[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15998-15999]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE CONGRESSIONAL STAFF OF GEORGIA'S 12TH CONGRESSIONAL 
                                DISTRICT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Barrow) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BARROW of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I don't know if this will be 
the last time I address this House, but I can think of no more 
appropriate subject for such an occasion than to honor those who have 
worked with me over the last 10 years serving the people of Georgia's 
12th Congressional District.

[[Page 15999]]

  Representing Georgia in the House of Representatives has been the 
honor of my life. I have met thousands of people, both in Georgia and 
Washington, I will count as friends and colleagues for the rest of my 
life.
  But any Member of Congress can tell you that the key to a successful 
congressional office is to gather the best and brightest people to 
serve the people we represent. I am honored to have served with a staff 
who are known on Capitol Hill as among the hardest working and most 
effective.
  My staff has worked under some very difficult circumstances, facing 
what many called insurmountable odds, and put in long hours to make 
sure the people of Georgia's 12th District had representation like they 
had never seen before. Thanks from this Congressman will never be 
enough, but my success in this position is because of their dedication 
to this office.
  I would like to recognize the staff, some of whom have left, but many 
of whom are here until the end, who have made all this possible.
  My chief of staff, Ashley Jones, has been the foundation of this 
operation. Ashley has been my most trusted adviser and assembled a team 
that has delivered such outstanding results over the last 10 years. Her 
loyalty, counsel, and friendship have meant the world to me, and she 
has been an invaluable asset to the 12th District.
  Lynthia Ross Owens has served as my district director. Lynthia has 
been the most respected member of my staff in the district. For years, 
she has been my eyes and ears in Georgia when the congressional 
schedule has taken me away from the district.
  Hill Thomas is by far the most knowledgeable legislative director on 
Capitol Hill. He has counseled me through numerous legislative wins and 
milestones in our time together, and folks in the 12th District know 
Hill as a tireless advocate on their behalf, and his service to them 
will never be forgotten.
  These three are the foundation of one of the best staffs on Capitol 
Hill, but the rest of the 12th District staff deserves recognition, 
too.
  My communications director for the last 3 years, Richard Carbo; 
Jonathan Arogeti, my senior legislative assistant; Jessie Andrews, our 
senior legislative correspondent and scheduler; Vanna Cure, who has 
served in the district and in Washington on a number of initiatives in 
our office; Asa Porter, our legislative correspondent; Francesca 
Amodeo, our staff assistant and intern; Demetrius McCoy, a dedicated 
advocate in the district on behalf of our veterans; Beverly Kay 
Herrington, who is dedicated to helping folks in the district get the 
benefits they are owed from the Federal Government; Troy Windham, who 
helped introduce us to many folks in the newest portions of the 
district and helped deal with the VA during a difficult time; Matthew 
Kleinsorge, a veteran himself and a loyal staffer to this district who 
has been my eyes and ears on all issues for veterans.
  I would also like to thank those former staffers who have served over 
the years. They may have left the Barrow team, but they never went very 
far: Roman Levit, Brandon Webb, Peyton Bell, Jane Brodsky, Kristin 
Fulford, Luke Moses, Wes Devetger, Lauren Perry, Harper Lawson, Will 
Rooks, Aaron Schmidt, Mike Goodman, Chris Schepis, Chris Cashman, Doug 
Moore, Bennett Golder, Meredith Wise, Anne Scheer, Tharon Johnson, 
Vernisha Davis, Brandi Hebron, Kristie Gregory, Najhee Jackson, Kathryn 
Hyler, Anne Watson, Reggie Castleberry, Mike Little, Charles Renwick, 
David Bell, Adam Toledano, and Yvonne Davis.
  Madam Speaker, it has been the honor of my life to have served 
alongside this team, and for all their hard work and dedication to me 
and to the people of Georgia's 12th District, I say thank you.

                          ____________________