CRS Specialist Paul S. Rundquist Honored by the Polish Parliament

CRS SPECIALIST PAUL S. RUNDQUIST HONORED BY THE POLISH PARLIAMENT -- (Extensions of Remarks - October 11, 2004)

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I want to call the attention of my colleagues to the invaluable service and support we receive every day from the knowledge, experience, and hard work of the Congressional Research Service-CRS. This dedicated team of policy analysts, administrators, and support staff provides us with information services and policy analysis that is accurate, timely, and impeccably balanced and nonpartisan.

The Congress, and this people's House, are not the only beneficiaries of CRS's expertise. At times over the years, we have authorized CRS to provide temporary support for the parliaments of several nations as they worked to join the ranks of the world's democracies. In the 1960s and 70s, Congress authorized exchange programs between CRS and the Japanese and German national legislatures that helped them establish professional parliamentary research departments that are the envy of their neighbors. More recently, in the early 1990s, as the dawn of freedom broke over the nations of Eastern Europe, the Speaker's Task Force on Parliamentary Reform in Eastern Europe provided invaluable expertise and perspective to the newly emerging free parliaments of these nations.

Mr. Speaker, the seed was sown, and today we see the inspiring results, as Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, and other countries have joined the family of democratic nations. CRS provided vital assistance in this effort, and today, I am pleased to note that one of our own, CRS Specialist Paul S. Rundquist, has been honored by the Republic of Poland for his work with the Sejm ("SAYM"), the Polish Parliament: he has been awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.

Mr. Speaker, when I was first appointed to the position of Ranking Minority Member of the House Administration Committee by Democratic Leader Pelosi, I called CRS for information about internal House operations and organization. Dr. Rundquist was the first person to respond, and he demonstrated why CRS is held in such high regard-he was prompt, thorough, and professional. Later, when I needed information on congressional continuity, Dr. Rundquist was again there with the needed research and information. I'm certainly glad Dr. Rundquist has remained a Congressional asset all these years, and I hope he stays on for many years to come.

Dr. Rundquist is a son of Illinois; born in Chicago, he holds a Bachelor's degr from Loyola University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Appointed to the staff of CRS in 1974, he is a nationally renowned expert on legislative procedure, the structure, organization, and functions of the United States Congress, and congressional history. One of several CRS analysts assigned to assist the Speaker's Task Force from 1990 to 1994, Dr. Rundquist has continued to provide invaluable assistance to the members and staff of the Polish Parliament, while maintaining the full schedule of his duties at CRS.

He gave generously of his knowledge and perspective, providing information and analysis to the Sejm as it developed the institutions, policies, and procedures so necessary to a vital, democratic national legislature. During several missions to Poland, he advised on the establishment of parliamentary rules and procedures, committee structure and function, and support services to members, committees, and party organizations.

In 1996, Dr. Rundquist was appointed a Fulbright Professor of Politics at Warsaw University, and also served as a visiting professor at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow. During the following two years, he lectured widely and continued to provide support and analysis for the Polish Parliament and its members, providing informal assistance to the Sejm as it drafted a new constitution, and even advice on the official translation of the new constitution into English.

His service to the United States Congress has continued uninterrupted throughout this period. His recent projects and publications have included authoritative studies on guaranteeing the continuity of Congress, especially the House of Representatives, in the event of terrorist attacks, and ground-breaking analysis of the Senate power sharing agreement of 2001-2002.

Accompanied by his wife, Ellen, and CRS colleagues and friends of many years, Dr. Rundquist was awarded the Order of Merit at a ceremony held at the Polish Embassy on September 29. 1 extend my sincere congratulations to this dedicated servant of Congress and the American people for his many distinguished accomplishments.