[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12268-S12269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              A SPECIAL WORD OF APPRECIATION TO THE STAFF

  Mr. NUNN. Mr. President, as the 104th Congress and my own Senate 
career draw to a close today, I want to say a special word of 
appreciation to our terrific floor staff and our support staff for all 
of their help to the Members and staff of the Armed Services Committee 
and to me personally during the past 2 years, and, indeed, during my 
entire Senate career.
  I chaired the Armed Services Committee for 8 years and was ranking 
Democrat on that committee for 2 years before I became the chairman. 
During the last 2 years, I have been the ranking Democrat on the 
committee under Senator Thurmond's leadership.
  So for 12 years of my Senate career, I have worked constantly with 
the floor staff. I observed them before that time. In these last 12 
years, I have developed a very acute understanding and appreciation for 
their splendid service.
  A great deal of work in the Senate takes place in the Senate 
committees. We know that. But the culmination of the completion of 
legislative process occurs right here on the Senate floor; always has, 
and always will.
  Our guests in the gallery and the people who watch television around 
the country understand--because they watch and hear the procedures--
that the legislative procedure on the Senate floor is complicated. It 
always has been. Maybe we can make it simpler. It always will be 
complicated because parliamentary rules in a democracy are complicated.
  The sequencing of legislation, the filing and adopting of amendments, 
advising the Presiding Officer and individual Senators of parliamentary 
procedures, the taking down of every word that is spoken on the Senate 
floor--as our reporters do so well every day, even in the heat of 
debate--are all essential ingredients of the legislative process on the 
Senate floor. This process could not take place without the dedicated 
work of extraordinarily capable and talented staff members.
  Our Democratic floor staff works under the direction of Marty Paone, 
the Secretary to the Minority. Marty stepped into some pretty big shoes 
when he took over from his predecessor and long-time valuable Senate 
staff member, Abby Saffold, but those shoes fit Marty very well today. 
Marty's thorough knowledge of the details of the legislative process 
have made him indispensable to the U.S. Senate. Marty has always been 
available to me and to my staff to provide counsel and assistance 
whenever we needed that assistance. I especially appreciate Marty's 
support in ensuring prompt consideration of the thousands of 
nominations that the Armed Services Committee reports every year.
  On the staff of the Democratic leader Senator Daschle, John Hilley, 
who left last year to become the Assistant to the President for 
Legislative Affairs; Peter Rouse, Senator Daschle's Chief of Staff; 
Larry Stein and Randy DeValk have worked very effectively with the 
Armed Services Committee Members and staff on national security issues 
and legislation.
  Mr. President, I cannot say enough about the excellent day-to-day 
support we have had from Democratic floor staff of Brad Austin, Gary 
Myrick, Paul Brown, and Kelly Riordan who recently left the Senate 
staff. These individuals work under the leadership of our highly 
capable chief Democratic floor assistant, Lula Davis. I believe Lula is 
in the Chamber now. Lula is not only terrific in her leadership role; 
she always has time for a friendly word or often a humorous remark to 
put our heavy burdens in the proper perspective. Lula is even 
thoughtful enough to point out when the senior Senator from Georgia is 
wearing a tie that is ``off color and out of style''. Unfortunately, 
that sometimes occurs every day of the week. I am grateful for that 
kind of candid and frank advice from Lula in her leadership role. That 
probably is a little out of the scope of duty, but nevertheless it is 
appreciated.
  Managing and passing defense authorization bills and other 
legislation in the Senate becomes more challenging every year. Lula, 
Brad, Gary, and Paul are terrific individuals, are great staff, and 
have always been indispensable in assisting us move our committee bills 
through the Senate.
  I also want to thank our excellent Democratic cloakroom staff of 
Leonard Oursler, Christine Krasow, Paul Cloutier, and Brian Griffin. 
They must get asked about 1,000 times a week ``When is the next vote? 
When are we going to get out? What time do we adjourn?'' Of course, 
they do not always know, but they always give you a good answer and 
their best assessment. They never fail to cheerfully respond to that or 
any other question even though it may have been answered by them 100 to 
1,000 times a day. Their selfless and dedicated service has made all of 
our jobs easier. Certainly, it has made mine easier during the entire 
time I have been in the Senate.
  I should also note that while not working with them on a day-to-day 
basis as we do with our own floor staff, the Republican floor staff 
under the Secretary of the Majority Liz Greene has always worked with 
us to resolve any problems or issues associated with our committee's 
work. I must also note that Howard Greene was very helpful to me on 
many occasions and to the committee when he served as the Secretary of 
the Majority.
  Legislative Clerk Scott Bates and his assistant David Tinsley; Bill 
Clerk Kathie Alvarez and her assistants Mary Anne Clarkson and Danielle 
Fling; and Enrolling Clerk Tom Lundregan and his assistant Charlene 
McDevitt are an indispensable part of the legislative process on the 
Senate floor.
  Mr. President, I frankly do not know how they do it sometimes, but 
they are able to keep track of all the amendments on major bills and 
produce a complete Senate bill in a very short time.
  Executive Clerk David Marcos and his assistant Michelle Haynes keep 
track of thousands of nominations that the Armed Services Committee and 
other committees of the Senate act on each year. We are deeply indebted 
to these capable people.
  I also want to express my appreciation to the Senate Parliamentarian 
Bob Dove, and members of his office: Alan Frumin, Kevin Kayes, and 
Sally Goffinet, as well as their predecessors since I served in the 
Senate. When I came to the Senate, Dr. Floyd Riddick was the 
Parliamentarian, and he was succeeded by Murray Zweben, both of whom 
were excellent and took many, many hours of time to help junior 
Senators, like the Senator from Georgia, when we first arrived in the 
Senate. We were so desirous and in need of parliamentary advice. All of 
the Parliamentarian staff have consistently provided objective and 
timely answers to the many questions I have had over the years. I think 
that is true of other Senators and certainly true of our staffs as they 
have sought advice day in and day out.
  Finally, Mr. President, I thank all of the official reporters of 
debate that takes place in the Chamber under the direction of Chief 
Reporter Ron Kavulick and all of the staff members who have the awesome 
responsibility of producing the verbatim transcript of the Senate's 
proceedings. Journal Clerks Bill Lackey, Mark Lacovara,

[[Page S12269]]

and Patrick Keating, and Daily Digest Editor Thom Pellikaan and his 
assistants Linda Sebold and Kim Longsworth also play a key role in 
making the record of all of the activities of the Senate available to 
the public.

  I am certain that I have left someone out in this listing of 
indispensable people, but certainly I intend to include all of the 
staff in my praise. The words that are spoken on the Senate floor and 
the action that the Senate takes will be preserved for history long 
after we are gone, thanks to these talented individuals who work 
miracles under extraordinary deadlines every day.
  In summary, Mr. President, my final words in this Chamber are simply 
a thank you--a thank you to all the staff members who support the day-
to-day activities on this Senate floor, for their dedicated service to 
the Senate and to our Nation. They, indeed, make this Republic work. 
They make the democratic system work. Everyone who follows the work of 
this great body should understand that the Senate could not function 
without the tremendous effort and professionalism these staff members 
provide.
  I close by thanking my own personal staff that arrived with me in 
1972, and those that depart with me in 1996, as well as those who will 
remain and serve in other offices and those who have left during the 
interim. I have had a remarkable personal staff. I have had a 
remarkable Armed Services Committee staff. I thank the staff members of 
the Armed Services Committee on the Democratic side and also on the 
Republican side who have been so faithful to their duties.
  I have also had a remarkable staff on the Permanent Subcommittee on 
Investigations all of these years. I inherited that subcommittee and 
became acting chairman under the guidance of Senator Henry ``Scoop'' 
Jackson, one of our all-time great Senators. I have been associated 
with the subcommittee since about 1976, either as the vice chairman, 
acting chairman, chairman, or ranking Democrat on the committee under 
Senator Roth.
  Mr. President, it has been a real pleasure working with all of these 
staff members, and I wish all of them continued success in the future.
  Finally, Mr. President, my colleagues in the Senate, I will not name 
each of you as there are so many Senators who I have been privileged to 
have been associated--like my good friend, Senator Warner, is in the 
Chamber and others. I have served with a number of giants in the annals 
of Senate history.
  I was in a seminar about 2 weekends ago. Some of the most 
distinguished people in the country were gathered together, famous 
authors who had written books, playwrights, people who succeeded 
fabulously in business, chief executive officers in corporations, 
famous sports figures, including Ray Floyd and Jack Nicklaus, great 
golfers. I looked around the room, and I was, of course, winding down 
my career. I asked myself the question, ``Would you swap the last 24 
years with any of these people, some of whom are fabulously wealthy, 
and most of whom are very famous?'' My answer was, ``No, I would not 
swap the last 24 years of service in the Senate with the service that 
any other person in this country or, indeed, in the world has 
rendered.''
  My service in the Senate and my service to the people of Georgia has 
been a very special privilege and certainly the highest honor of my 
life.
  I thank the Chair, and I thank my colleagues.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.

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