[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 27 (Monday, February 22, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S1703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE SANDRA K. STUART, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF 
                    DEFENSE FOR LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize the outstanding work of the Honorable Sandra K. Stuart as the 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs. After nearly 
five years in this position, Ms. Stuart is leaving government service 
to pursue other opportunities in the private sector. She definitely 
will be missed by many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
  I have enjoyed working with Ms. Stuart on a wide range of matters 
affecting the Department of Defense. I always found her to be extremely 
knowledgeable and very effective in representing the Department's 
views. Despite the sometimes contentious nature of national security 
matters, Ms. Stuart always maintained a friendly and constructive 
approach to her work which served our Nation very well.
  Ms. Stuart had the difficult tasks of coordinating the Department of 
Defense's legislative agenda. She has deftly balanced a wide range of 
Defense-related issues, including Bosnia, missile defense, health care, 
readiness, acquisition reform, and modernization. Because Ms. Stuart 
earned the trust and confidence of those with whom she worked, she was 
able to promote the Department's views very effectively in Congress.
  Ms. Stuart's experience with the Congress predated her current 
position as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs. 
Before joining the Department of Defense in 1993, Ms. Stuart served as 
Chief of Staff to Representative Vic Fazio of California who recently 
retired from Congress. In addition to managing his Congressional staff, 
Ms. Stuart handled appropriations matters before the House Committee on 
Appropriations.
  Ms. Stuart's legislative experience also includes work as an 
Associate Staff Member of the House Budget Committee and as the Chief 
Legislative Assistant to Representative Bob Matsui of California.
  Ms. Stuart is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at 
Greensboro and attended the Monterey College of Law. She is the mother 
of two sons, Jay Stuart, Jr. and Timothy Scott Stuart. She is married 
to D. Michael Murray.
  Ms. Stuart earned the respect of every Member of Congress and their 
staffs through hard work and her straightforward nature. As she now 
departs to share her experience and expertise in the civilian sector, I 
call upon my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to recognize her 
outstanding and dedicated public service and wish her all the very best 
in her new challenges.

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