[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 92 (Monday, July 13, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S8054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MRS. CATHY ABELL

  Mr. LOTT. Mister President, I would like to recognize the 
professional dedication, vision and public service of Mrs. Cathy Abell 
who is leaving the Army Senate Legislative Liaison Office to serve as 
the Congressional Affairs Coordinator for the Assistant Secretary of 
the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. It is a privilege for me to 
recognize the many outstanding achievements she has provided for the 
Senate, the Army, and our great Nation.
  Cathy Abell worked for every Member of the Senate as the Secretary of 
the Army's legislative liaison to the Senate. She was instrumental in 
facilitating the exchange of information between our constituent 
services offices and the Department of the Army. Mrs. Abell is an 
expert at cutting through the red tape of the military bureaucracy and 
never lost sight of the fact that taking care of the individual was 
paramount. I never knew of an instance in which Mrs. Abell would back 
away from doing the right thing for the Army, the soldier or family 
member and the Senate offices she served.
  Mrs. Abell earned the reputation as someone on whom we could rely on 
to respond to our inquiries in a responsive, professional manner. She 
always provided informative, well researched responses to our 
constituents. Cathy Abell was the ``go to'' person in the Army's Senate 
Legislative Liaison Office. When a Senate office had a really complex 
case, the legislative assistants knew that they should direct the 
inquiry to her. Mrs. Abell would skillfully work through the complex 
military regulations and determine how best to maintain the integrity 
of the Army's processes while permitting the soldier or family member 
to receive the relief required by their situation. She is able to 
communicate effectively with both military officials and Congressional 
staff members and has developed superb working relationships with our 
staffs. Her professional abilities and the excellent working 
relationships earned her the respect and trust which served her, the 
Army and the Senate so well.
  Mrs. Abell recognized that many of our staff were not familiar with 
Army organizations, processes and procedures. To address this lack of 
familiarity, she organized and implemented a series of trips in which 
our staffs were able to experience first hand the conditions under 
which military personnel are recruited, processed and trained. As a 
result of her initiative, Senate staff members are able to more 
accurately explain Army procedures to constituents, in many cases 
eliminating the need for a formal inquiry. Initiative, caring service 
and professionalism are the terms used to describe Mrs. Abell.
  Mister President, Cathy Abell is a great credit to the Army and the 
Nation. As she now departs to share her experience and expertise with 
the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, I 
call upon my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to recognize her 
service to the Senate and wish her well in her new assignment.

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