Recognizing the Service of Wendy Salberg

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of one of my district staff members, Wendy Salberg, as she marks 10 years serving in my office and 15 years serving the people of Illinois.

Wendy began her work as a congressional staffer in the office of Republican Congresswoman Judy Biggert, who for many years represented the old 13th District of Illinois.

In 2012, after I was fortunate to win the election to represent the newly created 11th Congressional District, which incorporated many of the areas of the old 13th District, it soon became clear that we needed to keep Wendy Salberg on the job.

Wendy has dedicated herself to serving constituents, no matter what their background, helping them navigate the world of the Federal agencies. Wendy quickly earned a reputation throughout the Illinois congressional delegation as being one of the best advocates for people with immigration and international travel issues, from simple passport applications to complicated citizenship cases.

I was fortunate that Wendy agreed to stay on and manage immigration casework for my office, and countless constituents who have worked with her over the past 10 years would undoubtedly agree. I cannot tell you how many people have reached out to me over the years or come to me at events I have attended to tell me how grateful they were for the work that Wendy put into their cases.

Beyond her day-to-day work, Wendy's value to our office cannot be understated. No matter what she is doing, she will drop everything to help her coworkers with whatever they need, whether it be advice, a good laugh, or just an ear to listen. Day in and day out, she is a warm, welcoming presence who truly embodies our mission to serve the people of Illinois and to serve those around her.

I could not be prouder to have her on my staff, and her former boss, Representative Judy Biggert, agrees. In joining me in celebrating Wendy's service to the people of Illinois, she wrote, ``Helping constituents navigate their way through layers of government bureaucracy is seldom easy, but no bureaucratic barrier was ever a serious match for Wendy's tenacity and inventiveness. When she is on your case, it is like a dog with a bone--dedicated, persistent, and completely involved. If there is a way to solve your problem, Wendy will find it.''

All of us who know her know that these words could not be more true.

It is my distinct honor to recognize the service of Wendy Salberg on behalf of the people of the 11th Congressional District and the old 13th District of Illinois.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source