[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 22484-22487]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICE OF THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF THE 
             COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 16, 2010

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, as my service in Congress and my term as 
Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure come to 
a close, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the 
professional staff of the Committee. These are the dedicated 
individuals who do the research, the analysis, the drafting, the 
corrections, the negotiations, and the leg work needed to bring 
legislation to the Floor of this House and get it enacted into law.
  I honor them all for their diligence, tenacity, intelligence, 
insightfulness, loyalty, and friendship.
  David Heymsfeld has served the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure for 35 years, as Democratic Staff Director of our 
Subcommittee on Aviation from 1975 to 1995, and as Democratic Staff 
Director of the full Committee from 1996 to 2010. He has been the lead 
staff on legislative and oversight issues in aviation, and, since 1995, 
has directed all staff activities of the Full Committee.
  His responsibilities have required him to master the policy issues 
involved, to understand the positions of all interested parties and of 
government officials, to negotiate solutions, which achieve the 
Committee's policy objectives, to draft legislation, and to plan 
strategies for passing legislation. He has carried those 
responsibilities for major aviation legislation, and, since 1995, he 
has also played a major role in legislation affecting the Federal 
programs for highway and transit, rail, Coast Guard, water resources, 
and public buildings.
  Our Director of Communications, Jim Berard, has been the voice of the 
Democratic side of the Committee for 13 years, and served in my 
personal office and that of Sen. Kent Conrad for a decade prior. An 
award-winning journalist before coming to Capitol Hill, Jim has proven 
himself to be a master communicator, adept at interpreting complex 
legislative issues for lay audiences.
  Jim has been at the center of nearly every major transportation issue 
I have faced in the past 23 years, handling inquiries from the media, 
getting them answers, shaping our message, and delivering that message 
to the public.
  Jim is also an accomplished writer, a published author, an historian, 
and a humanitarian who spends his free time helping build homes for 
Habitat for Humanity in Maryland, and the St. Bernard Project in 
Louisiana.
  He has been a trusted Member of my personal and Committee staff, and 
I am grateful to him for his service.
  Mary Kerr's extensive communications and public policy experience, 
along with her legal

[[Page 22485]]

education, have made her an invaluable member of my team for the past 
fifteen years. When I became Chairman in 2007, Mary moved from my 
personal office, where she had served as Communications Director and 
Legislative Assistant for eleven years, to become Press Secretary for 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. For the past four 
years, she has served very effectively as the principal spokesperson 
for four subcommittees: Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation; 
Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management; 
Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials; and Water Resources and 
Environment.
  As T&I Committee Press Secretary, Mary has executed all phases of a 
comprehensive public affairs program to drive the Committee's 
visibility in the national news and trade media. She has led the way to 
successfully promote the Committee's priorities, such as protecting the 
Nation's waters, holding the railroad industry to the highest level of 
safety, and making comprehensive reforms to prevent future offshore 
drilling accidents.
  Julie Carpenter Lotz has been a part of the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee staff for four years, working as a 
Communications Assistant in the Committee's Communications Office.
  Julie has been a welcome asset to the Committee and to me. In 
addition to her professional knowledge and abilities, she has been a 
great resource for me in personally providing unique information on 
Committee-related issues that aren't ordinarily noticed. I have found 
this to be a valuable service.
  Julie is intelligent, hard-working and extremely competent. Her 
communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as her editing 
abilities, are excellent.
  Also, she has been eager to learn new procedures and to expand her 
knowledge whenever possible.
  Julie has an excellent rapport with both staff members and public 
figures, and is respected by her colleagues for her considerate nature 
and helpful attitude.
  Trinita Evon Brown has over twenty years of experience working for 
the House and has been with the Committee for seventeen years. She has 
served the Committee very effectively as Senior Counsel for Oversight 
and Investigation.
  Ms. Brown is responsible for the Committee's oversight and 
investigations of all six Subcommittee jurisdictions. She has a proven 
record of accomplishment of high quality work, dedication, and public 
service. Her efforts have led to millions in recouped Federal tax 
dollars and the cession of numerous policies and practices harmful to 
our nation's interests.
  Trinita has served the Committee in a variety of positions, 
including: Counsel for Emergency Management and Counsel for Railroads. 
In addition, she performed superbly with Full Committee 
responsibilities including highways, budget and appropriations and 
Committee jurisdiction.
  Her keen judgment and integrity have been an asset to the Committee.
  Ken Kopocis has served the Committee as senior counsel conducting 
oversight. Ken began with the Subcommittee on Water Resources and 
Environment in 1985 and served as staff director of that Subcommittee 
for 13 years. Ken possesses the skills to anticipate, understand and 
exceed the needs of Members of Congress. He has unparalleled knowledge 
and experience related to protecting and improving water quality and 
water resources. His areas of experience include matters relating to 
water resources development, conservation and management; water 
pollution control and water infrastructure; hazardous waste cleanup; 
transportation; and, emergency and disaster response.
  Ken has been part of every Water Resources Development Act for a 
generation. He has worked tirelessly to advance water quality and 
public health, including initiatives such as the Clean Water Act, the 
Oil Pollution Act, the response to the events of September 11, 2001, 
efforts to protect the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay and the Everglades, 
the Superfund program, and invasive species legislation.
  Joseph Wender has worked as a Counsel for Oversight and 
Investigations for nearly two years. He joined the Committee in 
February 2009, the same month in which Congress enacted the American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Joe's primary responsibilities have 
included coordinating the Committee's vigorous oversight of that 
legislation. Joe served as the lead staffer on nearly a dozen Recovery 
Act oversight hearings and also worked prodigiously to publish a 
monthly Committee Recovery Act report.
  Joe always ensured that Committee Members had the most accurate and 
up-to-date information on Recovery Act implementation. In fact, I carry 
a `pocket guide,' which Joe produced, which details the use of Recovery 
Act funds, including projects out to bid, under contract, and underway. 
I have used that pocket guide daily, and am grateful to Joe for 
providing such useful irrefutable information. I am proud of the 
standard he set in carrying out our oversight of the stimulus 
legislation.
  During his service as counsel to the Aviation Subcommittee since 
February of this year, Alex Burkett has demonstrated insight and 
abilities as a judicious advocate, writer, and critical thinker. A 
pilot and lawyer with jet fuel in the veins, Alex has provided 
thoughtful advice steeped in deep substantive knowledge of aviation and 
the law. He is a tireless advocate on issues of particular significance 
to me, including airline competition and aviation safety.
  This year Alex took the lead role in planning the Subcommittee's 
hearing on the United-Continental merger. In the midst of intense 
conference negotiations on milestone aviation legislation, Alex 
researched the issues presented by the merger and planned the hearing. 
His briefing memorandum to Members summarizing the many important 
issues raised by the merger was insightful and extremely well-written, 
as is everything he writes, and reflected his steady judgment, natural 
curiosity, and reliable expertise.
  Michael Rodriguez joined the staff of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard 
and Maritime Transportation as Senior Professional Staff in October 
2009. As a 1979 graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, 
a Navy reserve officer and veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, and 
an experienced merchant mariner, Mike has brought a unique and valuable 
perspective to the Subcommittee.
  Mike was an important contributor to the process that led to the 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 becoming law on October 15, 2010. 
During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and response, Mike helped draft 
legislation to address several issues related to the operation of the 
rig. He was able to bring his experience as a mariner to discussions 
about the accident with some of the Deepwater Horizon survivors. Mike's 
reputation throughout the U.S. maritime industry and his knowledge of 
international maritime affairs have made him a much appreciated asset 
to the Subcommittee.
  Also, I would be remiss not to recognize the dedication of our Coast 
Guard Fellow, Lieutenant Commander Zeita Merchant. With over 13 years 
of Coast Guard service, she became an asset to my Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, and worked diligently on a wide 
range of maritime issues making significant contributions to oversight 
hearings and legislation.
  During her short time on the staff, Lieutenant Commander Merchant 
made noteworthy contributions on major legislation with her expertise 
in marine inspections and environmental response. Her knowledge and 
experience were critical in drafting legislation in response to the 
Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the passing of the first Coast Guard 
Authorization legislation to become law since 2006. These efforts 
resulted in significant increases in the Coast Guard's Marine Safety 
ranks; significant strides in enhancing the Coast Guard's ability to 
manage complex major acquisitions; and a keen focus on enhancing the 
diversity and Equal Employment Opportunities with the Coast Guard.
  For the last four years Michael Herman has served as the Senior 
Counsel for the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, 
and Emergency Management, with a particular focus on emergency 
management issues.
  During this time, Mike has demonstrated an unmatched understanding of 
the laws, programs and history of emergency management. Mike's mastery 
of emergency management is reflected in H.R. 3377, the Disaster 
Response, Recovery, and Mitigation Act of 2009.
  When disasters strike, Members of the Committee and the House as a 
whole, including the Speaker, rely on his knowledge, counsel, and 
experience. After tornadoes devastated Wadena County in my district 
this summer, Mike's unique knowledge and experience supported my work 
with the affected communities. He also worked directly with local 
officials helping them navigate the recovery process and understand the 
assistance available to them.
  For the past four years, Jim Kolb served as Staff Director for the 
Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. Jim's insight and guidance has 
been invaluable to all Committee Members and staff on a surface 
transportation issues.
  During his service with the Committee, Jim played a key role in the 
development of legislation to strengthen and improve the nation's 
intermodal surface transportation network. Jim managed and led the 
development of the Committee's comprehensive six-year authorization to 
transform the Federal highway, highway safety, and transit programs, as 
well as

[[Page 22486]]

the Committee's response to the I-35W Bridge collapse and efforts to 
improve the safety and condition of the nation's highway bridges.
  Throughout his service, Jim has been a hard-working, and dedicated 
public servant, whose advice and counsel I have valued.
  Amy Scarton, Counsel to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, 
first joined the Committee staff as a legal intern after graduating 
from Duke University School of Law nearly a decade ago. Though she left 
us to work for Congressman Earl Blumenauer during the 108th Congress, 
and then to serve as Chief of Staff to Commissioner Frank Mulvey at the 
Surface Transportation Board; Amy returned to the Committee in early 
2007.
  In her role as the lead transit attorney for the Committee, Amy has 
been instrumental in developing major aspects of my surface 
transportation reauthorization bill, as well as several other energy 
and transit bills. Amy's dedication to progressive transportation 
policies is not only evident in her hard work; she and her husband bike 
daily to Capitol Hill from their home in Northwest D.C. I will greatly 
miss Amy's enthusiasm, loyalty, and expertise, and I thank her for her 
service.
  In his two years as Director of Highway Policy for the Subcommittee 
on Highways and Transit, Todd Kohr has proven himself to be an 
extremely capable, dedicated, and effective member of the 
Subcommittee's staff.
  Todd joined the staff of the Subcommittee at a pivotal moment for the 
U.S. transportation system: during the development of my six-year bill 
to authorize and fundamentally transform the Federal highway and 
transit programs. Within this process, he drafted the majority of the 
bill's $337 billion highway title--displaying an ability to advance my 
priorities amidst a landscape of transportation policy issues, 
procedural considerations, competing interest group dynamics, and the 
complexities of Federal highway law.
  In addition to his work on the authorization bill, Todd has acted as 
the Subcommittee staff lead on a broad portfolio of highway-related 
issues. His expertise, his attention to detail, his discretion, and his 
counsel have served me and the Subcommittee well.
  Jackie Schmitz, Professional Staff with the Subcommittee on Highways 
and Transit, has served on my Committee staff for five and a half 
years. Her dedication to public service and commitment to sound 
transportation policy have made her an asset to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure.
  Jackie's work has focused on promoting bicycle and pedestrian 
infrastructure, improving highway safety, and advancing transportation 
research and technology. She has assisted the Members of this body in 
addressing the needs of their communities and has made significant 
contributions to the Committee's improved standards of ethics and 
transparency.
  I am particularly proud of the work Jackie has done to advance the 
Safe Routes to School program, which is leaving a legacy of safety and 
wellness for the next generation. Her hard work is driven by her 
recognition that all Americans deserve transportation choices that are 
safe, reliable, and accessible, and I am grateful for her service to 
the Committee.
  Peter Gould, Legislative Assistant for the Subcommittee on Highways 
and Transit, has served the Committee for the past four years with a 
high level of professionalism, dedication to serving the public, and a 
good-natured sense of humor.
  For the past two years Peter has helped me craft the Committee's 
message through speeches, op-eds, and floor statements, making the case 
for greater investment in the nation's surface transportation 
infrastructure as part of the transformational Surface Transportation 
Authorization Act. As my colleagues and I pressed for this 
transformational legislation, I was always confident of Peter's 
messaging and political acumen on presenting this issue to the American 
public.
  Jennifer Esposito has been a key staff member of the Committee since 
June 2004. As Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Railroads, 
Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, Jennifer led the Committee's 
efforts to enact historic legislation to reauthorize Amtrak and the 
Federal Railroad Administration's rail safety program, and to develop 
legislation to address rail security concerns in the wake of the 
September 11, 2001 attacks. She also led the Committee's efforts to 
enact the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, which 
created new grant programs for development of high-speed and intercity 
passenger rail in the United States.
  Jennifer also has developed legislation to reauthorize the Department 
of Transportation's pipeline and hazardous materials safety programs, 
and conducted extensive oversight investigations of the programs which 
led to major changes within the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration. Most recently, she conducted an oversight investigation 
of an Enbridge pipeline rupture in Marshall, Michigan, which unveiled 
major safety deficiencies.
  Rachel Carr has been a staff member on the Committee on 
Transportation twice over the past ten years. She first served as Staff 
Assistant for the Subcommittees on Aviation and Railroads from March 
2000 to May 2002, while earning her law degree at night. After 
graduating with honors from the American University Washington College 
of Law, Ms. Carr continued her legal career in transportation, then 
rejoined the Committee in March, 2009, as Counsel on the Subcommittee 
on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.
  In her current role, Ms. Carr has been involved with drafting 
legislation to reauthorize the Department of Transportation's hazardous 
materials safety program and has been an integral part in oversight of 
the DOT's implementation of the high-speed and intercity passenger rail 
and pipeline safety programs
  Joseph E. Connelly is another member of my staff serving with the 
Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials. Though 
Joe has been with the staff a very short time, having served a little 
less than two years as Professional Staff and a Fellow from the Federal 
Railroad Administration, he has helped instill a culture of safety into 
all of the federal agencies and entities under the jurisdiction of the 
Committee.
  Joe has contributed to the Committee by painstakingly conducting 
concise, thorough investigations, analyzing complex data and reducing 
that data into easily definable terms. The results of these 
investigations helped transform the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration into a science-based, data-driven Agency. For 
over 30 years, Joe Connelly has proudly served the American people as a 
member of the legislative and executive branch. He has made safety his 
life's work and has contributed immeasurably to the safe transportation 
of hazardous materials throughout the United States.
  I would like to recognize Ryan C. Seiger for his 12 years of service 
to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, the last 4 of 
which he served as Staff Director and Senior Counsel. Ryan has been a 
thoughtful and dedicated advocate for improving the overall 
environmental health of the nation for future generations and for 
taking the steps necessary to achieve the Clean Water Act's goals of 
``fishable and swimmable'' waters. He has a deep understanding of the 
challenges that remain in protecting the Nation's waters, and has 
served this country well in exploring innovative ways to overcome these 
challenges.
  I also want to express my gratitude for his encyclopedic knowledge of 
water resource law, which served us so well in his role as lead House 
negotiator on the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. Thanks to 
his work and the work of the rest of the Subcommittee staff, Congress 
was able to achieve what was only the 107th successful override of a 
Presidential veto in the history of the nation.
  Finally, Madam Speaker, I want to thank Navis Bermudez for her 
service as Professional Staff to the Subcommittee on Water Resources 
and Environment. Despite the fact that she has only been with the 
Subcommittee for the past year, her service to the Committee and to the 
Congress has been exemplary. During this year, Navis helped the 
Committee develop and move legislation (H.R. 3534) to address many of 
the legal shortcomings of the Oil Pollution Act and the Clean Water Act 
that were exposed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster. Navis 
has also been integral in Congressional efforts to reauthorize and 
strengthen several of the Environmental Protection Agency's targeted 
watershed programs, including House passage of legislation to 
reauthorize the National Estuaries Program (H.R. 4715), and efforts to 
reauthorize EPA's Long Island Sound and Chesapeake Bay program offices.
  Navis has proven to be a strong advocate for protecting the nation's 
water-related environment, and has performed her job with 
professionalism and competence.
  Madam Speaker, the people I have mentioned here are part of the 
Committee's professional staff. There are many others who perform 
administrative duties that are equally important to the work done by 
the Committee. I intend to recognize their contribution in a subsequent 
statement.

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