[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9331-9332]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATIONS TO MAXINE JAMES, ESSEX COUNTY HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 23, 2006

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, it is with a great deal of pleasure that I 
ask my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me 
as I rise to congratulate my Chief of Staff, Ms. Maxine James, on her 
induction into the Essex County Hall of Fame. This is a well-deserved 
honor for Ms. James, as she has been a positive force for the 
betterment of Essex County for many years.
  Fortunately for me and the residents of Essex County, Ms. James has 
always been strongly committed to meeting the needs of her community. 
It was through her vision and insight that some of the finest public 
servants in Essex County have been drawn into government service. She 
has also been responsible for helping to establish long-term, 
beneficial programs in the County, including the Newark Emergency 
Services for Families (NESF). NESF provides a life-line for residents 
of Newark and Essex County who are facing challenging situations 
including homelessness, a lack of heat, or the need for food to feed 
their families. She has contributed her time and talent to numerous 
community-based organizations over the years.
  Throughout my years as an elected official, Ms. James has been a 
staunch supporter, friend and confidante. She is a true professional 
with a creative genius that has garnered many friends from all walks of 
life. Before my election to Congress, I had the privilege of working 
with Ms. James at Prudential Insurance Company in Newark, where she 
impressed me with her enormous energy, intelligence and tenacity. 
During my tenure on the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, 
Maxine generously volunteered her services on several committees doing 
work to benefit the local community.

[[Page 9332]]

  When I was elected to the office of Newark Municipal Council in the 
early 1980's, Maxine joined my team and did an excellent job running my 
office and providing assistance to the residents of the South Ward over 
the course of 7 years. In 1988, upon my election to Congress, I 
selected Ms. James to be my Chief of Staff, and she continues in that 
role today. Her loyalty is admirable and her dedication is 
unparalleled. She is indeed ``one of a kind'' and it is my good fortune 
to have benefited from that distinction.
  Ms. James is the mother of two children, Chris and Brian, and the 
proud grandmother of two, Olivia and Malcolm.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in extending best wishes to 
Ms. Maxine James as she is inducted into the Essex County Hall of Fame. 
I am pleased to congratulate her on this very special award and wish 
her all the best as she continues her public service.

                          ____________________