Mr. Speaker, it's an honor to rise for what will be my last time speaking as a Member of the United States House of Representatives. The people of Indiana have given me a new assignment. But I rise tonight to pay a debt of gratitude to all…
Mr. Speaker, it's an honor to rise for what will be my last time speaking as a Member of the United States House of Representatives. The people of Indiana have given me a new assignment.
But I rise tonight to pay a debt of gratitude to all of those who gave me the privilege to serve in this place. As a boy, I dreamed of someday representing my hometown in our Nation's capital. Twelve years ago, the people of the Sixth Congressional District made that dream a reality. And so I begin tonight by simply saying `thank you' to all of them for letting me live that dream in these past 12 years, to come to this place again and again, and to be some small part of the story of this institution and America's story.
My only ambition in Congress was to look out for my family and to keep my word to the people who sent me here. To let my `yes' be `yes' and my `no' be `no.' And it is my hope that as people view the totality of my record and my life, they'll see that we've done just that.
There are those to thank tonight that made that possible, and that's what brings me to this task this evening. First, permit me to give thanks to God, whose grace and mercy has sustained us every day that we have served the people of Indiana in this place.
Next, and on this Earth most of all, I rise to honor and thank my beloved wife, Karen Pence, whose love, whose support, whose sacrifice, patience, and kindness, have made all that I have done in the service to the people of Indiana in this place, possible. Thanks for believing in me. I love you and I'll see you home. To our children: Michael, Charlotte, and Audrey. They were 6, 7, and 8 when I first arrived in this place and stood on this floor with my right hand raised, 12 years ago. They are now 18, 19, and 21. Thank you for your love. But thank you for the sacrifices that you have made so that we could live our dreams. Now go make your dreams come true. I know every one of you can.
To my colleagues with whom I've stood at this place, shoulder to shoulder, doing freedom's work, standing each and every day, cheerfully on behalf of the founding principles of this Nation: standing for a strong national defense; for limited government; for economic freedom; and for the moral foundations of this Nation. You know who you are. And we will take you from this place in our hearts always. You know there's a saying back home, when you see a turtle on a fence post, one thing you know for sure is that he didn't get there on his own.
So lastly what I want to do tonight, Mr. Speaker, is really to pay a debt of gratitude to the best congressional staff in American history. The men and women who have served our efforts in this city, and at home in Indiana for the past 12 years. I leave this body truly humbled when I look back at the caliber of the staff that we've been able to call to this mission, servant leaders all. They are men and women who approached each and every day with a servant leader's heart and made sacrifices over the years in order to serve the people of Indiana with integrity and energy. Names like Bill Smith and Lani Czarniecki; Jennifer Pavlik and Josh Pitcock; Matt Lloyd and Paul Teller; Marc Short and Sheila Cole, Russ Vought and Mary Vought; Ryan Fisher, LeAnne Holdman Gibbs and Chris Kiefer; Brian Neale and Ryan Jarmula, just to name a few. You know, I don't really have time tonight to name all of the men and women who served us in various capacities over these last 12 years. I submit each and every one of their names to the Congressional Record this night.
Some people look on in Washington, D.C., and they are rightly frustrated. Some people can come to this Nation's capital and lose their idealism. I'm not such a person. When I walk out of this Capitol for the last time, I will leave here with my idealism intact. I will continue to believe as our Founders did, that we are one nation under God, rich with a purpose yet to be fulfilled. That no matter how dark the day may seem that we can be confident when we stand for freedom and we do freedom's work, because freedom is not just our story, it's His story. And when we stand for freedom, however imperfectly, we make His work on this Earth our own.
In the words of the poet I depart this place saying,
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
I say to my colleagues and friends and neighbors in Indiana, my duties take me elsewhere, but wherever providence leads this Nation, let us ever remember that we have promises to keep for future generations of Americans in preserving, protecting, and defending the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity. And I know we'll keep that promise because we're Americans.
Thank you for the honor of addressing you tonight. And to the people of the Sixth Congressional District: know that I'll always be grateful for the privilege that you have given me to serve in this place. And I will always cherish my days in the People's House.
May God bless the United States House of Representatives, and all who serve her now, and ever on this floor. And may God bless the United States of America.
Mike Pence Staff Roster: 2001-2012
Acornley, Mark--Part-Time Admin Assistant: October 6, 2011-
2012
Adams, Susan--Staff Assistant: October 6, 2003-February 29,
2004
Ahearn, Mark--Legislative Director: January 22, 2002-April
2, 2003
Alexander, Jerry--Constituent Services Representative &
Director of Community Outreach: July 9, 2001-May 15, 2007
Arnold, Ron--Director of Administration & Deputy Chief of
Staff: January 3, 2001-October 31, 2009
Atterholt, Kathleen--Caseworker: January 3, 2001-January 2,
2010
Bauer, Zachary--Staff Assistant & Legislative
Correspondent: January 4, 2010-2012
Bennett, Kim--Deputy District Director: January 3, 2001-
2012
Berry, Debra--District Representative: August 6, 2001-2012
Breeding, Mary--Paid Intern & Staff Assistant: April 1,
2001-January 18, 2002
Brinkman, Muffet--Staff Assistant: January 8, 2001-March
31, 2001
Brown, Skip--Communications Assistant: January 2, 3004-
November 16, 2005
Brown, Will--Staff Assistant & Legislative Correspondent:
January 3, 2009-January 2, 2011
Castor, Amy--Staff Assistant: May 16, 2004-March 12, 2006
Collins, Larry Ken--Communications Director: January 3,
2001-March 31, 2001
Craig, Lindsey--Legislative Assistant: January 2, 2009-
April 2012
Crouch, Daniel--Legislative Assistant & Senior Legislative
Assistant: January 16, 2007-August 7, 2009
Czarniecki, Cary (Lani)--District Director: January 3,
2001-2012
Dilly, Jonathan--Paid Intern: May 21, 2001-August 8, 2001
Evans, Ben--Constituent Services Representative: January 4,
2010-2012
Fisher, Ryan--Legislative Assistant & Legislative Director:
January 3, 2001-January 2, 2007
Fortin, Kristin--Paid Intern: May 7, 2001-July 13, 2001
Gaskill, Kily Smith--Executive Assistant: January 13, 2009-
2012
Gibbs, LeAnne Holdman--Staff Assistant, Legislative
Assistant, Senior Legislative Assistant & Legislative
Director: February 24, 2004-October 21, 2008
Hawkins, Nicole--Community Development Assistant: January
23, 2006-April 6, 2007
Howe, Jeff--Field Representative: January 3, 2003-February
28, 2010
Hughes, Kaitlynn--Press Assistant, Press Secretary: January
2, 2011-2012
Jarmula, Ryan--Staff Assistant, Legislative Assistant and
Senior Legislative Assistant: January 22, 2008-2012
Karchner, Derek--Staff Assistant & Press Assistant: January
22, 2002-March 6, 2003
Keller, Aaron--Paid Intern: June 12, 2001-July 31, 2001
Kennedy, Elizabeth--Staff Assistant: February 23, 2004-
April 30, 2005
Kiefer, Chris--Legislative Assistant & Senior Legislative
Assistant: January 3, 2001-April 30, 2005
Kincaid, Andrew--Legislative Assistant: January 3, 2001-
December 31, 2001
Lahr, Matt--Press Assistant: February 1, 2006-January 2,
2007; Press Secretary: May 10, 2010-January 9, 2011
Lavoie, Matt--Staff Assistant: March 13, 2006-April 15,
2007
Likens, Darlene--Caseworker: January 3, 2001-May 31, 2002
Lloyd, Matthew--Communications Director: January 29, 2003-
December 31, 2008; Communications Director for GOP
Conference: January 1, 2009-December 31, 2010; Communications
Director: January 1, 2011-2012
McCarthy, Greg--Staff Director of Foreign Affairs, Middle
East and South Asia Subcommittee while Rep. Pence served as
Ranking Member: January 1, 2007-January 2, 2009
Meeker, Autumn--Staff Assistant: June 1, 2010-2012
Milazzo, Nathaniel--Legislative Correspondent, Legislative
Assistant & Legislative Director: April 25, 2005-January 2,
2011
Miller, Craig--Legislative Assistant: January 3, 2004-June
4, 2005
Miller, Molly Jarmu--Communications Assistant & Legislative
Assistant: January 1, 2002-July 28, 2003
Miner, Ryan--Paid Intern: June 1, 2007-July 11, 2007
Myers, Janille--Executive Assistant: January 12, 2009-2012
Neale, Brian--Legislative Assistant & Legislative Director:
June 17, 2009-2012
Pardieck, Karrie--Casework Director: January 3, 2001-2012
Pavlik, Jennifer Marsh--Executive Assistant & Staff
Director: January 6, 2001-2012
Perdew, Abby--Administrative Assistant & Administrative
Director: January 27, 2009-October 31, 2011
Phipps, Andrew--Director of Community Relations: January 3,
2001-October 31, 2001 Piepgrass, Stephen--Communications
Director: April 23, 2001-August 15, 2002
Pitcock, Joshua--Legislative Assistant, Deputy Chief of
Staff and General Counsel: May 11, 2005-Dec. 31, 2008; Deputy
Chief of Staff and General Counsel for GOP Conference:
January 1, 2009-June 30, 2011; Deputy Chief of Staff and
General Counsel: January 1, 2011-July 31, 2012; Chief of
Staff--August 1, 2012-2012
Radtke, Schrade (Trip)--Legislative Director: March 22,
2003-December 30, 2003
Reger, Ryan--Field Representative: January 3, 2001-December
31, 2007
Shettle, John--Part-Time Caseworker: January 3, 2001-2012
Siktberg, Alan--Staff Assistant/Field Representative:
February 1, 2005-February 14, 2008
Slatter, Ian--Legislative Assistant & Communications
Director: January 1, 2002-January 31, 2003
Smith, William A.--Chief of Staff: January 3, 2001-July 31,
2012; Senior Advisor: August 1, 2012--2012
Son, Daniel--Communications Assistant & Press Secretary:
January 26, 2008-May 31, 2010
Sulc, Kevin--Constituent Services Representative: July 9,
2001-2012
Tronovitch, Ryan--Staff Assistant: April 27, 2007-December
31, 2007
Wilson, Mikah--Constituent Services Representative/
Caseworker/Administrator: January 3, 2003-October 31, 2009
Wilson, Duncan--February 23, 2005-February 28, 2005
Wilson, William Patrick--Legislative Director: January 2,
2001-December 31, 2001
Chairman Mike Pence, Republican Study Committee Staff Roster: 2005-2006
Executive Director--Sheila Cole
Deputy Director--Paul Teller
Policy Director--Russ Vought
Senior Policy Analyst--Derek Baker
Policy Analyst--Joelle Cannon
Research Assistant--Marcus Kelley
Communications Director--Matt Lloyd
Chairman Mike Pence, House Republican Conference Staff Roster: 2009-
2010
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Title Tenure ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marc Short...................... Chief of Staff.... Jan. 2009-Dec.
2010 Josh Pitcock.................... Deputy Chief of Jan. 2009-Feb.
Staff. 2010
Deputy Chief of Mar. 2010-Dec.
Staff/General 2010
Counsel. Emily Seidel.................... Director of Jan. 2009-Dec.
Operations/ 2010
Assistant to the
Chief of Staff. Katie Strand.................... Director of Member Jan. 2009-Dec.
Services and 2010
Events. Melanie Looney.................. Coalitions Jan. 2009-Feb.
Director/General 2010
Counsel. Russ Vought..................... Policy Director... Jan. 2009-Aug.
2010 Daris Meeks..................... Policy Advisor and June 2009-Aug.
Legislative 2010
Counsel.
Policy Director... Aug. 2010-Dec.
2010 Adam Hepburn.................... Policy Advisor.... Jan. 2009-Dec.
2010 Chris Jacobs.................... Policy Advisor.... Jan. 2009-Jan.
2010 Andy Koenig..................... Policy Advisor.... Jan. 2009-Dec.
2010 Jonathan Hiler.................. Policy Advisor.... July 2010-Dec.
2010 John Gray....................... Policy Advisor.... Apr. 2010-Dec.
2010 Sarah Makin..................... Policy Advisor.... Jan. 2009-Mar.
2010
Policy Advisor/ Mar. 2010-Dec.
Coalitions 2010
Liaison. Brian McManus................... Policy Advisor/ Apr. 2010-Dec.
Coalitions 2010
Liaison. Lisa Tanner..................... Policy Advisor.... June 2009-Aug.
2009 Matt Lloyd...................... Communications Jan. 2009-Dec.
Director. 2010 Mary Vought..................... Press Secretary... Feb. 2009-Dec.
2010 Andeliz Castillo................ Deputy Press Feb. 2009-Dec.
Secretary and 2010
Director of
Specialty Media. Courtney Kolb................... Media Coordinator. Jan. 2009-July
2010
Deputy Press July 2010-Dec.
Secretary. 2010 Rachel Semmel................... Press Assistant... Jan. 2009-July
2010
Radio/TV Booker... July 2010-Dec.
2010 Brian Newell.................... Deputy Press Jan. 2009-Mar.
Secretary/ 2010
Speechwriter. Doug Sachtleben................. Deputy Press Apr. 2010-Dec.
Secretary/ 2010
Speechwriter. Katie Hughes.................... Press Assistant... June 2010-Dec.
2010 Emily Pickett................... Press Assistant... June 2010-Dec.
2010 Ben Howard...................... Staff Assistant... Feb. 2009-Dec.
2010 Scott Neale..................... Staff Assistant... Jan. 2009-May 2010 Ja'Ron Smith.................... Staff Assistant... Jan. 2009-Dec.
2010 Ryan Howell..................... Visual Media...... Jan. 2009-Dec.
2010 Bryant Avondoglio............... Visual Media...... Jan. 2009-Dec.
2010 David Holley.................... Visual Media...... Jan. 2009-Dec.
2010 Rebeccah Propp.................. Visual Media...... June 2009-Dec.
2010 Ericka Anderson................. Visual Media Mar. 2009-Dec.
(blogger). 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
