[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 29, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1757-S1758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      EXPRESSING GRATITUDE FOR THE SERVICE OF ARTHUR J. RYNEARSON

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 33, which was 
submitted earlier today by Senators Stevens and Byrd.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 33) expressing the gratitude of the 
     United States Senate for the service of Arthur J. Rynearson, 
     Deputy Legislative Counsel of the United States Senate.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I rise to commend Mr. Art Rynearson, the 
Deputy Legislative Counsel of the Senate, who retires on January 31, 
2003, after serving in the Senate for more than 26 years, including 
more than 3 years as Deputy Legislative Counsel.
  As President pro tempore of the Senate, it is my pleasure to oversee 
the work of the Office of the Legislative Counsel. I appreciate the 
great dedication and professionalism Art Rynearson has displayed in his 
role as an attorney in the Office and in his service as Deputy 
Legislative Counsel.
  The Office of Legislative Counsel plays a very important role in the 
legislative process. We all rely upon the attorneys in the office to 
provide legislative drafts to effectively carry out our legislative 
policy. Mr. Rynearson, in his role as Deputy Legislative Counsel, has 
helped to see that we are all served well by a professional, career, 
and nonpartisan staff.
  In addition to his service as Deputy Legislative Counsel, Art 
Rynearson served for more than 26 years as the principal drafter in the 
Senate on virtually all matters relating to international relations, 
international security, immigration and the State Department, and all 
matters relating to Senate consideration of international treaties. He 
served the Senate well in that regard, with a commanding knowledge of 
international law and the dedication to put in long hours in service of 
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. President, I am proud to sponsor this resolution, and I am proud 
to have known and worked with Art Rynearson. He has served his Nation 
well for over 28 years, including 2 years with the Library of Congress. 
I wish Art and his wife, Mary Linda, the very best for the future, 
especially time spent enjoying their retirement.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I am proud to cosponsor with Senator Stevens 
a resolution commending Mr. Art Rynearson who is retiring as Deputy 
Legislative Counsel of the Senate on January 31, 2003. I have had the 
pleasure of working with Art on many laws relating to foreign policy 
matters.
  I wish to join with Senator Stevens, and with all Senators, in 
expressing our deepest gratitude to Art Rynearson for his long years of 
service to the United States Senate. He has been part of the Office of 
Legislative Counsel for more than 26 years, including the last 4 as 
Deputy Legislative Counsel; and during that time he has provided 
valuable assistance to me and to my staff.
  While overseeing the Office of Legislative Counsel as President pro 
tempore, I appreciated the great dedication and professionalism Art 
Rynearson displayed in carrying out his duties and responsibilities. I 
know that his departure will leave a void that is difficult to fill as 
he is truly a part of the institutional memory of the Senate. In 
passing this resolution, the Senate recognizes his years of commitment 
to the Senate.
  Mr. President, I wish Art Rynearson and his wife, Mary Linda, well in 
his retirement.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Brownback and 
myself, we welcome this opportunity to honor the outstanding career and 
contributions of a truly dedicated and gifted member of our Senate 
family, the Deputy Legislative Counsel of the Senate, Art Rynearson.
  Many of us have been very grateful to Mr. Rynearson over the years 
for his superb assistance in preparing legislation on foreign affairs. 
His many accomplishments in this area include drafting, editing, and 
organizing the 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act, the Iran-Libya 
Act, the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986; the Senate 
conditions to the Protocols for the Expansion of NATO, the Chemical 
Weapons Convention, the START Treaty, and the Panama Canal Treaties.
  Senator Brownback and I, and all the members of the Immigration 
Subcommittee, are especially grateful to Mr. Rynearson for his skillful 
work in legislation on immigration, naturalization, and refugee 
affairs. Mr. Rynearson's thoughtful insight, and his

[[Page S1758]]

mastery of these issues have resulted in articulate, well-drafted, and 
far-reaching laws that have helped countless immigrants and refugees.
  Art Rynearson's many contributions are well-known and greatly 
appreciated by all of us who know him and admire him, and millions of 
men and women and children who may never know his name have benefited 
from his dedication and commitment. As he retires after 26 years of 
heart-felt service and high ability, he has the gratitude and respect 
of all of us in the Senate, and we wish him well in his retirement.
  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, today the Senate expresses its appreciation 
and best wishes to one of the great unsung heroes who make this 
institution work.
  Art Rynearson, the Senate's Deputy Legislative Counsel, is retiring 
after over 26 years of exemplary service to this body. Art has been a 
backstage participant in many historic foreign policy decisions of the 
Senate, assisting the Foreign Relations Committee to draft both 
legislation and resolutions of advice and consent to ratification of 
treaties. His actions were rarely recognized or noticed by the public, 
but his contributions were essential. Art's job was to ensure that our 
legislation clearly expressed the intent of the committee and that it 
meshed properly with existing law. He accomplished that through 
marvelous attention to detail and a complete absence of partisanship.
  During the past 6 years, during which I have served as either the 
chairman or ranking member of the committee, Art has borne a heavy 
burden--working on such matters as the Chemical Weapons Convention, 
NATO enlargement, and major legislation to restructure America's 
foreign policy agencies. The committee owes him a great debt.
  It is not overstatement to say that the Senate could not function 
without people like Art Rynearson. Every day--and many a night--he was 
there, unfailingly courteous and professional, ready to assist the 
committee's members and staff to draft and refine legislation for 
consideration by the committee and the Senate. His knowledge of foreign 
relations and immigration law, gained through his many years of 
service, will not be easily replaced.
  I know that I speak for all of my colleagues on the Foreign Relations 
Committee in saying thank you to Art Rynearson. We wish him and his 
wife, Mary, every happiness as he begins his next stage in life.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
and preamble be agreed to; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table; and that any statements relating to the resolution be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 33) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 33

       Whereas Arthur J. ``Art'' Rynearson, the Deputy Legislative 
     Counsel of the Senate, became an employee of the Senate on 
     August 25, 1976, and since that date has ably and faithfully 
     upheld the high traditions and standards of the Office of the 
     Legislative Counsel of the United States Senate for more than 
     26 years;
       Whereas Art Rynearson has served as Deputy Legislative 
     Counsel since October 20, 1999, and demonstrated great 
     dedication, professionalism, and integrity in faithfully 
     discharging the duties and responsibilities of his position;
       Whereas Art Rynearson for more than 26 years was the 
     primary drafter in the Senate of virtually all legislation 
     relating to international relations, international security, 
     immigration, and the State Department, and all matters 
     relating to Senate consideration of international treaties;
       Whereas Art Rynearson will retire on January 31, 2003, 
     after more than 28 years of service with the Congress, 
     including more than 2 years with the Congressional Research 
     Service of the Library of Congress; and
       Whereas Art Rynearson has met the legislative drafting 
     needs of the United States with unfailing professionalism, 
     skill, and dedication: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States Senate commends Arthur J. 
     Rynearson for his more than 26 years of faithful and 
     exemplary service to the United States Senate and the Nation, 
     including 4 years as the Deputy Legislative Counsel of the 
     Senate, and expresses its deep appreciation and gratitude for 
     his long, faithful, and outstanding service.
       Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy 
     of this resolution to Arthur J. Rynearson.

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