[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 21535-21536]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         THANK YOU TO STAFF AND
                          JO-MARIE ST. MARTIN

  (Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, this has been a busy month for 
all of us. We have passed more major legislation in a few weeks than we 
have in a few years. And now I want to thank all of the people who made 
it possible. I am talking about all the committee staff and all the 
people behind the scenes here in the Capitol who make this work. Thank 
you very, very much.
  In particular, Mr. Speaker, this includes, of course, our legislative 
counsel. I don't think you could find a group of people more dedicated 
to their jobs. These people work late nights every night. They work 
weekends. They are always on call.
  So I want to put into the Record a statement thanking every one of 
them by name. They were a part of history, and history should know 
their names.
  I also want to thank one person in particular, and that is Jo-Marie 
St. Martin. Today is Jo-Marie's last day on the Hill. She has been 
working for this House for over 20 years, most recently as general 
counsel and chief of legislative operations for the Speaker. I could 
not even begin to list everything that she has accomplished.
  We all know her so well. She is a legend in her own right. But as her 
colleagues will tell you, what is even more impressive than her career 
is her character. She is simply unflappable. When everyone else is on 
edge, she is calm. When they are flustered--and, believe it or not, 
some people get flustered around here from time to time--she is steady.
  And though other people might like to show off their brains and their 
know-how, she is the definition of kindness, of humility. I have never 
heard her dismiss a question, no matter how small. She is always eager 
to help people understand. And her enthusiasm is nothing short of 
infectious. You can see it when she walks into a room. She has an 
effect on people. Everyone feels more at ease. The word that comes to 
mind is Zen--except, of course, when she is at a Caps game.
  She knows the law backwards and forwards because she loves the law. 
She cares about the law. She cares about this House. For over 20 years, 
she has done her part to uphold its rights, to make sure that every 
voice was heard. Everyone here owes her a debt of gratitude.
  If I could use an old-fashioned word, I would say she is a true 
patriot. We salute her.
  So please join me one last time in thanking our friend Jo-Marie St. 
Martin.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the 
distinguished minority whip.
  Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of those who have been flustered by Jo-
Marie.
  Jo-Marie, as all of you know, has been with this institution for over 
two decades. She started as an intern in the Committee on Rules, 
unfortunately, because she got to know the rules very, very well.
  And as majority leader for 4 years, as Jo-Marie ran the opposition--
the constructive opposition, I will say, the friendly opposition but, 
nevertheless, the opposition--her intellect, her judgment, her 
tenacity, her focus was always a challenge. But it has always been good 
for this institution, because she made sure that the minority was 
heard. Unfortunately, for us, she has also made sure that the majority 
was loudly heard when the Republicans were in the majority.
  Jo-Marie, as some of you know, is a mathematician by training. She is 
also a lawyer. She is also a scholar. She is also somebody who cares 
deeply about this institution.
  Jo-Marie is my friend. Now, that does not mean that Jo-Marie and I 
always had an even-keeled relationship. Sometimes, as I said, she 
flustered me and us by her skill and by her devotion and loyalty to the 
Republican Party. But more than that, as the Speaker has said, she had 
a loyalty to this institution and to our country.
  Jo-Marie, you have been an extraordinary representative not only of 
your party, but of this House. You have been an extraordinary friend of 
mine and so many.
  I know Alexis Covey-Brandt, my chief of staff, and you have worked 
together a lot. Sometimes you agreed, and sometimes you didn't. Two 
brilliant women who cared, however, about this institution and making 
it work for the people.

[[Page 21536]]

  We call this the people's House. Jo-Marie, you have been one who has 
always kept that uppermost in your mind. We, on this side of the aisle, 
share a great respect and affection for you, and we wish you the very 
best. As a young woman, you still have a lot of contributions to make, 
and we know you will make them.
  We have mixed emotions about your leaving. To some degree, frankly, 
we think we are advantaged by your leaving. But as an individual and as 
someone who is your dear, dear friend, I will lament your not being on 
the floor and ever present, for your advice and counsel, always honest; 
sometimes in opposition, but always positive. Thank you for all you 
have done.
  God bless you.

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