[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S27]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                         TRIBUTE TO JACK BASSO

 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding public servant, Peter ``Jack'' Basso, Assistant Secretary 
for Budget and Programs at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Jack 
is retiring after more than 35 years in government service and moving 
on to a second career with the American Association of State Highway 
and Transportation Officials.
  Throughout his 36-year career with the federal government, Jack Basso 
has distinguished himself for his leadership, commitment and dedication 
to public service and to making government work better. Beginning as a 
financial program analyst at the Federal Highway Administration, he 
quickly advanced through the ranks to positions in senior management at 
an FHWA regional office and at the agency's headquarters. He served as 
Deputy Chair for Management at the National Endowment for the Arts, 
Assistant Director for General Management at OMB, and Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Budget and Programs before being nominated by President 
Clinton to his present position as Assistant Secretary for Budget and 
Programs and Chief Financial Officer at the U.S. DOT.
  As a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee which has 
jurisdiction over the nation's transit programs, I came to know Jack, 
as many other Members of Congress did, during the crafting of the 
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and 
its successor, the Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century 
or TEA 21. Jack put in countless hours running the tables, advising the 
Committees and individual Members, and helping to work out the 
compromises that ultimately resulted in the enactment of these landmark 
pieces of legislation and record budgets for financing the Nation's 
transportation infrastructure. I have enormous respect for the 
professionalism, ingenuity, and integrity which he brought to the 
positions in which he has served and greatly value the assistance he 
has provided to me and my staff over the years. The replacement of the 
Woodrow Wilson Bridge and many other transportation projects in 
Maryland and throughout the Nation would not be taking place, but for 
his persistent efforts.
  Jack Basso's contributions and accomplishments in these positions 
have been recognized through many prestigious awards including the 
Public Employee's Roundtable Chairman's Award for Distinguished Public 
Service, the Presidential Rank Award, the Government Technology E-
Commerce Leadership Award, and the General Services Administration's 
Travel Manager of the Year Award for two years running. His abiding 
sense of responsibility and commitment have earned him the respect and 
admiration of everyone with whom he has worked.
  It is my firm conviction that public service is one of the most 
honorable callings, one that demands the very best, most dedicated 
efforts of those who have the opportunity to serve their fellow 
citizens and country. Throughout his career Jack Basso has exemplified 
a steadfast commitment to meeting this demand. I want to extend my 
personal congratulations and thanks for his many years of hard work and 
dedication and wish him well in the years ahead.

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