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HONORING J.D. GROM'S SERVICE TO THE NEW DEMOCRAT COALITION
______
HON. DEREK KILMER
of washington
in the house of representatives
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of J.D. Grom, an exceptional staffer and someone I'm proud to have called a colleague and partner.
J.D. left Capitol Hill as the longest-serving Executive Director of the New Democrat Coalition, and I consider myself lucky that he held the role during my Chairmanship of the Coalition.
We talk a lot in the NewDems about ``the future of work'' and the fundamentally changing nature of our economy. Our Nation--and our world--have seen massive, disruptive economic change. I've even seen it personally. My first job was working at Westside Video in Port Angeles, Washington. As J.D. has heard me say countless times, it kind of bums me out that the words ``Be Kind, Please Rewind'' mean nothing to my two kids. They live in this extraordinary world of seemingly unlimited streaming video and on-demand content. That's good for them but was really disruptive if you worked at a video store. There are countless other examples. The reality is that today's kids are growing up in an economy that is globalized, interconnected and rapidly changing. That can lead to growth and prosperity, but too often leaves a swath of workers and even whole communities struggling to compete.
To J.D.'s credit, under his leadership, the NewDems kept these issues front and center. We worked closely together on issues like workforce development and lifelong learning accounts, portable benefits and placebased economic development.
J.D. never took his eye off the economic ball, and we're better for it as a Coalition. More than that, J.D. was a kind leader and a strong mentor to his staff. He's someone I could always look to as well for sound judgment and clear-eyed, strategic advice.
This Coalition has never been stronger, thanks in no small part to the service of J.D. Grom. I wish him luck in his new role. To J.D.--as well as to his wife, Stacy, and his two kids, Emma and Jack, from whom we borrowed J.D. on many late nights and weekends--I offer my congratulations, my best wishes, and my sincere thanks for years of service.
The Force is strong with this one. We're expecting big things from J.D. ahead.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 185
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