[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18866-18867]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IN PRAISE OF CONGRESSIONAL STAFF

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 11, 2014

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, throughout my tenure in the House of 
Representatives, I have been continually impressed by the legions of 
staffers who eagerly sign up to serve in the ranks of Congressional 
aides.
  Having started my own career of public service as a staffer in the 
U.S. Senate, I know

[[Page 18867]]

a little about laboring behind the scenes, answering the phones, 
responding to the mail, enduring the long hours of sometimes mundane, 
often utterly thankless tasks that keep this place running for the 
people we were elected to serve. These eager, bright minds come to this 
place looking to make a difference in the world. They sacrifice higher 
paying jobs in the private sector, and precious time with their family 
and friends, in order to work without applause for the betterment of 
our Nation.
  These members of our staffs do their work anonymously and generally 
do their work exceedingly well, putting their heart and soul into 
fighting for the people we were elected to serve. Frankly, they put up 
with a lot and Members of Congress ought to do more to defend these 
loyal employees. When the slings and arrows of public anger are aimed 
at this institution, these staffers have demonstrated, time and again, 
a selfless willingness to stand silently as their jobs and benefits are 
slashed in some ill-conceived sacrificial exercise. They are not our 
political shields. It is the lot of a leader--a true leader--to take 
the hits.
  Before retiring this year, I want to acknowledge and express my deep 
gratitude to the staff members who have been by my side throughout my 
career. And I take this moment to express my undying thanks to those 
who stayed with me until the very end--never wavering in their loyalty 
to me and the constituency we served together. These are outstanding 
and dedicated individuals who deserve the highest praise for their 
selfless sacrifice and service in behalf of the people of southern West 
Virginia.
  David McMaster, my Chief of Staff
  Kent Keyser, my longtime aide and trusted advisor
  Kate Denman, my Deputy Chief of Staff
  Diane Luensmann, my Communications Director
  Carol Wallace, my Projects Director
  Josh Sutherland, my Legislative Correspondent
  Megan Price, my Staff Assistant
  Andy Mollohan and Rachel Meyer, my Legislative Assistants,
  Kelly Dyke, my District Director, and Greg Crist, Kim McMillion, and 
Larone Alexander, who worked in the Congressional Office in Beckley
  Debrina Workman, Teri Booth, and Debbie Stevens--my longtime district 
aides who staffed the Congressional Offices in Logan, Huntington, and 
Bluefield
  Jim Zoia, Ann Adler, Ward McCarragher, Ed Gilman, Lisa James, and 
Luke Strimer on my Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff.

                          ____________________