[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8586]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


  THE RETIREMENT OF BRIAN C. COOPER FROM THE HOUSE PARLIAMENTARIAN'S 
                                 OFFICE

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2017

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise as both the Dean of the House 
and as a former employer of Brian Cooper to congratulate him on his 
impending retirement from the House of Representatives after 35 years 
of service, and to thank him for his years of dedicated service to the 
House.
  Brian is a Baltimore native and the youngest of seven children of his 
parents Deloris and Ellsworth Cooper. Brian loves the Charm City so 
much that he has lived in the same house his whole life.
  He is a proud graduate of Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore 
(the very same high school attended by Supreme Court Justice and civil 
rights icon Thurgood Marshall). After high school Brian received a 
scholarship to the Community College of Baltimore, now known as 
Baltimore City Community College, where he received his degree in 
commercial and graphic arts.
  Brian's first Capitol Hill job began in the fall of 1982 when he 
began work in the stock room for Publications and Distribution 
Services. Thereafter, in the 1980s and early 1990s, Brian worked for 
the House Post Office, the House document room, the Small Business 
Committee and the Government Operations Committee. At Government 
Operations, Brian served under both Jack Brooks and myself as Chair 
(the latter frame 1991 through 1994). In that capacity Brian worked as 
staff assistant, handled filing and archiving of committee materials, 
and prepared documents for committee hearings and markups. I can 
personally testify that Brian's work was respected and appreciated by 
Members on both sides of the aisle.
  In 1995, Brian joined the Office of the House Parliamentarian as 
Clerk where he spent a full 22 years, rising to become Chief Clerk to 
the Parliamentarian in 2009. Brian's mast visible duties included 
assisting presiding officers during sessions of the House and handling 
timekeeping and legislative paperwork at the rostrum. In addition, 
Brian provided invaluable assistance in creating the first office 
computer network, supervising House pages, and preparing for joint 
meetings and joint sessions. It is no understatement to say that Brian 
observed and participated in a great swath of American political 
history during that time period.
  Brian remains active in many artistic endeavors--including 
watercolor, oils, photography, and architectural design--which I 
understand he plans to continue in his retirement. Brian also plans to 
use his well-deserved retirement to travel to Italy and spend more time 
with family (including his many nieces and nephews).
  As a devoted Baltimore sports fan, Brian has enjoyed the highs and 
suffered the lows of the local teams. He is a particularly avid fan of 
the Baltimore Orioles, and I am sure he appreciates the good start they 
are off to this year.
  I know from personal experience and observation that Brian is the 
consummate professional. Members and staff on both sides of the aisle 
know Brian to be committed to an orderly and accurate legislative 
process observed in a fair, nonpartisan manner. In this age of 
increasing polarization and legislative gridlock, Brian is a committed 
institutionalist. He is the rare individual consistently striving to 
continue the customs and traditions of the House, and committed to pass 
on his institutional knowledge to his successors.
  The House and the Congress will greatly miss Brian's services, but we 
will greatly benefit from his work and legacy.

                          ____________________