Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to recognize my chief of staff, Dr. Patrick DeLeon, who has helped me to serve the people of Hawaii and our Nation for 38 years. Dr. DeLeon is retiring, but he leaves behind a legacy of work that has greatly improved the lives of many of our citizens in Hawaii, particularly the native Hawaiians, while advancing the professional circumstances of doctors, nurses, and psychologists. After joining my staff in August of 1973, Pat, a psychologist and attorney, directed my efforts to create and refine health and education policy. In the later years he would also serve as chief of staff for my Washington, DC, office. Pat helped to shepherd legislation related to native Hawaiians, immigrant children, the people of the Pacific, and higher education. Under his service the importance of nurses, psychologists, and other health professionals have been properly recognized. He has been very active in helping our community college system in Hawaii become full-fledged 4-year colleges. For example, he played a major role in the establishment of a school of pharmacy and a school of nursing at the University of Hawaii's Hilo campus. Pat also serves as a teacher, a mentor, and psychologist to my staff, a role that will be difficult to replace. I thank Pat for his decades of hard work, his service to the people of Hawaii and this Nation, and, most importantly, for his friendship. ____________________”