[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 26 (Friday, February 12, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1658-S1659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      EXPRESSING GRATITUDE FOR THE SERVICE OF FRANCIS L. BURK, JR.

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate Resolution 41 
submitted by Senator Thurmond, and others.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 41) expressing the gratitude of the 
     United States Senate for the service of Francis L. Burk, Jr., 
     Legislative Counsel of the United States Senate.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise to commend Mr. Frank Burk, the 
Legislative Counsel of the Senate, who retired on December 31, 1998, 
after serving in the Senate for more than 28 years, including 8 years 
as Legislative Counsel.
  Mr. President, as President pro tempore of the Senate, it was my 
pleasure to oversee the work of the Office of the Legislative Counsel 
during the last four years of Frank Burk's tenure. I appreciated the 
great dedication and professionalism he displayed in his role as 
Legislative Counsel.
  The Legislative Counsel and his staff play a very important role in 
the legislative process. We all rely upon the Legislative Counsel and 
the attorneys in his Office to provide legislative drafts to 
effectively carry out our legislative policy. Mr. Burk has seen to it 
that we are all served well by a professional, career, and nonpartisan 
staff.
  In addition to his service as Legislative Counsel, Frank Burk served 
for more than 25 years as the principal drafter in the Senate on 
virtually all matters relating to banking, housing, securities, mass 
transit, and small business. As Legislative Counsel, he prepared 
legislation on matters relating to the operations and rules of the 
Senate.
  Mr. President, I am proud to sponsor this resolution and I am proud 
to have known and worked with Frank Burk. He has served his Nation well 
for over 30 years, including two years with the United States Army. I 
wish Frank and his wife Virginia the very best for the future, 
especially time spent with their four daughters, Elizabeth, Alison, 
Abigail, and Emily, their two sons-in-law, Lange Johnson and Hunt 
Shipman, and their granddaughter, Anna Shipman.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I am proud to cosponsor with Senator 
Thurmond a resolution commending Mr. Frank Burk who retired as 
Legislative Counsel of the Senate on December 31, 1998. While serving 
as President pro tempore of the Senate, I had the pleasure of 
appointing Frank Burk to the position of Legislative Counsel of the 
Senate on January 1, 1991.
  I wish to join with Senator Thurmond, and with all Senators, in 
expressing our deepest gratitude to Frank Burk for his long years of 
service to the United States Senate. He has been part of the Office of 
Legislative Counsel for more than 28 years, including the last 8 as 
Legislative Counsel; and during that time he has provided valuable 
assistance to me and to my staff.
  Mr. President, while overseeing the Office of Legislative Counsel 
during the first 4 years of Frank Burk's tenure as Legislative Counsel, 
I appreciated the great dedication and professionalism he displayed in 
carrying out his duties and responsibilities. I know that his departure 
will leave a void that is difficult to fill. In passing this 
resolution, the Senate recognizes his years of commitment to the 
Senate.
  Mr. President, I wish Frank Burk and his family well in his 
retirement.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to 
thank Francis Burk for his nearly three decades of service to the 
United States Senate and to wish him well as he begins the next chapter 
of his life.
  Frank Burk began his career with the Senate Office of Legislative 
Counsel in June 1970. For more than 25 years, Frank was the primary 
drafter in the Senate of legislation relating to banking, securities, 
housing, mass transportation, and small business. Senator Byrd, as 
President pro tempore of the Senate, appointed Frank as Legislative 
Counsel of the Senate on January 1, 1991. He continued to serve in that 
position until his retirement on December 31, 1998.
  Mr. President, Frank Burk is one of the dedicated public servants who 
serve the Senate for years and who become sources of knowledge and 
expertise for all Senators and staff. They are our institutional 
memory: those who allow us to proceed from Congress to Congress with a 
sense of history and continuity. Our jobs would be even more difficult 
without people like Frank.
  I know I speak for other Senators and for staff when I say we will 
miss Frank Burk.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to join the Senator from 
South Carolina, Mr. Thurmond, in cosponsoring his resolution expressing 
the gratitude of the Senate for the service of the Senate Legislative 
Counsel, Frank Burk.
  Many people outside the Senate do not know the office of the 
Legislative Counsel even exists. However, the legislative business of 
the Senate could not be accomplished without the able assistance of the 
office of the Legislative Counsel.
  A graduate of Dartmouth College and George Washington University Law 
School, Mr. Burk served as an Army officer in Korea. Mr. Burk has 
worked in the Legislative Counsel's office for more than 28 years, 
beginning as a law assistant in 1970 and rising to hold the office's 
top position, Legislative Counsel in 1991.
  As many know, attorneys in the legislative counsel's office have 
specific areas of expertise and responsibility. For more than 25 years, 
Mr. Burk's responsibilities included banking, securities, 
transportation, housing and small business. After becoming Legislative 
Counsel, he assumed the duty of drafting legislation relating to the 
operations and rules of the Senate.
  I am very pleased to join my colleagues today in expressing our 
gratitude and in extending our best wishes to Frank Burk.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 41) was agreed to.

[[Page S1659]]

  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 41

       Whereas Francis L. ``Frank'' Burk, Jr., the Legislative 
     Counsel of the United States Senate, became an employee of 
     the Senate on June 8, 1970, and since that date has ably and 
     faithfully upheld the high standards and traditions of the 
     Office of the Legislative Counsel of the United States Senate 
     for more than 28 years;
       Whereas Frank Burk, from January 1, 1991, to December 31, 
     1998, served as the Legislative Counsel of the Senate and 
     demonstrated great dedication, professionalism, and integrity 
     in faithfully discharging the duties and responsibilities of 
     his position;
       Whereas Frank Burk for more than 25 years was the primary 
     drafter in the Senate of virtually all legislation relating 
     to banking, securities, housing, mass transit, and small 
     business, and as Legislative Counsel participated in the 
     drafting of legislation relating to the operations and rules 
     of the Senate;
       Whereas Frank Burk retired on December 31, 1998, after more 
     than 30 years of Government service, including 2 years with 
     the United States Army; and
       Whereas Frank Burk has met the legislative drafting needs 
     of the United States Senate with unfailing professionalism, 
     skill, dedication, and good humor during his entire career: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States Senate commends Francis L. 
     Burk, Jr. for his more than 30 years of faithful and 
     exemplary service to the United States Senate and the Nation, 
     including 8 years as the Legislative Counsel of the Senate, 
     and expresses its deep appreciation and gratitude for his 
     long, faithful, and outstanding service.
       Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy 
     of this resolution to Francis L. Burk, Jr.

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