[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 82 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6911-S6912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNITION OF JEANINE ESPERNE

  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, it is common for Members of the Senate to 
thank members of their staff, particularly after handling an important 
piece of legislation. I am sure our constituents realize much of what 
we do is in reliance on very capable members of our staff. I have never 
taken the opportunity to talk about a member of my staff before, but on 
this occasion I wish to do so very briefly, because tomorrow a member 
of my staff is leaving to go on to another wonderful opportunity. I 
think it is important to recognize her as someone who embodies really 
the qualifications and the qualities of staff that all of us would like 
to have work with us and represent our constituents' interests.
  Her name is Jeanine Esperne. She began working with me about a dozen 
years ago when I was a Member of the House of Representatives and 
served on the House Armed Services Committee. She became my chief 
legislative assistant on defense matters. She came from the office of 
General Abramson, who at the time was head of the Strategic Defense 
Initiative Organization at the Pentagon, with rich experience in 
defense and national security matters.
  She worked with me as staff person on my Defense Armed Services 
Committee matters throughout my career in the House. Then, when I came 
to the Senate, she remained on my staff responsible for all foreign 
policy and national security matters.
  That was important, because I began serving immediately on the Senate 
Select Committee on Intelligence in an active capacity and had a 
significant need for someone of her qualifications and experience.
  In addition to that, I chaired the Subcommittee on Technology, 
Terrorism, and Government Information of the Judiciary Committee, again 
requiring someone with her expertise to assist me in those matters.
  Throughout her tenure on my staff, she has worked with Arizona 
companies and interests that have important defense-related concerns 
and with other people around the country who share a strong desire that 
we have a strong national defense, including contractors and other 
individuals with a direct interest in the government process.
  During this time, the feedback I received from both my own 
constituents and others around the country was uniformly in praise of 
Jeanine Esperne for her willingness to listen, her professionalism, the 
fact she used time very economically. She didn't waste time; she 
understood that time was important to everyone. She got her job done

[[Page S6912]]

very quickly with a minimum of excess effort, almost always satisfying 
the interests of the constituent or the person with whom we were trying 
to work.
  It is with mixed emotions that today I pay tribute to Jeanine Esperne 
on her next to last day on my staff as she moves on to another 
opportunity. I do so not only because she has worked for me in a way 
which exemplifies the way most Members would have their staffs work 
with them, but I think it is important for our constituency to know 
that we have very fine staff in the Congress, that our work could not 
be done without that staff, and that when we take the opportunity to 
praise the staff, it is really to praise their exceptional abilities 
and the way in which they have served our constituents.
  In the case of Jeanine Esperne, I certainly express all of those 
sentiments, wish her very well in her new endeavors, and certainly 
suggest that occasionally those Members who are so busy doing jobs here 
take the time more often to thank those staff who, after all, are 
responsible for so much of our success.
  Jeanine Esperne, good wishes and thank you for all of your services 
on behalf of the U.S. Government, and on my behalf specifically.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bennett). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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