[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 141 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ROBERT DIBBLEE

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I would like to take just a moment to note 
the departure later this month of my Administrative Assistant, Robert 
Dibblee. Robert has served as my chief of staff for four years. He 
previously served a number of years with our former colleague, Senator 
Jake Garn.
  He has been my right-hand man, not only in running my office --
running my life actually--but also on key land policy issues affecting 
Utah. I have really come to rely on him for advice and counsel as well 
as for accomplishing the myriad of tasks that face a Senate office.
  I want to use this public forum to recognize and thank Robert for his 
tireless efforts behind the scenes to keep the Utah Schools and Lands 
Exchange Act, just passed by the Senate, on track. From the day he 
arrived on my staff in 1993, I knew he would make my priority his own. 
I should mention that the first iteration of this legislation was my 
bill, S. 184, introduced during the 103rd Congress. The bill was 
enacted into law; but, unfortunately, the required land appraisals were 
never carried out by the Interior Department. And, the presidential 
designation of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in 1996 
doubled the number of acres of trust land that needed to be offset or 
compensated.
  Robert has worked practically on a daily basis on this issue with the 
Utah governor's office, the Interior Department, members and staff of 
the Senate Energy Committee, and with the staff of my colleagues in the 
Utah delegation, particularly Congressman Jim Hansen, without whose 
assistance as chairman of the House Resources Subcommittee we could not 
have passed the bill today.
  During this final week, Robert worked to break several logjams that 
could have sunk this legislation. Throughout the consideration of this 
bill, he has been a steady and reliable guide for this all-important 
bill to support education in Utah.
  Robert is moving on to be Vice President for Government Relations for 
the National Association of Independent Insurers. So, I say to my 
colleagues who do not yet know him: you will. And, you will appreciate 
working with him as much as I have. Robert Dibblee is a stand-up guy 
who does what is right and honorable; he won't try to pull the wool 
over your eyes; and he follows through on his commitments.
  I will miss having him as an integral part of my team, but I wish him 
well in this new, challenging assignment.

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