[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17130]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH E. ROSS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DANIEL E. LUNGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 13, 2012

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself 
and Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, our Ranking Member, I would like to take 
this opportunity to pay tribute to the life of Joseph E. Ross, former 
Director of the Congressional Research Service. Joe Ross passed away on 
November 23, survived by his wife of 66 years, Joan, 8 children, 15 
grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind many 
friends and colleagues who fondly recall his many years of public 
service.
  Joe was the Director of CRS from 1986 to 1993. Before that he led 
CRS' American Law Division for 13 years. Prior to his career at CRS, 
Joe served in the Navy during World War II. Returning from that 
service, he earned his law degree and entered private practice from 
1948-1951. He was called back to active duty, eventually rising to the 
rank of Captain in the Navy and retiring from the military in 1969. 
This distinguished military career was followed by 2 years at the 
Department of Justice and then his 21-year career at CRS which saw him 
rise from Chief of the American Law Division to eventually lead the 
agency for over 7 years.
  Joe Ross' years as CRS Director saw Congress grapple with the Persian 
Gulf War, the Iran/Contra investigation, deficit reduction, financial 
regulatory reform, the Strategic Defense Initiative, multinational 
trade agreements and early efforts at welfare and health care reform. 
CRS deployed its staff to assist with these and the many other issues 
on the legislative agenda and streamlined and modernized its product 
offerings. Congress celebrated its bicentennial in 1989 and CRS 
supported and participated in the many events surrounding that 
anniversary. That year was also CRS' 75th anniversary, an occasion 
marked by programs on the history of Congress and the Congress of the 
future.
  Under Joe Ross' leadership, CRS became a key player in the Frost-
Solomon Task Force. Established by Congress in 1990, the task force 
provided assistance to emerging democracies in Central and Eastern 
Europe and the former Soviet Union. CRS helped administer the task 
force's programs and provided much of the sought after expertise needed 
to help establish democratic legislatures in those countries. During 
Joe's tenure as CRS Director, the Service also modernized its 
technological infrastructure with the introduction of more advanced 
hardware and software to enhance the products and services CRS was able 
to provide to Congress and increase the productivity of its staff. CRS 
staff also benefited from innovative recruitment programs launched 
during this period to increase the diversity of the CRS workforce.
  Joe was active in bar activities throughout his career, serving in 
several capacities with the Federal Bar Association, including 
president, and also serving on the governing body of the American Bar 
Association. After retirement, he was actively involved in providing 
legal assistance to Habitat for Humanity.
  Mr. Speaker, Joe Ross was the epitome of the dedicated public 
servant. He served his country for over 20 years in the Navy which 
included involvement in decisive battles of the Pacific theater. He 
followed that career with service in the Executive Branch as an 
attorney in the Department of Justice. The United States Congress was 
then the beneficiary of Joe's second career, over 20 years in 
leadership positions in the Congressional Research Service, including 7 
years as its Director. We are grateful for his dedication to the public 
good. To his wife, Joan, and his extended family, I extend our deepest 
sympathies.

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