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HONORING SHADAWN REDDICK-SMITH
______
HON. JERROLD NADLER
of new york
in the house of representatives
Friday, May 28, 2021
Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I rise to thank and honor Shadawn Reddick-
Smith for her years of distinguished service to the House Judiciary Committee and to the United States Congress. Through her strategic insight and tireless dedication to advancing the Committee's priorities, Shadawn played a vital role in ensuring the work of the House Judiciary Committee was accessible and tangible to the American people.
As we toiled together to reject then-President Trump's disgraceful efforts to undermine our democracy and erode key Judiciary priorities--
namely reforming our immigration system, preventing gun violence, and protecting access to the ballot box--I saw firsthand her passion and her skillful capacity to render our often-complex work understandable to the public.
When Democrats took control of the House in January of 2019, the eyes of the country were fixed upon the Judiciary Committee I now chaired. I was deeply grateful that Shadawn stayed on my staff as my communications director as we entered this unprecedented time in American history. Before us lay problems existential in nature and scope: a lawless President intent on destroying democratic norms, an executive branch stubbornly fixed on stonewalling accountability, and a structure of government thrown into disarray by the Administration's ineptitude and cruelty. Despite the daunting task at hand, Shadawn's composure was unflagging and her capacity to maintain and nurture relations with members of the press--and the Democratic caucus--were invaluable.
It would be easy to recognize Shadawn first and foremost for her work on the Judiciary Committee's oversight efforts, which included two presidential impeachments during her tenure. And, to be sure, Shadawn handled these incredibly demanding environments with poise, marshalling stakeholders, communicating effectively with the media, and shaping the public narrative to ensure our message of accountability under the law was heard loudly and clearly by the American people. But to focus only on these high-profile events would be to omit Shadawn's commitment to all the work of the Judiciary Committee.
Shadawn sacrificed much of herself, without complaint, to provide access to the press and ensure the public understood what was transpiring in the Halls of Congress. She would regularly wake early, arriving at the Rayburn House Office Building often before the sun rose to ensure that television cameras and reporters were met with unlocked doors. She was also a kind presence to the junior staffers and interns who perform much of the unsung work of the Committee, offering guidance on how to communicate effectively and how to navigate a career on Capitol Hill. And Shadawn expanded and transformed the Judiciary Committee's digital program, ensuring that the work of the Committee could meet Americans where they are today: online and on social media. Her legacy is a Judiciary Committee with a social media reach unparalleled among other House Committees.
In bringing the Judiciary Committee into the 21st century, Shadawn worked to ensure that the Committee was actively addressing issues that were top of mind to the American people. She was deeply passionate about overhauling America's broken, often brutal system of policing and helped shepherd the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act--bold legislation that reimagines policing in our communities--through the Judiciary Committee and the full House of Representatives. In doing so, Shadawn showcased her wide array of skills, demonstrating her ability to build consensus, deftly manage a surge of press requests, and craft a message that helped facilitate the bill's passage while rendering it visible to the public at large.
Shadawn is moving on to tackle new challenges at the Department of Homeland Security, where she will serve as Director of Strategic Communications. She is one of a select few who stood tall and demonstrated exemplary grit during a most turbulent moment for our nation. I always felt proud to have her by my side.
I wish Shadawn all the best in her future endeavors, and I thank her for her service to the Committee, to the Congress, and to the country.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 94
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