[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 32 (Friday, March 12, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S2763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      MARTY PAONE'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF SERVICE IN SENATE CHAMBER

  Mr. DASCHLE. Next Monday, March 15, the Senate will be in recess. As 
Julius Caesar could tell you, the Ides of March is a good day to be far 
from the Senate Chamber, but this Ides of March the Senate family has 
something to celebrate: the 25th anniversary of Marty Paone's service 
to the Senate Chamber.
  The Senate is not the simplest of institutions. The rules and 
traditions that govern our work can seem baffling even to the most 
experienced legislator. Marty has the most comprehensive understanding 
of the rules and procedures of the Senate of anyone I have ever known.
  We may lose an issue because we do not have the votes, but in my time 
in the Senate we have never lost an issue on procedural grounds. In 
fact, we have even won a few, and when we do, it is thanks to Marty's 
extraordinary knowledge and unerring counsel.
  He not only knows what the rules are, but how they serve the greater 
purpose of maintaining the Senate's unique role within our democracy. 
This innate understanding has come as a result of a quarter century of 
dedicated service to the Senate and our Nation.
  Marty was born in Everett, MA, and is a graduate of Boston College. 
After graduation, he made his way to Washington to attend graduate 
school at Georgetown University. It was while working on his master's 
degree in Russian studies that he first came to Capitol Hill. While 
attending school, he worked in the House post office and later moved to 
the Senate parking office. In 1979, Marty joined the staff of the 
Senate Democratic cloakroom. A few years later he joined the Senate 
Democratic floor staff, and in 1991 became assistant secretary for the 
minority. In 1995, he was elected by the Democratic Caucus to the 
position he holds today, secretary for the minority.
  Each of us knows that the Senate has its own peculiar schedule that 
is unpredictable at best, but no one knows that better than Marty. 
Twenty-one years ago, while planning his wedding, he and his fiancee 
Ruby, who is also a member of the Senate family, pored over the 
calendar looking for a date that they could be certain the Senate would 
be out of session. They chose Veterans Day and made their plans.
  Perhaps predictably, the Senate held a rare Veterans Day session that 
year, and Marty did what he has seldom done in his 25 years, he 
actually missed a day of work. Fortunately, the Senate adjourned early 
enough for Marty's colleagues to share in his and Ruby's joy that day 
and make the wedding.
  Fitting one's family life around the peculiar schedule of the Senate 
is never easy. It takes a lot of patience, a good sense of humor, 
qualities that Marty has in abundance. We are grateful to him, his 
family, his wife Ruby, and their children Alexander, Stephanie, and 
T.J., for sharing their husband and father with us.
  During his time in the Senate, Marty has shown unequaled dedication 
and loyalty to our institution and to the men and women who serve here. 
As a result, he has won the trust of every Senator and every staff 
person who has ever had the honor of working with him.
  Thanks to his experience, every Senator is better able to serve his 
or her constituents and the Senate is better able to serve the needs of 
the American people. We owe him an extraordinary debt of gratitude. 
There is no one I know who has more respect and affection for the 
Senate as an institution than Marty. On behalf of the entire Democratic 
Caucus, I thank him for his service of 25 years.
  I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Dole). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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