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“RECOGNIZING THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF JORDAN CLARK” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H7943 on Nov. 13, 2014.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF JORDAN CLARK
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, when you are provided the privilege and honor of representing people from home and you come to Washington, the very first decision you make is probably one of the most important decisions, and that is who your chief of staff will be. Today, I am blessed to stand here to recognize a man who I think is among the best of the chiefs who has served any Member of Congress.
I rise today to recognize the distinguished career of Jordan Clark, who has served as my chief of staff and is retiring from the House this month. Jordan is a man with a deep love of politics, public policy, and people, including his family and most especially his wife, Mary Therese, and their seven children.
A one-of-a-kind personality and wit as sharp as his record of public service is long, Jordan will be dearly missed by friends and colleagues from Capitol Hill and beyond. It is these qualities, combined with a distinct sense of humor and an unmatched work ethic, that took a young boy from Pittston, Pennsylvania, to the halls of power in Washington. But it wasn't power that Jordan sought. It was public service.
Before beginning his career in Washington, Jordan served in the United States Army. He served his commission after completing Infantry Officer Candidate School. Shortly following this, he was assigned to the Kennedy Center for Military Assistance at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served in special warfare and psychological operations.
After completing Active Duty, he served for 3 years as a captain and company commander in the Maryland National Guard.
Following Jordan's service in uniform, he began a career in Washington with the United States Department of Labor, creating employment opportunities for veterans. Because of his efforts, he was assigned to the President's veterans commission to coordinate job programs between Federal agencies and the private sector, and was chosen by the Secretary of Labor to participate in the Department's career management program.
Jordan later was hired as chief of staff to former United States Congressman Joseph McDade, at the time Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District Representative and also a senior member of the House Committee on Appropriations. In the House, he also served as a staff member on the Government Operations and Small Business Committees, where he played an integral role in establishing the first White House Conference on Small Business.
Following the OPEC oil embargoes, Jordan accepted a position in the Office of the Secretary of Energy and was responsible for the administration of the country's conservation and renewable energy programs. During this time, he helped develop the Department's Technology Transfer Program, promoting the sharing of research and information between the Federal Government, private sector institutions, and corporations. He was also the first Department of Energy official to visit Brazil to evaluate its ethanol programs and production.
Following his time in the Energy Department, Jordan served as CEO of communitypath.com, a homeowner advocacy group and successor to the nonprofit United Homeowners Association, which he founded. Before founding the UHA, he was director of operations and assistant vice president for congressional relations for the 180,000-member National Association of Home Builders, where he created the Congressional Contact Program, an industry model for grassroots advocacy.
Upon his return to Capitol Hill, Jordan served as chief of staff to Representative John E. Peterson, my predecessor, until Mr. Peterson's retirement in 2008. At the time, he also served as senior staff member on the House Appropriations Committee, during which he initiated and coordinated efforts to eliminate the 24-year-old congressional moratoria on oil and gas production in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
In 2009, I was first elected to represent Pennsylvania's Fifth District. Having worked with Jordan in various capacities over the years, I have come to respect his judgement and his work ethic. He is a man who is acutely aware of the needs and challenges facing our men and women in uniform. He is an expert in energy policy, which is fundamental to the history and economy of Pennsylvania's Fifth District, the birthplace of the oil industry in 1859 and today home to the emergent Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Play. He is someone with insight and understanding of the Fifth District, with its diverse geography, residents, and economy.
Mr. Speaker, I could not have made a better choice for chief of staff. I know I speak for generations of close friends and colleagues when I say: Thank you, Jordan Clark, for decades of committed public service in pursuit of a stronger Nation. We wish you, Mary Therese, and your family the very best on the road ahead.
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