[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 22 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S1677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO ALMA KRISTOFFERSEN

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, today I rise to commend one of the 
many unsung heroes of our Senate family, Alma Kristoffersen, who will 
retire tomorrow after 20 years of service as a transcriber and 
reporting technician for the Congressional Record.
  I worked in the private sector for more than 30 years before I first 
came to the Senate. One of the things that struck me about this 
institution as I came to know it is the dedication, skill, and 
professionalism shown by the people who work in all capacities here. 
Senators and committees have their own staff, and we rely on them, to 
be sure. But we also rely on the hundreds of staffers who make up what 
I call the ``infrastructure'' of the Senate. For the most part, they go 
about their business unnoticed and certainly underappreciated. We have 
to remind ourselves now and then that this place would screech to a 
halt without their tireless devotion to their jobs and to our Nation.
  Alma is a fine example of that tradition. She has many talents, 
including a strong knowledge of grammar, spelling, and vocabulary; a 
quick wit; and dry sense of humor. But her most enduring asset is her 
absolute commitment to teamwork. She is always willing to volunteer for 
extra duties.
  Alma was born in Liverpool, England, and moved to the United States 
in 1968. She became a citizen in the early 1990s, qualifying for a high 
security clearance to work on classified material. She and her husband 
Tom have a son, Alex, who lives in Brooklyn, NY. Alma plans to enjoy 
all her various hobbies in retirement, including gardening, tennis, 
travel, and actually being able to attend her book club on week nights.
  I know that I speak on behalf of the entire Senate when I say how 
much I appreciate Alma's service to this institution and to the Nation. 
Alma's colleagues and friends here in the Senate, particularly in the 
Office of Official Reporters of Debates, will miss her, but we wish her 
a long and happy retirement, which she has certainly earned.

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