[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6655]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING THE WORK OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICERS

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                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 6, 2009

  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I would like to share with our colleagues a 
letter I sent to the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human 
Rights and Labor (DRL) following the successful rollout of the 2009 
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.
  These sweeping reports reflect the hard work of hundreds of human 
rights officers in Washington and abroad. I would like to thank, by 
name, the DRL staff people without whom this report would not have been 
possible. Specifically the editorial staff of the Country Reports Team 
consisting of: Editor in Chief Stephen Eisenbraun; Office Directors: 
Bruce Connuck, Kay Mayfield, and Michael Orona; Senior Editors: 
Jonathan Bemis, Douglas B. Dearborn, Daniel Dolan, Jerome L. Hoganson, 
Patricia Meeks Schnell, Julie Turner, and Rachel Waldstein; Editors: 
Naim Ahmed, Sabrina Bahir, Joseph S. Barghout, Katherine Berglund, 
Sarah Beringer, Alisha Bhagat, Sarah Buckley, Laura Carey, Elise 
Carlson-Rainer, Ebenezer Concepcion, Sharon C. Cooke, Susan Corke, 
Stuart Crampton, Frank B. Crump, Mollie Davis, Cortney Dell, Morton 
Dworken, Jennifer Evans, Verinda Fike, Joan Garner, Karen Gilbride, 
Jeffrey Glassman, Edward Grulich, Cheryl Harris, Patrick Harvey, 
Matthew Hickey, Alexandra Hoey, Victor Huser, Stan Ifshin, Sami Jiries, 
Simone Joseph, Jennifer King, Jane Kim, Sidney Kwiram, Lawrence Lesser, 
Jessica Lieberman, Katie McLain, John McKane, Michael McKenna, Gregory 
Maggio, Jessica Megill, Nicole Morales, David Mikosz, Leonel Miranda, 
Stephen E. Moody, Jennie Munoz, Sandra Murphy, Daniel L. Nadel, 
Catherine Newling, Susan O'Sullivan, Meredith Pierce, Drue Preissman, 
Peter Sawchyn, Amy Schmisseur, Wendy Silverman, Erin Spitzer, Rachel 
Spring, Brian Stout, James Todd, Rachel Waldstein, Nicole Wilett, Mikel 
Wood, and Isabelle Zsoldos; Contributing Editor: Lynne Davidson; 
Editorial Assistants: Adrienne Bory, Karen Chen, Carol Finerty, 
Elizabeth Mokaba, and Kimberly Jorgensen; and Technical Assistant 
Eunice Johnson.

                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, March 2, 2009.
     Ms. Karen Stewart,
     Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights 
         and Labor, Washington DC.
       Dear Ms. Stewart: I write following the successful rollout 
     of the 2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. I know 
     that this exhaustive report which catalogues human rights 
     abuses globally is the result of countless hours of hard work 
     on the part of human rights officers in DRL and in American 
     embassies abroad. I also know that the final product often 
     comes after hard fought battles within the building.
       I ask that you share with your staff and with human rights 
     officers the world over my profound appreciation for their 
     efforts. At times I know it can seem a thankless task. But 
     the efforts of your bureau to speak truth to power and to be 
     a voice for the voiceless brings hope and makes a difference 
     to millions.
       You have my profound thanks. Best wishes.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank R. Wolf,
     Member of Congress.

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