[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 30 (Monday, March 14, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S2643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JOHN GILLILAND

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to commend John Gilliland, 
who worked for me on the trade staff of the Finance Committee for the 
last 2 years. He left to go work for the law firm of Miller and 
Chevalier, where I know he will be a great success.
  We were lucky to have John with us on the Committee for 2 years. But 
he has been working hard on public policy issues for much longer than 
that.
  John began his Senate career in the office of my good friend and 
colleague, Senator Blanche Lincoln. John worked for 2 years as her 
legislative counsel on trade and agriculture issues. Senator Lincoln, 
of course, was instrumental in helping us pass the 2002 farm bill and 
the Trade Act of 2002, and John was her key staffer on both pieces of 
legislation.
  My staff worked closely with John on these issues, and everyone was 
so impressed by him that I hired him to help us on the Finance 
Committee.
  I am glad we did. John has been a tremendous asset. He knows 
agriculture and trade inside and out. I am always amazed that I can ask 
him almost anything, and he not only knows that answer, but can give me 
all of the history, politics, and nuance.
  His knowledge of agriculture was particularly important for Montana, 
where farming and ranching are the engine of our export income. John is 
somebody who I trusted to represent me in Montana, and someone who I 
trusted to represent Montana here in Washington. That alone is saying a 
lot.
  John worked on some difficult and important issues while on the 
Finance Committee. He played a key role in the Australia free-trade 
agreement and was responsible for oversight of WTO negotiations. He was 
also a strong advocate for our work to end the embargo against Cuba, 
and he helped negotiate the first ever Montana-Cuba agriculture trade 
deal. In fact, John traveled with me on several of my trade missions, 
including to Cuba, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
  John is also someone who is very dedicated to his family. He is lucky 
to have a wonderful wife, Rebecca, and three great kids-Will, Hudson, 
and Rebecca Jane. And they are fortunate to have a hard-working and 
talented husband and father.
  Now, all of this is not to say that John doesn't have his faults. 
Most of his colleagues give John a hard time for not being able to 
match his clothes. Their criticism is warranted. In fact, on a trip to 
Thailand last year, we finally forced him to buy a new suit and some 
dress shirts. I am confident that we have now set him on the right 
path.
  Having visited John at his desk, I can also say that I am happy that 
OSHA never paid him a visit. I heard someone describe John and his 
office best when they said that he combines southern charm with 
northern efficiency and third-world desk organization.
  All of that said these are about the worst things you can say about 
John. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a person who does not 
like John. He is truly one of the nicest and most genuine people you 
will ever meet. There are a lot of people in this town with substantive 
knowledge, but there are few who can put together the substance, 
personality, and strategy and be truly exceptional. John is one of 
those people.
  I always say that public service is one of the most noble things a 
person can do. John Gilliland embodies the best in public service. He 
is aces. And I wish him the best.

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