[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 2169-2170]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   THANKING BERNARD E. BEIDEL FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GREGG HARPER

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 6, 2017

  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and thank Mr. 
Bernard E. Beidel for his dedicated and unwavering support to the 
United States House of Representatives.
  This month, Bern celebrates his twenty-sixth year of service to this 
great legislative body. For his entire time with this institution Bern 
has served as the Director of the Office of Employee Assistance (OEA).
  Through his leadership and direction, Bern's office delivers 
comprehensive confidential assistance covering an array of personal and 
work-related issues that have the potential to impact an employee's 
performance, productivity and well-being.
  The idea to create the Office of Employee Assistance in the House of 
Representatives was rooted in the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. This 
monumental legislation authorized Employee Assistance grant programs in 
the U.S. Department of Labor.
  In February 1991, the Clerk of the House, Donnald K. Anderson, hired 
Bern to serve as the Director of OEA. Immediately upon assuming this 
mantle, Bern began to build one of the most recognized and respected 
employee assistance programs in our Nation. In 1995, OEA was 
transferred to the Chief Administrative Officer, where it resides 
today.
  Over the course of his tenure with the House, Bern and his team have 
had a lasting impact on individual employees within Member offices and 
Committees. In addition, his team serves employees who work for the 
House Officers, the Congressional Budget Office, and the USCP. The 
confidential nature of OEA's services demand an individual who 
possesses integrity, character, and trust. Bern exemplifies the 
qualities and characteristics of his profession. But it is truly Bern's 
personality that serves as a beacon for all who know him.
  Mr. Speaker, based on the kindness, compassion and love that Bern has 
for his work and the House of Representatives, it is no surprise that I 
am not the first Member of Congress to honor him with a statement for 
the Congressional Record.
  First, on December 18, 2001, Bern and OEA were recognized when they 
received the EAP Excellence award which is jointly offered by the EAP 
Digest and Employee Assistance Professionals Association.
  Then, on December 11, 2013, my friend and former colleague 
Congresswoman Candice Miller also had the distinct pleasure of 
recognizing Bern as the recipient of the 2013 Lifetime Achievement 
Award issued by the Employee Assistance Professionals Association 
(EAPA). This illustrious award is given to an EAPA member who has made 
significant contributions to the employee assistance profession. In 
addition to this accolade, Bern was also the recipient of the EAPA 
Member of the Year in 2002.
  Prior to his time in the House of Representatives, Bern served as a 
drug specialist in the United States Coast Guard, where he had the 
opportunity to hone his acute understanding of employee assistance. He 
continued his career in public service with the New Jersey State Police 
where he established the organization's employee assistance program.
  Based on his background with the New Jersey State Police, it is no 
surprise that Bern was instrumental in establishing a Memorandum of 
Understanding with the U.S. Capitol Police in 2000. Because of this 
important agreement, the men and women who guard our campus have access 
to the outstanding services provided by the CAO's Office of Employee 
Assistance.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored and humbled to stand before you and 
recognize Bern for his outstanding contributions and overall impact to 
the House of Representatives. I also want to thank his current staff 
Lisbeth McBride, Jennifer Lavan, Paul Tewksbury, Margot Hawkins-

[[Page 2170]]

Green and all of the other staff members who have served under Bern's 
tutelage during the past quarter century.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge Bern's family. As you 
know, public service is an honorable and noble calling requiring great 
sacrifices to our time. Therefore, I would like to thank Bern's family, 
including his wife Donna, their daughters, sons-in-law, and 
grandchildren Jessica and Mather Hinders (Lily and Emmett) and Cynthia 
and Jonn Aitken (Alexander) for their generous devotion, unwavering 
support, and unconditional love.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislative body and our grateful Nation owe Bern 
and his entire family a debt of gratitude.

                          ____________________