The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“HONORING AMELIA BROWN WILSON” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H3162 on June 28.
The Department is primarily focused on food nutrition, with assistance programs making up 80 percent of its budget. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department implements too many regulations and restrictions and impedes the economy.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING AMELIA BROWN WILSON
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer) for 5 minutes.
Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to report some very sad news that late last week Kentucky lost a champion, and my congressional office lost a friend and a true warrior with the passing of our beloved field representative, Amelia Brown Wilson, at the young age of 39.
Amelia was born and raised in Monroe County. Like me, she graduated from Monroe County High School and her family and my family go back many generations through Monroe County.
Amelia was someone that I noticed coming up along the public school system as someone who was going to be a future superstar, someone who had class, who had brains, who had a work ethic, who had charisma. And I followed Amelia through her educational career. Amelia's older sister Kelly and I played ball together on the varsity girls' and boys' basketball team of Monroe County. We also went to Western Kentucky University at the same time. Amelia obviously was a little younger.
Amelia went to the University of Kentucky because she was the biggest University of Kentucky fan in the history of Kentucky. She got three degrees from the University of Kentucky. I don't know anyone else that can say that. Amelia got her bachelor's degree, her master's degree, and her Ph.D. all from the University of Kentucky.
Amelia worked right out of the University of Kentucky in the Cooperative Extension Service as the family consumer scientist for Fayette County, which is Lexington, Kentucky, for many years.
Amelia and I always kept in touch, and I knew she was someone with a very bright future.
But while Amelia was at University of Kentucky, she had to receive a liver transplant, and she went through that battle. And for the 20 years after her liver transplant she battled sickness almost daily, but you would never know that because Amelia always had a positive attitude.
Amelia was one of the kindest, most sincere people that you would ever meet. Amelia is someone that everyone who met her loved her, respected her, and was inspired by her, especially if they heard her story.
Amelia was very active in the Kentucky Organ Donor Program. She was a spokesperson for that program and gave speeches around the State and got thousands and thousands of people to sign up on the back of their Kentucky driver's license to be a Kentucky organ donor.
So we will never know how many lives Amelia saved because of her testimony and her story that she would deliver all over Kentucky.
{time} 1230
When I was elected Commissioner of Agriculture in Kentucky, I asked Amelia to come join me at the Department of Agriculture and be my Kentucky Director of Agriculture Tourism. She did that.
Madam Speaker, I had about 275 employees. I can say with confidence that Amelia was the most popular employee in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Everybody loved her. And when I got elected to Congress in 2016, Amelia followed me. She was the one employee who I asked to go from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in Frankfort, Kentucky, with me to create my new field office in Madisonville, Kentucky. Amelia was my field representative for the northwestern part of the First Congressional District of Kentucky.
Madam Speaker, every county judge and every mayor--every elected official--Democrat and Republican--in those counties worked with Amelia, respected Amelia, loved Amelia, and are saddened by the tragic loss of Amelia's life this past week.
I can't say that I have ever met a person who was more sincere and more inspiring than Amelia Wilson. She is a Christian. She is someone who lived a purpose-driven life, and she is someone who we will all greatly miss.
Heaven gained an angel last week with Amelia Brown Wilson. Our prayers go out to her husband, Allen; and her mother, Sarah Faye; and her sisters, Kellie and Keri Jo.
____________________
