[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 42 (Monday, March 25, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2799-S2800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO DIANE KASEMAN

  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I am proud to pay tribute today to a dear 
friend to me and my wife, Elizabeth Ann, Diane Kaseman. Diane is a 
long-time employee of the Senate Service Department, where her 
friendliness, dedication, and charming personality have become familiar 
to many Members of this body and our staffs. Unfortunately for us, she 
will be retiring from her position in the Service Department after an 
incredible 43 years of service to the U.S. Congress.
  Diane Kaseman is one of those individuals who takes extreme pride in 
her work and who truly loves the Senate as an institution. She and her 
loyal canine pets have become welcome sights to the many hundreds of 
staff members who routinely seek assistance from the Service 
Department. She never fails to express genuine concern when one of us, 
our spouses, or our staff members is under the weather. Her kind words 
and thoughtful notes never fail to improve our spirits.
  Diane is a Rochester, NY native, and began her Capitol Hill career as 
a receptionist for the late Congressman and Senator Kenneth Keating of 
New York. She began work on March 27, 1953. Eventually, she moved over 
to the Senate, where she served on the staff of former Kentucky Senator 
John Sherman Cooper. Since then, she has served under 11 Senate 
Sergeants-at-Arms, working with the service and computer facilities.
  Not surprisingly, Diane has devoted much of her time over the years 
to volunteer and community service activities. Early on in her career, 
she helped establish the Senate Staff Club. Since its founding in 1954, 
it has sponsored a wide variety of social, civic, and philanthropic 
projects. She served as the organization's first treasurer. Today, it 
has over 3,000 members.
  One of the Staff Club's major activities has been its blood donor 
drives, begun in 1978. Diane has been a driving force behind this 
campaign and has dedicated many hours of hard work and energy to see 
that the Senate meets its goals. My wife has worked with Diane on many 
of these blood drives.
  In 1981, she received the Sid Yudain Award, which recognized ``her 
dedication to the well-being of her coworkers and for the generous 
expenditure of her time, talent, and personal resources in the service 
of the congressional community.'' These few words are perhaps the best 
that can be offered to summarize her outstanding career and selfless 
service.
  Diane Kaseman is truly a Senate institution who will be sorely missed

[[Page S2800]]

after she leaves the Senate at the end of this month. I join my 
colleagues in thanking her, commending her, and wishing her all the 
best as she embarks upon a well-earned retirement.

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