[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO DIANE BALAMOTI AND TERESA BRELAND

  Mr. JOHNSTON. Mr. President, on several occasions over the past few 
days, I have taken the floor to express my appreciation to my fine 
staff for their loyal service to me and the committee over the years. 
Today, I want to say thank you to two staff members of the Energy and 
Natural Resources Committee.
  Diane Balamoti has been with the committee since 1987. During this 
period she has served as the staff assistant to the Park and Public 
Lands Subcommittee. As many of my colleagues know, this subcommittee 
has always been one of the most active and prolific subcommittees in 
the Senate. During her 10 years with the committee, Diane has staffed 
countless hearings and business meetings and assisted in the 
preparation of bills, statements, and the drafting of committee 
reports. She has kept the subcommittee's voluminous bills files and 
tracked the work of the subcommittee through the Senate and House. 
Diane possesses truly outstanding clerical skills which are often 
tested, especially at the end of a Congress when the pace of the 
committee's business always quickens. Ms. Balamoti has been a 
dependable, productive, and important member of our committee staff for 
many years and I want her to know how much I appreciate her service to 
me and the country.
  In addition, Mr. President, I want to thank Teresa Breland, the 
newest full time staff member on the Energy Committee minority staff. 
Terri, who has been with us slightly over a year, has served as our 
receptionist in the minority office and has more recently been the 
assistant to our staff director for the minority, Ben Cooper. Mr. 
President, Terri is one of those dedicated public servants who puts in 
a full day's work on the Hill and then goes to school at night. She is 
just about to finish her master's degree in psychology and I commend 
her for a job well done.

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