[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15395]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING MIKE LUKSO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HEATH SHULER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 16, 2012

  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of my 
Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past six years 
while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important 
responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and my 
team is second to none in providing the best assistance to all in our 
District. My Washington, D.C. office is also tasked with researching, 
processing, analyzing, and making recommendations on an infinite number 
of reports, policies, and legislation. I could not ask for a more 
talented or dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that 
each staff member has done not only on my behalf, but also on behalf of 
the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina and the United 
States.
  My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs 
of our constituency. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for 
the support and friendship which they have shown me while I have served 
in Congress.
  Mike Lukso has served as a member of my Washington, D.C. staff since 
April of this year. In his first role, Mike coordinated and managed our 
constituent mail system in addition to handling a full portfolio of 
legislative issues. To perform these two jobs simultaneously is no 
small task, but Mike succeeded handily at both. Mike was quickly 
promoted to Legislative Assistant where he continued to prove his 
strengths, including the ability to rapidly research and synthesize 
broad sources of information while at the same time successfully 
repackaging complicated information into more understandable parts, the 
latter a critical skill to effectively communicate policy to our 
various constituent groups. Further marking Mike as a staff member 
valued by all is his sharp sense of humor and dedication to teamwork.
  Mike should be proud of the service he has provided to our District 
and county. It has been an honor to serve with him and as I retire from 
office I wish him the very best in the future. Western North Carolina 
is a better place because of his efforts and I will cherish the 
memories of serving with Mike and the team by my side.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and 
thanking Mike Lukso for his hard work on behalf of all of Western North 
Carolina and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________