[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 25, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S3501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  RETIREMENT OF JOYCE A. RECHTSCHAFFEN

  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to convey my deep 
gratitude and everlasting appreciation to my Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs Committee staff director, Joyce A. Rechtschaffen, 
who is leaving the Senate after 10 years of service in my personal 
office and 7 on the committee to head Princeton University's 
governmental affairs office here in Washington.
  Benjamin Franklin once said: ``Energy and persistence conquer all 
things.''
  That six-word sentence sums up a career of accomplishments that could 
fill volumes.
  Joyce was on the front lines of many of the challenges of the century 
just past and the century just begun. And through her energy and 
persistence she accomplished great things for the American people.
  I hired Joyce in 1989, shortly after I was sworn in as a freshman 
Senator, and the two of us learned the ropes of this institution 
together.
  She worked for me on the Environment and Public Works Committee, 
later moving to my personal office as my environmental legislative 
assistant and counsel.
  Joyce, a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, 
developed a reputation as a tiger early on, contributing significantly 
to the Clean Air amendments of 1990, working passionately to preserve 
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and proposing innovative solutions 
to stemming harmful greenhouse gases.
  It is a reputation she not only never lived down but made a point of 
earning time and time again on issue after issue.
  In 1999, I became ranking member of the former Government Affairs 
Committee, and I appointed Joyce as minority staff director. In 2001, I 
became chairman when Democrats regained control of the Senate, and 
Joyce became majority staff director through the following year.
  Whether in the majority or minority, Joyce never let up. With her 
brilliant mind, near photographic memory, and absolute dedication to 
the job, Joyce has seen this committee through 6 years of profound 
accomplishment.
  She brought her knowledge of environmental issues to bear by 
launching principled and studied investigations into the Bush 
administration's regulatory actions and energy policies.
  Joyce helped this committee run its investigation of the demise of 
the Enron Corporation, establish the 9/11 Commission, and write 
legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security and the 
reorganization of our intelligence systems--among the most significant 
reorganizations of Government in half a century.
  And in her final mission for the committee and the American people, 
Joyce helped shepherd our bipartisan investigation and report on the 
Government's failed response to Hurricane Katrina.
  Leading by example, Joyce helped assemble and retain a loyal staff 
whose work ethic and dedication have been tested time and time again 
with late nights on tight deadlines handling mighty challenges for the 
American people. They are the envy of the Senate.
  But this is all in Joyce's nature. Shaking things up was just part of 
Joyce's nature. To Joyce, the status quo was often a barrier to 
progress that must fall as the constant casualty of time as we advance 
the cause of making our Nation safer, fairer, and more just for each 
and every American.
  I am sorry to lose Joyce's vast knowledge and expertise, and I will 
miss her sound advice, strict attention to every aspect of an issue, 
and most of all her faithful service to me through 17 years.
  But Joyce, you can walk away knowing that it was a job well done.
  Robert F. Kennedy said: ``Few will have the greatness to bend history 
itself. But each of us can work to change a small portion of events, 
and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this 
generation.''
  Joyce, through her energy, persistence, and selflessness, has written 
herself silently into the history of the great challenges of this 
generation and left a legacy of achievement that will be both the envy 
and inspiration for all those who follow.
  Unfortunately, our committee has not had a markup since Joyce 
announced her retirement; our next one will be next week, after Joyce 
has left us. But because we owe her so much, I will be asking the 
committee at next week's markup to report an original resolution 
thanking her. Chairman Collins has said she will join me in this 
resolution, the text of which follows these remarks. But let me close 
by saying thank you Joyce. I owe you more than I can say, and I wish 
you all the best.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of a proposed resolution be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

 Thanking Joyce Rechtschaffen for Her Service to the Senate and to the 
      Committee on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

       Whereas Joyce Rechtschaffen, an accomplished environmental 
     lawyer, joined the staff of Senator Joseph I. Lieberman upon 
     his entry into the Senate in 1989 and served as his 
     legislative assistant and counsel for environmental issues 
     for almost ten years;
       Whereas during her tenure in Senator Lieberman's office, 
     Joyce Rechtschaffen contributed significantly to the 
     protection of the nation's environment, most significantly 
     through important contributions to the landmark 1990 
     amendments to the Clean Air Act, ceaseless efforts work to 
     protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and innovative 
     proposals to stem the harmful effects of greenhouse gasses;
       Whereas in 1999, upon Senator Lieberman becoming the 
     Ranking Member on the then-named Governmental Affairs 
     Committee, Joyce Rechtschaffen took on the new challenge of 
     serving as Democratic Staff Director;
       Whereas during her more than seven years in that position, 
     Joyce Rechtschaffen has worked tirelessly to advance the work 
     of the Committee and of the nation;
       Whereas Joyce Rechtschaffen has played a leading role in 
     every accomplishment of the Committee since 1999, from the 
     2002 creation of the Homeland Security Department, to the 
     establishment of the 9/11 Commission that same year, to the 
     2004 reorganization of the Intelligence Community, to the 
     Committee's 2006 investigation into the governmental response 
     to Hurricane Katrina, among many other things;
       Whereas Joyce Rechtschaffen has shown the same focus and 
     dedication to all of the work of the Committee no matter how 
     significant the issue at hand;
       Whereas Joyce Rechtschaffen has been a model manager, 
     staffer, employee and colleague to all who have worked with 
     her;
       Whereas Joyce Rechtschaffen has worked tirelessly and 
     selflessly for the Committee these past seven years, often at 
     great personal sacrifice:
       Whereas Joyce Rechtschaffen has been a model of integrity, 
     intelligence, compassion and commitment to building a better 
     America and has shown herself to be the very best and 
     brightest of both civil and Congressional service; Now 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs thanks Joyce Rechtschaffen for her years 
     of work for and dedication to the Senate and to the Committee 
     and wishes her every success in her future endeavors.

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