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[Pages H1050-H1051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING BRANDON RENZ
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) for 5 minutes.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness
that I rise today to recognize the departure of a long-term servant of
the House, Brandon Renz.
Brandon has served the House of Representatives for nearly two
decades and has been a trusted leader of my staff for well over a
decade. Most recently, he has worked with me and fellow Members on the
Education and Labor Committee as Republican staff director and has
provided trustworthy counsel and excellent organizational prowess.
He also served as my chief of staff during my time in leadership as
House Republican Secretary and was a respected liaison for me and other
Members, staff, and House offices over my eventful time in that office.
While Brandon has been a tremendous asset and key contributor in all
those significant positions, he did some of his best work in the same
trenches that many of our staff do, in positions and in rooms that do
not receive attention from C-SPAN or grab headlines.
Brandon started as a staff assistant for a Member from his home State
of Iowa, Representative Steve King, reluctantly coming to Washington
on the recommendation of a friend and only after committing to himself
that he would stay only 1 year.
In less than 3 years on Capitol Hill, Brandon earned a reputation as
an astute legislative mind with bedrock conservative principles and
became my legislative director. In him, I found a partner who shared my
commitment to accurate, grammatically correct documents of all types.
He labored with me on constituent letters and on many important
legislative projects, including providing the Puerto Rican people with
an opportunity to express all their preferences when considering their
territory's future, developing legislation to lessen unfunded mandates,
and expressing Congress' disapproval of the bailout funds expended on
the TARP program.
He also worked as a rules associate with the House Rules Committee,
sitting through interminable hearings at all hours of the day and
night. He did important work there, ensuring Members' voices were heard
and that the House could work its will on legislation considered on the
House floor.
After several years guiding my legislative staff and agenda, he
accepted my request to serve as chief of staff and used his terrific
skills to benefit constituents and ensure my offices paid back the
trust given to them by America's taxpayers.
[[Page H1051]]
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After seeing his success there, it was easy to entrust the
responsibilities of staff director to him when I became the chairwoman
of the House Education and Workforce Committee.
Both then and now in the minority, Brandon has been a leader on the
issues before the committee, including education and regulatory reform,
government accountability, and this week on the issue of surprise
medical billing.
It has been a joy to work with and learn from Brandon as a colleague
and as an individual. While his parents clearly reared him right, his
wise, beautiful wife, Kate, has been a key part of his recent life. She
was, herself, a fine staff member in both the U.S. House and Senate and
is here today. It is comforting to know they are passing on their
principles to their sons, Cole and Hunter. Brandon and Kate are an
example to us all.
As Brandon leaves the service of the House to embark on new
responsibilities in the private sector, I thank him deeply for his
years of dedication to the work of the House, to me and my
constituents, and to our Nation.
He truly has lived up to the oath he swore when he first started with
the U.S. House of Representatives, to ``support and defend the
Constitution of the United States,'' and to ``well and faithfully
discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.''
Mr. Speaker, I know he will continue to faithfully discharge the
duties of his future offices, as he did so honorably for me. So, sadly,
I discharge him to that work, so help him God.
____________________
