[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 130 (Friday, October 7, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11290-S11291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RETIREMENT OF TIM WINEMAN

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I would like to take a few minutes today to 
recognize Tim Wineman for his dedicated and invaluable service to the 
United States Senate as he prepares to go into retirement.
  Tim has served the Senate with great distinction. During his 35 years 
here, he has worked in various positions within the Senate disbursing 
office. Tim began as a payroll clerk in 1970 and because of his hard 
work won numerous promotions. He works today as a financial clerk, one 
of the best the Secretary's office has been privileged to have. Tim is 
one of those individuals who come here to serve in the Secretary's 
office not to debate policy or make political statements, but out of a 
respect and love for the institution, serving each and every Member 
with the utmost professionalism.
  Our Senate community is privileged to have individuals with the 
talent and dedication that Tim Wineman has shown. He is the soul of 
discretion, always available to answer a question and provide wise 
counsel, and he loves the Senate with all his heart. This is no 
surprise, since Tim has been familiar with our Nation's capital and the 
work of the people that goes on here from his earliest days.
  Tim was born and raised in this area. His father worked for DC 
Transit and his mother, Carolyn, worked for Sears and Roebuck. Tim 
attended Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, where he met his life-long 
partner and friend, his wife, Pat. They just celebrated their 36th 
anniversary in August. They are blessed with two children, Matthew and 
Lory.
  Now that Tim is retiring from the Senate, the inevitable question 
arises: what will he do with his spare time? I have it on good 
authority that Tim is planning to get straight down to business. He 
mentioned that he plans to work on his golf game and spend time 
traveling with Pat. I have heard that Alaska is one of the top 
destinations on their list of places to visit. The first 6 months, 
however, he just wants to spend stress free.
  In the Senate, we get so involved in the issues of the day, and as 
Members our days are long and busy. We often forget to pause for a 
moment and thank those who keep the trains running on time, and for 35 
years Tim Wineman has been one of those loyal conductors.
  We thank Timothy S. Wineman for his service, and we wish Tim and his 
wife, Pat, a happy and content retirement.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on behalf of Timothy 
Wineman, who is retiring after 35 years of dedicated service to the 
Senate.
  There are thousands of employees who work behind the scenes here in 
the Senate, who make it possible for the Members of this body to 
discharge the duties of their office. It is rare that these employees 
get the recognition they deserve.
  One of the greatest and longest serving of those unsung heroes has 
been Tim Wineman, with whom I have had the honor of sharing these halls 
for the last 25 years. Over that period of time, both my wife Jackie 
and I have come to rely on his experience and counsel. We are both sad 
to see him go, but we know as well as anyone that he has certainly 
earned his retirement.
  Tim was hired as a payroll clerk in the disbursing office on October 
19, 1970, while my father still served in this Chamber. Six years 
later, Tim was promoted to payroll supervisor. Four years after that, 
he became the assistant financial clerk. And, in 1998, he was appointed 
the Financial Clerk of the United States Senate.
  He has fulfilled his duties in all of those roles with efficiency, 
integrity, and vision. When Tim began over 30 years ago, the Senate's 
financial services were still performed manually and recorded in pen 
and ink, without the aid of computers. Over the last three decades, 
through various leadership positions, Tim has overseen the 
technological renovation of the Disbursing Office, as it almost 
flawlessly shifted to cover a marked increase in staff and services.
  The Senate Disbursing Office handles not only the payroll of Senators 
and staff, but also their retirement funds and life and health 
insurance. The workload is tremendous. Last year, the Disbursing Office 
also approved nearly 50,000 expense reimbursement vouchers, 
administered the oath to over 3,200 new Senate employees, and provided 
36 training sessions to new office managers, among countless other 
responsibilities requiring attentiveness and precision.
  Under Tim's leadership, these tasks have been carried out with the 
utmost professionalism. He has adeptly kept the Senate's financial 
house in order.
  I thank Tim for his years of dedicated service to the Senate. He will 
be sorely missed. I also want to extend to him and Pat, his wife for as 
long as he has served the Senate, my best wishes as they begin this new 
phase in their lives.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the attached 
letters from various foreign officials be printed in the Record. They 
have all sent their condolences for the Hurricane Katrina tragedy.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                             The Senate of Canada,


                                        Speaker of the Senate,

                                Ottawa, Canada, September 2, 2005.
     Senator Ted Stevens,
     President Pro Tempore of the Senate,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Senator Stevens: On behalf of The Senate of Canada, I join 
     all Canadians in expressing to you, your Senate colleagues, 
     and fellow citizens our sympathy and condolences on your 
     country's great loss.
       As we learn more about the wide-spread devastation arising 
     from Hurricane Katrina, it becomes increasingly difficult to 
     fully comprehend the extent of the tragedy. Even so, we 
     extend our thoughts and prayers to all the victims, their 
     families and others hit by this terrible disaster. The 
     numerous telephone calls I have been receiving from 
     Canadians, urging us to be of whatever assistance we can to 
     our American friends, shows how much this tragedy has touched 
     Canadians personally. I assure you we will be supportive in 
     every way we can, and are determined to work together to help 
     both immediately and over the long term.
       I wish you great strength both now and in the days ahead.
           Sincerely,
                                                         Dan Hays.

[[Page S11291]]

     
                                  ____
         Embassy of Hungary, Speaker of the Hungarian National 
           Assembly,
                                      Budapest, September 5, 2005.
     Hon. Ted Stevens,
     President pro tempore of the Senate, Washington, DC.
       Excellency: I was shocked to hear the news about the 
     disaster caused by the hurricane Katrina. We are very well 
     aware of the situation in which hundreds of thousands of 
     people are in New Orleans. The human tribulation in such a 
     huge mass makes us wordless and silent, and awake deep 
     sorrow. The Hungarian public has been turning in these days 
     with deep sympathy to the people in New Orleans.
       From my part, Your Excellency, please accept my deepest 
     sympathy in your bereavement. On behalf of the National 
     Assembly of Hungary I would also like to offer my condolences 
     to the relatives and families of the victims. In the meantime 
     I would like to let you know that you can count on our 
     support, the Hungarian team of rescue is already on the venue 
     to give aid and assistance to the people in need, and to 
     fight shoulder to shoulder with your authorities.
       I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your 
     Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.
           Yours sincerely,
     Dr. Katalin Szili.
                                  ____



                                               Prime Minister,

                             Jerusalem, Israel, September 1, 2005.
     Mr. George W. Bush,
     President, The United States of America,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: On behalf of my Government and the 
     people of Israel, I wish to express my sincerest condolences 
     on the horrible tragedy that has befallen the United States, 
     especially the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, 
     in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
       I would like to offer Israel's assistance in volunteering 
     our medical teams which include hundreds of doctors, nurses, 
     technicians and other experts that specialize in trauma, 
     natural disasters and public health. We also offer field 
     hospitals, medical kits and equipment for temporary housing, 
     re-enforcement for hospitals, or any other assistance that 
     you may require. I was informed by my security establishment 
     that these teams and equipment can be ready in 24 hours.
       During these difficult times, we, the people of Israel, 
     stand firmly by your side in a show of solidarity and 
     friendship.
           Sincerely,
     Ariel Sharon.
                                  ____

                                                  August 30, 2005.
     Hon. Secretary Condoleezza Rice,
     Secretary of State, Department of State,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Rice: Please allow me to express my 
     condolences to you and to the people of the United States of 
     America, on the loss of life and the terrible pain and 
     destruction caused by Hurricane Katerina.
       May the families of the victims find peace and comfort.
       As we all stand in awe at the great force of nature 
     unleashed on the shores of the United States, please rest 
     assured that the people of Israel share your sorrow and 
     extend our hand in comfort and friendship. We also stand 
     ready to assist in any way possible.
           Yours sincerely,
     Silvan Shalom.
                                  ____


             A Prayer for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina

                 (By Chief Israeli Rabbi, Yona Metzger)

       ``Our Heavenly Father, Founder of the world and Creator of 
     the universe, compassionate and merciful God, please spare 
     and show compassion to Your creatures and the world You have 
     created, and especially the inhabitants of the states among 
     the Gulf of Mexico in the United States. Save them from every 
     calamity, from the winds of storm and hurricane, from the 
     waters of the sea, and from every sorrow and evil, and send 
     deliverance and redemption to all those who call upon Thy 
     Name. Save them from the floodwaters and rescue them from the 
     abyss, lead them to a place of safety, and do not abandon 
     them, and in Your abundant mercy send them redemption in the 
     measure of their loss, and complete healing to the sick and 
     those in pain, and comfort to their souls and spirit. May all 
     the inhabitants of the Earth know and recognize that You are 
     the Supreme King, who rules the powers of the universe and 
     shows mercy to His creatures, who praise Your great Name, 
     amen.''
                                  ____



                                    Inter-Parliamentary Union,

                                              Geneva, Switzerland.
     Hon. Dennis Hastert,
     Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Ted Stevens,
     Senate President Pro Tempore, U.S. Congress, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Speaker, Dear Mr. President: In the wake of 
     Hurricane Katrina which has lashed the gulf states of the 
     United States, leaving a trail of destruction and causing the 
     loss of so many lives, we wish to express to the United 
     States Congress and the people of the United States of 
     America the solidarity and heartfelt sympathy of the Inter-
     Parliamentary Union. Our deepest condolences go to the 
     relatives of those who have lost their lives in one of the 
     most devastating storms in your country's history.
           High Consideration,
     Sergio Paez Verdugo,
       President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
     Anders B. Johnson,
       Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
                                  ____



                                            National Assembly,

                                                  State of Kuwait.
     Hon. Ted Stevens (pro tempore),
     Speaker of the Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Speaker: We have been devastated by the news of 
     the natural disaster (Hurricane Katrina) which hit a number 
     of states in the Mexican Gulf south of the U.S.A and resulted 
     in the death of several innocent people and the loss of 
     others, in addition to the destruction of properties.
       On behalf of my colleagues members of the National Assembly 
     of Kuwait and myself, I would like to express my deepest 
     condolences to your Excellency and the friendly people of the 
     U.S.A. and the families of the victims.
       I wish your country peace, stability, security, and 
     prosperity.
       Please accept the assurances of my highest considerations.
           Best regards,
     Jassim Mohammad AL-Kharafi.

                          ____________________