[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
STATEMENT OF SENATOR CHRISTOPHER J. DODD--TRIBUTE TO MY STAFF
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, in the midst of our busy schedules, we do
not pause often enough to thank the people who make this institution
run: the Senate staff. These are people who toil for long hours for far
less money than they could earn elsewhere. They display a splendid
dedication to public service and the democratic process.
Outside this Chamber, there are five portraits hanging in the
reception room. Those portraits reflect the decision by a committee
that several decades ago decided who had been the most effective
Members of the U.S. Senate in our history. Then Senator John F. Kennedy
chaired that Commission. The Senators chosen were Senator Taft, Senator
Calhoun, Senator Clay, Senator Webster, and Senator La Follette.
There is no such facility, that I know of, where Members of the
Senate staff are so recognized for their contributions. They are
rarely, if ever, mentioned in the press. They never get an opportunity
to give a speech on the Senate floor. But I know each and every one of
my colleagues deeply appreciates the work that the staff does.
I am deeply appreciative of my staff, both for their dedication to me
and to this institution. I want to especially single out a few
individuals who have recently left my staff or will be departing at the
end of this Congress.
Bob Dockery served as my senior foreign policy adviser virtually
since my arrival in the Senate in 1981. His knowledge of Latin America,
sound political judgment, and utter reliability are legendary in the
Senate. He is also a man of unparalleled principle and professionalism.
Sarah Flanagan has served the last 18 months as the staff director of
the Subcommittee on Children, Family, Drugs and Alcoholism, which I
Chair. One of the Senate's leading experts on education policy, she has
played a key role in a number of major initiatives, including the Safe
Schools Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the ounce
of prevention component of the crime bill.
Patty Cole was a longtime staffer of the Subcommittee on Children.
She was a key mover behind a wide range of social legislation,
including child care and early childhood education. Just this year, we
passed a reauthorization bill that greatly expanded and improved the
Head Start Program, and it was due in no small part to Patty's hard
work.
Doug Sosnik was my administrative assistant for nearly 3 years. He
took a leave of absence during that time to manage my successful
reelection campaign in 1992.
I also want to thank a number of other departing staffers, all of
whom we miss: Sira Berte, my scheduler; Gia Daniller, a legislative
correspondent; Monica Guthrie, who worked in my reception area; Matt
Hersh, a foreign policy legislative assistant; Jeanne Ireland, a fellow
who worked on health care reform legislation; George Kramer, a fellow
who worked on securities litigation; Sara Lanza of my foreign policy
staff; Jorge Lopez, a fellow specializing in violence prevention; Erin
Martin, my deputy press secretary, and Daniel Wirls, a fellow who
worked on congressional reorganization.
In addition, I wish to pay tribute to the rest of my personal and
committee staff for all of their hard work and commitment: Jill
Adleberg, Chuck Bunnell, Adria Deasy, Suzanne Day, Sheila Duffy,
Carolyn Egan, Marvin Fast, Bob Gillcash, Joan Gillman, Pat Gilory, Del
Greer, Michelle Halloran, Holly Hanson, Cory Heyman, Diana Huffman,
Stanley Israelite, Donna Jones, Kathy Keup, Michael Leahy, Jane
Loewenson, Ed Mann, Katherine McCarron, Barbara McCredie, Tom Mezzio,
Janice O'Connell, Tony Orza, Joe Palmore, Belinda Parker, Dana Petaway,
Michael Powell, Lee Reynolds, Christopher Ross, Lois Santiago, Andrea
Siaflas, Deya Smith, Ashley Smoot, Mark Stephanou, Suzanne Stokes, Rick
Van Ausdall, Pat Walsh, Courtney Ward, Ted Webber, and Emily Wolf.
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