Derek Kilmer

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary career of Cheri Williams--and to give my sincere thanks to her for serving as Director of Constituent Services on my team.

For over three decades, Cheri has devoted her life to helping Washingtonians. In fact, thousands of folks back in my neck of the woods have had their problems with the federal government solved by Cheri and her dedicated team. Cheri has worked to ensure that

every person in our region who reached out was treated fairly by the federal government. Over the years, she has been vital to a simple mission--make government work better for the people. But that was more than a tagline. It led to real impacts for real people.

She helped seniors get access to Social Security and Medicaid so they could retire with dignity. She helped shipyard workers and other public servants resolve issues with their benefits and pensions to ensure they could get what they've earned. She helped reunite families and ensure immigrants in our country could continue to contribute meaningfully to the fabric of our society. She helped newlyweds go on their honeymoon when they didn't realize they didn't have an up-to-date passport. She helped small businesses get access to federal funding to get back on their feet during and after the pandemic. She helped veterans get the benefits and recognition that they deserve for their extraordinary service.

Cheri is not only known in every corner of our district; she is loved in every corner of our district. And there's a very simple reason.

It's because Cheri Williams is a difference-maker.

I am so grateful to her for being a part of my team, a mentor to members of our team, and the definition of a public servant. As I complete my time in office, I want to commend Cheri and her family for all that they have committed to our community. And I want to thank Cheri for her service to folks in our region and to making life better for Washingtonians.

I thank Cheri, on behalf of the people of Washington's Sixth District.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Bradford Fitch for his 17 years of service to the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF).

As most of my colleagues are well aware, CMF has played a vital role over the last five decades in supporting Congressional offices' continuous efforts to improve their staff management skills and function as high-performing teams. Through individual and group training, informative publications and events that highlight best practices in management and constituent service, CMF has been instrumental in helping Members and staff fulfill their responsibilities to their country, state and district.

Brad first joined CMF in 2001 as Deputy Director and returned to lead the organization as CEO in 2010. Prior to joining CMF, Brad spent the early years of his notable career as a congressional aide, journalist, consultant, college instructor, internet entrepreneur, and writer.

Brad has served Congress in a variety of roles throughout his professional life and is well-known and regarded in Washington. Those who know Brad won't be surprised to learn he began his career out of school as a radio and television reporter. His compelling speech and engaging personality have been cornerstones to his success.

In 1988, when Brad began on Capitol Hill, he worked for four members of Congress in a variety of positions, including press secretary, campaign manager, legislative director and chief of staff. It was during this period that it became clear that Brad was a passionate advocate for the institution of Congress as well as the members and their dedicated staff.

This year is the 40th Anniversary of CMF's consequential book-- Setting Course: A Congressional Management Guide. This book has been extremely influential in how Congressional offices are run today and we applaud Brad's significant role in its many updates and biennial distribution for over half of its existence.

In 2002, during a period of rapid--but uneven--shift of Congressional office communication to the internet, Brad initiated the Gold Mouse Awards to recognize the best congressional websites and share their best practices for communicating with, and providing services

to, constituents. The research and analysis that CMF performed for the Gold Mouse Awards identified the most innovative and effective web page practices and then shared that critical information with all Congressional offices so they could benefit everyone.

In 2018, Brad's vision for establishing an ``Academy Awards'' for Congress provided the spark for the creation of CMF's Democracy Awards program. The Democracy Awards, in a similar approach to the Gold Mouse Awards before them, are presented to both staff and members to acknowledge their exemplary use of best management practices, constituent services and transparency. By shining a spotlight on these leaders, the awards showcase their skills and practices for others to utilize and improve on.

Through his tenure at CMF, Brad has carefully stewarded its strong reputation for nonpartisan work strengthening the management skills and workplace practices in Congress while building public understanding and trust in the legislative branch. Brad has been a lifelong advocate for the institution of Congress, members, and staff and we thank him for his dedication and work on our behalf.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kate Dean for her years of public service to the Jefferson County community. As a member of the Jefferson County Commission, Commissioner Dean demonstrated unparalleled leadership and advocacy for the Jefferson County community as she prepares to step down from the Commission.

Commissioner Dean moved to Jefferson County, Washington in 1999 and spent 10 years farming and working to grow the local food economy through small business development, including co-founding FinnRiver Farm and Mt. Townsend Creamery. She also started a consulting business that focused on natural resource and economic development issues both locally and across the region. Later, she served as the Regional Director for the North Olympic Development Council.

Commissioner Dean was then elected to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners in 2017 representing Port Townsend. While on the board, she became a driving force for rural economic development and environmental sustainability in the county. She has been behind groundbreaking work that has bridged public, private, and nonprofit sectors tackling complex rural issues.

Outside of our region, the impact of Commissioner Dean's efforts has been felt around the state. In 2023, Governor Inslee appointed Commissioner Dean to the Washington State Board of Health, where she advocated for rural healthcare issues and access. She also serves as a member of the Leadership Council for the Puget Sound Partnership.

Commissioner Dean has been a staunch advocate for public funding of major infrastructure projects, increased access to supporting housing, and overall economic growth in a county that desperately needs it. And this advocacy has led to record levels of public investment, including successful Community Project Funding wins for the Port Hadlock Sewer and Caswell-Brown Emergency Shelter and Supportive Housing Projects. The impact of Commissioner Dean's work has been profound and will have lasting impacts for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I have been grateful for Commissioner Dean's leadership, partnership, and friendship--and I applaud her for her successes in working to make her community stronger. Commissioner Dean's leadership and passion for revitalizing rural Jefferson County has forever impacted the future of the communities she served. Her advocacy and energy will be sorely missed.

For these reasons, I am pleased to recognize Commissioner Kate Dean in the United States Congress.