[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 23 (Wednesday, March 6, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E281-E282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO STAN SLOSS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 6, 2002

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues 
to join me in celebrating the 60th birthday of Stan Sloss, who serves 
as my Senior Legislative Counsel and heads my legislative staff.
  I would not ordinarily take the time of my colleagues to thank a 
member of my personal staff, but Stan is so well known and beloved by 
members on both sides of the aisle, and his reputation is so well 
regarded, that I believe it is entirely appropriate to commemorate his 
birthday in a journal that he has known so well and to which he has 
contributed so much.
  Many of you know Stan and have had an opportunity to work with him 
over the years. Stan's distinguished service has resulted in his 
becoming a valued resource--not only as an experienced voice on 
substantive policy issues, but also for his knowledge of the venerated 
but often byzantine procedures of the House. I heavily draw upon his 
experience, expertise and diplomatic operating style.
  A native of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Stan is a graduate of Amherst 
College and the Harvard Law School. He came to Washington, DC in the 
late 1960s, working first in the General Counsel's office of the Atomic 
Energy

[[Page E282]]

Commission. He next spent some time in private practice, and among 
other things spent some time in Alaska working on some issues related 
to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.
  Stan's congressional career started in 1975 when he joined the staff 
of what was then known as the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee. 
He served as counsel to the Mines and Mining Subcommittee, chaired by 
Representative Patsy Mink. He assisted with some important amendments 
to the Coal Leasing Act that were passed over the veto of President 
Ford and with a variety of other measures that came before that 
Subcommittee.
  In 1977, Stan became a counsel to the new Subcommittee on General 
Oversight and Alaska Lands, chaired by former Representative John F. 
Seiberling. In this capacity, Stan worked with both Representative 
Seiberling and my father, Morris K. Udall, who was the Chairman of the 
full Interior Committee. Stan helped draft a number of key parts of the 
legislation that became the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation 
Act (ANILCA), particularly those related to subsistence uses by 
Alaska's Native peoples. Stan staffed hearings throughout the lower 48 
states and Alaska and was one of the many key professional staff who 
helped shape the final legislation. ANILCA was a milestone in 
conservation, setting aside more than 100 million acres of Alaska's 
most pristine, public lands--an area larger than the State of 
California--and more than doubling the size of the nation's systems of 
national parks, wildlife refuges, wilderness and wild and scenic 
rivers.
  In addition to ANILCA, Stan has been involved with many other laws 
and regulations affecting the public lands and natural resources. He 
served as Representative Seiberling's staff counsel to the Select 
Committee on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). That Committee 
developed the 1978
  When John Seiberling retired in 1987, Stan remained on the Interior 
Committee staff, serving under former Representative Bruce Vento, 
chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands. He was 
involved in development of legislation, including the Arizona Desert 
Wilderness Act sponsored by my father, the Colorado Wilderness Act of 
1993 that included legislation developed by my predecessor, 
Representative David Skaggs, and the California Desert Protection Act.
  In 1995, Stan left the Resources Committee to become the Legislative 
Director for David Skaggs. Representative Skaggs was a member of the 
Interior Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, so Stan was able 
to use his familiarity with public lands issues to assist in connection 
with those issues as they arose in that new context. He also dealt with 
the contentious issues related to Rocky Flats and the other sites in 
the DOE nuclear-weapons complex.
  Stan was one of the first people I hired following my election in 
November 1998. I was fortunate to have someone who worked for my 
predecessor and so was familiar with the Second Congressional District. 
As a newly elected Member of the Resources Committee, I also 
appreciated his familiarity with matters within its jurisdiction as 
well as the more senior members and the Committee staff.
  At my office, Stan has made important contributions in drafting 
legislation to establish Rocky Flats as a national wildlife refuge 
after it is cleaned up and closed. He also has worked on the Udall-
McInnis wilderness bill for James Peak, and fire prevention legislation 
I have proposed with my colleague, Mr. Hefley.
  Stan's work has not been confined to the environmental arena. His 
keen intellect, common sense and sharp legal analysis have been 
invaluable on the wide range of issues and topics that face all members 
every day. He has been especially effective in tutoring many of the 
younger members of my staff on the inner workings of the House, the 
nuances of legislative drafting and as an example of the highest 
standard of professionalism for congressional staff.
  Like any thoughtful and accomplished lawyer, Stan is often fond of 
saying that he ``can argue it flat or argue it round'', and his 
objectivity is legendary in our office. Having said that, however, I 
also know that beneath his always calm demeanor and his ability to see 
all sides of a question, there beats the heart of a man who is 
passionate about doing the ``right thing.'' Stan has never compromised 
his firm and unswerving commitment to civil rights and liberty. He 
loves the absurdity that is sometimes politics, but he doesn't allow 
political analysis to get in the way of his strongly held views about 
the majesty of our constitution.
  Stan is a public servant in the best sense. He brings a work ethic 
and code of professionalism that is always focused on the promotion of 
policies that best serve the environment, the public good and the 
values of honesty and bipartisanship that are the hallmarks of American 
democracy at its best. His contributions to my office, the offices of 
my predecessors, the House Resources Committee and the whole House of 
Representatives--and ultimately the people of the United States--serve 
as an example of a professional life that commands both respect and 
affection. I wish Stan a happy birthday and many productive years 
ahead.

                          ____________________