February 25, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 34 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H2066-H2067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     WELCOMING CHERYL L. JOHNSON AS THE 36TH CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF 
                            REPRESENTATIVES

  (Mr. CLAY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the newly 
installed Clerk of the U.S. House, Cheryl Lynn Johnson.
  She is the 36th American to be elected to this critical position. The 
Clerk, as we know, serves as the legislative official in the House, a 
position that goes back to the first Clerk and to the first Congress in 
1789. As was mentioned, she comes to us from the Smithsonian 
Institution where she served as the Director of Government Relations.
  Among her many achievements, as was mentioned, Cheryl helped to make 
the National Museum of African American History and Culture a brilliant 
reality.
  But this is not her first tour of duty on Capitol Hill. In fact, she 
previously spent almost two decades in service to this institution, and 
as was mentioned, her first position was serving on the

[[Page H2067]]

committee staff of my father, former Congressman Bill Clay.
  She spent 10 years as the chief education and investigative counsel 
for the Committee on Education and the Workforce where she advanced 
reforms in elementary and secondary education, juvenile justice, child 
nutrition, labor issues, and employment and nutrition programs for 
seniors.
  Prior to that, she served as staff director and counsel for the 
Committee on House Administration's Subcommittee on Libraries and 
Memorials and then Subcommittee on the Post Office and Civil Service.
  Ms. Johnson is a distinguished graduate of Howard University Law 
School and the University of Iowa. She is married to Clarence and has a 
son, Bradford.
  I go back with Cheryl as a friend for 40 years. Our families are 
close. Growing up around this institution that we all love, I was 
fortunate to be in the company of and witness the examples set by many 
great public servants--Members and staff--who devoted themselves to 
representing their constituents in the true spirit of public service.
  Cheryl Johnson exemplifies the highest standards of public service, 
honor, and integrity that will elevate the 116th Congress. I am pleased 
to welcome her as our new Clerk, and I am prouder still to call her my 
good friend. She will be an enormous resource for Members and staff, 
and I am proud to welcome her home.
  Welcome back, Cheryl. Congratulations.

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