[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 30, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S10260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             MAKAN DELRAHIM

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment today to 
express in public my thanks and appreciation to the Judiciary 
Committee's Chief Counsel and Staff Director, Makan Delrahim. Makan's 
departure is a tremendous loss for the Senate and for me personally. 
But, we are fortunate that he will continue to serve our country in his 
new position in the Bush administration as Deputy Assistant Attorney 
General for the Justice Department's Antitrust Division.
  Makan is, in my opinion, a fine example of a great American success 
story. Makan's family fled from Iran when he was eight years old, and 
he quickly learned English and immersed himself in American life.
  After learning business fundamentals at his father's gas station, 
Makan unleashed his newfound American entrepreneurial spirit and 
pursued several successful business enterprises before receiving a 
bachelor of science in physiology from UCLA. Later, he earned a law 
degree from George Washington University and also a Master of Science 
in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins. On top of it all, he became a 
registered patent attorney.
  Clearly, his wide range of abilities and interests explain in part 
why he has served the Judiciary Committee and the Congress so 
exceptionally well. He is a brilliant thinker with the rare ability to 
quickly grasp a wide variety of complex issues.
  It was a stroke of good fortune for me when, back in 1995, Makan 
joined my Judiciary Committee health staff for a term as an intern. As 
an intern, Makan distinguished himself as an exceptional talent, and 
after spending a few years practicing law at the Patton, Boggs, I 
convinced him to come back to the Judiciary staff as counsel handling 
e-commerce, antitrust and emerging technologies policy. I was once 
again so impressed with his dedication and ability that in 2001, I 
asked Makan to serve as Chief Counsel and Staff Director for the 
Judiciary Committee.
  As Chief Counsel, Makan has been my right hand, providing valuable 
counsel on all matters that come before the Committee. I am 
particularly proud of his leadership in the development and passage of 
Hart Scott Rodino reform, the TEACH Act, the PATRIOT Act and the 
PROTECT Act, to name just a few. He has proved himself to be a skillful 
negotiator with the ability to bring parties together on divisive 
issues. It is no wonder that Makan is widely respected on both sides of 
the aisle.
  Makan has worked tirelessly and capably, and I am afraid that his 
office in the Dirksen Building has become his virtual home as he has 
worked late into the night and many weekends over these past years. If 
he had stayed in private law practice and worked these hours, he would 
probably be a billionaire by now.
  As Staff Director, Makan has demonstrated the extraordinary ability 
to find the greatest strengths in each staff member and to foster those 
strengths. And I am especially proud of Makan for helping me recruit a 
brilliant and impeccably qualified staff, and in doing so, bringing an 
unprecedented level of diversity to the Committee.
  We will miss Makan's charismatic style and his ready sense of humor. 
And, we will miss his extraordinary ability to multitask. He is the 
only person I know who is capable of carrying on an intelligent 
conversation while simultaneously checking his email and talking on his 
cell phone.
  Since Makan won't be here to ignore my advice anymore, let me offer 
it once again: He should get married. And, on a serious note, Makan has 
not only been a trusted adviser, he has been a friend. He has made us 
proud and we will miss him.

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