[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7857]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO COLONEL RICHARD SIMCOCK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 10, 2006

  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
Colonel Richard Simcock, the United States Marine Corps Liaison Officer 
to the U.S. House of Representatives. Colonel Simcock has faithfully 
served in this capacity since May 2004 and he will soon be accepting 
command of the 6th Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
  Through his assignment as the Marine Corps Liaison Officer to the 
House, Colonel Simcock has been an invaluable link between Members of 
Congress and the Marine Corps. He has coordinated and accompanied 
congressional delegations to places such as Iraq and Afghanistan, 
organized and contributed to meetings between Members of Congress and 
key leaders of the Marine Corps, and worked to ensure that Members are 
kept fully informed of the programs vital to the Corps' operability.
  As Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, I have worked 
directly with Colonel Simcock on many Committee-related issues. We have 
come to rely on his candid illustrations and knowledge of the Marine 
Corps and, over the last two years, Colonel Simcock has been an 
important part of our efforts to identify the priorities and address 
the challenges facing the Corps.
  Mr. Speaker, the men and women of the Marine Corps have been called 
to action and tasked with confronting unconventional adversaries in the 
operational theaters of the global war on terrorism. In Iraq, they are 
fighting courageously and continue to provide developing security 
forces with quality instruction and training. However, as the Marines 
have adjusted and developed new tactics to successfully combat the 
Iraqi insurgency, Congress has responded by ensuring these brave men 
and women have the operating and protective equipment necessary to 
accomplish their mission. In doing so, we have utilized the insight of 
Colonel Simcock and his ability to open effective communication 
channels between Congress and the Marine Corps.
  Colonel Simcock is greatly respected as an officer and leader who 
possesses a deep and abiding passion for what it means to be a Marine: 
unquestionable devotion to duty; impeccable integrity; and sound 
character. His efforts will have a long lasting impression on the 
Marine Corps and I know he will serve the 6th Marine Regiment with the 
same level of dedication and selflessness he demonstrated while serving 
this House.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with the greatest sense of appreciation that I 
salute Colonel Simcock for his tireless work and outstanding leadership 
on such important issues and I wish both him and his wife, Mary, 
continued success in their future endeavors.

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