[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5009]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO NADINE BERG ON HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2012

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a long-time member of 
my staff, Nadine Berg, who recently retired from a career of service on 
the Hill. Nadine started with my office as a legislative assistant in 
1995 and then served as my Legislative Director from 2004 until this 
year. During her entire time in my office, she served as a constant 
source of cheerfulness during many long and difficult days. Despite her 
many responsibilities, she always took the time to give assistance and 
a kind word to other members of the staff, interns, and constituents.
  Nadine's service in Congress did not start in my office, but rather 
when she started working for former Congressman Bill Lehman of Florida 
less than a month after graduating from Georgetown University's School 
of Foreign Service in 1975. She began her career on the Hill as a 
Legislative Correspondent in Congressman Lehman's office and worked for 
him until he retired from Congress at the end of 1992.
  Nadine was not only a great asset to my office and the other offices 
she worked in, but she was also a great asset to the people of the 
South Bronx and Southern Florida, for whom she worked for so long. Her 
knowledge of Congress and dedication to working long hours until every 
detail was resolved ensured that every issue, no matter how large or 
small, was properly addressed.
  In particular, her expertise in appropriations issues and the 
appropriations process was vitally helpful in my work on that 
committee. This expertise along with her passion for the environment 
helped to clean up the Bronx River and many other places in my 
district. When she began working on the Bronx River it was a neglected 
urban waterway, and no one believed that it could be cleaned up. 
However, her dedication and belief in improving the environment led to 
it becoming a beautiful urban waterway, one that can be enjoyed by all 
its neighbors as a ribbon of green, recreational space. It has been so 
transformed that it is now home, in the center of the Bronx, to a 
beaver. Overall, her dedication to her work meant that my constituents 
were well represented in Congress and that federal money was well used 
in the Bronx.
  Nadine will be greatly missed in my office and her departure will be 
felt in my district. However, I know that she has a loving family at 
home, and will be happy taking care of her grandchildren. I am sure 
that her commitment to public service will continue and that she will 
make a difference in whatever else she decides to turn her hand to 
next. In closing, I would like to again thank her for her service, and 
wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

                          ____________________