[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 154 (Friday, November 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2397-E2398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING RICHARD H. SHAPIRO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT W. NEY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2005

  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Richard H. Shapiro, 
Executive Director of the Congressional Management Foundation, CMF. 
Since 1988, Rick has tirelessly provided important and needed services 
in support of the institution of Congress. As Executive Director, Rick 
has become a leading expert on improving operations in the U.S. 
Congress. He has utilized that expertise in support of individual 
Member offices, in the training of literally thousands of Congressional 
staff, in providing research and best-practices information to House 
Administration, Committee and Member offices, and in writing landmark 
books and studies on Congressional management.
  Mr. Speaker, Rick's involvement with Congress began in 1978, when he 
was a staff investigator at the former U.S. Senate Permanent 
Subcommittee on Investigations. While investigating Department of 
Defense procurement practices, Rick came to understand the importance 
of Congressional oversight. Effective oversight requires effective 
management, and as Rick came to understand this relationship, he came 
to appreciate the importance of good management in Congress.
  Following graduate school, Rick returned to Congress as the Staff 
Director of the former House Post Office and Civil Service Subcommittee 
on Investigations, and subsequently as Staff Director at the House 
Small Business Subcommittee on Regulation and Business Opportunities. 
In those positions, he managed congressional staff and workload, laying 
the groundwork for his move to the Congressional Management Foundation 
as Deputy Executive Director in 1988. One year later, he became its 
Executive Director.

[[Page E2398]]

  Rick is a management consultant with unparalleled expertise in how to 
provide management and leadership assistance in the unique environment 
of Congress. He conducts organizational assessments for individual 
offices, committee offices, leadership organizations and ultimately for 
Congress itself. He prepares and conducts surveys in support of change 
processes for congressional organizations; facilitates strategic 
planning sessions and develops written organization plans; facilitates 
group problem solving for House and Senate offices; and provides 
individual assessment and coaching to senior managers and Members of 
Congress. During his tenure at CMF, Rick has delivered dozens of 
training programs to address the needs of legislative and support 
staff. He has authored and supervised the production of several books 
and reports, including the biannual House and Senate Staff Salary 
Surveys, Frontline Management, a guide for state office staff, and 
Setting Course, A Congressional Management Guide, which most new 
members of Congress find an absolutely indispensable tool as they face 
the daunting task of setting up their offices after being elected. Most 
recently, Rick and CMF have gotten deeply involved in information 
technology related issues, such as website design and managing internet 
communication.
  Mr. Speaker, CMF is not a large institution, nor is it a well-endowed 
one. It is, in fact, a small group of dedicated people whose sole goal 
is to help Congress become a more productive and effective institution 
through good management practices. There is a great deal of work to be 
done toward that end, and the staff at CMF, led by Rick, works very 
hard at reaching that goal. Under Rick's leadership, the range and 
quality of services CMF provides has grown significantly, and the 
institution of Congress has benefited greatly from this growth.
  Mr. Speaker, for 16 years, Rick has worked tirelessly with staff on 
both sides of the aisle to improve the management of Congress. I 
believe that his contribution to the functioning of this body has been 
extraordinarily valuable, and my purpose in rising today is to express 
my appreciation for his years of good work.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to recognize one of the most 
important contributors to the effective management of Congress, Mr. 
Richard H. Shapiro.

                          ____________________