[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 25167-25168]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   EXPRESSING THANKS TO JOAN BATES KORICH ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HER 
                               RETIREMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, as Members of Congress, we all receive 
numerous honors every year. But having someone named after you is truly 
a special honor. There is a young boy named Eric Royce Bates out in 
California. What makes it so special is that his grandmother is my 
chief of staff, Joan Bates Korich, who has announced her retirement. 
Joni has worked for me for 19 years, starting in the California State 
Senate in 1982. I came to Sacramento as a young State Senator at the 
age of 31. I knew what I believed and I knew what my goals were. What I 
did not know was how to go about accomplishing those goals.
  That is where Joni came in. She helped me learn how to turn ideas 
into accomplishments. She taught me that friendships can transcend 
politics and that just because you may disagree with someone, that that 
does not make them your enemy. She is the ultimate professional who 
takes her work seriously but never loses her sense of humor.
  Thanks to Joni's leadership, our office is known for civility and 
professionalism. Our constituents in California have benefited 
tremendously from the unique care and interest she has demonstrated 
over the years. She has also proven time and time again how much she 
cares about every member of our staff. To this day, interns and young 
staff members who worked with us in Sacramento many years ago

[[Page 25168]]

still call Joni to ask for advice, or just to tell her how their family 
is doing.
  I still do not know how I managed to convince her and her husband Kim 
to leave her children and grandchildren and come with me to Washington 
when I was elected to Congress in 1992, but whatever I said, it was one 
of the best speeches I ever made.
  In just over a month, Joni will return to her home in Sacramento and 
to her three children and eight grandchildren, including Eric Royce 
Bates. For Joni, there is nothing more important than family. I just 
consider myself fortunate to have been part of her extended family for 
the past 19 years. I will miss her very much as will every member of my 
staff.
  Thank you, Joni, for all you did for me. You will be 3,000 miles 
away, but you will never be forgotten by me or by anyone who has had 
the good fortune to work with you.

                          ____________________