[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11924]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING FRANCIS MIKO FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE U.S. CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAVID DREIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 9, 2007

  Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, today I would like to recognize and 
commend Francis Miko for more than three decades of service to the U.S. 
Congress at the Congressional Research Service. On April 27, 2007, 
Francis retired as a Specialist in International Relations with the 
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division of CRS, bringing to an end 
a distinguished career as an expert on both foreign policy issues and 
our institution.
  I have had the pleasure of working with Francis on a number of 
occasions, particularly in association with two different endeavors 
that I value among my greatest privileges as a Member of Congress. The 
first was the Frost-Solomon Task Force, which was established by the 
U.S. House of Representatives following the collapse of the Soviet 
Union in order to assist the legislatures in former Soviet-bloc 
countries. These institutions, which had previously been rubber stamps 
for a totalitarian regime, were suddenly thrust upon the democratic 
stage with the responsibility of representing the will of the people. 
Francis Miko led CRS' efforts on the Task Force, and proved to be a key 
asset and invaluable expert. In twelve post-Communist countries in 
Central and Eastern Europe, he coordinated the establishment of 
parliamentary libraries and research facilities, lent a tremendous 
amount of technical expertise in legislative functioning and helped to 
implement the use of information technology.
  Nearly 10 years after the Frost-Solomon Task Force concluded its 
work, its mission was reborn with a global focus in the House Democracy 
Assistance Commission. Once again, this body has relied enormously on 
the experience and institutional knowledge that Francis has provided. 
Since its establishment in 2004, HDAC has embarked upon partnerships 
with 12 developing and re-emerging democracies around the globe. 
Francis Miko's work in developing these programs and providing the 
technical assistance necessary to strengthen these vital institutions 
has been indispensable.
  We will miss his expertise, his dedication, his professionalism and 
his depth of institutional knowledge. I commend him for his commitment 
to public service and to the U.S. Congress, and I congratulate him on 
his well-earned and much-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________