[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21573]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                           APPLAUDING THE GAO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ERNIE FLETCHER

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 1, 2001

  Mr. FLETCHER. Mr. Speaker, The challenges this country has faced in 
recent months are unlike any in our history, and have called on all 
Americans to answer challenges they never expected to face. The GAO and 
its employees have performed above and beyond their mission, and 
deserve Congressional recognition. I encourage my colleagues to join me 
in applauding their efforts.
  The GAO website states that it ``exists to support the Congress in 
meeting its Constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the 
performance and accountability of the federal government for the 
American people. GAO examines the use of public funds, evaluates 
federal programs and activities, and provides analyses, options, 
recommendations, and other assistance to help the Congress make 
effective oversight, policy, and funding decisions. In this context, 
GAO works to continuously improve the economy, efficiency, and 
effectiveness of the federal government through financial audits, 
program reviews and evaluations, analyses, legal opinions, 
investigations, and other services.''
  The service the GAO and its employees have provided likely goes far 
beyond what was ever imagined by ``other services''. In these past few 
weeks, 130 Members of the House of Representatives, various House 
Committees and their staffs have been relocated from their offices in 
the Longworth House Office Building. In order to create space for these 
displaced Congressional offices, hundreds of GAO employees have been 
moved. In allowing Congressional staffs into their personal offices, 
these public servants have significantly inconvenienced themselves, 
sacrificing some of their personal space to further their commitment to 
good governance.
  My staff and I would especially like to thank Greg Carroll, Linda L. 
Harmon, Chet Janik, Patricia J. Manthe, Karia J. Springer-Hamilton, and 
William Updegraff. We sincerely appreciate what an inconvenience it is 
to not have access to your own office, and thank them for their 
efforts, and the efforts of all the GAO, to make us comfortable enough 
to continue to do our work for the American people.
  I would like to thank and publicly recognize the employees of the 
U.S. General Accounting Office who have been relocated in order to 
create office space for Congressional members and staff. My staff and I 
truly appreciate their efforts and are thankful for their dedication to 
this nation help.

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