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“COMMENDING THE WORK OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICERS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E583-E584 on March 6, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
COMMENDING THE WORK OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICERS
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HON. FRANK R. WOLF
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Friday, March 6, 2009
Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I would like to share with our colleagues a letter I sent to the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) following the successful rollout of the 2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.
These sweeping reports reflect the hard work of hundreds of human rights officers in Washington and abroad. I would like to thank, by name, the DRL staff people without whom this report would not have been possible. Specifically the editorial staff of the Country Reports Team consisting of: Editor in Chief Stephen Eisenbraun; Office Directors: Bruce Connuck, Kay Mayfield, and Michael Orona; Senior Editors: Jonathan Bemis, Douglas B. Dearborn, Daniel Dolan, Jerome L. Hoganson, Patricia Meeks Schnell, Julie Turner, and Rachel Waldstein; Editors: Naim Ahmed, Sabrina Bahir, Joseph S. Barghout, Katherine Berglund, Sarah Beringer, Alisha Bhagat, Sarah Buckley, Laura Carey, Elise Carlson-Rainer, Ebenezer Concepcion, Sharon C. Cooke, Susan Corke, Stuart Crampton, Frank B. Crump, Mollie Davis, Cortney Dell, Morton Dworken, Jennifer Evans, Verinda Fike, Joan Garner, Karen Gilbride, Jeffrey Glassman, Edward Grulich, Cheryl Harris, Patrick Harvey, Matthew Hickey, Alexandra Hoey, Victor Huser, Stan Ifshin, Sami Jiries, Simone Joseph, Jennifer King, Jane Kim, Sidney Kwiram, Lawrence Lesser, Jessica Lieberman, Katie McLain, John McKane, Michael McKenna, Gregory Maggio, Jessica Megill, Nicole Morales, David Mikosz, Leonel Miranda, Stephen E. Moody, Jennie Munoz, Sandra Murphy, Daniel L. Nadel, Catherine Newling, Susan O'Sullivan, Meredith Pierce, Drue Preissman, Peter Sawchyn, Amy Schmisseur, Wendy Silverman, Erin Spitzer, Rachel Spring, Brian Stout, James Todd, Rachel Waldstein, Nicole Wilett, Mikel Wood, and Isabelle Zsoldos; Contributing Editor: Lynne Davidson; Editorial Assistants: Adrienne Bory, Karen Chen, Carol Finerty, Elizabeth Mokaba, and Kimberly Jorgensen; and Technical Assistant Eunice Johnson.
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, March 2, 2009.Ms. Karen Stewart,Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Washington DC.
Dear Ms. Stewart: I write following the successful rollout of the 2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. I know that this exhaustive report which catalogues human rights abuses globally is the result of countless hours of hard work on the part of human rights officers in DRL and in American embassies abroad. I also know that the final product often comes after hard fought battles within the building.
I ask that you share with your staff and with human rights officers the world over my profound appreciation for their efforts. At times I know it can seem a thankless task. But the efforts of your bureau to speak truth to power and to be a voice for the voiceless brings hope and makes a difference to millions.
You have my profound thanks. Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Frank R. Wolf,Member of Congress.
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