[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15168]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   PAYING TRIBUTE TO MARTHA G. SPEARS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 12, 2004

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to pay tribute to Martha 
Spears and thank her for her work as Congressional Liaison with the 
Homeland Security Department. Her years of commitment and dedication as 
a public servant is certainly commendable and worthy of recognition 
before this body of Congress and this nation today. I, along with my 
fellow Americans, grateful for all that she has accomplished during her 
years of service.
  Marty Spears began her career with the Immigration and Naturalization 
Service (INS) in 1983 as the Legal Assistant in the office of the 
District Counsel, Atlanta, Georgia. Her service was interrupted while 
she followed her military husband to Panama in 1986, and three years 
later resumed her position before becoming an Immigration Inspector in 
1993. She was promoted three times to the Supervisory Information 
Officer position in 1997 and the District Adjudications Officer in 2000 
and most recently to the position of Community Relations Officer. In 
March 2003, when INS was abolished and three new agencies were formed 
that became part of Department of Homeland Security, Marty became the 
Community Liaison Officer under the Office of Citizenship within U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services. She has served as the Denver 
District's congressional liaison since April 2001, responding to a 
monthly average of 200-300 congressional inquiries including the states 
of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah that are also in the District.
  During my tenure in the United States Congress, Martha provided 
exceptional service to constituents of the 3rd Congressional District 
of Colorado. Martha worked hard to ensure that inquiries on behalf of 
my constituents submitted to the Denver District were addressed in a 
timely and thorough manner. Martha routinely demonstrated a willingness 
to assist beyond the standard response, demonstrating a genuine concern 
for the constituent while upholding the policies of the Homeland 
Security Department.
  Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Martha has been an invaluable resource 
to the Department of Homeland Security. It is my honor to recognize her 
service and dedication before this body of Congress and this nation. I 
am grateful for the opportunity to work with dedicated public servants 
like Martha Spears. On behalf of the citizens that have benefited from 
the hard work and commitment she has given to the Department of 
Homeland Security and constituents it serves, I extend my appreciation 
for her years of dedicated service.

                          ____________________