[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24686]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MARTHA L. FRANCO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2008

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Madam Speaker, in my years of public service, I have 
benefitted from the efforts of many capable employees on my staff who 
have come and gone. Yet there has always remained one constant in my 
office, Martha Franco, and for that I am truly grateful.
  Martha was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. Her parents, Maria and 
Doroteo Franco and her siblings, Jeronimo, Humberto, Benilde, Bertha, 
Oscar, Abel, Hector, Dinora and Gloria all emigrated to the United 
States where they settled in the small town of Colusa, California. As a 
naturalized citizen, she is a model example of someone who made the 
efforts required to become a U.S. citizen and has gone on to contribute 
to our country through public service. She is also active in helping 
needy families in the Sacramento area and from the small village in 
Mexico where her family is from. Martha first came to work for me in 
1984 when I served in the California State Senate.
  When I was elected to Congress in 1990, Martha became my Executive 
Assistant and Office Manager. She has worked for me in Washington and 
in California, and this year I named her as my Deputy Chief of Staff. 
Martha's loyal presence has meant so much to my wife, Julie, to me, and 
to our entire organization. The people who call upon our office have 
appreciated seeing a familiar face through the years, and I have 
appreciated having someone who knows the many people who have been 
important to us throughout my career. Martha's unsurpassed character 
and dedication have allowed me to trust her with confidential and 
sensitive materials and to do so with great confidence.
  Martha's spirit is demonstrated by her commitment to family and 
heritage as well. She cares for her father at home and is a wonderful 
aunt to her many nieces and nephews, their beloved ``Tia Mart''. I know 
she is looking forward to spending even more time with her large family 
as she begins a new chapter in her life.
  While our work together will soon end, Martha will always remain an 
important person in our lives. As she looks to new opportunities, I 
wish Martha all the best, and look forward to her continued friendship 
in the years to come.

                          ____________________