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.
“TRIBUTE TO MARY M. HUNT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the in the Senate section section on pages S2812-S2813 on June 7.
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:
TRIBUTE TO MARY M. HUNT
Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the long-
time program director for community and economic development Mary M. Hunt upon her retirement after more than 20 remarkable years of service to the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
I have often said there is no greater accomplishment than to find yourself in a position to give back to the community you love. As a Clarksburg native, Mary Hunt has served the people of her community and beyond with professionalism, compassion, and respect throughout her entire career.
Mary has never taken any position she has held lightly--and has always seen herself primarily as a servant of the people of West Virginia. She worked tirelessly for the Charleston mayor's office of economic and community development throughout the late `80s and early
`90s. Mary found herself in the capital city at a pivotal time, when major development projects were coming to fruition. It is hard to imagine a Charleston today without such iconic spaces as Haddad Riverfront Park and Capitol Market, but Mary was there when the ideas were conceived and helped bring them to reality.
Mary made her mark in State government, too. In the early 1990s, during Gaston Caperton's administration, she worked as executive assistant to the cabinet secretary for the West Virginia Department of Commerce for 2 years and then as the chief of administration for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection for 5 years, through 1997. Truly, her legacy of civic service is one we should all instill in ourselves.
Throughout her time as program director at the Benedum Foundation, Mary served as an irreplaceable leader by advancing the foundation's existing programs and starting new initiatives to ensure the organization's continued viability and positive social impact. Time and time again, Mary has made her devotion to helping others abundantly clear--not only through her philanthropy projects, but by building new partnerships and inviting others into the fold--ultimately bolstering her capacity for good.
Over the last two decades, Mary has helped numerous communities, both internally and externally, to help them make their projects possible. During her tenure, she has helped distribute grants in almost all 55 of West Virginia's counties, supporting nearly 650 grant projects and touching roughly 200 organizations.
With an unrivaled, strong spirit of optimism and innovation, her commitment to strengthening our communities is something to admire. Her work has undoubtedly advanced the foundation, but more importantly, our entire State. I know she has inspired many young leaders throughout her illustrious career, and I am confident that they will carry the torch to ensure a brighter tomorrow.
I will always be grateful to Mary for her passion for serving the people of West Virginia. While she is retiring and everyone is sure to miss her strong leadership, Mary Hunt's unwavering dedication will leave a lasting legacy on the countless lives she has touched. Again, I congratulate Mary for her remarkable years of service, and I am honored to wish good health and much happiness to Mary and her family in the days and years ahead.
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