[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 18 (Thursday, February 8, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1233]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO LORETTA SYMMS

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I want to add my voice to the chorus of 
those singing the praises of Loretta Symms. Much as I hate to say it, 
Loretta will be retiring as Deputy Sergeant of Arms at the end of this 
week.
  We hear a lot of talk about bipartisanship these days--and that's 
good. But Loretta Symms was the walking, breathing personification of 
bipartisanship before bipartisanship was cool.
  She is a consummate professional. As Deputy Sergeant at Arms, one of 
Loretta's many responsibilities is greeting visiting dignitaries. Over 
the years, she has escorted Presidents, Vice Presidents, foreign heads 
of state, and other visiting dignitaries through these hallways. In 
fact, she has probably met more foreign leaders than most Senators. She 
is a good and gracious ambassador for this institution.
  When it comes to the Senate, no chore is too big for Loretta--or too 
small. I understand she even put on rubber gloves once to show her 
staff how to clean. Her reverence for this building is something I 
share, and one of the many reasons I like her. Loretta feels strongly 
that the Capitol is the People's House. When visitors come here, she 
wants them to be treated with respect, and she wants them to be able to 
learn something they may not have known before. That is why she works 
so closely with the staff who work directly with the public.
  Loretta has also made a difference in the lives of people in this 
building whom the public never sees. In her 14 years in the Sergeant at 
Arms office, she started a broad array of training programs to help 
employees sharpen their skills and advance their careers.
  Beyond her considerable professional strengths, what I admire most 
about Loretta are her personal qualities: her kindness, and her 
generosity of spirit.
  She has given her time--and in some cases, her own financial 
resources--to help other members of our Senate family through difficult 
times.
  Between them, Loretta and her husband, our former colleague Steve 
Symms, share seven children. Many parents of seven would not have time 
for anyone else's children. But not Loretta. She is a surrogate Mom and 
confidante to many of our Senate pages.
  Senators on both sides of the aisle also know they can count on 
Loretta to tell us honestly if she thinks we are wrong, and to 
encourage us when she thinks we are right. We will miss her good 
advice, her kind smile--and much more. As Loretta and Steve begin this 
next chapter in their lives, we wish them good luck and good health. We 
hope they have many great adventures, and we hope Loretta will come 
back to visit often.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.




                          ____________________