[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12285-S12286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          A VERMONTER MOVES ON

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize the lifetime of service that Mary Miller has given to the 
state of Vermont. I have been fortunate to have had Mary in my 
Montpelier office, working for the people of Vermont for 17 years. 
Anyone involved in rural development, small business, or affordable 
housing has undoubtedly seen for themselves her whole-hearted 
commitment to these issues which are so important for our small state. 
Even before joining my staff Mary was working to improve the lives of 
her fellow Vermonters through her service to Common Cause, and as a 
state legislator for her home base in Rutland County.
  It is difficult to put into words Mary's boundless energy, her 
enthusiasm--and her ability to simultaneously make Vermonters feel good 
about what they are doing while helping them achieve their goals. At 
times I have felt that members of Congress are only Constitutional 
impediments to our staff. Mary is a humbling case in point. I have met 
hundreds of thousands of Vermonters over the past 25 years. I have been 
to every corner of the state many times over--and it's fair to say that 
often more people recognize Mary than recognize me. Sometimes it is not 
even close.
  There is no mud season too miserable, no pothole too large, and no 
snowfall too deep to keep Mary from meeting with Vermonters. I remember 
one spring in particular when she traveled for miles over muddy, rutted 
dirt roads to meet a small business owner who had benefitted from one 
of the revolving loan funds I have worked to set up around the state. 
As I recall, in this particular case the owner was not home, but his 
dog was and gave her quite a reception. He may be the only revolving 
loan fund recipient in the state that Mary has not met, and even his 
dog would recognize her.
  Despite this outreach schedule, that would put many of her 
chronologically challenged co-workers to shame, Mary has always found 
time for fun. Even as she approaches the age when more conventional 
people are thinking about retirement, Mary is planning her next white 
water rafting trip.
  I know I am not alone in saying that I will miss her lively presence 
in the office. I will miss her colorful reports on the weather which 
close out the daily press brief and her unflagging

[[Page S12286]]

support for the Red Sox. But I don't plan on letting her get away too 
easily--I have Mary's e-mail address and it will be well used.
  Mary is not retiring, just shifting her focus to new challenges, such 
as the mountains yet to be climbed, rivers yet to be rafted, 
grandchildren yet to be born. I know that her husband Sam is looking 
forward to seeing more of Mary as much as I regret seeing her leave. 
Vermont is lucky to have had Mary to itself for all these years.

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