[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 97 (Thursday, July 12, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7551-S7552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NOTIFICATION TO THE PRESIDENT

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I send a third resolution to the desk and 
ask for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the resolution by 
title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 131) notifying the President of the 
     United States of the election of a Secretary of the Senate.

  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, the resolution is 
agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 131) reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 131

       Resolved, That the President of the United States be 
     notified of the election of the Honorable Jeri Thomson as 
     Secretary of the Senate.

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I might take a moment to speak on behalf 
of what I know is the entire Senate body but in particular the 
Democratic caucus in congratulating Jeri Thomson. She has been a 
professional's professional for the last 30 years.
  She has served, as most of our colleagues know, as the Executive 
Assistant/Democratic Representative in the Office of the U.S. Senate 
Sergeant at Arms. Her responsibilities included managing all 
institutional issues for the Senate leader and all Democratic Senators. 
She had the responsibilities for all the plans and the implementation 
of the issues conferences and other events for the Democratic caucus 
and managed all aspects of participation by Democratic Senators in the 
national party conventions.
  But that is just the latest in a series of responsibilities that she 
has had that go back now almost three decades.
  She was the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Senate from 1989 to 1995. 
She served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Secretary of the 
Senate, managing 12 departments with approximately 250 staff members. 
Her responsibilities at that time included budgeting, policy and 
program development, and implementation of human resources management. 
The administrative reform and modernization programs were under her 
responsibility as well.
  Prior to serving in that capacity, she was a senior staff member to 
Senator John Tunney; special assistant to the Sergeant at Arms; and the 
Deputy Director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
  Jeri received her bachelor of arts from the University of Washington. 
She was Kodak fellow at Harvard University's program for senior 
managers in government. She was selected as one of the 100 top data 
processors in government, industry, and academia for her work in 
automating the legislative processes and procedures in the Senate in 
1993.
  That is her resume. What you don't know in reading the resume is what 
kind of person she is. I know of no more dedicated person in the Halls 
of Congress than Jeri Thomson. I know of no one I have had a greater 
joy working with than Jeri Thomson. I know of no one who loves this 
institution more than Jeri Thomson. I know of no one who has greater 
respect among our colleagues in the Senate than Jeri Thomson.
  It should come as no surprise that Jeri Thomson is now our Secretary 
of the Senate. I commend her for all she has done. I thank her for what 
she has now agreed to do. I wish her well as she begins this very 
important new responsibility.
  I might add that her family, David James and two daughters, Kaitlin 
and Kristin, and mother Louise are all here to help celebrate this 
momentous occasion. We welcome Jeri's family. We thank them for being a 
part of this celebration and we wish them and Jeri well as they begin.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Republican leader.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I certainly join the distinguished 
Democratic leader in congratulating Jeri Thomson on her selection and 
election to be the Secretary of the Senate. I know that Senator 
Daschle, as majority leader, will have a very effective Secretary of 
the Senate in this fine person and that she will do her typical 
nonpartisan, fair and efficient job in this role.
  We know Jeri. She has been here a long time. She is one of the 
institutions, if I might say--except for age, of course--of the Senate. 
She has always been very fair and very reasonable in her dealings with 
the Republicans in the Senate. We appreciate that. We know that is the 
way that she will proceed in the future. This is a very important role. 
If you go back and look at the history of the Senate, Senator Byrd 
certainly can tell us that this is a position we have had for years. 
The first Secretary was chosen on April 8, 1789, two days after the 
Senate achieved its first quorum for business. It is a very important 
role in the functioning of the Senate--the paperwork, administratively, 
the computers, the people serving here in the Chamber. There are so 
many important roles that that position requires careful consideration 
of, and work and development. I know she will do that.

  I urge Jeri Thomson to do as I urged her predecessor, Gary Sisco, in 
that position, to make sure you do such a job that when you leave the 
position, the office and the position will be even better than it was 
when you took it over. I know you will do that. We extend to you our 
best wishes and our cooperation.
  I yield the floor, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California is recognized.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I offer my personal congratulations 
and all good wishes to Jeri. I think she is going to be a superb 
Secretary of the Senate. What most people don't know about Jeri Thomson 
is that not only is she a talented professional, but she is a very nice 
person. She and I had knee surgery at approximately the same time, and 
I really never had a better friend during that period. She sent me 
books to read, made phone calls, even sent me a special pillow that 
could be used to help the pain from one knee to another. It was a 
wonderful gesture.
  In the course of discussions about our relative injuries, over the 
past almost year now, I have come to know her very well. This is truly 
a distinguished woman because it is very hard to be an excellent 
professional and also to take the time that is necessary to reach out a 
hand to make someone feel a little bit better.
  Jeri, you are all of the above. Congratulations and godspeed.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.

[[Page S7552]]

  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  (Mrs. CARNAHAN assumed the chair.)
  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I was very pleased to see Jeri Thomson 
become the new Secretary of the Senate. Knowing my own days as a 
brandnew Senator, the role of Secretary of the Senate was very 
important, and it is even more important now. I am delighted she is 
here.

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