[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 194 (Tuesday, November 18, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THANKING DEREK HARLEY FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE HOUSE

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. BRYAN STEIL

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2025

  Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I kindly ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing Derek N. Harley for his 25 years of service in the U.S. 
House of Representatives.
  Derek began his career on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Assistant 
with Representative Walley Herger of California, later serving as his 
Legislative Director and then his Chief of Staff. Following Congressman 
Herger's retirement, Derek served as Chief of Staff to Representative 
Brad Wenstrup of Ohio. As Chief, Derek was known for prioritizing 
first-in-class constituent services, a focus he has maintained 
throughout his career in the House.
  After a short time off the Hill, Derek returned to the House as the 
Republican Staff Director of the Select Committee on the Modernization 
of Congress. In this position, he saw an opportunity to strengthen 
Congress's Article I obligations and create positive and lasting 
institutional change. The Select Committee had what Derek called 
``squeaky wheel authority'' to call attention to longstanding problems 
and challenges for the House, and he used that authority to 
relentlessly pursue solutions. His insistence on working with House 
partners and colleagues across-the-aisle to forge change and strengthen 
this institution for the better will benefit generations of Members and 
staff to come. We can all learn a lot from his example.
  At the start of the 118th Congress, the Committee on House 
Administration turned to Derek to Lead the newly constituted 
Subcommittee on Modernization. Quite frankly, there was no one better 
suited for this position than Derek. His institutional expertise, his 
proven leadership skills, and his unwavering dedication to the House 
and the people it serves made him the obvious--and only--choice to 
serve as the Subcommittee's inaugural Staff Director. Under the 
leadership of Subcommittee Chairwoman Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, Derek 
worked to create new, and much-needed, collaborative workspaces for 
staff across the House Office Buildings, improve ADA access to the 
House and the Capitol, streamline the transfer of constituent casework 
to incoming members of Congress, provide House committees with access 
to industry-standard e-Discovery software, institute positive change at 
the Congressional Research Service, and provide more opportunities for 
Members to engage with their constituents. These are just a few 
examples of the many contributions Derek has made to this institution.
  At the start of the 119th Congress, Derek joined Speaker Mike 
Johnson's team as Director of House Operations, where he's worked hand-
in-glove with my team on House Administration to meet critical campus 
needs, formalize longstanding policies for House offices, and think 
strategically about the House's future physical space needs. Derek has 
always remained open to ideas and solutions and is committed to finding 
the best path forward for the institution in service to its Members, 
staff, and the taxpayer.
  I am fortunate to have worked with Derek and know he will be missed 
by many House Members and staff. Derek has been a consummate steward of 
the institution and a willing partner to everyone who wants the House 
to work well for the American people. He has already had a lasting and 
positive impact on the institution and, through his example, has 
inspired others to continue this work.
  On behalf of my colleagues and staff on the Committee on House 
Administration, I wish Derek Harley all the best as he begins his new 
role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Congressional Institute. I 
thank him for his service to the United States House of 
Representatives.

                          ____________________