[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 149 (Monday, November 18, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S11311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S11311]]
                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     TRIBUTE TO N. JACK TAYLOR, JR.

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to N. 
Jack Taylor, Jr., who has worked as a Congressional Fellow in my office 
since January of 2002. On behalf of my staff and the people of South 
Dakota, I would like to thank Jack for his hard work, his dedication, 
and his considerable contributions to my state and to this great 
nation.
  Jack joined our staff to work on banking issues at a troubled time 
here in the Senate, when we faced significant physical threats in the 
wake of 9/11 and the Senate anthrax scares. Nevertheless, Jack left the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, his home for the past 15 years, 
to spend a year learning about the legislative process. And what a year 
it was.
  Jack was on the front lines during the Senate debate over accounting 
reform, and he played a key role in our office's involvement in the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act. He got a 
bit more than he bargained for by playing the lead staff role during 
floor action and the conference committee, but he performed with great 
aplomb and professionalism.
  Jack has also been immensely valuable in raising our awareness of 
Native American banking issues. He took the lead in conceptualizing and 
organizing a hearing in the Senate Banking Financial Institutions 
Subcommittee on ways we might increase private capital in Indian 
Country. He brought together an impressive group of witnesses whose 
ideas I hope we can implement in the future. Jack also provided 
valuable assistance on a number of other tribal-related housing and 
banking issues.
  Another noteworthy contribution of Jack's was his hard work in 
putting together S. 3034, the Check Truncation Act. While it may not be 
the most high-profile subject, check truncation would modernize our 
financial system in significant ways, and be particularly helpful in 
rural areas such as South Dakota where the physical transportation of 
checks is often difficult and expensive. Jack helped us to lead the 
charge to modernize our system, and I am hopeful we can complete action 
on that bill next year.
  Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention Jack's role in our 
continued efforts to pass comprehensive deposit insurance reform. Jack, 
who came to us from the FDIC's division of insurance, proved to be an 
invaluable in-house resource for my staff on matters related to deposit 
insurance. He was also willing to travel out to South Dakota to meet 
with bankers throughout the State to ensure that our bill reflects the 
needs of Main Street bankers across this country.
  It is my pleasure and honor to stand before the Senate today to thank 
Jack Taylor publicly for his service to the United States Senate. I am 
pleased he will continue to serve our country by returning to the FDIC, 
which is lucky to have him.

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