[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                        TRIBUTE TO MIKE BESSLER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2004

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mike Bessler, the 
Chief Publications Clerk with the Office of Official Reporters under 
the Clerk of the House.
  Mike will be retiring on July 30 after 23 years of service to the 
House making sure our committee transcripts are accurate, properly 
bound and delivered on time. I am pleased to have this opportunity to 
commend one of my constituents for his outstanding service to this 
institution.
  Originally from the Bronx, New York, Mike served a 4-year tour in the 
Air Force, stationed at Wright Patterson in Ohio and Shemya in the 
Aleutian Islands.
  He was finally discharged from Andrews Air Force Base, and with his 
wife, Peggy decided to stay in the Washington, D.C. area, where he 
spent over a decade in the private sector before being hired by the 
Office of Official Reporters in January 1981. He has served in that 
office with distinction ever since.
  Mike has spent his years working closely with the House committees to 
ensure their satisfaction with the transcripts. Through his dedicated 
supervision of the Publications Office, he has been the quintessential 
dedicated public servant.
  Those who worked with him are privileged to have worked with an 
individual of Mike's level of professionalism.
  Mike and Peggy are the proud parents of two daughters, Michelle and 
Kelly, and doting grandparents of Erica, Ezra and Zoe.
  Mike looks forward to spending time with them and enjoying gardening, 
home projects, and devoting more time to a lifelong fascination with 
film and movies.
  Thank you, Mike, for your many years of dedicated, professional 
service to the House and the country. Best wishes to you and Peggy in 
your retirement.

                          ____________________