[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11870-S11871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SENATOR HATFIELD'S STAFF

  Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I would like at this time to take a few 
moments to reflect on my leaving the Senate, and to comment upon the 
extraordinary staff that I have enjoyed over the years, the tremendous 
work that they do every day, and the staffs for all of the Senators I 
am sure would mete some of the same comments and earn some of the same 
accolades that I would like to extend to my staff.
  I have always said that I believed that the soul of my office is 
really the casework where you can make a difference in the life of some 
individual--it may be a Social Security check that is fouled up; it may 
be an immigration problem in which a family can be reunited. We all 
have similar work in this category. But I really think that has 
probably more bridge-building impact upon people thinking and knowing 
that their Government does care and that they have compassion.
  I would like to thank particularly Melanie Curtis, Chris Tye, Chris 
Brown, and Lisa White. They have served the people of my State in an 
extraordinarily capable and compassionate fashion.
  My Washington office has been kept running by a dedicated group of 
administrative professionals led by my office manager, Lynn Baker, who, 
like many in this Senate, is raising a family as a single parent and 
juggling her workload in order to meet both her duties to the office 
and, more especially, to her young son. She is assisted by a dedicated 
group of Senate professionals as well.
  I am sure that no Senator fully knows all the details that go into 
the creating of a daily schedule. We all carry these little cards 
around. We all know, too, that situations change during the day. Brenda 
Hart has been, for the last 5 years, my chief scheduler. She has been a 
confidant, she has been a political operative, and she has been the 
cheerleader of our office by her extraordinary talent of baking. She 
keeps that bakery going at her home and brings the results to the 
office to share, whether it is late at night or whether it is during 
the day. I think she is the first to arrive in my office in the morning 
and the last to leave. I can't believe that an office could run more 
smoothly than she directs. One of the newsmen the other day dubbed her 
the den mother for all the people in my office. I refer to her as 
mother superior, as she takes a very direct role by not just handing me 
a card, but she helps direct me.

  Of course, the reason we are here is to pass legislation, and there 
is no legislative staff I feel that is as skilled mine. I take great 
pride in all parts of my office, especially the legislative staff.
  For some 6 years a young lady by the name of Sue Hildick has been my 
legislative director. She became my legislative director at the age of 
26. I doubt that history will show that a legislative director of an 
office has started that undertaking being so young, but she has done it 
as a mature professional with great judgment, along with all of her 
directing and coordinating of legislative staff.
  Of the 14 members of my policy team, 11 started in my office as 
interns, including my chief of staff, Steve Nousen.
  Mr. President, we all know that offices have to have a tight hand. 
They have to have an understanding hand, and I believe that Steve 
Nousen has performed that duty in such an extraordinary way in terms of 
efficiency and keeping a happy, well-run operation. I suppose I would 
say that Steve had a very good beginning. He had professional training 
as a school-teacher and as a civics teacher in a high school in a small 
community in my State. There in small communities you know everyone. 
Everyone knows you. They know your strengths. They know your weaknesses 
and yet you have to be a good neighbor especially in school because 
parents in that type of school take a very active interest. As a 
consequence, they are watching you as well to inspire, teach, and to 
set the example before their children. Steve Nousen, as I say, has a 
great and wonderful record as my chief of staff, has my total 
confidence.

  There are three members of my staff as part of my legislative team: 
Doug Pahl, Karen Matson, and Kristi Gaines. They earned their law 
degree while going to night school and carrying a full load during the 
day as staff members. I am proud of that record. Ken Hart, my current 
press secretary, started as an intern and finished his master's degree 
program at American University while serving as a staff assistant. I 
come from an academia background, and, of course, there is nothing that 
gives me more satisfaction than watching my staff grow in maturity and 
academic accomplishment. We have been supportive of their efforts. 
These are a few of them that I refer to, not every single person, 
because that would take us into a time beyond my allocation at this 
moment.
  I have praised my staff on the Appropriations Committee many times 
because each bill we have keyed in upon the performance of the staff in 
charge, but let me again refer to the chief of staff of the 
Appropriations Committee. I have to say that he came as an intern from 
the divinity school at Duke University. He was headed for the Methodist 
ministry. I feel sort of a guilt complex here at the moment because in 
coming as an intern he never left. So the Methodists have suffered as a 
result. I have always said, being ecumenical, my previous staff 
director came from the Princeton seminary and never returned. I think 
they are doing the Lord's work when they are involved in public 
service, and I think we will know they affected the kingdom in a very 
special way at some point in the future.
  Keith Kennedy came, as I say, as an intern and almost 25 years later 
we have reached this point of our relationship. Again, I would have to 
have volumes to describe the history, the experiences we have shared 
together. But I like to think that because we have really a 
comparatively low turnover, probably the least turnover--I know a few 
years ago there was a survey done, and we had the least turnover of any 
staff in the Senate. I would think the longevity of that staff adds to 
their abilities and the quality of their service to the citizens of 
this country.
  I just have to say I have been blessed by the quality of the people 
who have served and are the working relationships that I have enjoyed. 
I have learned a great deal from my staff. I have learned that young 
people are so enthusiastic. They have so much trust and faith in the 
system, this great political system of ours and they are determined to 
make it work, and so individually and corporately I take my hat off to 
one of the great reasons why I have been able to stay here for 30 years 
and have achieved a certain degree of success in a certain number of 
fields.
  Mr. President, I wish to take this opportunity to add to the remarks 
that I

[[Page S11871]]

just made to further commend the excellent staff that we are fortunate 
to have here in Congress.
  Over the course of the last week, I have had the opportunity to see 
the Appropriations process at work like few others do. Working around 
the clock, our negotiations with the House of Representatives and the 
White House was an all consuming task. Mr. Panetta and OMB Director 
Raines ably represented the priorities of the White House while 
Congressmen Livingston and Obey did the same for the House.
  I wish to highlight the efforts of three people who are the mechanics 
of this effort. The people who ensure that the decisions that are made 
are translated into words that are properly included in the bill and 
report and do what is intended they do.
  John Mikel and Dennis Kedzior of the House Appropriations Committee 
and Jack Conway of the Senate Appropriations Committee are the 
mechanics that have so developed the confidence of both bodies that we 
can confidently vote on this large piece of legislation knowing that it 
is technically correct and properly drafted.
  With over 60 years of combined service to the Federal Government, 
their commitment to the process and making government a better place 
serves as an example for all who work here.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum to be--first of all, 
Mr. President, what is the time factor remaining?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator controls 58 minutes 20 seconds; 
the minority controls 70 minutes.
  Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I would suggest the absence of a quorum. 
I ask unanimous consent that it be charged equally against both sides.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. PRYOR addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.
  Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I think under a unanimous-consent agreement 
I am to be recognized now for 5 minutes. Is that correct?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct. The Senator is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. PRYOR. I thank the Chair for recognizing me.

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