[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22479]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             STAFF TRIBUTE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB SIMMONS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2006

  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, in the closing days of the 109th Congress, 
Members will rise to acknowledge the departure of their colleagues. 
Some are retiring of their own volition while others, such as me, are 
leaving as a consequence of the November elections.
  While my colleagues deserve all of the accolades they will receive, I 
would like to devote just a few minutes to the loyal and capable men 
and women who have made my six years here in Congress so productive and 
rewarding. I would like to thank my wonderful staff.
  My staff has shared in every success and victory we have had over the 
past six years. They have also shared in the personal disruption and 
professional disappointment of leaving this place before our important 
work is done.
  They are as follows:
  Todd Mitchell, Chief of Staff, and my alter ego on all issues and 
decisions, whose steady hand and wise counsel allowed us to assemble 
and manage a dynamic and productive staff over the past five years;
  Erik Heilman and Lise Lynam, Legislative Directors, who energetically 
and faithfully pursued an aggressive legislative agenda in three 
committees, eight subcommittees and twenty caucuses, as well as for the 
District Office;
  Justin Bernier, Senior Legislative Assistant, whose acute insights 
and dynamic energy were largely responsible for saving Naval Submarine 
Base New London, which in turn saved Connecticut over 31,500 jobs and 
$3.5 billion in annual revenues;
  John Goodwin, Press Secretary and Jonathan Martin, Legislative 
Assistant, whose hard work and respect for America's working families 
won me accolades as a ``pro-labor Republican'' from The Wall Street 
Journal;
  Leigh Hightower, Senior Legislative Assistant of Mansfield, 
Connecticut, and Amy Pellegrino, Legislative Assistant from Westerly, 
Rhode Island, whose diligence and sympathy helped us to ``keep the 
promise'' to our veterans and improve health care for all Americans;
  Meghan Curran, Legislative Assistant from Bolton, Connecticut, whose 
commitment to the education of our Nation's children resulted in 
important legislative initiatives, and whose respect for Teachers 
resulted in her eventually leaving our staff to teach;
  Shauna Hewes, Legislative Assistant of Ledyard, Connecticut, whose 
persistent efforts and negotiating skills were instrumental in passing 
the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act;
  Dan Hartnett, Legislative Assistant, who received, processed and 
helped answer over 100,000 pieces of mail and countless e-mails so that 
our constituents were never out of touch with their Congressman;
  Emily Cantin, Scheduler of Marlborough, Connecticut, who ran a tight 
but happy front office, and kept me on time and on message through many 
busy weeks in Washington, DC;
  Will Cox, Staff Assistant of Mystic, Connecticut, whose cheerful 
demeanor and helpful habits made every visitor to the Washington Office 
feel welcome and important;
  Mr. E.J. Chubbs, my personal Transportation Advisor, who loyally and 
faithfully ensured that I arrived, departed and moved about the 
Nation's Capitol in a safe and congenial fashion for six wonderful 
years;
  John Bradley, former Staff Director, Veterans Affairs Health 
Subcommittee, whose dynamic leadership and concern for the health of 
our Nation's veterans resulted in a 40 percent increase in funding and 
numerous legislative improvements in veterans' health care;
  Deron McElroy, Staff Director, Homeland Security Intelligence 
Subcommittee, whose insights and legislative skill were responsible for 
establishing a productive agenda for this important new subcommittee;
  Jane Dauphinais, District Director of Groton, Connecticut, whose 
management skills and knowledge of municipal government made the 
Norwich and Enfield offices vital resources to ``help the people'' of 
the Second Congressional District's sixty five towns;
  Jeff Nelson, Deputy District Director of Groton, Connecticut, who 
managed and implemented a hectic and sometimes hysterical schedule with 
calm aplomb, and shared many hours and 120,000 miles on the road in the 
district;
  Joe Bell, Communications Director of Mystic, Connecticut, our office 
intellectual, who read much and wrote more than was considered humanly 
possible, all in an effort to educate me and to enlighten the people of 
the region and the Nation;
  Betty Wagner, Constituent Services Director of Colchester, 
Connecticut, whose organizational skills and caring attitude brought 
aid and comfort to the many constituents of the district, and provided 
tenacious advocacy for our farmers and union members;
  Linda Camelio, Event Coordinator and Constituent Services 
Representative for Immigration of Pawcatuck, Connecticut, who helped 
those in need around the district and around the world, and provided an 
extra measure of organization and excitement to all our public events;
  K. Robert Lewis, Military and Veterans Constituent Services 
Representative of New London, Connecticut, whose diligent and dedicated 
work brought medals, benefits, aid and comfort to those who had or were 
serving our Nation in uniform, as well as to their families, widows and 
orphans;
  Paula Ferrara, Constituent Services Representative and ``Grant 
Goddess'' of Westbrook, Connecticut, who coordinated a highly 
successful effort to bring millions of our tax dollars back from 
Washington, DC, for the benefit of Fire, Police, Emergency Workers, 
Schools and all 65 towns in the district as well as helping thousands 
of Medicare eligible constituents with their Prescription Drug coverage 
and Social Security issues; and
  Al Powell, Executive Office Assistant of Waterford, Connecticut, who 
was the smiling face and cheerful voice of the Norwich Office, who 
welcomed visitors and protesters alike, answered tens of thousands of 
calls, and processed all mail, in and out, without fail for six 
wonderful years.
  I also thank those loyal and devoted professionals who labored long 
and hard in the Mystic Office: Eric Janney, Esq., of Stonington; Susan 
Bessette of Pawcatuck; Chris Healy of Wethersfield; Diane Generous of 
Sprague; Aaron McGarry of Thompson and Heath Fahle of Pawcatuck, 
Connecticut.
  Mr. Speaker, I owe a debt of gratitude to these loyal workers for 
helping me to help others. They gave life to my vision of a 
congressional office that truly ``helps people'' with case work, grants 
and positive legislation to benefit the Second District, Connecticut 
and the Nation.
  I thank them for a record of accomplishment, and I say thanks for the 
memories. Working together in a bipartisan fashion with a ``gung ho'' 
attitude, we did our best and we did well.

                          ____________________