[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 18 (Thursday, February 8, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO LORETTA F. SYMMS

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
outstanding accomplishments of Loretta Fuller Symms. There she is, 
looking quite natural in the front of this Chamber. This week, she will 
be retiring after over 20 years of congressional service. Has it been 
that long? For 14 of those years, she has served in the Senate.
  I first met Loretta 20 years ago when I was a Member of the House of 
Representatives and she was working in the office of then-Congressman 
Steve Symms of Idaho. She would tell you--Steve and I were first 
elected in 1972 and came 1973--Steve and I have a common bond 
philosophically but also fraternally in that we were close friends, and 
that is where I first met Loretta.
  She moved to the Washington area from Coeur d'Alene, ID, a beautiful 
area. What a sacrifice to move from Coeur d'Alene, ID, to come to 
Washington. Thank goodness she did, and we have all been much better 
off because of her outstanding congressional career.
  In 1987, the very wise Senator Bob Dole, my predecessor as Republican 
leader, chose Loretta to be the Republican representative in the 
Sergeant at Arms Office. Over the next 9 years, she filled a number of 
roles within that organization. It was during that time that I was 
first elected to the Senate, and Loretta was very helpful to me and my 
staff in opening my offices here in Washington and in Mississippi.
  I remember she had a post, more or less, in the back of the Chamber, 
and I quite often would stop by to ask her what in the world was 
happening because the rules here are quite different from what I had 
been used to in the House. Of course, I was concerned about a number of 
things that I found difficult to manage and to deal with over here, but 
she was very helpful.
  She has always brought professional business practices to the Senate 
operations. As director of Capitol facilities, she restructured the 
department establishing career ladders, formalizing job descriptions, 
instituting reading programs, and starting computer classes and other 
training programs for our employees.
  Working with the Secretary of the Senate, she contributed to the 
management and oversight of the Senate page program, serving as 
adviser, mentor, and sometime surrogate parent to the high school 
students who participate in the program.
  She was a driving force in the opening of Webster Hall, the building 
that functions both as a dormitory and as a site for the Senate page 
school.
  I was pleased to appoint Loretta as Deputy Sergeant at Arms in 1996, 
the post she will serve until Friday. In that role, she has done a 
magnificent job. In fact, I was not sure I could give these remarks 
this morning because I still would like to ask her to change her mind: 
don't do this; at least stay until we complete the new extension on the 
east front of the Capitol. It wouldn't be but another 2 or 3 years 
perhaps. Steve would understand. I have made that plea to no avail. I 
guess, come Friday, she will be moving on to a different and exciting 
life, I am sure.
  She has demonstrated an unmatched dedication to the institution of 
the Senate and its traditions. She understands them. She helps them and 
protects them. She contributed in large part to the restoration of the 
Senate Chamber in its current majesty, an area I have felt strongly 
about, but she made sure we paid attention to history and that it was 
done with good taste. The Chamber looks better today than it did 5 
years ago.

  Loretta has ably handled the huge and demanding responsibility of 
overseeing the daily operations of the Sergeant at Arms organization 
and its 750 employees. I know our Sergeant at Arms, Jim Ziglar, has 
been worried about this Friday and this day and how she would ever be 
replaced. A good choice has been made as a successor, but still I do 
not think we could ever truly replace Loretta and the job she has done.
  In her duties as a representative of the Senate, Loretta has assisted 
Presidents, Vice Presidents, and foreign heads of state as they made 
official visits here. She has led the Senate as we walked through the 
Capitol Building over to the House side for joint sessions. I always 
thought we got more than our due share of notice, probably because 
Loretta was leading the pack.
  We will surely notice her absence next week and for a long time to 
come, but I know Loretta is happy to exchange foreign dignitaries' 
visits for more visits with her 10 grandchildren. It is hard to believe 
she has 10, and here I am working only on my second one.
  We are sad when one of our Senate family leaves us, but at the same 
time, we could not be happier for her. I know her husband, Steve Symms, 
is going to be happier, too.
  As Loretta moves on to new challenges, I say thank you on the 
Senate's behalf and on my own behalf. The words are inadequate to 
express our appreciation for the kind of person you are and the job you 
have done. We all wish you the very best in your next career as 
grandmother and as keeper of Steve Symms, which will be a challenge. We 
all appreciate you.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCAIN. 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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