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.
“RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF ANNE EVANS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1159 on Dec. 16, 2020.
The Department includes the Census Bureau, which is used to determine many factors about American life. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department is involved in misguided foreign trade policies and is home to many unneeded programs.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF ANNE EVANS
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HON. JOE COURTNEY
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor an energetic and tireless advocate for Connecticut businesses, Anne Evans, on her incredible career. When she retires at the end of this month, the state will lose one of the most enthusiastic and genuine advocates for local economic development after a life of working for and with small and local businesses.
Anne has served for 13 years as District Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration District Office in Middletown, Connecticut. In that position, she has brought Connecticut businesses and ingenuity to the global marketplace. As a Department of Commerce Employee, she took her role as a public servant seriously, providing local businesses with the sort of global perspective and expertise they need to grow into new markets. Before joining the Commerce Department, Anne worked for decades in the private sector in her family's tire business and ultimately became a world-
recognized leader in tire recycling products in Europe and the U.S. That background made her particularly well equipped to assist small businesses cope with the sometimes daunting challenges of the global marketplace.
Like all good public servants, Anne's passion and enthusiasm comes from a true affection for our state and its people.
Anne has worked to help well over 2,500 Connecticut companies export their products and attract customers overseas--providing an enormous economic boon to our State and providing a place for Connecticut on the national business stage. Additionally, she has worked extensively with Connecticut veterans and National Guard reservists, spearheading the Veterans Workforce Development Program and helping countless veterans receive training and find private sector employment in Connecticut.
In recent years, Anne worked closely with my office on major events to support Connecticut's aerospace and defense industries--and just last year, hundreds of people came to Connecticut during the International Space Summit to engage with Connecticut companies. Anne helped expand agricultural exports abroad for smaller family farmers in Connecticut, assisted small suppliers in becoming part of the submarine supply chain, and made countless connections across industries and countries to help create win-win opportunities for everyone.
Anne's ingenuity, entrepreneurship, and creative thinking has been instrumental not just in helping Connecticut's economy, but globally. I have fond memories of the many trade missions that she and I organized and led together--from Canada to Northern Ireland to Israel.
I thank Anne for her tireless work for Connecticut. I will truly miss having her at Commerce but look forward to seeing where she lands next. I know that she will be successful in anything she does in the future.
Congratulations on her well-deserved retirement.
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