congressional_record: CREC-2022-12-23-pt1-PgE1350-2
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| CREC-2022-12-23-pt1-PgE1350-2 | 2022-12-23 | 117 | 2 | RECOGNIZING NICOLE DAMASCO FOR HER DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE | HOUSE | EXTENSIONS | RECOGNIZING | E1350 | E1351 | [{"name": "Jerry McNerney", "role": "speaking"}] | 168 Cong. Rec. E1350 | Congressional Record, Volume 168 Issue 201 (Friday, December 23, 2022) [Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 201 (Friday, December 23, 2022)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1350-E1351] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] RECOGNIZING NICOLE DAMASCO FOR HER DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE ______ HON. JERRY McNERNEY of california in the house of representatives Friday, December 23, 2022 Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing my Chief of Staff, Nicole Damasco, for her outstanding commitment and dedication to serving California's 9th Congressional District, the former [[Page E1351]] 11th Congressional District of California, the great state of California, and our country. Nicole is one of the most exceptional staff members, leaders, and public servants that I have had the pleasure of working with, and it has been an honor to have had her leading my staff for the past 16 years during my time in Congress. Nicole was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and grew up wanting to make positive change in her country and the world. Her father and stepmother, Jude and Julia Damasco, instilled in her a strong work ethic and the importance of serving the community and those in need, and she credits her grandmother, Maria Damasco, for being an inspiration in her life and always being there for her. Throughout high school, she spent time registering voters in San Francisco and the Bay Area and volunteering for the San Francisco Democratic Party. Although she is a talented artist and studied architecture in Italy during college, she felt the best way to make a difference in her community was to pursue a career in public service. She transferred to University of California, Santa Cruz to pursue a degree in Politics. While there, she interned for the Santa Cruz County Women's Commission for 2 years and participated in the University of California, Washington DC (UCDC) program, interning in Senator Barbara Boxer's Washington, DC office. After graduating from University of California, Santa Cruz in 2002, Nicole was hired as a Constituent Representative in Senator Barbara Boxer's office in San Francisco. She proved to be a skilled and dedicated employee and was soon promoted to Assistant to the Director of Constituent Services. In 2004, she became a Legislative Correspondent in Senator Boxer's Los Angeles office and was part of a team that changed how legislative correspondence was handled by transitioning to a centralized, digitized, state-based constituent correspondence system. It was an innovative approach that allowed the Senator to quickly receive and send constituent responses. Nicole did not know it at the time, but her team helped lay the groundwork for how state and district-based constituent correspondence is now handled in many congressional offices. In 2006, Nicole returned to the Bay Area and continued to work in Senator Boxer's San Francisco office. During that time, she volunteered for my Congressional campaign because she felt that I could truly help improve the lives of people in our community. Thanks to the hard work by many excellent staff and volunteers like Nicole, I was elected to Congress that same year, and I asked Nicole to join my team as my Director of Constituent Services and Field Representative. Nicole went to work right away, laying the foundation for and building my casework, field outreach, and constituent services programs from the ground up. She made it her mission to make sure that everyone who reached out to my office for assistance would receive the best service possible. She ensured that quality constituent service was engrained in the culture of my office. Thanks in large part to her tireless efforts, I am proud to say that my office has helped many thousands of individuals over the years. It was clear that Nicole was a natural leader when I hired her, and I promoted her to District Director in less than a year of her being on my staff. She took over, leading my entire District team at a time when people in the country and my district were hurting the most. During the subprime mortgage crisis in 2008, people were losing their jobs, homes, and lifesavings. Continuing to lead with a constituent-focused approach to her work, Nicole put together a team that would be laser focused on serving the people of California's 11th and 9th Congressional Districts throughout those difficult times. She immediately acted to help organize the first-of-its-kind housing and mortgage assistance events in the country with the purpose of keeping people in their homes. She also helped organize job fairs and events that connected thousands of people with jobs, and made sure struggling veterans and seniors were informed of and received the services available to them. I know without a doubt that because of Nicole's perseverance and tenacity, we made an impact on many people and were there for them during some of the darkest periods of their lives. Nicole stood tall and helped lead my team, all while facing great adversity herself. At the beginning of her career with my office, she provided care for her half-sister, Jessica, who ended up tragically taking her life in 2009. Nicole's stepfather and grandfather had also taken their lives shortly before, all of which took a toll on her mother and made it clear that Nicole needed to step up and help care for her other half-sister, Alaina. Throughout all this tragedy, Nicole kept a brave face, continuing to work hard and lead my office while also becoming Alaina's legal guardian and providing a stable home for her sister. Unfortunately, Nicole's mother also ended up taking her life, but thanks in part to Nicole's support, her sister has thrived, graduating from high school and with highest honors from University of California, Berkeley, studying and traveling around the world, and starting a successful career of her own. Nicole is very proud of her sister's accomplishments and is grateful for the special bond they share. After serving as my District Director during some of the greatest challenges in our nation's history and following some very hard-fought campaigns, I asked Nicole to move across the country and become my Chief of Staff. She didn't hesitate and since 2013, she has led my team as Chief of Staff with great dedication and conviction. Due largely to Nicole's efforts, my office has had one of the highest retention rates and one of the most diverse staffs in Congress. Throughout her time as Chief of Staff, she has greatly contributed to my success in Congress, helping move forward my legislative priorities and those of my district As a strong leader and with her creative, out-of-the-box thinking, Nicole empowered and motivated my staff to take every opportunity to serve my district and lead on important issues that make a difference in people's lives. This was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, at which time Nicole immediately transitioned my staff to remote work and successfully kept my office operating at full capacity to continue serving our constituents and bring them the most up-to-date information without knowing what the days, weeks, and months ahead had in store. Throughout my time in office, Nicole has helped pave the way for my major accomplishments, from the long-awaited construction of a veterans' clinic in French Camp, to helping improve our water, technology, energy, and environmental policy. Nicole made sure that my constituents and my district always came first and that bringing services and resources to our community always remained the priority. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Nicole's dedication to serving others not only extends to humans but to animals, too. Over the years, she has opened her home to over 15 animals--including rabbits, cats, dogs, a hamster, and even an iguana. Nicole has also personally rescued over 25 stray and injured animals from the streets of my district. She took them in, rehabilitated, and rehomed them, and with the invaluable and generous help of Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary in Stockton, ensured that the animals that crossed her path found good, loving homes. Her heart knows no bounds, and she continuously demonstrates the true meaning ofselflessness. Nicole's colleagues describe her as compassionate, understanding, and always there for them when they need her, no matter how big or small the issue. She does everything possible to see that staff have the tools and support they need to see the job through. Beyond being a boss and supervisor, Nicole is a friend and mentor to many and is there for the team when they need advice and support. Nicole Damasco is an outstanding employee, boss, colleague, friend, mentor, and leader. Her commitment, focus, kindness, and compassion are unrivaled. She has dedicated over 20 years of her life to public service and is the embodiment of what a public servant should be. Throughout my career in Congress, she has supported me and my team and has made a lasting impact on the lives of my constituents. With great appreciation and admiration for her, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Nicole Damasco for her distinguished and invaluable service. ____________________ |