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LATRICE POWELL TRIBUTE
(Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to recognize the outstanding service of an esteemed member of my staff known and respected by all here: our deputy floor director, Latrice Powell.
In her 13 years on Capitol Hill, Latrice's name has become synonymous with cool-headed leadership and institutional expertise. We all know her as a maestro of the floor, masterfully directing legislative procedures and voting schedules, all while anticipating and managing the diverse needs of our Caucus.
Indeed, her skills as a coalition-builder and communicator help our Democratic Caucus honor this proud truth: Our diversity is our strength, but our unity is our power.
Members are particularly grateful for Latrice's calm and trusted presence this past year as she helped our Caucus and the Congress navigate this time of pandemic, and she has done so with equanimity and excellence.
Throughout her tenure on our floor team, Latrice has helped guide the passage and then the enactment of hundreds of bills for the people. While she has helped advance this great progress, she has made history as the first African-American assistant manager of the Democratic Cloakroom and then again at the start of the 116th Congress when it was my honor to appoint her to be the first African-American deputy floor director.
A Jackson, Mississippi, native, Latrice first came to the Hill to work under the leadership of our chairman--that is you, Mr. Speaker--
Bennie Thompson. She then joined the staff of the Congressional Black Caucus under Chairs Emanuel Cleaver and Marcia Fudge before serving as assistant Cloakroom manager. In each of these positions, she acquired a sterling reputation for her ability, and I know that each of these Members take great pride in her success.
While Latrice's trusted presence on this House floor will be missed, we are grateful for her service and for her work to forge a path for others to follow.
On behalf of the House of Representatives, I thank Latrice Powell and wish her the best in the next stages of her journey.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I rise to join her in recognizing and thanking Latrice Powell for the extraordinary service that she has given to this institution.
Members from both sides of the aisle have come to know and respect Latrice for her deep knowledge of floor procedure, her acumen, and her experience helping to manage the floor during very difficult votes and debate.
Not only has she served the Speaker as her deputy floor director, Latrice previously helped run the Democratic Cloakroom, as was pointed out, and before that was director of operations for Member services for the Congressional Black Caucus as well as a staff member for the gentleman from Mississippi, our Speaker pro tempore, Mr. Bennie Thompson. That is a very distinguished record of service to this House and to our country.
Now, I would be remiss if I did not observe that Latrice Powell is a graduate of the University of Maryland, and is a proud Terp. What a wonderful and distinguished academic institution she has graduated from. She also holds a master's degree in counseling and psychology from Bowie State University.
What is significant about the University of Maryland and Bowie State University? They are in my district, so, Mr. Speaker, you know what extraordinary institutions they are.
Today, Latrice lives in Upper Marlboro. Whose district do you think that is, Mr. Speaker? Just take a wild guess. The Fifth Congressional District of Maryland that I have had the proud privilege of serving for the last four decades.
Sadly, Latrice will shortly be leaving the House. You have heard me say this about other of our staff: The American people have no idea how talented our staff is and how hardworking, how patriotic, and how committed they are to this country and to this institution.
I would hope that all of us would, on a regular basis, tell them.
Latrice is an extraordinary person, but she is representative of those who work with us. That is the great truth and great privilege that we have as Members of this House serving with such extraordinary people who serve this institution. They serve us, and they serve this country so well.
I know that feeling all too well, having just said good-bye to my floor director, Shuwanza Goff. All of you know Shuwanza. She is now serving the President of the United States of America. She, too, was a historic first on this floor.
I hope that all the Members will join me on both sides of the aisle. For the most part, this staff is serving this House and this institution, not a party and not a philosophy, but serving an institution that we have so proudly call the people's House.
Bill Natcher from Kentucky was the chairman of the Appropriations Committee on which Nancy and I both served. He used to say, when he brought his bill to the floor: This is the people's bill in the people's House.
How proud we are that nobody can appoint us to this institution; we have to be elected to the House of Representatives.
Latrice, you have served all of us so very, very well. We love you, and we wish you the very best in the days ahead. God bless you, and Godspeed. We love you.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman for his wonderful remarks, and I want to join him in acknowledging the leadership of Shuwanza when she served here for all that time, and now we are very proud of the fact that she is in the administration. But every chance we get, we should acknowledge the great service that she provided here as we acknowledge and say thank you to Latrice Powell and wish her well as she goes forward. She made us all so very, very proud and continues to do so.
Thank you so much, Latrice.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 51
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