September 15, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 159 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             PEG FITZGERALD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 15, 2020

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to provide my warmest 
congratulations and thanks to Peg Fitzgerald, a long-time resident and 
public servant in the State of Connecticut, who is retiring on October 
1st after more than 42 years of service to our state. Like so many 
other citizens of our great state, I had the privilege to interact with 
Peg in government and had a front-row seat to watch her skillful use of 
shrewd intelligence, empathy and humor to advance the public interest 
in whatever role she took on. I first met Peg when I was an intern at 
the State Capitol for then-State Representative Sam Gejdenson in 1978 
when Peg first went to work at the State Budget Office under Governors 
Ella Grasso and William O'Neill. Despite being a young woman given the 
weighty task of securing legislative support for the Governor's budget, 
she did not back down and could go toe-to-toe with the crustiest older 
male legislators and yet still make them laugh at her sharp Irish wit. 
When she would walk into Sam's committee room, he would yell, ``Hey 
Irish, what's going on?'' and the two of them would start busting each 
other, leaving all of us in stitches. It was like watching a sitcom.
  Seriously though, during her twelve years at the State Capitol, Peg 
worked with legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle, crafting 
compromises and ultimately promoting bills that would advance the 
health and welfare of citizens of the State of Connecticut. She 
provided training, guidance, and supervision to dozens of state 
agencies and their staff at the state Capitol in their own advocacy 
efforts for the Executive Branch.
  In 1990, Peg joined the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, 
bringing with her outstanding expertise in the legislative process and 
a passion for affordable housing. In her thirty years at CHFA, Peg has 
continuously fought for the underserved, and taught dozens of employees 
what it means to be a true public servant.
  For Peg, service to others never stopped at the office. When Peg 
wasn't at the Capitol, she often dedicated her time to organizing food 
drives or donations for local hunger relief organizations or finding 
homes for animals in need of adoption, including her own, many times 
over.
  Peg Fitzgerald--through four decades--has been the embodiment of 
public service, showing a uncompromising commitment to the public good, 
a passion for the democratic process and a dogged determination to help 
those most in need.
  I thank Peg for her service to the State of Connecticut and offer 
best wishes to her on her well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________