Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Scott C. Cunningham, who is retiring from the House of Representatives after 25 years of exemplary service. Upon graduation from Emory University, Scott relocated to Washington, D.C., to begin his…
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Scott C. Cunningham, who is retiring from the House of Representatives after 25 years of exemplary service.
Upon graduation from Emory University, Scott relocated to Washington, D.C., to begin his career as a Legislative Assistant for the Honorable Pete Sessions, a Member from his home state of Texas. Scott's hard work, problem-solving skills, and can-do attitude quickly made him a valued member of Congressman Sessions' staff.
In 2007, Scott took his talents to the office of another Texan, the Honorable Kenny Marchant, serving in multiple capacities from Policy Advisor to Deputy Chief of Staff over the next fourteen years. During his last two years with Mr. Marchant, Scott was a Senior Advisor and the designated liaison to the House Ethics Committee. After Mr. Merchant's departure from Congress, Scott continued to serve the House by joining the office of Congressman Scott DesJarlais as a Special Assistant.
In 2021, Scott joined the Office of General Counsel (OGC) as its Director of Administration and Member Services. Scott took on new tasks and responsibilities with aplomb and immediately became an indispensable part of the OGC team. It would be impossible to list all his contributions, but among them, he has taken the lead role relating to all aspects of office management and administration, including the office budget and computer systems, and was very often the first point of contact for a Member office when interfacing with OGC. During his time with OGC, Scott displayed an admirable level of dedication to serving Members, Officers, and employees of the House, proving to be remarkably trustworthy and utterly fearless when faced with novel, sensitive, and difficult matters. Scott's unwavering resolve and commitment to the House as an institution and OGC's particular role within that institution was always evident, as was his ability to find a solution to seemingly any problem.
It is hard to imagine a congressional staffer much finer than Scott, who embodies the true spirit of public service. Scott has been an irreplaceable member of every team on which he has served. He has been a kind and thoughtful coworker to all, treating everyone from the Members to the maintenance staff with the utmost respect and kindness. As scores of current and former colleagues can attest, Scott is the kind of coworker who makes the workday better for everyone with whom he comes into contact. It is no exaggeration to say that he has become a fixture of the House community over his years on the Hill. Indeed, it is practically impossible for Scott to go anywhere on the Hill and not run into at least one person who wanted to stop and catch up with him. Scott is always eager to share his passion for all things aviation and travel, being a frequent wedding guest, and of course rooting for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, especially when it comes to the sport of curling. Scott's convivial and welcoming presence on the Hill will be sorely missed by all those who had the pleasure of working with him.
It will be hard to imagine the House without Scott. Every day for the past 25 years, Scott has served the House with dedication and enthusiasm. Regardless of the task assigned, Scott will always find a way to accomplish it--a quality that will continue to serve him well in all future endeavors. On behalf of the Office of General Counsel and the entire House community, I thank Scott for his decades of service and wish him a joyous and relaxing retirement among his many friends, family, and former colleagues whether here in Washington, in Texas, or around the world.
