Barr Honors Tatum Dale on the House Floor

Washington, D.C.- Tonight, U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) honored the life of Tatum Elizabeth Dale, his longtime staffer and Deputy Chief of Staff, who passed away on Christmas Eve from complications of Moya Moya. The full transcript of Barr's speech is below:

"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Tatum Elizabeth Dale, a proud Kentuckian, a dedicated public servant, and one of the best people I've ever had the blessing of serving with.

"Tatum was my Deputy Chief of Staff and she passed away at the young age of 35 years old on Christmas Eve, from complications of Moya Moya. For over 15 years, Tatum served side-by-side with me for the people of the Sixth Congressional District and the Commonwealth she loved.

"She held almost every job you could hold in my office - Scheduler, Field Representative, Deputy District Director, District Director, and finally, Deputy Chief of Staff.

"She earned every role, not through ambition, but through trust. Titles never defined Tatum. Results did.

"Tatum was Kentucky through and through. She grew up on a farm outside of Murray, where she learned the values that would guide her entire life: hard work, humility, faith, loyalty, and service to others, the cause of life. Those values shaped everything she did.

"She knew our district better than anyone else. She knew the communities, the leaders, the families, and the history. She remembered names, conversations, and details others would forget. Constituents didn't see her as a staffer or my district director - they saw her as an advocate who listened, followed through, and fought for them. She was Tatum. She wasn't the Congressman's District Director, she was Tatum.

"Tatum had a special devotion to Eastern Kentucky. She knew the hollers and highways, the county judges and community leaders, and the unique challenges facing those communities. She made sure they were never overlooked.

"One of the best examples of that commitment came in Menifee County, where she loved the people, loved the community, and where she took on the U.S. Forest Service over the proposed removal of safety buoys at Cave Run Lake. Tatum single-handedly organized, advocated, and ultimately won - protecting tourism, safety, and local economic development. When the county newspaper ran a front-page story about this victory, she proudly displayed it in her office throughout the rest of her career.

"She also poured herself into addiction recovery efforts, helping establish the Sixth District Addiction Recovery Working Group and securing millions of dollars in federal grants for Narcan distribution, counseling, recovery services, and transitional housing. Her work saved lives.

"She was a fierce advocate for our veterans, helped set-up and do casework for the Sixth District Veterans Coalition.

"Beyond government, Tatum lived her faith. Through her church, she participated in mission trips to Haiti, where she served children living in deep poverty. She loved them, prayed for them, and gave them hope. Service, for Tatum, was not confined to a job description. She made a difference wherever she went.

"Inside our office, Tatum was the heartbeat of the team. Her leadership philosophy was simple: last to eat, first to fight. She mentored young staff, protected her colleagues, and demanded excellence - always with kindness. She showed up early, stayed late, and never asked anyone to do something she wouldn't do herself.

"She was also my most trusted advisor. She knew when to challenge me and she knew when to steady me. She made me a better Congressman, and she made our team better public servants.

"Kentucky lost a daughter who honored her home in everything she did. Our office lost a leader. Our communities lost a fierce advocate. And all of us lost a friend.

"But her legacy lives on - in the lives she helped, the problems she solved, and the example she set for what public service should be.

"Tatum Dale served others every single day of her life. She loved people. And she did her work beautifully. We will honor her best by carrying forward the standard she set.

"Rest well, Tatum. You are missed, you are remembered, and you will never be forgotten."