[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18180]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         THANKING SYLVIA NUGENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, there are many ways to serve our 
country. We are most mindful of the men and women serving on the front 
lines of the war on terrorism, who risk or even lose their lives for 
our freedom and security.
  But as Ken Towery, a remarkable man who has been a POW in World War 
II, a Pulitzer Prize winner and Presidential appointee reminds us, 
``Not all men are called upon to respond to battlefield conditions. But 
all men and women will face many, many situations where courage and 
duty and responsibility are required and where the true measure of 
their worth is how well they respond to those challenges.''
  One way to serve our Nation is by working on the staff of a Member of 
Congress. It is the Members themselves who receive most of the 
attention, positive and negative. It is our names on the ballot and in 
the newspapers. We are the ones who cast the votes on legislation and 
are ultimately responsible for all that is done in our name or on our 
behalf.
  But as each Member knows, everything we do is assisted by and made 
possible by the men and women who serve on our staffs.
  I am extremely fortunate, for I have had and have today a group of 
exceptional individuals who have worked with me as I have tried to 
represent the people of the 13th Congressional District of Texas. At 
the center of everything I have tried to do for my constituents and for 
our Nation has been my chief of staff, Sylvia Nugent.
  Sylvia comes from a heritage of service to the country. Her father, 
Vernon Herrington, is a retired FBI agent, having served in the Bureau 
for more than 25 years. Sylvia grew up learning a sense of patriotic 
duty as her family moved around the country in her father's various 
stations.
  Sylvia has been married to Dr. Rod Nugent for more than 36 years. And 
first, she raised her family and volunteered in her community, 
contributing much. As her children matured, however, she became more 
involved in politics, becoming active in several campaigns in Texas.
  In 1994, to my good fortune, she became the campaign manager for my 
first race for Congress. Then she served as chief of staff for my 
office until August 31, 2004. Sylvia is now a grandmother, and she and 
Dr. Nugent are preparing for the next phase of their lives.
  In some ways, Sylvia has not been a typical congressional chief of 
staff. She was a bit older than most when they entered government 
service. She has been based in the district; whereas, most chiefs of 
staff work out of Washington. Yet, the exceptional qualities of 
patriotism and commitment to service which she exemplifies do represent 
the best of the people and the work which goes on in the legislative 
branch of government.
  Sylvia is exceptionally gifted. Her intelligence and knowledge help 
her to get to the root of a problem quickly. Her emotional intelligence 
and perceptiveness, her people skills, are even more impressive. She is 
someone to whom a person on an airplane flight will pour out their 
problems and leave rejuvenated after hearing her counsel. Underlying 
all of her talents and abilities is a caring heart that wants to help 
and serve.
  She made sure that, in all of the work which my staff and I 
undertook, we remembered that we work for the people of the 13th 
Congressional District of Texas, that our efforts are funded by the 
taxpayers, and that our mission is to help people and serve our Nation. 
Whether it was locating a lost Social Security check or obtaining 
military medals earned by a veteran 60 years ago, she was committed to 
helping the people of the 13th Congressional District. Whether it was 
cosponsoring a rural health care bill or passing the bill to create the 
Department of Homeland Security, she was committed to doing what was 
right for the country.
  As she supervised all of the constituent service, communication and 
legislative work in my office, she also helped advise and guide staff 
members and interns on their careers and lives, leaving her mark for 
years to come. Having raised four outstanding children of her own, she 
brought those nurturing abilities to all with whom she came in contact.
  Most importantly, everything she did was motivated by a love of 
country and a desire to serve and improve. Sylvia has responded to 
challenges and to opportunities with courage and duty and a sense of 
responsibility beyond what was required. In a way, her commitment and 
dedication have been extraordinary, but in another sense, it is the 
same kind of commitment and dedication that has made America great and 
continues to ensure that Americans do their duty in whatever 
circumstances they are placed.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that I have been tremendously blessed. And my 
family and I will continue to be blessed to count Sylvia and Rod Nugent 
among our dearest friends. But the Congress, Texas, and the Nation have 
also been fortunate to have had the service of this extraordinary lady.

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