[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S26]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RETIREMENT OF JERRY SONGY

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, in 1998, the Senate passed the 
Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act, which I strongly 
supported. This landmark legislation set the Internal Revenue Service, 
IRS, on a new course, one that most Members of this body would agree is 
the right one. Today, the IRS is much more focused on customer service 
and education to achieve compliance with the Nation's tax laws.
  It takes more than a new law, however, to change the way an agency 
fulfills its mission. It takes talented people committed to those 
reforms in order to turn the words in the statute into reality. We all 
know the role that former Commissioner Charles O. Rossotti played in 
restructuring the agency, and I commend him again for his invaluable 
service to the IRS and the Nation.
  Today, I rise to recognize one of Mr. Rossotti's key aides, Jerry 
Songy, who is retiring after 34 years of dedication to agency. In early 
1998, Jerry was selected to lead an organizational modernization effort 
that was intended to transform the IRS into a more customer-focused 
organization. Jerry's contributions to this business-process 
reengineering effort have greatly improved the delivery of products and 
services to all of America's taxpayers, and small businesses and the 
self-employed taxpayers in particular.
  In addition to serving as Executive Director, Modernization Design, 
Jerry was instrumental in the design of the Small Business/Self-
Employed, SB/SE, operating division, which serves approximately 45 
million small businesses and self-employed taxpayers. He was also a 
driving force in the creation of the Taxpayer Education and 
Communication, TEC, section and has led the SB/SE division in its 
outreach and education efforts to small business and self-employed 
taxpayers. As the former Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee 
on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I had the pleasure of working 
with Jerry in that capacity.
  Through his efforts, the IRS has created innovative web site 
applications, multilingual CDs, and a series of web cast programs to 
assist taxpayers with their tax filing and payment responsibilities. 
The IRS has partnered with tax practitioner and payroll organizations, 
trade and professional organizations, educational institutions, and 
corporate America on joint tax education initiatives. In short, our 
constituents are seeing the tangible benefits of Jerry's hard work on 
behalf of small enterprises across the nation.
  Jerry was born and raised in New Orleans, LA and graduated from 
Loyola University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. He 
has two sons, three grandchildren, and will be joined in retirement by 
his wife, Lea, who also has had a distinguished career with the IRS.
  On behalf of the 45 million small businesses and self-employed 
taxpayers throughout the country that have benefitted from his hard 
work and dedication, I commend Jerry Songy for his exemplary 
contributions to public service.

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