[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S15206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          COMMENDING STEPHEN G. BALE, KEEPER OF THE STATIONERY

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 240, submitted 
earlier today by Senators Lott and Daschle.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislation clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 240) commending Stephen G. Bale, 
     Keeper of the Stationery, United States Senate.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, on December 31, 1999, Steve Bale will retire 
as Keeper of the Stationery for the United States Senate.
  Steve began his Senate career in November 1969 as a clerk in the 
Stationery Room. In July 1980, he was appointed Assistant Keeper of the 
Stationery, and in September 1987, assumed the responsibilities as the 
16th Keeper of the Stationery.
  In this capacity, Steve has directed a busy operation, successfully 
serving a client base that now spans over 240 offices and five 
buildings. His leadership of the recent renovations to the Stationery 
Room has ensured that the office will function efficiently, well into 
the 21st century.
  In his 30 years of public service. Steve has set a standard among his 
associates for commitment to excellence and dedication to personal 
service. According to his staff, one of Steve's favorite expressions 
is, ``In this business, one `oops' can wipe out fifteen `attaboys'!'' 
The standard of excellence he set will benefit the Senate for years to 
come, as the associates he leaves behind continue in the tradition of 
the principles he espoused.
  Steve Bale should enter his retirement with tremendous satisfaction 
for all he has accomplished. I am pleased to join so many others in 
thanking him for his long and faithful service and in wishing him 
health and happiness in the years to come.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, Steve Bale is one of those individuals 
who serve faithfully and diligently over many years to ensure that the 
United States Senate runs efficiently and effectively. All Senators 
know and appreciate the members of the Senate community who share their 
pride in public service and commitment to the Senate. We know we could 
not do our jobs without the dedication of people such as Steve Bale.
  Steve began his career in the Senate in 1969 as an employee of the 
Stationery Room under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Senate 
and ultimately became Keeper of the Stationery. Not many ascend to that 
unusual title; there have been only fourteen in the history of the 
Senate. The first person to hold that title was John Lewis Clubb who 
was given the title in 1854, after some twenty years of actually doing 
the job. Some may wonder what the Keeper of the Stationery does for the 
Senate and how that job and title came into being.
  The Stationery Room can be traced back to the First Congress and the 
first Secretary of the Senate, Samuel A. Otis, who provided various 
writing and other supplies for the Senate. Operated initially out of a 
corner of the Secretary's office, the Stationery Room has occupied nine 
different locations within the Senate. It has grown from this corner-
office operation into a multi-million dollar one serving about 240 
offices in the Senate and expanded from its initial offerings of ``ink, 
quills, and parchment'' to a complex merchandise facility which meets 
the hightech and traditional needs of these offices.
  The Stationery Room used to be a simple, service desk facility. Steve 
led the transition to a full self-service store. Under Steve's 
direction, the administrative and business functions of the Stationery 
Room were automated for the first time. He oversaw the installation and 
GAO certification of an inventory control system and has supervised the 
installation and testing of the new Y2K compliant computer system. With 
Steve at the helm, we can all be absolutely certain that the Senate's 
Stationery Room will NOT have Y2K problems!
  Of particular note is the role Steve played in the development and 
procurement of the Senate's official flag. S. Res. 369, agreed to on 
September 7, 1984, directed ``the Secretary of the Senate to design and 
make available to Members an official Senate flag.'' Working closely 
with the staff of the Committee on Rules and Administration, Steve 
provided the expertise to have a flag designed, find the appropriate 
manufacturer and ensure that the Senate has official flags for all of 
its official functions. Few Senators know about the relatively brief 
history of the Senate flag and fewer still know about Steve's important 
role in seeing that this resolution's direction was successfully 
carried out and that the Senate has a suitable and dignified flag.
  We are fortunate to share a wonderful sense of community among the 
members and staff who serve here. Steve is among the most respected and 
well liked within this small community. Always helpful, always smiling, 
always encouraging to the numerous staff who come into his office on a 
daily basis, he has found no problem too trivial and no task too 
difficult to handle.
  As Steve leaves his many friends and admirers in the Senate, we wish 
him a long retirement filled with many hours on the golf course.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to this 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 240) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 240

       Whereas the Senate has been advised that its Keeper of the 
     Stationery, Stephen G. Bale, will retire on December 31, 
     1999;
       Whereas Steve Bale became an employee of the Senate of the 
     United States on November 13, 1969, and since that date has 
     ably and faithfully upheld the high standards and traditions 
     of the Senate for a period that included sixteen Congresses;
       Whereas Steve Bale has served with distinction as Keeper of 
     the Stationery, and at all times has discharged the important 
     duties and responsibilities of his office with dedication and 
     excellence; and
       Whereas his exceptional service and his unfailing 
     dedication have earned him our esteem and affection: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States Senate commends Stephen G. 
     Bale for his exemplary service to the Senate and the Nation; 
     wishes to express its deep appreciation for his long, 
     faithful and outstanding service; and extends its very best 
     wishes upon his retirement.
       Sec. 2. That the Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a 
     copy of this resolution to Stephen G. Bale.

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