[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 17 (Friday, January 27, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1695-S1696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMENDATION OF SENATORS AND STAFF

  Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, after 11 days of debate we finally had 
passage of S. 1, a Senate bill which will curb unfunded Federal 
mandates. I think, as you can well appreciate, after 11 days and 
oftentimes 12 hours a day, we really have said quite a bit about S. 1, 
so in my closing comments, I would like to say what has not been said 
which are just some thank-you's for a lot of folks who worked very, 
very hard for this fundamental change in how this institution of 
Congress will operate under S. 1.
   [[Page S1696]] I want to thank Senator Dole, the majority leader, 
who designated it S. 1, demonstrating with his leadership and with his 
conviction that this is the sort of new partnership that he wants to 
see ordered in a federalist system where local, State, and National 
Government works in partnership, not one dictating to the other from 
the Federal level down.
  I thank Senator Roth and Senator Domenici--Senator Roth, of course, 
is the chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee; Senator Domenici 
is the chairman of the Budget Committee--for all their efforts during 
the winter recess and their help in crafting this legislation.
  During that period of time, also, Senator Exon, who is the ranking 
member on the Budget Committee, and his staff were very helpful. I 
think, with Senator Exon being a former Governor, he knows how 
important this is.
  Senator Levin, during the course of 11 days, certainly provided a 
great deal of input, a number of amendments that really we found quite 
acceptable that I think will enhance the bill. So I appreciate Senator 
Levin's efforts on that.
  Senator Byrd was certainly conscientious as we proceeded through this 
entire process. He offered an amendment which I think is a key 
amendment, which really strengthens this bill.
  Then the Senator who I will now reference, the Senator from Ohio, 
Senator Glenn, who has been a great partner in this whole effort. I 
think what is significant is that in the last session, the 103d session 
of Congress, when the Democrats were in the majority and when he was 
the chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee and before unfunded 
mandates was a household term, Senator Glenn realized that we needed to 
do something about that and so we crafted legislation. But it was his 
partnership, as we worked through this, that I think really helped us 
in a major way get to today, the fact we are going to provide to the 
American public, to the taxpayers, relief from these unfunded Federal 
mandates on the State and local governments. The mayors can now be the 
mayors they were elected to be. Governors can now be the Governors they 
were elected to be.
  I think often of that quote from Ben Nelson, the Governor of 
Nebraska, who said he was elected Governor of Nebraska, not the 
administrator of Federal programs in Nebraska.
  But I just have always been a great admirer of John Glenn's. Working 
closely with him, when you work that many hours together, you really, I 
think, determine the essence of an individual.
  It has been a honor, literally, standing at your side and I 
appreciate all of your help on S. 1.
  I also would like to acknowledge some folks that I think too often we 
do not say enough about, and that is the staff that helped us. On my 
staff, Buster Fawcett, who is my legislative director and really was 
the architect of the language of this, and Gary Smith, who worked with 
the State and local officials throughout the country in coordinating 
their desires and wishes in the legislation and their support for this.
  Both Buzz and Gary served with me when I was the mayor of Boise, ID. 
Buzz was the city attorney and Gary was the administrative assistant. 
We brought the team with us to Washington, DC.
  We have added to that team Brian Waidmann, who is now my 
administrative assistant. But his understanding of the process and his 
methodical approach was instrumental in getting us here and Wendy 
Guisto, also of my staff, who helped us with the research.
  On Senator Dole's staff, we cannot say enough about Elizabeth Greene, 
who was just tremendous in helping us as we needed to understand the 
different aspects of this process; and David Taylor, a young man who 
just has a grasp of where the end line is and what it takes to get 
there in a fashion that others respect, and, yet, you get there in a 
fashion that no one feels that they have been upset, upset in getting 
the job done.
  Senator Domenici's staff, Bill Hoagland, Austin Smythe, Jennifer 
Smith, and Anne Miller just played a key role with the intelligence 
that they have about this whole process; and Senator Roth's staff, 
Frank Polk and John Mercer, with their working relationship and 
understanding of how Government should work; Senator Glenn's staff, 
Sebastian O'Kelly, Larry Novey, and Leonard Weiss.
  We have come to know these people and to respect them, and I think it 
is demonstrated that there is a bipartisan spirit here that can and 
should work.
  Senator Byrd's office, Jim English, and Senator Exon's office, Bill 
Dauster.
  Senator Hatch's staff: Ed Whelan provided superb advice on the 
constitutional aspects of this legislation.
  Senator Brown's staff: Bennett Railey also provided expert legal 
advice and often on very short notice.
  Senate Labor Committee staff: Steve Solon and Ted Verheggen provided 
excellent help on labor law issues.
  Republican Cloakroom staff: Brad Holsclaw, Sarah Whittaker, Hillary 
Newlin, Mike Smythers, John Doney, Dave Schiappa, Ky Fullerton, and 
Dick Gibbons.
  Democratic staff: Marty Paone, Lula Davis, Arthur Cameron, and Kelly 
Riordan.
  Legislative clerks: Scott Bates, Dave Tinsley, and Kathie Alvarez.
  Journal clerks: Bill Lackey, Mark Lacovara, and Patrick Keating.
  Parliamentarians: Bob Dove, Alan Frumin, Kevin Kayes, and Beth Ann 
Smerko.
  Elizabeth MacDonough of the Official Reporter's Office.
  Pages: Bethany S. Atkins, Daniel E. Case, Michael J. Chapman, Kelvin 
D. Chen, Jeffrey M. Colvin, April D. Cunningham, Daniel E. Heffernan, 
Cristin M. Hodgens, Karen E. Hodys, Hilary S. Johnson, Fulmer Jones, 
Michael B. Kaplan, Katherine M. Lord, Matthew S. McMillian, Marc M. 
Mezvinsky, David M. Miller, Taina V. Mirach, Melody A. Montgomery, 
Anthony V. Oliver, Noah D. Oppenheim, Rupa R. Patel, Elizabeth S. 
Rosenberg, Benjamin T. Shoun, Megan D. Smith, Abraham E. Tucker, and 
Meredith H. Villines.
  I want to extend a special thank you to Tony Coe, of the Senate 
Legislative Counsel's office. He worked closely with Buzz Fawcett of my 
staff in drafting every word of this bill. I am grateful, and I was 
well served.
  Finally, I want to thank the citizens of Idaho for the opportunity 
they have given me in serving in the Senate. I hope they will take a 
small measure of pride that the effort to reform unfunded mandates was 
born in Idaho.
  Mr. President, again, I thank all who participated with us.
  I also want to acknowledge and thank my wife, Patricia, and my kids, 
Heather and Jeff, because for many nights the closest they got to dad 
was watching C-SPAN. Anyway, I will be home tonight.
  I thank the people from Idaho, because I appreciate the honor of 
serving them. They are people who are straightforward. That are honest 
and sincere. They just said, ``Why don't you go back there and do a job 
for us, and not on us.'' And I think that is what we accomplished here 
with Senate bill 1.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. GLENN. Mr. President, I am particularly appreciative of the 
remarks of my distinguished colleague from Idaho. He was not on the 
floor when I made my remarks about him a little while ago. But I talked 
about our excellent working relationship, and I appreciate the remarks 
very much.


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