[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 15162-15163]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF JANINE BENNER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, today is the last day on Capitol Hill 
for Janine Benner, my deputy chief of staff. Janine and her husband, 
Greg Dotson, a key member of the Commerce Committee, are a true Capitol 
Hill power couple--not the type that you see in the society pages of 
the Post or holding forth on the Sunday morning talk shows. When you 
see them on television, they are sitting next to a Member of Congress, 
helping them on a bill or an amendment to look smarter and do their job 
better.
  Ms. Benner joined our offices as a legislative assistant in 2001, 
shortly after the 9/11 attacks, and leaves having seen Congress at its 
best and worst--the near meltdown of the economy, wars, and the 
shutdown. She has seen landmark legislation and made important 
contributions to many. She knows that we often make it harder than it 
should be, but that didn't stop her or discourage her.
  History will judge what Congress has accomplished in her 12 years, 
but there's no doubt that Ms. Benner made it better with her countless 
daily actions behind the scenes and helping in meeting with thousands 
of people, listening, learning and helping them understand the 
mysterious ways of their government and how to be more effective.
  Janine Benner was a colleague and mentor to hundreds of professionals

[[Page 15163]]

and interns, not just in our office. She worked with them helping them 
learn and encouraging them to weave the tapestry of legislative 
activity. She brought her Ivy League education, passion, and 
commitment--especially to the environment--to help fine-tune 
opportunities on Capitol Hill to coax more value for the American 
people.
  She led our staff efforts dealing with climate change and global 
warming. Janine helped manage and guide livability initiatives to make 
the Federal Government a better partner. She was a part of our initial 
work in 2002 in Johannesburg that led to our efforts with the Water for 
the Poor legislation and, more recently, with Water for the World, to 
help bring sanitation and safe drinking water for people around the 
world. She returned from the United Nations Climate Conference in 
Copenhagen in 2009, being a part of that hopeful and frustrating 
process with a renewed commitment to deal with energy and climate 
change and found ways to make a difference.
  She organized and participated in my bipartisan 3-day backpacking 
trip around Oregon's magnificent Mount Hood with my colleague, Greg 
Walden, and his family and staff, working together to learn and build 
trust that led to the Mount Hood Legacy Stewardship Act that protected 
that Oregon treasure.
  No Hill staffer knows more about the challenges, dangers, and 
opportunities dealing with natural disaster. She dove in behind the 
scenes working in the detailed minutia that brought about the Flood 
Insurance Reform Act of 2004. No Member or staff did more to make that 
happen and with ongoing efforts.
  She continues to nudge the Federal Government to be more productive. 
She spent years to refine and modernize procedures for the Corps of 
Engineers.
  Whether it's in Copenhagen or Johannesburg, flying over the Klamath 
Basin or hiking around Mount Hood or being in a Capitol Hill lockdown 
yesterday, she brought experience, good humor, and intellect not to 
just some bills enacted or amendments passed; she helped improve 
Federal agencies like the Corps and FEMA that need more attention. She 
took time off and did amazing volunteer work in key Oregon campaigns 
with spectacular results.
  Besides being a good citizen, she is a proud mother to her darling 
daughter, Dahlia. She and Greg could live anywhere in America. They 
could make more money and not have questions about whether they're 
going to be paid or whether their employer was going to take away their 
health insurance, but they've chosen to serve the public, help 
Congress, and make the world a better place. It was an honor to be able 
to work with her. There is no one who better exemplifies the 
dedication, confidence, and commitment that holds this place together.
  Thanks, Janine.

                          ____________________