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• Mr. GLICKMAN. Mr. Speaker, on May 23, Robert J. Fitch completed nearly 9 years of service on the staff of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. This evening, we will bid Bob a formal farewell, but I wanted to call attention in a more permanent way to his many contributions to the committee and the Nation.

• The Intelligence Committee oversees the programs and activities of all of the intelligence agencies of the United States. One of the principal means by which oversight is conducted is through the review and authorization of the budgets for those agencies. At the time of his departure, Bob was the staff member chiefly responsible for the preparation of the committee's annual budget authorization bill. To be successful at that job requires expertise, dedication, and attention to detail. Bob possessed all of those attributes, and more, in abundance. He was highly regarded by the members of the committee for his thoroughness, and his judgment was accorded great weight in the committee's deliberations.

• Before joining the committee, Bob had a distinguished career as an Army officer, including a tour in Vietnam. His receipt of the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star reflects the quality of his military service. Bob's knowledge of the intelligence needs of battlefield commanders, and his support for programs designed to address those needs, was a product of his military experience.

• After his release from active duty, Bob increased his knowledge of intelligence programs through his work at E-Systems Corp. His efforts to reconcile ambitious programs with fiscal realities was good preparation for his responsibilities with the committee.

• Bob served under each of the six chairmen of the Intelligence Committee. He was therefore one of the repositories of institutional knowledge of the staff, and he was ever vigilant to the ensure that, as the composition of the committee changed, new members were aware of positions previously taken by the committee, and the reasons for them. In that regard he performed an extremely valuable function.

• Mr. Speaker, Bob Fitch worked tirelessly to make certain that the House of Representatives effectively discharged its intelligence oversight responsibilities. Due to the classified nature of the Intelligence Committee's work, only a handful of the Members of this boby were aware of Bob's efforts. Those who worked with him, however, were impressed not only by his ability, but by his willingness to go to any length, often at considerable personal sacrifice, to ensure that the committee members were well served. As he begins a new career in private industry, I wanted Bob, his wife, Robin, and daughter, Allie, to know that his efforts, and his sacrifice, were very much appreciated.

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