[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 117 (Friday, September 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S10737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO DR. PAUL N. VAN de WATER

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, today I join my colleague from 
New Mexico, Mr. Domenci, in bidding farewell to Dr. Paul N. Van de 
Water--a longstanding and highly respected member of the Congressional 
Budget Office (CBO) staff. Dr. Van de Water is leaving CBO at the end 
of this week after more than 18 years of service to the Congress. Paul 
will join the Social Security Administration as the Senior Advisor to 
the Deputy Commissioner for Policy.
  Dr. Van de Water's departure from CBO represents an enormous loss for 
the Congress. His ability to generate objective, timely, and unbiased 
analyses exemplifies the finest tradition of nonpartisan public 
service. Paul's work at CBO represents the essence of the agency's 
mission. He managed--during some very difficult years--to serve both 
political parties in a fair and effective manner. He leaves CBO with 
his reputation for impartial analysis intact and his integrity 
unquestioned and unblemished.
  During his tenure at CBO, Dr. Van de Water earned a reputation for 
building a first rate staff and for ensuring that CBO's work was 
analytically sound, unbiased, and clearly presented. During the dark 
decades of runaway budget deficits, Paul worked tirelessly with Members 
and staff on every major budget summit, budget plan, and budget process 
reform initiative. Like most public servants he rarely received the 
formal recognition and thanks he deserved. I hope in some small measure 
to communicate our thanks and appreciation for these contributions 
today.
  Dr. Van de Water began his career at CBO in 1981 as Chief of the 
Projections Unit. From there, he moved on to Deputy Assistant Director 
for Budget Analysis and, in 1994, assumed his current position as 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. He is the author, coauthor, or 
editor of more than 50 articles and books on government finance and 
Social Security and has testified before Congressional committees on 
numerous occasions.
  Dr. Van de Water's accomplishments beyond CBO include a Ph.D. in 
Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and two 
daughters--the first a senior majoring in physics at the College of 
William and Mary (and former Valedictorian of T.C. Williams High School 
in Alexandria) and the second, an enthusiastic 7th grader. Clearly, 
Paul has managed to keep his work and home priorities straight during 
his tenure at CBO.
  Paul's first hand knowledge of the Congressional budget process as 
well as the operations and traditions of CBO cannot be replaced. 
However, we take some solace from the fact that his contributions to 
public policy will continue. In his new role with the Administration, I 
am certain that his work will inform and shape the debate on the future 
of the Social Security program. I know that all of my colleagues join 
with me in wishing Paul the best of luck in his new endeavor.

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