Commending Fern Billet on Her Retirement

Floor Speech

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Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commend Fern S. Billet on her retirement.

Fern S. Billet is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where she earned the status of cum laude, graduating with a Bachelor of the Arts in Anthropology before she continued her education at Rutgers University-Camden School of Law. Her illustrious career began as a Law Clerk for Kelly, Harrington, McLaughlin & Foster in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for three years she was an Associate Attorney, drafting pleadings and preparing written correspondence with courts, witnesses, and clients.

Fern S. Billet would go onto work in the office of Congressman Joesph M. Hoeffel of Pennsylvania's 13th District as a part-time District Representative until 2003 when she stepped into the role full-time for one year. She held many roles in the representative's office including assisting in planning events, attending events on behalf of the Congressman, and working as a constituent service caseworker. In February of 2005, Fern S. Billet joined the staff at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center as a Correspondence Analyst and Congressional Liaison, a role that she has held to the present day. She has also headed several other roles during her time at the Medical Center, such as a one-year tenure as the Interim Vice-President of External Affairs Product Line, three years effectively as the Center's Public Affairs Officer as well as the Community Relations Coordinator and Interim Privacy/FOIA Officer.

Across her several roles throughout her career, Fern S. Billet held responsibility for several staff members in Medical Media and Voluntary Service, helped implement and manage the facility's Privacy and Freedom of Information Act programs, manage, and track oral and written correspondence as well as provide Congressional briefings, visits, and tours as she worked to support Veterans. She also oversaw media interaction, community relations, and all communication with internal and external stakeholders. She worked diligently to promote attention to veteran's affairs as well as, planned, coordinated, and supervised special events to raise spirits and moral of both staff and patients of the center.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in honoring and commending Fern S. Billet of Phliadephia, Pennsylvania, a public servant dedicated to the veteran community, upon her retirement from the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center.

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