[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 54 (Thursday, April 26, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3973-S3974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JIM ENGLISH

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to honor a very 
special person. His name is Jim English. He is the Democratic staff 
director of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. In the course of 
the 30 years he has worked in the Federal Government, 23 of which were 
right here in the Senate, Jim has served the Senate and the American 
people with great distinction.
  I have had the privilege of working with and getting to know Jim well 
as he carried out his responsibilities on one of the most important 
committees of the U.S. Senate, the Senate Appropriations Committee. 
Very few people I have encountered in my time in the Senate--be they 
members or staff--have made as big a difference in the lives of 
everyday working people. Throughout his Senate career, Jim has 
constantly and consistently done what is best for the American public, 
regardless of their political persuasion and social status.
  Although he worked directly for our colleague, Senator Byrd, Jim has 
always had time to listen to and help deal with the needs and requests 
of any Senator who came to him seeking assistance. I have seen first 
hand his patience, his expertise, and his willingness to lend his 
considerable talents to help Member after Member do right by their 
constituencies. Perhaps the greatest tribute one can pay to Jim's 
professionalism and expertise is that he has managed to attain the 
absolute trust and confidence of Senator Byrd. Suffice it to say that 
such a feat is as major as it is rare.
  During his time in the Senate, Jim has set a standard of conduct and 
accomplishment that will be exceedingly difficult to match. In my mind, 
Jim has come to symbolize what we mean when we use the term public 
servant. I thank him for choosing to spend part of his life with us. We 
are all better off as a result.
  I wish him well in whatever he chooses to pursue in the next stage of 
his life and hope that others who follow in his footsteps remember the 
lofty standards he established.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from 
Minnesota.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I came to the floor and I heard Senator 
Byrd and Senator Daschle speak about Jim English. The only thing I can 
say about Jim English--not nearly as well as the two of them have 
spoken about him--is, No. 1, he has worked for and with the master, 
Senator Byrd. I think he knows almost as much as Senator Byrd does 
about the appropriations process--maybe not quite as much. But I can 
tell Senator Byrd that I think Jim is a lot like Mike Epstein, my 
former deputy. I came here and I knew so little. Maybe I now know a 
little more. I still have a lot to learn.
  Jim is just so gracious and so willing, when people are just rushing 
and rushing, to take time and mentor you and to be your teacher. Jim 
worked for Senator Byrd, but in a way I believe he was there to work 
for all of us. He certainly helped me a lot. At the beginning I 
hesitated to ask him. I knew of his expertise. When he was so gracious 
and so obliging and never made me feel as if I was a fool, then I 
believed he was a great teacher, willing to answer more questions. I 
have asked him many, many questions. He has answered those questions. 
He has helped me. He has helped a lot of Senators.
  He truly represents the very best of public service. We are going to 
lose a great man. The country is going to lose a great man. There is no 
question about it.
  I thank you, Jim.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I am delighted to have the opportunity to 
join my colleagues in this well-deserved tribute to Jim English, who is 
retiring from the Senate after 30 years of outstanding service. Jim has 
done a brilliant job over the years as both a majority staff director 
and a minority staff director on the Senate Appropriations Committee, 
and we will all miss him very much.
  Jim was talented and always helpful, and he was an enormous source of 
advice and counsel for all of us on so many aspects of the 
appropriations process. Whatever the issue, and however complex the 
process, especially as the annual deadline neared, Jim was always a 
steady hand and a remarkable source of inspiration and wise counsel.
  Jim's name may not be well known to the citizens of our states, but 
over the years, the people of all 50 states have benefitted immensely 
from Jim's skillful work.

[[Page S3974]]

  It is a tribute as well to our distinguished colleague, Senator Byrd, 
that he has had the remarkable service of such an outstanding member of 
his staff over the years. We will all miss Jim very much. We thank him 
for his extraordinary services to the Senate and the nation, and we 
extend our best wishes to Jim and his family for a long and happy 
retirement in the years ahead.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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