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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF JOSH SYRJAMAKI
______
HON. DEAN PHILLIPS
of minnesota
in the house of representatives
Friday, August 9, 2019
Mr. PHILLIPS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the decades-long
service of Mr. Josh Syrjamaki and to congratulate him upon his
retirement from Congressional service. A native of the Iron Range of
Minnesota, Josh dedicated himself to bettering his neighbors' lives,
both in his home state and across the country. His tenure in government
began over 25 years ago, as a Committee Clerk in the Minnesota State
Senate, and continued through prominent roles in the United States
Senate and House of Representatives.
A public servant of the highest order, Josh was a listener whose
finger always rested firmly on the pulse of his office's constituents.
As a senior aide to the late Senator Paul Wellstone, Mr. Syrjamaki
visited every corner of Minnesota, hearing the stories, dreams, and
concerns of everyday citizens. His collaborative approach to government
continued in his work as Representative Tim Walz's Chief of Staff,
where he met with farmers, businesspeople, and local leaders across
Minnesota's first district, determined to affect meaningful change and
to build a stronger community. This, Madam Speaker, is what
representational government is all about.
Mr. Syrjamaki selflessly advocated on behalf of the American people,
forcefully supporting needed improvements for our nation's brave
veterans. As a National Coordinator for the United Steelworkers Union,
Josh organized grassroots campaigns to ensure that laborers received
fair wages and job security. In his last months as a Congressional
staffer, Josh joined me in structuring my office and developing key
strategies to best serve the people of Minnesota's 3rd Congressional
District.
Above all, Mr. Syrjamaki always believed, ``We all do better, when we
all do better.'' That collectively, people can unite to cultivate a
brighter tomorrow. His ability to strategically motivate and inspire
fellow citizens produced decades of leadership that improved schools,
bettered working conditions, improved the lives of our nation's
veterans, and expanded access to health care.
While his tenure in the federal government ended this past March,
Josh's unwavering commitment to his fellow citizens continues today in
Minnesota. As the Chief of Staff in the State's Bureau of Prisons, Mr.
Syrjamaki wields his belief in every person's potential to establish a
reformed correctional system that focuses on education, sharply
reducing the likelihood that an inmate will reoffend, and producing a
more vibrant society.
I am joined by my colleagues here in the U.S. House of
Representatives, countless former staff members, and citizens across
the great State of Minnesota in expressing my sincere appreciation for
Josh's tireless service to this country. I look forward to witnessing
his continued success and wish him well on his Congressional
retirement.
____________________
