Recognizing the Distinguished Service of Major Brennan Randel

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my deepest gratitude for the service of Major Brennan Randel to my office and the United States Congress. As a Department of Defense Fellow, Brennan conducted himself with the utmost professionalism, assisting my office on a number of crucial legislative issues to include appropriations, defense policy, military construction, veterans affairs, and energy, water, and environmental issues.

By managing our office's appropriations for four separate accounts, Brennan developed a unique understanding of the federal budgeting process. Through his efforts and advice to me, the House Appropriations Committee supported my request for funding for an emergency operations center in my district and programmatic funding for several of my constituents' priorities.

Beyond his work on appropriations, Brennan took the initiative to expand his knowledge base and contribute above expectations. While defense fellows typically only cover the defense and veterans affairs policy portfolios, he asked to take on the energy, water, and environment portfolio. When Brennan discovered that the biannual Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) was due for reauthorization, he developed a plan to reach out to local stakeholders to determine how I could best advocate for our district. He then started working with community leaders and other members' staff and achieved great results; three of my requests were included in the House-passed WRDA bill, including a provision that a bipartisan pair of representatives joined my office in supporting.

Another one of Brennan's great qualities is his ability to manage a project from start to finish. When Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough came to Georgia's 2nd District for a VA clinic grand opening, Brennan took on the assignment of planning a town hall event in conjunction with the clinic grand opening. He worked with the Secretary's team to ensure the event met everyone's expectations, secured a venue, planned the event, and helped send invitations td local veteran leaders. Brennan's hard work set the stage for me to host local elected leaders and local veterans service organization leaders together in an intimate discussion with the VA Secretary.

Throughout his time in my office, Brennan exemplified intelligence, diligence, compassion, and a joyful spirit of public service in all that he did. He was also lovingly supported by his wife Elizabeth, and his three children, Eva, Roman, and Maeve. They were integral supporters of his success, and I am equally grateful to them.

Following his time in my office, Brennan went on to work as a Congressional Budget Liaison for the United States Army, where he continued to make innumerable contributions to the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, in extending our best wishes to Brennan and his family as he transitions to a new assignment and expressing profound thankfulness to him for his service to our great Nation.

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