September 27, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 157 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING MARY ANN LEVAR ON HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE QUIGLEY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 27, 2019

  Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Ann Levar and 
express my congratulations on her retirement from the U.S. House of 
Representatives. Since my election to Congress ten years ago, Mary Ann 
has been indispensable to my congressional office, serving as my 
District Director and assisting thousands of my constituents in Chicago 
and in the Chicagoland area.
  It would be impossible to properly thank or congratulate Mary Ann 
without making clear the indelible mark she has left on my district. 
Mary Ann was not just my District Director--she was truly the Fifth 
District of Illinois' District Director. What began with a role serving 
as a receptionist and staff assistant for Congressman Dan Rostenkowski 
in 1994 evolved into years of working as a caseworker for Congressman 
Rod Blagojevich and culminated in her promotion to District Director 
for Congressman Rahm Emanuel and for myself.
  After a decade of working together, I have seen firsthand what I've 
heard time and again from my constituents: that Mary Ann Levar is a 
tireless advocate for them and for the people of Chicago, leading my 
District Office with a compassionate, steady hand.
  As a lifelong Chicagoan, Mary Ann put her heart and soul into her 
service to the people of Illinois' Fifth District. The daughter of 
German immigrants, Mary Ann spent her career working to improve her 
city. She raised her four children--Julie, Ryan, Michelle, and Pat 
Jr.--in Chicago with her husband of over forty years, former Alderman 
Pat Levar. She is now a proud grandmother to four, with a fifth 
grandchild on the way. I have no doubt that she is excited to spend 
more of her time with those beautiful grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, the Fifth District will simply not be the same without 
Mary Ann's leadership. Her contributions will be felt for years to come 
and her legacy will live on in the work of all the staff she trained 
over the years. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Mary Ann 
Levar for her tremendous public service.

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