[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 91 (Thursday, June 19, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S8257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NOMINATION OF C. STEWART VERDERY, JR.

  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I rise today to applaud the Senate's 
approval of the nomination of C. Stewart Verdery, Jr., to be an 
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation 
Security Policy. Mr. Verdery's nomination was approved unanimously by 
the Committee on Governmental Affairs on June 17, and his confirmation 
will fill a vital position at the new Department of Homeland Security. 
I have known Stewart for over a decade, and believe that his 
experience, Jeffersonian conservative principles, and personal 
qualities make him well-qualified to serve in the new Department.
  The Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning at the Border and 
Transportation Directorate, Department of Homeland Security, is the 
principal adviser to the BTS Under Secretary for policy development in 
the substantive areas within the BTS Directorate, including immigration 
and customs enforcement, customs and border protection, transportation 
security, Federal law enforcement training, and domestic preparedness. 
The Assistant Secretary is responsible for ensuring that policies 
developed for BTS and its component agencies are designed to achieve 
homeland security objectives as directed by the DHS Secretary and BTS 
Under Secretary and to fulfill the BTS mission statement to ``protect 
national security and promote public safety by enforcing our nation's 
immigration and customs laws, providing an effective defense against 
all external threats, including international terrorists, and other 
threats such as illegal drugs and other contraband, while preserving 
the free flow of legitimate trade and travel.''
  Mr. Verdery is well-known to this body, having served for more than 6 
years in the U.S. Senate. He first served as counsel to my senior 
colleague from Virginia, Senator Warner, in his personal office and on 
the Senate Rules Committee. He joined the Senate Judiciary Committee in 
1998 as head of the crime and law enforcement unit, and then moved to 
become General Counsel to the senior Senator from Oklahoma, Mr. 
Nickles. In this role, Mr. Verdery advised the Senate leadership on a 
host of issues, including crime and law enforcement, commerce, judicial 
nominations, constitutional law, campaign finance, and 
telecommunications. He was widely respected among his peers and relied 
upon not only by Senator Nickles, but by many other members of the 
Republican Conference and their staffs as well.
  Whether managing the high-profile investigation of the disputed 1996 
Louisiana Senate election, helping direct the Clinton impeachment 
trial, or a host of other assignments, Mr. Verdery's organizational 
skills, political instincts, and notable work ethics enabled him to 
thrive in the demanding environment of the U.S. Senate.
  I had the opportunity to work closely with Stewart when the Senate 
Republican leadership designated him as a lead staffer for the Senate 
Republican High Tech Task Force, which has the goal of advancing 
constructive technology policy in the Senate. As chairman of the High 
Tech Task Force in 2001-2002, I was impressed by his extraordinary 
command of complex technology issues and, perhaps more important, his 
ability to succinctly explain the issues to others. His advice and 
counsel were always sound and thoughtful, and through his effective and 
friendly manner, he instantly earned the respect of those with whom he 
worked.
  Stewart Verdery played a key role in the transformation of the High 
Tech Task Force into a lead advocate for the technology-friendly 
policies in the Senate. With his assistance, my colleagues and I were 
better prepared to advance a positive technology policy agenda in the 
Senate, including: the passage of a clean, 2-year Internet tax 
moratorium extension; passage of the upgraded Export Administration Act 
reauthorization; securing additional funding for anti-piracy 
prosecutions; and the hard-fought effort in the economic stimulus 
debate to make the Research and Development tax credit permanent, to 
provide enhanced expensing and to include the broadband tax credit.
  Mr. Verdery will be a valuable member of the team at the Department 
of Homeland Security. I wish Stewart, his wife Jenny and their two 
young children, Isabelle and Chase, all the very best health and 
happiness in this new endeavor.
  Mr. NICKLES. Madam President, I rise today to support the Senate's 
approval of the nomination of Stewart Verdery as the Assistant 
Secretary for Policy and Planning at the Border and Transportation 
Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security.
  I have worked with Stewart since his days as Counsel to the Senate 
Rules Committee and while he was at the Senate Judiciary Committee. He 
did an outstanding job in those capacities. As a matter of fact, he did 
such a great job I hired him to serve as my General Counsel in the 
Assistant Republican Leader's office. In his position there, he served 
not only as my counsel, but as a counsel for the entire Senate. We deal 
with a lot of issues in the U.S. Senate, and Stewart's counsel was 
invaluable to me and other Senators.
  I consider Stewart and his wife Jenny to be part of the family. Not 
only were they married while he was on my staff, but their two children 
were born as well. I respect him as both a professional and a family 
man.
  I have no doubt Stewart will excel in this new position, and it is 
with great pleasure that I support his nomination as Assistant 
Secretary for Policy and Planning.

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