[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 7 (Thursday, January 12, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        CONCERNING SHEILA BURKE

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, over the past 10 years, the one 
individual who has been perhaps more closely associated with the new 
majority leader, Senator Bob Dole, than any other person is his former 
chief of staff, Sheila Burke.
  A graduate of the University of San Francisco with a bachelor of 
science in nursing, Sheila worked in the medical field in California 
and New York before joining Senator Dole's staff in 1977 as a 
legislative assistant. Known for his ability to recognize individuals 
with talent and ability, Senator Dole soon moved Sheila on to a number 
of position of greater importance and responsibility. In the following 
18 years, Sheila has worked as a professional staff member and deputy 
stafff director on the Finance Committee, as the deputy chief of staff 
to the majority leader, and as chief of staff to the majority leader 
and the Republican leader. While in every instance she has 
distinguished herself as an individual of great intelligence and 
dedication, she truly proved her mettle during her tenure as the 
leader's chief of staff. Sheila knew every piece of legislation at 
least as well as the person who wrote it. She was always able to 
provide valuable advice to Bob and to any Republican Senator. Her 
dedication and sense of purpose not only served us well, but it earned 
her the respect of Members on both sides of the aisle.
  As we all know, the life of a top-level aide to a U.S. Senator is 
demanding, especially if the Member is in a leadership position as 
Senator Dole.
  It can often be difficult for a staffer to balance the 
responsibilities of his or her professional and personal lives, though 
this appeared to pose little trouble for Sheila. Not only is she the 
proud mother of three children, Sheila was able to find the time to 
earn a master's degree in public administration from Harvard 
University's prestigious and challenging John F. Kennedy School of 
Government. I doubt that I would be exaggerating if I said that the 
faculty at Harvard probably learned more about government from Sheila 
than she did from them.
  After many years of service to Senator Dole, Sheila is moving on to 
yet another new job, the Secretary of the Senate. In her new position, 
she will take on many new responsibilities, but none that will be too 
difficult for her to master or manage. I commend Senator Dole for 
nominating Sheila to be Secretary of the Senate, and applaud my 
colleagues for confirming her nomination.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, there is no arguing that life on Capitol 
Hill is an interesting experience that provides a wealth of colorful 
stories. Each one of us knows about staffers who, after working 
together for years, end up getting married; or of young college 
graduates who move to Washington, take some lowly job and work their 
way to positions of importance and responsibility. One of Washington's 
true ``power couples,'' Howard and Elizabeth Greene, who each now have 
top level support jobs in the Senate, can lay claim to having enjoyed 
both the above mentioned experiences.
  Howard and Elizabeth got their respective starts on the Hill in the 
same manner that many of our staffers do, as a doorkeeper and a page. 
While neither job is particularly glamorous or financially rewarding, 
they proved to be magic stepping stones for the Greenes. In subsequent 
years, both Howard and Elizabeth held a number of jobs that eventually 
led them to positions of key importance, that of Senate Republican 
Secretary for Howard and the legislative scheduler's office for 
Elizabeth. Throughout their careers here in the Senate, both have 
earned well deserved reputations for their ability and dedication as 
well as the respect and praise of members from both sides of the aisle.
  In this new Congress, the Greenes are each moving on to new and 
important positions: Howard to be the Senate's new Sergeant at Arms, 
and Elizabeth to be the secretary for the majority. Both of these jobs 
are critical to the successful operation of the Senate and we will be 
served well by the Greenes as they work hard, are dedicated, and always 
have the best interests of the United States Senate at heart in the 
performance of their duties.


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