[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 193 (Tuesday, December 13, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9718-H9719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ELLA TERRY AND MISS PAT RETIREMENT TRIBUTE
(Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, it is with great joy and great pride that I
rise to celebrate two longtime members of our congressional community--
indeed our family--as they prepare for retirement: Ella Terry and
Patricia Smith, better known as Miss Pat.
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On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, it is my
privilege to extend our deepest thanks and appreciation for their
decades of service. With extraordinary devotion and a deep-seated love
for this institution, each has served the Congress longer than most
Members. That is reason to applaud.
Ahead of their well-earned retirements, let us wish them both well.
It is sad to see them go, but we are grateful for their many, many
years of service they have given us.
On our side of the aisle, we all know that Ella Terry has worked in
the House Democratic cloakroom since the dawn of the millennium in
January of 2000, after working for more than a decade in the Capitol
Coffee Shop. She knows our preferences.
Altogether, she has dutifully served on Capitol Hill for 34 years.
She has a warm, caring, steadfast presence, a sunny smile, no matter
how arduous things may be going on the floor or the cloakroom.
With Ella, no one is a stranger, everyone is a friend. She is a
bedrock member of our family here in the House.
When Congresswoman Gabby Giffords first returned to the floor after
the heinous attack on her life, Ella embraced Gabby and told her
through tears: I am so proud of you. Gabby was so proud of you, too.
The late Congressman Elijah Cummings once told his colleagues: Ms.
Ella is my personal adviser. And since he was personal adviser to the
rest of us, we are all in your debt for your advice to him.
Thank you to Ella's daughter, Tawanna, who is here, and
granddaughter, Christina, thank you for being with us; and to your
entire family for sharing her with us for so many years.
Across the aisle, Miss Pat has brought that same unwavering
dedication to her service in the House Republican cloakroom.
For nearly five decades, Miss Pat has been a cherished colleague in
the Capitol; first in the House dining room and in the Longworth House
Office Building, and then for 36 years just off the floor of the House.
A remarkable friend to all those privileged enough to work alongside
her, she has been a daily blessing to this Chamber.
The House is also grateful to Miss Pat's loving family, especially
her two daughters, Nikoshia and Bianca, and her beloved granddaughter,
Lauren.
The House of Representatives is a brighter, more joyful place in
which we serve, thanks to Ella and Miss Pat. These patriots reflect the
highest ideals of public service; a joyful commitment to others, a
profound love for our country, and a lifelong reverence for the
Congress.
Their service, their kindness, and their friendship will be long-
remembered by the countless Members and staff they have served over the
years.
Let us join in thanking Ella and thanking Miss Pat, and best wishes
for new adventures that lie ahead for you. Congratulations.
Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield to the distinguished gentleman
from California (Mr. McCarthy), the Republican leader.
Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Speaker for yielding. I do
want to congratulate and thank Ella, who Speaker Pelosi just mentioned,
for 34 years of service to Congress, including 22 in the Democratic
cloakroom.
It didn't matter what we were saying or what we were fighting about
here, but when people walked back in the cloakroom, people were more
united for all your help. So thank you for all that work.
I hope you have a very happy and healthy retirement spent with your
family and granddaughter, Christina. It is definitely well-earned, and
the Nation is better for your service. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Patricia Smith--or as everyone
around here knows, ``Miss Pat,'' who is retiring from the House this
Friday after 46 years of service. I spent a little time with her
daughters today, and her one daughter told me she was only 3 years old
when you first came here to work. I could see the love in your
daughters' eyes and how much they honor you and respect you.
Miss Pat is one of the kindest, most humble, most decent public
servants I have ever met. We are excited about celebrating her today.
For all of you, you have got to know, this isn't the only award that
she won today. I will talk a little bit about that in a minute.
For 36 years, Miss Pat has run Cafe Helen, the sandwich and snack bar
in the Republican cloakroom. If anyone questions her ability on her
food, you can look at all of our waistlines to know how good she is.
The cloakrooms are a space for Members to relax, to speak, and thanks
to Miss Pat, enjoy a quick snack, a hot dog, or a sandwich.
Miss Pat began working in the House dining room in the Longworth
Building. She soon joined the legendary Ms. Helen in the Republican
cloakroom. When Ms. Helen retired, Cafe Helen became Miss Pat's domain.
Whenever the House is in session, Miss Pat is here in the cloakroom.
Whether we are voting at 2 a.m., 2 p.m., or early in the morning--the
one thing you have got to know about Miss Pat, she does not like to
stay up late. She would tell us that a time or two. We should take her
advice, too.
She would stay up until 2 a.m., go to the grocery store the next
morning and be right back here for breakfast. As all of you know, it is
tough to handle a lot of us, especially when we are hangry at times,
too.
You have been the motherly advice, the humble servant, the individual
who provided us the food, but also provided us the wisdom when we
needed it at times as well. We thank you for that.
To every Member she encounters, Miss Pat is more than part of this
institution. She is part of the family, just as we are part of her
family, as well. Many times, Members will bring their spouses or
special visitors or constituents, and they come into the cloakroom.
Many of us that are Members think, oh, they are bringing them because
they want to meet us and take a picture with us. They would walk right
up to me and right by me because what they really wanted to do was
introduce Miss Pat to their family because that is what you have meant
to us and that is what you will always mean to us.
You have always been that humble one in a town of spotlight seekers.
Miss Pat is a lighthouse shining a path for us with her motherly advice
and words of wisdom. You always had humility, but you always had faith,
and you shared it with us.
I guess when we sit through this--when I talked about this isn't her
only award, earlier this morning we presented her with one of the
highest
[[Page H9719]]
awards that Congress can give to a staff, the McCormick Award for
Excellence, named after the former Speaker.
When you walk the halls over here you will see a big plaque with the
names of each individual who has won it through the years. It was named
after the Speaker, on who we can honor as a staffer who cared about the
institution--not about a party, but an institution. For 46 years you
have lived up to that.
Now, it is my honor to present you with this flag that has been flown
over the Capitol in your name. And for all the Members, we will put it
back in the cloakroom, and why don't you come by and sign it.
On behalf of the Republican Conference, this Chamber and the Nation,
I want to thank Miss Pat for her unwavering commitment to this
institution.
Thank you for your service. But remember, as a family we are always
here for you, and we hope you will continue to always be there for us.
Thank you and God bless.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield back the balance of my
time as we end our tribute to two great Americans, members of our
families, Miss Pat and Ella Terry. Thank you all so much.
____________________