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“IN RECOGNITION OF RENA BITTER, RECIPIENT OF THE 2006 THOMAS JEFFERSON AWARD” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E105 on Jan. 12, 2007.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN RECOGNITION OF RENA BITTER, RECIPIENT OF THE 2006 THOMAS JEFFERSON
AWARD
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HON. PETE SESSIONS
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, January 12, 2007
Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize Rena Bitter, a Dallas native and a Foreign Service officer currently serving as Consular Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan, for winning the 2006 Thomas Jefferson Award presented by American Citizens Abroad
(ACA).
This honor is extended to State Department employees who have displayed exemplary service to the American community overseas. ACA founded this award to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson, America's first Secretary of State and third President. They described Jefferson as ``the quintessential Overseas American'' who lived outside the new republic for many years while helping to secure its independence and promote its political, economic and national security interests. In a similar manner, Rena serves our country today as Jefferson once served.
Rena entered the Foreign Service in 1994 having previously served in Mexico City, Mexico; Bogota, Colombia; and London, England. After spending a year with the British Foreign Office, Rena served as Chief of the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit at the American Embassy in London. During an assignment in Washington, DC, Rena served as a Special Assistant to former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Rena received additional leadership awards while serving both at the American Embassy in London and the office of the Secretary of State.
Currently in Amman, Rena has a wide range of responsibilities. She not only assists American citizens living and working in Jordan, but supports David Abell (co-winner of this award) and his co-workers at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. Rena's dedicated efforts provide for the needs of our fellow citizens in very difficult times. As a testimony of her dedication to Americans overseas, one of her supervisors once wrote that ``If my grandkids were to find themselves in trouble, I would hope it would be Rena, or someone like her, who would be available'' to help them.
I wish Rena Bitter all the best, and I thank her for her dedicated service to the American citizens overseas.
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