[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 24, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S1517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RETIREMENT OF TOM RYAN

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, March 1 marks a very special occasion--
although it is with mixed feelings I report that Tom Ryan, the key 
Department of Labor Budget Analyst for employment and training programs 
is retiring following more than 32 years of a most distinguished 
career. As the members of the Appropriations Committee can attest, Mr. 
Ryan's work in this area has been extraordinary, in its breadth, its 
depth, and in its effectiveness. As needs arose and even when crisis 
has come to the lives of so many job seekers throughout our Nation, Mr. 
Ryan has been a pillar of strength in helping people as he worked 
tirelessly with us to ensure that funding for the right training 
opportunities were available when job seekers needed them.
  On behalf of the members of the Appropriations Committee, I would 
like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to Mr. 
Ryan for his vision which has so often guided us in formulating 
creative solutions to funding jobs training programs, in caring for the 
people we serve--many of those who are in critical need of assistance. 
The complexities of funding these programs during the challenging years 
of fiscal austerity have been met with a determination to find 
solutions, and the countless people receiving job training and 
employment assistance are well-served, due in no small measure, to Mr. 
Ryan's efforts and his devotion to these endeavors. For these efforts 
and so many more, we extend our congratulations to Mr. Ryan and wish 
him an enjoyable and well-deserved retirement.

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