Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor several of the volunteers who have served in my District office over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and these volunteers have assisted my staff in providing the excellent assistance so many have come to expect in our District. I take great pride in the work that each one has done on my behalf and on behalf of everyone in the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina.

These volunteers have always treated our constituents with the utmost respect and always made sure their needs were met in a timely fashion. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship which they have shown me while I have served in Congress.

Paul Ford has played a valuable role as a volunteer from the very beginning of my time in Congress. Paul's background as an attorney was especially beneficial in assisting constituents in resolving issues with the Office of Personnel Management. Paul was able to guide constituents through the often difficult and bureaucratic process required to resolve their disputes the agency. Many throughout western North Carolina are grateful for Paul's assistance.

Paul should be proud of the service he has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with him and as I retire from office I wish him the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of his efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Paul and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Paul Ford for his hard work on behalf of all of western North Carolina and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and my team is second to none in providing the best assistance to all in our District. My Washington, D.C. office is also tasked with researching, processing, analyzing, and making recommendations on an infinite number of reports, policies, and legislation. I could not ask for a more talented or dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done not only on my behalf, but also on behalf of the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina and the United States.

My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituency. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship they have shown me during my six years of service in the Congress.

Whitney Mitchell has been an invaluable asset to my office since joining our team in February of 2009. Whitney's talents as a skilled and effective communicator were quickly recognized and rewarded with a series of promotions, ultimately achieving Press Secretary and Communications Director status. Few individuals on Capitol Hill have so effortlessly and skillfully developed a political acumen as sharp as Whitney's, or mastered the complexities of political nuance and communication as she has. Marking Whitney's strengths further still, she is also responsible for a broad portfolio of legislative issues for which she has proven her ability to rapidly research and synthesize voluminous amounts of information while also successfully reinterpreting complicated information into clearer, more comprehensible parts, the latter a critical skill to effectively communicate policy to our various constituent groups. In all, Whitney has been a trusted, loyal and exceptional member of my staff.

Whitney should be proud of the service she has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with Whitney and as I retire from office I wish her the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of her efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Whitney and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Whitney Mitchell for her hard work on behalf of all of western North Carolina and the United States and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and my staff is second to none in providing the best assistance to everyone in our District. I take great pride in the work that each one has done on my behalf and on behalf of everyone in the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina.

Each District Staff member has shown a strong sense of dedication in meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They often go well beyond the call to make sure each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully by our government agencies and that they receive appropriate resolution. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship which they have shown me while I have served in Congress.

Shelley Townley has served as member of my District staff since the fall of my first term. Shelley's work in constituent services has been invaluable to thousands across western North Carolina as they attempted to navigate the often difficult processes of the U.S. Department of State and Immigration Services. I cannot count the number of times people have stopped me and thanked me for the work she did in expediting their passport application to make sure they were able to attend that special family vacation or participate in a mission trip to help others abroad.

Shelley should be proud of the service she has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with her and as I retire from office I wish her the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of her efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Shelley and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Shelley Townley for her hard work on behalf of all of western North Carolina and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and my Staff is second to none in providing the best assistance to everyone in our District. I take great pride in the work that each one has done on my behalf and on behalf of everyone in the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina.

Each District Staff member has shown a strong sense of dedication in meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They often go well beyond the call to make sure each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully by our government agencies and that they receive appropriate resolution. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship which they have shown me while I have served in Congress.

Randy Flack was the first individual to join me on the campaign trail and to serve as a member of my original District staff team. Randy's friendship and companionship have been a blessing in my life since my college days at the University of Tennessee. Randy has always been ready and willing to do anything I asked and then some more. His knowledge of issues and people in the District has been invaluable to me.

Randy has been so much more than an employee, he is a trusted friend, a counselor and a confidant. Without the support of people like Randy the past six years would have never been possible.

Randy should be proud of the service he has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with him and as I retire from office I wish him the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of his efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Randy and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Randy Flack for his hard work on behalf of all of western North Carolina and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and my team is second to none in providing the best assistance to all in our District. My Washington, D.C. office is also tasked with researching, processing, analyzing, and making recommendations on an infinite number of reports, policies, and legislation. I could not ask for a more talented or dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done not only on my behalf, but also on behalf of the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina and the United States.

My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituency. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship which they have shown me while I have served in Congress.

Sean O'Brien served as a member of my Washington, D.C. staff as my first Legislative Director. When I entered Congress, Sean led the office in navigating the intricacies of this complex and parliamentary institution. Sean's legislative experience proved to be invaluable, and he taught the staff how to effectively and successfully do their jobs. Sean was critical in helping me shape my legislative agenda, a particularly challenging demand for any freshman Member. Appreciation for Sean's abilities did not end in our office--he was well known for his comedic talents all through the Capitol's corridors and was often called upon by other Members of Congress in need of assistance writing humorous speeches.

Sean should be proud of the service he has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with him and as I retire from office I wish him the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of his efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Sean and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Sean O'Brien for his hard work on behalf of all of western North Carolina and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and my team is second to none in providing the best assistance to all in our District. My Washington, D.C. office is also tasked with researching, processing, analyzing, and making recommendations on an infinite number of reports, policies, and legislation. I could not ask for a more talented or dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done not only on my behalf, but also on behalf of the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina and the United States.

My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituency. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship they have shown me during my six years of service in the Congress.

Hayden Rogers has been my closet advisor and most trusted confidant from the very beginning of our first campaign in 2006. He has successfully led my team through three campaigns and three sessions of Congress.

Hayden is from Robbinsville, North Carolina, in the next county over from where I grew up. Throughout his time as my Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager, Hayden remained true to the values we learned growing up in the mountains and could always be depended on as the voice of reason. Moreover, Hayden is without question one of the most intelligent and skillful professional and entrepreneurial individuals I have had the pleasure of working with. All who meet him make a friend of him, and I consider it a privilege to call him one of my closest and dearest friends.

A loyal, honorable and steadfast companion, Hayden has been there for the good times and the bad and right at my side through our toughest battles. If not for Hayden, I would not have been able to achieve all that I had during my three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. I am incredibly grateful for the leadership he has provided me, and I look forward to many more years of continued friendship.

Hayden should be proud of the service he has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with him and as I retire from office I wish him the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of his efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Hayden and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Hayden Rogers for his hard work on behalf of all of western North Carolina and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and my staff is second to none in providing the best assistance to everyone in our District. I take great pride in the work that each one has done on my behalf and on behalf of everyone in the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina.

Each District Staff member has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They often go well beyond the call to make sure each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully by our government agencies and that they receive appropriate resolution. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship which they have shown me while I have served in Congress.

Sandy Zimmerman has served as a member of my District staff since May of 2007. Sandy has provided valuable assistance to individuals living in the far western counties of our District. Often times in the past these individuals have felt overlooked and forgotten because of their remote location to the rest of the District but Sandy has worked tirelessly to attend meetings and forums and make sure that these valuable members of our community have their voices heard and problems addressed. Sandy has time and again stood in the gap for our Western counties and I have been blessed to call her friend and teammate.

Sandy should be proud of the service she has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with Sandy and as I retire from office I wish her the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of her efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Sandy and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Sandy Zimmerman for her hard work on behalf of all of western North Carolina and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor several of the volunteers who have served in my District office over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and these volunteers have assisted my staff in providing the excellent assistance so many have come to expect in our District. I take great pride in the work that each one has done on my behalf and on behalf of everyone in the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina.

These volunteers have always treated our constituents with the utmost respect and always made sure their needs were met in a timely fashion. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship which they have shown me while I have served in Congress.

Shirley Ford has played a valuable role as a volunteer from the very beginning of my time in Congress. Shirley had a special ability to work with seniors in our District who were having difficulty with Medicare. Shirley's wealth of knowledge about the Medicare system gave our constituents a much-needed assurance that their claims would be handled appropriately. Shirley also shared my desire to help eliminate waste and fraud in the system and tirelessly worked with individuals to identify cases in these areas.

Shirley should be proud of the service she has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with her and as I retire from office I wish her the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of her efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Shirley and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Shirley Ford for her hard work on behalf of all of Western North Carolina and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and my Staff is second to none in providing the best assistance to everyone in our District. I take great pride in the work that each one has done on my behalf and on behalf of everyone in the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina.

Each District Staff member has shown a strong sense of dedication in meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They often go well beyond the call to make sure each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully by our government agencies and that they receive appropriate resolution. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship which they have shown me while I have served in Congress.

Susanna Euston was an original member of my District staff and worked tirelessly to serve the veteran community. Susanna developed immediate relationships with individual veterans and leaders of veteran organizations and quickly became the go-to person in Western North Carolina when any of our veterans needed assistance. I could always count on Susanna to make sure each one of our veteran constituents was treated fairly and with the utmost respect. Susanna was a devoted member of the team, often arriving first in the morning and staying as one of the last ones out the door at the end of the day.

Susanna should be proud of the service she provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with her and as I retire from office I wish her the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of her efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Susanna and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Susanna Euston for her hard work on behalf of all of Western North Carolina and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and my team is second to none in providing the best assistance to all in our District. My Washington, D.C. office is also tasked with researching, processing, analyzing, and making recommendations on an infinite number of reports, policies, and legislation. I could not ask for a more talented or dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done not only on my behalf, but also on behalf of the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina and the United States.

My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituency. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship which they have shown me while I have served in Congress.

Wendell White joined my Washington, D.C. office in November 2011. As the Coordinator of Special Projects, Wendell has performed with precision and care and sees every task through with a careful eye for detail. I have also entrusted Wendell with the management of one of my chief initiatives, our business outreach program. Wendell has demonstrated extraordinary resourcefulness and commitment to the outreach effort, which has yielded unparalleled results under his care. Moreover,

Wendell has shown a great deal of dedication to understanding the intricacies of his legislative portfolio and has proven his ability to successfully multi-task high priority projects. Wendell is focused and employs a strong work ethic, often keeping long hours to ensure that his job is done to the very best of his ability.

Wendell should be proud of the service he has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with him and as I retire from office I wish him the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of his efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Wendell and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Wendell White for his hard work on behalf of all of Western North Carolina and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor several of the volunteers who have served in my District office over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide excellent constituent services and these volunteers have assisted my staff in providing the exceptional assistance so many have come to expect from our District team. I take great pride in the work that each one has done on my behalf and on behalf of everyone in the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina.

These volunteers have always treated our constituents with the utmost respect and always made sure their needs were met in a timely fashion. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship they have shown to me during my years of service in Congress.

Steve Stanfield-Switzer played a valuable role as a volunteer in my District office. I could always count on Steve to make sure visitors to our District office knew they were respected and recognized. Constituents were often comforted by Steve's calm confidence when they visited or called in need of critical assistance. Steve showed a particular interest in assisting our veterans and became a valuable resource to our staff in diagnosing their problems and helping to point them in the right direction.

Steve should be proud of the service he has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with him and as I retire from office I wish him the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of his efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Steve Stanfield-Switzer for his hard work on behalf of all of Western North Carolina and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and my Staff is second to none in providing the best assistance to everyone in our District. I take great pride in the work that each one has done on my behalf and on behalf of everyone in the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina.

Each District Staff member has shown a strong sense of dedication in meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They often go well beyond the call to make sure each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully by our government agencies and that they receive appropriate resolution. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship which they have shown me while I have served in Congress.

Tom Jones served on my District staff during my first term in Congress. Tom was instrumental in helping to establish our office's outreach program with the local business community. Tom also performed extensive research into grant opportunities for the District and was a valuable resource to local governments and non-profits in realizing assistance available to them from the Federal government. Tom established our office as a vital resource to the region in helping to grow the local and state economies.

Tom should be proud of the service he has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with him and as I retire from office I wish him the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of his efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Tom and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Tom Jones for his hard work on behalf of all of Western North Carolina and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and my team is second to none in providing the best assistance to all in our District. My Washington, D.C. office is also tasked with researching, processing, analyzing, and making recommendations on an infinite number of reports, policies, and legislation. I could not ask for a more talented or dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done not only on my behalf, but also on behalf of the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina and the United States.

My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituency. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship which they have shown me while I have served in Congress.

Julie Fishman served as a member of my Washington, D.C. staff for almost four years, beginning in 2008. Managing my schedule and daily functions in both D.C. and in the District requires a great deal of organization and attention to detail, and Julie performed the role with precision and skill. Often the first point of contact for folks in the District, Julie endeared herself to the countless constituents with whom she interacted. During her tenure, Julie served in various roles, always willing and eager to learn new skills and further her professional development. Above all, Julie was a trusted, loyal and dedicated member of the team.

Julie should be proud of the service she has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with her and as I retire from office I wish her the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of her efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Julie and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Julie Fishman for her hard work on behalf of all of Western North Carolina and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and my Staff is second to none in providing the best assistance to everyone in our District. I take great pride in the work that each one has done on my behalf and on behalf of everyone in the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina.

Each District Staff member has shown a strong sense of dedication in meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They often go well beyond the call to make sure each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully by our government agencies and that they receive appropriate resolution. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship which they have shown me while I have served in Congress.

Kelly Sheehan Martin began serving on my District staff when I first took office. Kelly helped to establish our office early on as being a source of relief to those having trouble with the Social Security Administration. Kelly then moved into coordinating Grants and Special Projects. She did a tremendous job in leading such efforts as a Regional Jobs Fair that publicized well over 600 available jobs during the height of the recession, providing access and hope to constituents and many more throughout Western North Carolina.

Kelly should be proud of the service she has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with her and as I retire from office I wish her the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of her efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Kelly and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Kelly Sheehan Martin for her hard work on behalf of all of Western North Carolina and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past six years while I have been in office. A Member of Congress' most important responsibility is to provide exceptional constituent services and my team is second to none in providing the best assistance to all in our District. My Washington, D.C. office is also tasked with researching, processing, analyzing, and making recommendations on an infinite number of reports, policies, and legislation. I could not ask for a more talented or dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done not only on my behalf, but also on behalf of the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina and the United States.

My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituency. I owe a debt of gratitude to each one of them for the support and friendship which they have shown me while I have served in Congress.

Kelly Misselwitz joined my Washington, D.C. staff in January of 2011. I often receive thousands of pieces of constituent correspondence each week, and with Kelly's care and correspondence management, we were always able to ensure that constituents received responses to their ideas and concerns in a timely, thoughtful and thorough manner. I cannot count the number of times constituents approached me on the sidewalk, in church or at local events to express their gratitude for the personal and comprehensive responses they received. I was always quick to brag on Kelly's critical role in making our constituent correspondence program a success. Kelly also served as a Legislative Assistant, proving herself to have excellent research and analytical skills, key to advising any Member of Congress. What Kelly may be known for most, however, is her sharp sense of humor that we all have truly missed since her departure in August of this year.

Kelly should be proud of the service she has provided to our District and country. It has been an honor to serve with her and as I retire from office I wish her the very best in the future. Western North Carolina is a better place because of her efforts and I will cherish the memories of serving with Kelly and the team by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Kelly Misselwitz for her hard work on behalf of all of Western North Carolina and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.