Recognizing the Life of Rosemary O'neill

Floor Speech

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Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the life of Rosemary O'Neill, who dedicated her life and career to public service.

A native of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and daughter of former Speaker of the House, Thomas ``Tip'' and Millie O'Neill, Rosemary was born on March 20, 1943. Following in the family tradition of public service and diplomacy, Rosemary first began what would be an extensive career with the Department of State as special assistant to George Feldman, Ambassador of Malta and Luxembourg, shortly after graduating from Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross. Rosemary then continued to work at the Department of State's headquarters in Washington, D.C. for several years, before receiving her posting as a foreign service officer in Morocco in 1980.

In 1992, Rosemary was elected chair of the Secretary of State's Open Forum, and was tasked with supervising the Open Forum Channel, monitoring the Dissent Channel, and managing the Open Forum's Speaker Program. The Secretary of State's Open Forum was established in 1967 to encourage U.S. government employees to share new or alternative policy recommendations with the Secretary of State in a confidential manner, free of bureaucratic restraints. Under Rosemary's leadership and guidance, the Speaker's Program and Open Forum Working Group on Conflict Resolution, Civil Society, and Democracy flourished.

An advocate for strong American Irish relations, Rosemary served as advisor to the Department of State's Director of Policy Planning on Northern Ireland. Even in retirement, Rosemary continued her relationship with the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition and often travelled to her family's ancestral home of Mallow, County Cork, serving as the Grand Marshall of Mallow's St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2017. Whether travelling to the USSR to promote human rights for individuals with disabilities or working to establish the State Department's Afghan Women's Program to advance educational opportunities for women and girls throughout Afghanistan--Rosemary dedicated her life and career to bettering the lives of all, across the globe.

After a remarkable career as a Foreign Service Officer, Rosemary retired in 2004. However, retirement did not stop her from continuing to help and support those in her community. Rosemary went on to serve as Chair of the Board of the Family Pantry of Cape Cod and on the Harwich Democratic Committee. Surrounded by family and loved ones, Rosemary left us too soon on July 20, 2022, at the age of 79. Rosemary's legacy will carry on through the lasting impact she left on the lives of so many through her work advancing women's rights and advocating for underrepresented and underserved groups.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor the life of Rosemary O'Neill. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing her life's commitment to serving her community and country.

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