[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 10410-10411]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

  Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, over the past few months I have been 
coming to the floor to recognize the work of a few of the outstanding 
employees of the Department of Homeland Security.
  There are over 200,000 men and women who work at the Department's 22 
components. They secure our borders and secure our skies. They respond 
to natural disasters. They protect us in cyber space. Few other Federal 
agencies touch the lives of Americans on a daily basis more than the 
Department of Homeland Security.
  Although the jobs they do every day may be diverse, all DHS employees 
go to work with one critical mission, and that is to ensure our country 
is a safe, secure, and resilient place where the American way of life 
can thrive.
  Today I recognize the outstanding service of several officers from 
the U.S. Coast Guard. As a law enforcement agency and one of our 
Nation's five armed services, the Coast Guard has safeguarded our 
interests on the high seas for over two centuries.
  The thousands of brave men and women who honorably serve our Nation 
at the Coast Guard dedicate their lives to its important missions. 
These missions range from maritime law enforcement and military 
operations to search and rescue and environmental protection.


                     Max Kaczmarek, Chris Leon, and
                             Matthew Worden

  Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson recognized three 
individuals from the Coast Guard for their valor: Petty Officer Max 
Kaczmarek, Petty Officer Chris Leon, and Petty Officer Matthew Worden. 
In pictures right here next to me are Petty Officer Matt Worden, Petty 
Officer Max Kaczmarek, and Petty Officer Chris Leon.
  These three brave individuals have each demonstrated outstanding 
courage in the face of perilous circumstances, acting selflessly and 
without hesitation to render lifesaving aid to their fellow Americans. 
Simply put, they were, in the words of the Coast Guard motto, ``Semper 
Paratus''--``Always Ready.''
  I want to extend my congratulations to these three officers, Petty 
Officers Kaczmarek, Leon, and Worden, and to all of the recipients of 
this year's DHS Valor awards. These devoted public servants are an 
inspiration for me, and I think for all of us, and I encourage my 
colleagues to learn more about their heroic stories.


                           Joscelyn Greenwell

  For the 42,000 Active-Duty Coast Guard men and women, their mission 
may take them to ports and waterways across our country and around the 
globe. For Petty Officer Joscelyn Greenwell, her service with the Coast 
Guard has taken her from California to Hawaii to my home State of 
Delaware.
  Originally from Cape Canaveral, FL, Petty Officer Greenwell, pictured 
here to my left, has served our country for over 7 years at three 
different Coast Guard units and stations. She first spent 3 years on 
the high endurance cutter Hamilton and home ported in San Diego, CA.
  While aboard the Coast Guard cutter Hamilton, Petty Officer Greenwell 
was one of our many brave servicemembers assigned to provide disaster 
relief following the catastrophic 2010 Haiti earthquake, which we all 
remember. In Haiti, Petty Officer Greenwell and her fellow crew members 
transported clean drinking water and other resources to the island to 
save lives. She received a Unit Commendation award for her outstanding 
efforts in that mission.
  After her time in San Diego, Petty Officer Greenwell spent 2 years 
aboard the patrol boat Galveston Island, home ported in Honolulu, HI.
  Today Petty Officer Greenwell calls Lewes, DE, her home and now 
serves at the U.S. Coast Guard Station Indian River Inlet in Rehoboth 
Beach, DE. With summer in full swing, Delawareans and people from 
across the country--actually, from around the world--are flocking to 
our Nation's pristine five-star beaches. Thankfully, day and night, 
Petty Officer Greenwell and her crew stand diligent watch over parts of 
Delaware Bay, Rehoboth Bay, Indian River Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. 
We Delawareans can rest assured that Petty Officer Greenwell and her 
unit stand ready to answer our call, if ever we need their assistance.
  According to her superiors, Petty Officer Greenwell takes ownership 
of her responsibilities and is committed to the safety of the public. 
Her colleagues say that she always goes above and beyond what is 
expected of her.
  For example, in addition to her usual responsibilities, Petty Officer 
Greenwell received her certification as a boat operator, or coxswain, 
in just 1 year--a process that normally takes about a year and a half. 
Her colleagues say that she demonstrated an outstanding level of skill 
and professionalism throughout the rigorous certification process.
  She has also served as a mentor to junior personnel and assisted 
multiple shipmates in receiving their qualifications as watch standers, 
boat crew members, boarding team members, and as coxswains. Petty 
Officer Greenwell's commitment to her team and the public she serves 
every day exemplifies--truly exemplifies--the Coast Guard's core values 
of honor, respect, and devotion to duty.
  Petty Officer Greenwell, I just want you to know tonight that your 
service

[[Page 10411]]

to our Nation has taken you around the world, and I know you will 
continue to go far--both literally and figuratively--in all your 
endeavors. Every day, you help to ensure the safety of your fellow 
Americans and the security of our Nation. From the bottom of my heart, 
I thank you for your tireless dedication, your invaluable service to 
the State and the Nation that we call home, and as we say in the Navy, 
``Bravo Zulu.''
  Finally, to the thousands of brave men and women across the 
Department of Homeland Security who dedicate their lives to serving and 
protecting America and Americans, please know that what you do every 
day is important. I hope it fills your work with meaning and your life 
with happiness. On behalf of the people we all serve together, thank 
you for your service.
  Sometimes we ask people--whether the Coast Guard or Department of 
Homeland Security, any part of the Federal Government--what they would 
like. Sometimes people say they would like more money, they would like 
more of this, or they would like more of that. What more than half the 
people say, though, is, I would just like to be thanked.
  So to all the people I mentioned tonight and those with whom they 
serve at the Department of Homeland Security, thank you, and God bless 
you.
  I especially thank my colleague from Ohio for his generosity and 
kindness tonight.
  To the leader, good work. ``Bravo Zulu'' on the good work done here 
this week.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________