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 LORI HARJU” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the in the Extensions of Remarks section section on page E1724 on Dec. 16, 2016.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING LORI HARJU
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HON. KEVIN BRADY
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, December 16, 2016
Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge and express my deep appreciation to Lori Harju for 25 years of government service the last five dedicated to serving me and the people of Texas' 8th Congressional District.
Lori began her career working for her local Congressman, Guy Vander Jagt of Michigan. She grew up not far from the shores of Lake Michigan, in the town of Kaleva, and misses it to this day. I can't tell you how many times I've seen pictures of Lake Michigan, and of her many nieces and nephews as they have always been displayed in her office and on her screen saver. She brought with her to Washington the upper Midwest values of hard work, common sense, and humility--perfect attributes for working for a Member of Congress.
From Representative Vander Jagt's office, Lori moved on to work for some of this body's most prestigious Members. She worked for Congressman Dave Camp of Michigan, who served as Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee, and for Congressman Phil Crane, another one of the Ways & Means Committee's most powerful and storied Members. Lori then moved to a senior political position in the Administration of George W. Bush, serving as the head of congressional affairs at the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration.
I was fortunate to be able to hire Lori at the end of President Bush's second term. Few people know Congressional procedures or how to get things done in Congress like she does. She originally served as my Legislative Director, and later became my Chief of Staff When I became Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee a little over a year ago, I asked her to help on the Committee as my Senior Advisor, because of her vast experience working with Ways and Means Committee members. Indeed, Lori has now worked for three senior Members of the Ways & Means Committee, a record few congressional staffers can match.
I have always relied upon Lori's counsel and appreciate her forthrightness and her integrity. Lori has always served with humility and grace. I hope Lori will now have a little more time to spend with her family near the shores of Lake Michigan, but I also hope, as she leaves government service and begins the next phase of her career, that she won't move far and will continue to offer her valuable counsel. I and the rest of this House will miss her.
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