Ed Royce: “as Members of Congress, we all receive numerous honors every year. But having someone named after you is truly a special…”

“as Members of Congress, we all receive numerous honors every year. But having someone named after you is truly a special honor. There is a young boy named Eric Royce Bates out in California. What makes it so special is that his grandmother is my chief of staff, Joan Bates Korich, who has announced her retirement. Joni has worked for me for 19 years, starting in the California State Senate in 1982. I came to Sacramento as a young State Senator at the age of 31. I knew what I believed and I knew what my goals were. What I did not know was how to go about accomplishing those goals. That is where Joni came in. She helped me learn how to turn ideas into accomplishments. She taught me that friendships can transcend politics and that just because you may disagree with someone, that that does not make them your enemy. She is the ultimate professional who takes her work seriously but never loses her sense of humor. Thanks to Joni's leadership, our office is known for civility and professionalism. Our constituents in California have benefited tremendously from the unique care and interest she has demonstrated over the years. She has also proven time and time again how much she cares about every member of our staff. To this day, interns and young staff members who worked with us in Sacramento many years ago still call Joni to ask for advice, or just to tell her how their family is doing.”