[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 83 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6356-S6357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             COMMENDING ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHARON ZELASKA

  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 110 submitted by 
Senators Lott and Daschle.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 110) relating to the retirement of 
     Sharon A. Zelaska, Assistant Secretary of the Senate.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, today I rise to pay tribute to Sharon 
Zelaska, who is retiring after serving for over 4 years in the 
demanding position of Assistant Secretary of the Senate, and who has 
contributed so much to the efficient operations of the Senate over 
those years.
  She arrived in 1997, a stranger to the Senate but not to Capitol 
Hill, having worked for a dozen years previously as executive assistant 
to then Representative Jack Kemp. As Assistant Secretary she has been 
responsible for the day-to-day operations of the office of

[[Page S6357]]

Secretary of the Senate, no small task given that 24 departments report 
to the Secretary. Working closely with Secretary of the Senate Gary 
Sisco, she helped provide the best possible service to all one hundred 
senators individually, and to the Senate as an institution.
  Since the post of Assistant Secretary was historically that of Chief 
Clerk, Sharon Zelaska had a chair on the rostrum specifically 
designated for her. She took that chair on ceremonial occasions, but on 
most days her real work was behind-the-scenes, managing the many 
departments within the Secretary's office.
  As Assistant Secretary she spent countless hours working with 
senators and staff. Her door was open to every one to stop in for a cup 
of coffee and an opportunity to talk about important issues of the day. 
When department heads retired, new candidates needed to be interviewed 
and selected. Vouchers required signing, payrolls had to be adjusted, 
e-mail answered, and no end of paperwork completed. She did all that 
with a poise and sense of fairness that all who worked with her admired 
and will miss with her retirement.
  I want to take this opportunity to thank Sharon Zelaska for all her 
contributions to the Senate over the past 4 years and to wish her 
Godspeed for a happy future in a well-earned retirement.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 110) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The text of the resolution is located in today's Record under 
``Statements on Submitted Resolutions.'')

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