chad and Corey.
  In the musical ``Hamilton,'' they asked the question: What is a 
legacy? Answering: It is planting seeds in a garden you will never get 
to see.
  Well, I am saddened that Jeromy won't get to see the fruit of some of 
his projects. They will nourish the Tribe's members for generations. 
Indeed, Jeromy's legacy will live on, reminding us to protect what we 
love and to stand tall for our beliefs.
  Jeromy Sullivan's memory will continue to guide his people and his 
spirit will endure in the lands and the waters that he loved, the 
waters that he healed, and the community he served so faithfully.
  Mr. Speaker, the last thing Jeromy texted me were the words: ``I miss 
you, my friend, and I hope we will connect soon.'' I miss him, too, and 
I will always treasure our friendship.


                           Honoring Rick Tift

  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Rick Tift, 
executive director of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, who has dedicated his 
life to public service.
  Rick is retiring after 45 years of service at Puget Sound Naval 
Shipyard, 19 of those as executive director, Puget Sound Naval 
Shipyard's top civilian management position.
  The executive director oversees internal processes and administrative 
processes and is the overall coordinator outside of direct maintenance 
issues.
  Rick has acted as a constant for 19 years when commanding officers 
came and went, always advocating for the workforce, and acting as a 
liaison to the community.
  Rick has lived in Bremerton since 1962, a graduate of Central Kitsap 
High, Olympic College, the University of Washington, and the University 
of Puget Sound.
  He serves as a member of the city of Bremerton's Planning Commission, 
he was a former board member of St. Michael Medical Center, he was a 
board member and past president of Leadership Kitsap, and sits on the

[[Page H3644]]

Chancellor's advisory board at the University of Washington Tacoma.
  There are not enough words to express my gratitude to Rick for 
everything he has done for our community and the tremendous help he has 
been to me during my time in this office.
  Rick is a fair, considerate, compassionate, and kind person who 
really cares about the community he lives and serves in. Rick has been 
instrumental in working with the community to find pathways for 
employment at the shipyard. He has been a fierce advocate for the 
shipyard, making sure elected officials, educational institutions, and 
the greater community understand the opportunities for employment 
within its workforce.

  With the Federal Government being the largest employer in my 
district, I appreciate his efforts as we are all invested in making 
sure we have the next generation of workers and future leaders at Puget 
Sound Naval Shipyard and IMF.
  Those efforts really can't be understated. He has been a staunch 
advocate for infrastructure and needed improvements to the shipyard 
inside and outside of its gates, helping to bring elected officials at 
every level and Navy leadership together to find ways to make needed 
improvements.
  That is only the tip of the iceberg as far as the positive impact 
Rick has made with his time.
  You will never find a more dedicated, loyal, considerate man than 
Rick, and it has been an absolute pleasure to work with him.
  Mr. Speaker, he will be dearly missed, and I wish him all the best in 
his next chapter as he moves off into retirement. We wish him well, and 
thank him for his friendship and partnership.

                          ____________________