[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JOYCE FLEMING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a longtime staff 
member of my office, Joyce Fleming, and to offer her most heartfelt 
congratulations on her retirement.
  Joyce embodies what it means to be a public servant. As an outreach 
and constituent caseworker in my Beaverton office for the past 12 
years, she treated all Oregonians with courtesy, respect, and empathy.
  Like most of our best congressional staff, Joyce understands that 
advocacy for our constituents often takes more time and effort than one 
letter or phone call.
  She patiently navigated Federal agencies, looked for creative 
solutions to complex problems, and she explored every avenue possible 
to find a positive outcome for the people we serve in northwest Oregon. 
In fact, during the last townhall meeting I hosted, it seemed that more 
constituents showed up to see Joyce and seek out her assistance than to 
talk with me.
  I am grateful for her work serving the First District of Oregon for 
the past 12 years, but Joyce's career in public service began well 
before my service in Congress and has spanned decades. She began her 
congressional career in the office of U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield before 
we had email and iPhones. Senator Hatfield was a former Governor who 
spent 30 years in the U.S. Senate where he ultimately chaired the 
powerful Appropriations Committee. He was a special kind of public 
servant, a statesman who worked across the aisle and focused on getting 
things done for Oregonians.
  Joyce's service has followed this model. She also spent more than 12 
years in the Oregon office of my friend and colleague, Congressman Earl 
Blumenauer, and took a brief hiatus from Federal service before coming 
to work in my Oregon office in 2012.
  A talented professional, Joyce was always one of the first staffers 
on my team who has always conducted herself with kindness and 
integrity. She has helped guide and mentor many new staff members and 
has been a steadfast advocate for the people of northwest Oregon.
  In closing, and on behalf of my entire team and the people of 
northwest Oregon, I would like to reiterate my gratitude and 
appreciation to Joyce Fleming who made it possible for me to do my job 
well and to help the people I am so honored to represent.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate Joyce on her retirement and on her 
exemplary career serving the people of our State and country.

                          ____________________