[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1379-E1382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

THANKING THE HOUSE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL

______

HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

of mississippi

in the house of representatives

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I join with my fellow
committee chairs in thanking the House Office of the Legislative
Counsel for their incredible work during the First Session of the 117th
Congress. They have produced landmark legislation amid some of the most
challenging working conditions Congress has ever known.
In just the First Session of the 117th Congress, attorneys within the
House Office of the Legislative Counsel have provided steadfast
guidance on not just the ``American Rescue Plan Act,'' the ``For the
People Act,'' the ``Build Back Better Act,'' or the ``National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022,'' but also more than 7,000
measures introduced in the House.
My fellow committee chairs and I have joined in a letter thanking the
office, led by Wade Ballou, which I include in the Record along with a
roster of the entire HOLC staff.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, December 16, 2021.
E. Wade Ballou, Jr.,
House Legislative Counsel, Office of the Legislative Counsel,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Ballou: The committee chairs of the House of
Representatives would like to express our profound thanks to
you and the entire staff of the House Office of the
Legislative Counsel (HOLC) for your extraordinary work during
the First Session of the 117th Congress.
Since its authorization more than a century ago, HOLC has
offered professional, nonpartisan, and confidential advice on
drafting legislation to all Members and committees of the
House. Few Congresses in that time have been as legislatively
active and demanding as the 117th. Amid a pandemic, your
talented and patriotic non-partisan staff has helped our
committees and all Member offices draft more than 7,000
pieces of legislation. The body of work produced by HOLC
includes some of the most broadly significant and
transformational measures our Nation has ever seen, which
include the ``American Rescue Plan Act,'' the ``For the
People Act,'' the ``Build Back Better Act,'' and the
``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022,''
as well as additional measures that were significant
priorities for each of our committees.
What follows are committee-specific statements of
appreciation of your counsels' expert work, which together
with the names of the HOLC attorneys and staff whose work we
acknowledge here, will be included in the Congressional
Record:

Committee on Agriculture

The Committee on Agriculture would like to thank the non-
partisan staff at the House Office of the Legislative Counsel
for their extraordinary work supporting our committee's
legislative priorities. We are grateful for the invaluable
legal and legislative drafting expertise of HOLC's
agriculture and nutrition attorneys: Michelle Vanek, Kathryn
Swiss, James Grossman, Kakuti Lin, and Jean Harmann. Their
expertise, professionalism, and tireless commitment to public
service has been key to our committee's work, including the
agriculture components of the American Rescue Plan Act and
the Build Back Better Act, as well as the 10 bipartisan
measures that this committee favorably reported or
successfully advanced to the House floor this session of
Congress. These efforts could not have been accomplished
without HOLC and its dedicated nonpartisan staff.
David Scott,
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture.

Committee on Appropriations

On behalf of the Committee on Appropriations, I would like
to recognize and express our deep appreciation for the House
Office of

[[Page E1380]]

the Legislative Counsel. We thank the Office's attorneys and
staff for their dedication to public service, for their
professionalism and expertise, and for their indispensable
contributions and service to the House of Representatives. We
are especially grateful for the assistance of Wade Ballou,
Noah Wofsy, Tom Cassidy, Kalyani Parthasarathy, and Donalene
Roberts and the Office of the Legislative Counsel team for
providing the support necessary for the Committee to craft
appropriations bills.
Rosa L. DeLauro,
Chair, Committee on Appropriations.

Committee on Armed Services

The Committee on Armed Services is very grateful for the
tremendous contributions of the House Office of the
Legislative Counsel to the committee's legislative efforts,
especially the HOLC's prodigious contributions to the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. The
committee commends Hadley Ross, Tony Sciascia, Thomas
Anderson, Tom Cassidy, Ken Cox, Mathew Eckstein, Brendan
Gallagher, Brenna Marie Gautam, Greg Kostka, Keith Nemeth,
Kalyani Parthasarathy, Veena Srinivasa, and Mark Synnes of
the HOLC's amazing defense group and Karen Anderson, Marshall
Barksdale, Hallet Brazelton, Jordyn Coad, Lisa Daly, Michael
Sribinder, Billy Wilson, Noah Wofsy, and everyone on the
indispensable HOLC team for sharing their critical expertise
and their extraordinary devotion to public service with the
committee.
Adam Smith,
Chair, Committee on Armed Services.

Committee on the Budget

The Committee on the Budget is extremely grateful for the
entire hardworking, non-partisan staff of the HOLC that
worked on the American Rescue Plan Act as well as the Build
Back Better Act. Budget Reconciliation is, necessarily, a
multicommittee and a multi-counsel effort, and our committee
appreciates the complexity of this task and all of your
staffs contributions. This effort was ably led by the
talented, hardworking, and relentlessly cheerful team of Tom
Cassidy and Parker Johnson. Their work over weekends, early
mornings, and late at night was invaluable.
John Yarmuth,
Chair, Committee on the Budget.

Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis greatly
appreciates the invaluable guidance and advice provided by
the House Office of the Legislative Counsel (HOLC). One
constant in climate forward legislation across jurisdictions,
is the thorough, professional and essential work of the HOLC.
While we are not a traditional legislative committee, our
role in helping the House and the standing committees tackle
the climate crisis head-on requires innovative, cross-cutting
policy that is not always easily translated into legislative
text. HOLC's drafting the bills passed by the House this
Congress has already led, and will continue to lead, to
immeasurable improvements to the lives of so many across this
country, especially as it relates to the climate crisis. We
extend our gratitude to the entire HOLC staff and wish you a
restful holiday season.
Kathy Castor,
Chair, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.

Committee on Education and Labor

The House Office of the Legislative Counsel (HOLC) has been
invaluable to the work of the Education and Labor Committee
this year. Thanks to the dedication and patience of HOLC's
expert staff, the Committee was able to include historic
relief for students, workers, and families through both the
American Rescue Plan and the Build Back Better Act.
Additionally, HOLC provided round-the-clock support
throughout the year to ensure the Committee advanced key
legislative priorities for the American people, including
legislation to strengthen workers' collective bargaining
rights, prevent child abuse and neglect, and address
workplace discrimination. The Committee would like to give
special thanks to Wade Ballou, Anna Shpak, Justin Gross,
Brenna Culliton, Susan Fleishman, Brendan Gallagher, Karl
Hagnauer, Jean Harmann, Paul Kubicki, Molly Lothamer,
Donalene Roberts, Adam Schilt, Jessica Shapiro, Kathryn
Swiss, and Adrienne Thomas.

Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott,

Chairman, Committee on Education
and Labor.

Committee on Energy and Commerce

The nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Counsel has
played a critical role in the work of the Committee on Energy
and Commerce this year, including efforts to address the
COVID-19 pandemic, make prescription drugs more affordable,
invest in efforts to modernize the nation's infrastructure,
and combat the climate crisis. Such work required your staff
to dedicate many late nights, early mornings, and weekends.
While that work took place out of the public view's, your
superb drafting and technical expertise was vital to the
passage of legislation that responds to the needs of the
American people. For that, the Committee is extremely
grateful. In particular, I would like to thank those who have
contributed directly to the Committee's work: Warren Burke,
Casey Ebner, Karl Hagnauer, Alison Hartwich, Kakuti Lin,
Chris Osborne, Adam Schilt, Brandon Senger, Jessica Shapiro,
Adrienne Thomas, Michelle Vanek, and Sally Walker.

Frank Pallone, Jr.,

Chairman, Committee on
Energy and Commerce.

Committee on Financial Services

As Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, I
am grateful for the tireless work and counsel that your staff
provided our Committee during the First Session of the 117th
Congress. Specifically, I'd like to thank Paul Callen,
Marshall Barksdale, Veena Srinivasa, Sarah Rens Zavislan,
Kathryn Swiss, Jim Grossman, and Lauren Anderson, all of whom
worked with my Committee staff throughout the session. They
helped prepare many pieces of legislation for our hearings
and markups and worked into the dead of night to draft key
pieces of legislation in our jurisdiction. Notably, they were
essential in ensuring the housing provisions in the Build
Back Better Act, our amendments to the National Defense
Authorization Act for FY 2022, and the Financial Services
pieces of the American Rescue Plan were ready for inclusion
and carefully written. Additionally, they assisted my staff
in preparing several critical pieces of housing legislation,
including ``The Housing is infrastructure Act,'' ``The Ending
Homelessness Act,'' ``The Down-payment Toward Equity Act,''
and the ``Expediting Assistance to Renters and Landlords
Act.''
They were also instrumental in turning the Committee's
policy into a reality, using their unparalleled knowledge of
consumer protection law on legislation such as the
``Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act,''
legislation to regulate America's largest banks and improve
credit reporting.
Once again, I want to thank everyone for their work on
these key pieces of legislation over the past year, and I
look forward to their continued work with us in the upcoming
year.

Maxine Waters,

Chairwoman, Committee on
Financial Services.

Committee on Foreign Affairs

The House Foreign Affairs Committee would like to express
our deepest gratitude to the House Office of the Legislative
Counsel, especially to Mark Synnes, Mathew Eckstein and
Kalyani Parthasarathy and their clerks. Their talent,
commitment and mastery of foreign affairs statutes have
resulted in over 75 measures passed by the Committee this
year. I want to particularly thank them for the work on the
State Department Authorization Act and the EAGLE Act. The
work by this team has given the United States Congress a
voice in serious matters of security, peace, development,
human rights and democracy abroad. Countless individuals and
countries have benefited from their work supporting the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, which has enabled America to lead
and build lasting relationships around the globe. We salute
all of the Office of the Legislative Counsel for a job well
done and look forward to our continued work together.
Gregory W. Meeks,
Chair, Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Committee on Homeland Security

The Committee on Homeland Security has benefitted greatly
from the excellent work of several counsels, but we would
specifically acknowledge the contributions of three senior
attorneys that provided invaluable counsel, Mat Eckstein,
Hadley Ross, and Tom Cassidy. With the support of the
talented HOLC team, the Committee has successfully advanced
30 measures to the House floor under suspension of the rules
and the ``National Commission to Investigate the January 6
Attack on the United States Complex Act'' (H.R. 3233) under a
rule. In addition to the homeland security components of the
``Build Back Better Act'' and the ``National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022,'' the HOLC team
provided the Committee with expert advice on other important
priorities, such as the ``Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of
2021'' (H.R. 903), the ``DHS Reform Act of 2021'' (H.R.
4357), the ``State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act''
(H.R. 3138), and the ``Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical
Infrastructure Act of 2021'' (H.R. 5440), to name just a few.

Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security.

Committee on House Administration

As Chairperson of the Committee on House Administration, I
extend the sincere gratitude of our Committee's Members and
staff for the exceptional work of the House Office of the
Legislative Counsel. Among other issues, our committee's
jurisdictional responsibilities include oversight of federal
elections. The talented HOLC team has provided invaluable
technical assistance in our drafting of and contributions to
major legislation to strengthen our democracy and provide
access to the franchise for all Americans, including the
``For the People Act,'' the ``John R. Lewis Voting Rights
Advancement Act,'' and other important measures. In addition,
HOLC staff provide significant assistance when we consider
measures related to the internal procedures and priorities of
the daily operations of the institution, including
legislative branch agencies and offices that provide vital
services to Members, staff, and the public. Among the many
experts on the HOLC staff who provide invaluable assistance
to Members and committees every day, from the perspective of
the Committee on House Administration, we take this
opportunity to thank and recognize in particular Wade Ballou,
Noah Wofsy, and Parker Johnson. I have seen firsthand how
their technical expertise improves the work of all Members,
in turn, improving the work

[[Page E1381]]

we perform for our constituents. We are grateful for their
outstanding public service.

Zoe Lofgren,

Chairperson, Committee on
House Administration.

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Drafting legislation can be a complex, demanding, and
technical enterprise; drafting intelligence legislation can
be especially so. Yet time and again, attorneys from the
House Office of the Legislative Counsel (``HOLC'') have
provided expert assistance to the House Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence (``HPSCI'')--at all hours and on
the tightest of deadlines. Their efforts have run the gamut
of intelligence and related subject matter, from foreign
interference in U.S. elections, to human rights, to
cybersecurity, to counterintelligence, and to the protection
of Intelligence Community whistleblowers. Whatever the
subject or the project, HOLC lawyers consistently have been
extraordinary.
HPSCI wishes, in particular, to recognize the tremendous
contributions by Tony Sciascia and Brenna Marie Gautam--who
have been vital to the drafting of the Intelligence
Authorization Act, including under the extreme conditions
imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The enormity of their
contribution cannot be overstated. HPSCI is deeply grateful.

Adam B. Schiff,

Chairman, Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence.

Committee on Judiciary

The Committee on the Judiciary is very grateful for the
expertise, professionalism, and patience of our House Office
of the Legislative Counsel (HOLC) colleagues. We deeply
appreciate the work of Hallet Brazelton, Megan Chasnoff,
Ebony Holder, and Allison Gilley, the HOLC team that has
worked so well with us this year to draft and report a steady
stream of legislation on such issues as criminal justice,
civil rights, and bankruptcy reform. Because antitrust reform
has been a focus this year, we are also grateful for Jean
Harmann's expert assistance. Finally, we express our sincere
thanks to Susan Fleishman for working with us on immigration
legislation, especially the immigration language included in
the Build Back Better Act.
Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman, Committee on Judiciary.

Committee on Natural Resources

The Committee on Natural Resources owes much of its success
to the dedicated staff at the HOLC. Under the leadership and
expert guidance of Lisa Daly and her team members, Brandon
Senger, Michael Sribinder, Kathryn Swiss, and Billy Wilson,
the Committee on Natural Resources has successfully ordered
to be reported 63 bills and passed 30 bills under suspension
of the rules.
During the first session of the 117th Congress, Daly and
her team provided invaluable subject matter expertise and
drafting assistance for House passage of the Committee's
historic, nearly $20 billion-dollar, reconciliation measure
included in the ``Build Back Better Act'', the ``Protecting
America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act'' (H.R. 803), and
several measures for the betterment for the Indigenous
Peoples of the United States. HOLC's efforts, often requested
through late nights and weekends, were integral to the
passage of legislative measures that will benefit the
American people and our environment for years to come.
Raul M. Grijalva,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.

Committee on Oversight and Reform

The staff of the House Office of the Legislative Counsel
has provided the Committee on Oversight and Reform excellent
service throughout the strenuous first session of the 117th
Congress. From the American Rescue Plan, to Postal Service
Reform, the Build Back Better Act, and D.C. Statehood, the
expertise, guidance, and drafting services of HOLC,
especially Tom Cassidy, Sally Walker, Casey Ebner, and Noah
Wofsy, have been invaluable. The hard work and dedication of
all the attorneys at HOLC is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Carolyn B. Maloney,

Chairwoman, Committee on
Oversight and Reform.

Committee on Rules

Each week, the House Rules Committee relies on the
expertise of the talented staff at the House Office of the
Legislative Counsel to move legislation to the House floor.
Quite simply, we couldn't do it without you. On behalf of the
Members and staff of the Rules Committee, I write to thank
each and every attorney and staff person at HOLC for their
dedicated service to the House of Representatives. We call
upon you late at night, early in the morning, on weekends,
and every time in between to produce legislative text that
will help the lives of people across the country. You've
drafted thousands of amendments and revisions that enable the
voices of Members across the Congress--Democratic and
Republican alike--to be heard. Sometimes, we need this text
at a moment's notice, and you never fail to deliver. In
particular, I'd like to thank Wade Ballou for his incredible
leadership of HOLC, as well as Noah Wofsy and Bob Weinhagen
who have worked over multiple holidays to help our committee
finalize rules packages at the start of the past two
Congresses.
James P. McGovern,
Chairman, House Committee on Rules.

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is grateful
for the incredibly hard work of the House Office of the
Legislative Counsel during the 117th Congress. This has been
a very active year for the Committee, with comprehensive
authorizations of most of the major research agencies in
addition to the complex and difficult work associated with
the Build Back Better Act. Through all this legislative
activity, the counsels and staff of the Office of the
Legislative Counsel have been integral players in advancing
the Committee's work. Quite literally, the Committee's
legislative work would not have been possible without HOLC's
dedicated staff. Frequently this session, this work included
long nights and weekends working with Committee staff on
legislation. In spite of these difficult hours and
circumstances, the staff and counsels of the HOLC have always
engaged with the Committee with the utmost professionalism.
Paul Kubicki, Justin Gross, and Donalene Roberts have all
assisted the Committee during the 117th Congress, and their
hard work is very much appreciated.

Eddie Bernice Johnson,

Chairwoman, Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology.

Committee on Small Business

The non-partisan staff at the House Office of the
Legislative Counsel provide invaluable services fundamental
to the work of the House Small Business Committee. Veena
Srinivasa and Thomas Anderson are dedicated public servants
with a work ethic rarely matched on Capitol Hill. Throughout
the COVID crisis, our committee has sped to provide relief to
struggling small businesses. As my staff and I worked late
nights and early mornings to meet the urgency of the moment,
Veena and Tom have always been there to lend their sharp
legal minds to our legislative efforts. Our office knows them
as consummate experts in small business law, among many
others such as government procurement and financial services.
Their work with our committee's legislation, in addition to
other major bills like the National Defense Authorization Act
highlights their dedication to this institution and our
country. Lastly, I'd like to thank Wade Ballou for his
leadership of this critical office. HOLC is a vital component
in the legislative process. Without their services, Congress
would be much less efficient in fulfilling our duties to the
American people.
Nydia M. Velazquez,
Chairwoman, Committee on Small Business.

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

The non-partisan staff of the House Office of the
Legislative Counsel have provided the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure with expert legislative
drafting and guidance over the years. Their hard work has
been essential to the Committee's contributions this Congress
to major pieces of legislation including the American Rescue
Plan Act and the Build Back Better Act, as well as the INVEST
in America Act, a five year surface transportation
reauthorization that passed the House in July. We'd like to
extend particular thanks to Karen Anderson, Robert Casturo,
Jordyn Coad, and Kakuti Lin, who worked extensively with the
Committee during the 117th Congress. We appreciate the
dedication, attention to detail, and professionalism of the
entire HOLC staff.

Peter A. DeFazio,

Chair, Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure.

Committee on Veterans' Affairs

The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is grateful to the
dedicated staff of HOLC for their invaluable work during the
first session of the 117th Congress. The Committee has a
significant legislative agenda each year and could not
accomplish its work on behalf of veterans without the
outstanding work of Hadley Ross, Tony Sciascia, Ken Cox, and
Brenna Marie Gautam. The Committee is particularly fortunate
to be able to collaborate with counsels who are well-versed
on veterans matters and Title 38. The Committee is grateful
for the work of our HOLC counsels--through many redrafts and
late nights--on the ``American Rescue Plan Act'' and the
``Build Back Better Act of 2021''. We are deeply appreciative
of Hadley and Tony's willingness to attend bicameral meetings
to bring their expertise to thorny legislative drafting
issues.
The HOLC team assisted the Committee in developing
legislation in support of military toxic exposure
presumptions, burial benefits, and other disability benefit
program enhancements this year, like the ``Mark O'Brien VA
Clothing Allowance Improvement Act''. The Committee would
like to specifically thank Tony Sciascia and Brenna Marie
Gautam for their efforts in developing the Committee's
comprehensive military toxic exposure package. The ``Honoring
our PACT Act'' would not be possible without the support and
hard work of these individuals. The HOLC team was excellent
in drafting the ``Responsible Education Mitigating Options
and Technical Extensions (REMOTE) Act''. Their due diligence
means 50,000 veterans will have housing during their next
school term. It also means many School Certifying Officials
will be able to do their job better, and finally it will save
the jobs of hundreds of educational employees from schools
around the nation. The Committee is also grateful to the HOLC
team for its work on technology-related legislation, to
include the ``VA Electronic Health Record

[[Page E1382]]

Transparency Act of 2021'' and the ``Demographic Data
Collection Improvement Act.'' Finally, the HOLC team has been
incredibly responsive and collegial in drafting multiple
pieces of legislation on mental health and research, to
include the ``STRONG Veterans Act'' and the ``VA VIPER Act of
2021''.

Mark Takano,

Chairman, House Committee on
Veterans' Affairs.

Committee on Ways and Means

Over the last year, the Office of the Legislative Counsel
has worked alongside the staff of the House Committee on Ways
and Means as we undertook the herculean task of moving both
the American Rescue Plan and Build Back Better Act through
the committee and on to the House floor. This process has
been anything but straightforward and has required late
nights, last minute drafting sessions, and even work through
holidays and weekends. Throughout, this learned band of
legislative counsels with deep expertise across the varied
jurisdiction of the Committee has provided expert advice and
drafting assistance. Their unfaltering commitment to their
craft and continued professionalism under extraordinary
pressure distinguish them as true public servants. The
Committee on Ways and Means thanks you and the following
members of your staff for tireless work on behalf of the
American people: James Grossman, Jessica Shapiro, Scott
Probst, Henry Christrup, Mark Synnes, Justin Gross, Paul
Kubicki, Megan Hawkins, Michael Sribinder, Adam Schilt,
Adrienne Thomas, Karl Hagnauer, Kalyani Parathasarathy.
Richard E. Neal,
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means.

House Office of the Legislative Counsel, 117th Congress

Ashley Anderson
Karen Anderson
Lauren Anderson
Tom Anderson
Wade Ballou
Marshall Bellsdale
Debby Birch
Joe Birch
Hallet Brazelton
Warren Burke
Paul Callen
Tom Cassidy
Rob Casturo
Megan Chasnoff
Henry Christrup
Jordyn Coad
Ken Cox
Mairead Crotty
Brenna Culliton
Brian Cunningham
Lisa Daly
Rachel Davis
Tom Dillon
Monique Ducksworth
Casey Ebner
Mat Eckstein
Susan Fleishman
Brendan Gallagher
Rosemary Gallagher
Brenna Marie Gautam
Allison Gilley
Justin Gross
Jim Grossman
Karl Hagnauer
Jean Harmann
Alison Hartwich
Kevin Hauff
Megan Hawkins
Ebony Holder
Parker Johnson
Miekl Joyner
Mike Kim
Rebecca Kim
Toni King
Greg Kostka
Paul Kubicki
Kakuti Lin
Matt Loggie
Molly Lothamer
Luke Mansfield
Preble Marmion
Nancy McNeillie
Kelly Meryweather
Tom Meryweather
Carroll Neale
Keith Nemeth
Chris Osborne
Kalyani Parthasarathy
Angelina Plater
Scott Probst
Elonda Rich
Donalene Roberts
Hadley Ross
Hank Savage
Adam Schilt
Tony Sciascia
Brandon Senger
Jessica Shapiro
Anna Shpak
Michael Sribinder
Veena Srinivasa
Craig Sterkx
Alex Swindle
Kathryn Swiss
Mark Synnes
Peter Szwec
Alex Thierer
Adrienne Thomas
David Topper
Michelle Vanek
Sally Walker
Billy Wilson
Noah Wofsy
Sarah Rens Zavislan

____________________