[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING DIRECTOR OF CASEWORK DECONTEE SAWYER FOR HER EXCELLENT WORK 
         ON BEHALF OF MINNESOTA'S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DEAN PHILLIPS

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 5, 2024

  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my Director of 
Casework, Decontee Sawyer, for her work on behalf of every constituent 
in Minnesota's Third Congressional District. This week, Decontee will 
depart my office for a new opportunity serving as Rep. Angie Craig's 
Casework Director, and I could not be more proud or grateful for her 
service.
  As Director of Casework, Decontee masterfully led my casework 
operations and team of caseworkers, working tirelessly for our 
constituents. Decontee has always gone above and beyond to advocate for 
constituents, lending her expertise to a wide range of cases and 
crises. As a true servant-leader on the front lines, she restored 
Americans' faith in government one passport, immigration case, tax 
return, and VA benefit at a time.
  A St. Cloud State University graduate, Decontee was an organizer on 
my first campaign in 2018, before joining my congressional staff as a 
Constituent Advocate. Her impressive success in that role and 
dedication to service led me to promote her to Director of Casework in 
2023. From the beginning of her time with my office, Decontee 
demonstrated her commitment to our ethos that ``Representation Begins 
with Listening'' by connecting casework to policymaking. When Deferred 
Enforced Departure (DED) status was about to expire for the Liberian 
community, Decontee worked with our legislative team to introduce the 
bipartisan Protect Our Liberian Community Act. She and our team worked 
diligently on this issue until a pathway to citizenship for Liberians 
on DED was included in the NDAA that passed at the end of my first year 
in office.
  Decontee has been our office ethos of ``Radical Hospitality'' 
personified for the past five years. She has been the heart of our 
casework team since our office opened--a role that allowed her to 
seamlessly blend her professional experiences as a mental health 
professional and community organizer. No case has ever proven too big 
or too small for Decontee; she treats every constituent with an expert 
blend of professionalism and compassion. She has put her effortless way 
of connecting with people to work building authentic connections with 
communities throughout Minnesota's Third District.
  Decontee's positive energy, radiant smile, enthusiasm for trivia, and 
inclination to dance after receiving good news on behalf of a 
constituent will be deeply missed by her colleagues. She has been a 
leader in our office, never afraid to share what is on her mind and 
stand up for her beliefs. Decontee knows the importance of bringing joy 
into work that can often feel heavy. She encourages team members to 
have fun in their jobs and celebrate hard-fought wins, and she 
demonstrates genuine care for her colleagues' wellbeing.
  The people of Minnesota's Third Congressional District were lucky to 
have her expertise and leadership, and she will be dearly missed. 
However, I'm extraordinarily happy that this expertise will continue to 
serve the nation and the people of Minnesota's Second Congressional 
District. I wish Decontee all the best in her future endeavors and 
thank her for her five years of faithful service to this Nation.

                          ____________________