[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 134 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11489-S11490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO KATIE GUMERSON ALTSHULER

  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the service of Katie 
Gumerson Altshuler, my staff director at the Senate Republican policy 
committee. Katie has decided to return to her native Oklahoma and begin 
a new life as chief of staff to the Speaker of the House of the 
Oklahoma Legislature.
  Katie became staff director of the RPC earlier this year, in what was 
the culmination of an impressive climb through the ranks of Senate 
staff leadership dating back to 1995 when she served as an intern for 
Senator Don Nickles when she was still in college. When Katie graduated 
from Sweet Briar College 2 years later, Senator Nickles hired her first 
as a staff assistant and then as a legislative correspondent. And in 
1999, he promoted her into the majority whip's office, where she 
quickly became well known in the Capitol as a floor assistant and 
policy adviser to Republican Senators.

[[Page S11490]]

  When Senator Nickles finished his term as majority whip, I was 
thrilled that Katie agreed to join me as my first deputy staff director 
of the Republican policy committee. In that capacity, she quickly 
became my eyes and ears here in the Capitol Building, tracking the ins 
and outs of floor activity, representing the RPC within the leadership, 
and doing everything she could to ensure that only the best policy--
good, conservative Republican policy--became law. As one of her many 
duties, you may recall that she developed our RPC ``getaway'' materials 
and stood over by the side door to my right and handed them to 
Republican Senators after the last vote of the week.
  Katie quickly earned my trust, as I know she had earned the trust of 
Senator Nickles before me. So it was an easy decision to promote Katie 
to staff director of the RPC in June 2006. She had experience in a 
broad range of policy areas and she understood the pulse of this body 
better than most ever will. My staff has enormous respect for her, and 
she is a natural leader.
  Katie's departure coincides with the end of my 4 years chairing the 
Senate Republican policy committee, a job I have enjoyed immensely. I 
want to thank Katie for the consistently good work product she helped 
us achieve during these past 4 years. She has inspired other staff 
members of the committee to achieve a level of excellence that, I 
believe, has been of great value to Senators and their staffers. My 
goal, since day one, was to make sure we produced a first-rate 
product--thorough, accurate, and reliable. Katie understood this, and 
she made sure it happened. And so we both depart the policy committee--
I for the chairmanship of the Republican Conference and she for the 
Oklahoma State House--I believe we have left it well-prepared and well-
armed for the future.
  Let me share a few words about Katie personally. We all know Katie to 
be bright, quick-witted, fiercely loyal, and genuinely warm to those 
around her. She is a true patriot who cares deeply for this Nation and 
the Senate, and I know she is proud to have served here for the past 
9\1/2\ years. She loves and reveres this institution, even its 
eccentricities. For example, a former colleague of hers remembers 
fondly how irritated Katie can become when the decorum of the Senate is 
offended, even when it is a Senator who fails to take seriously the 
Senate Chamber's dress code.
  When contacted a few days ago, Katie's former boss, Senator Don 
Nickles, had this to say about her: ``Katie brought a great deal of 
professionalism and enthusiasm into both the Whip office and Policy 
Committee. She will certainly be missed.''
  Eric Ueland, now chief of staff to Majority Leader Frist, worked with 
Katie for several years in the Nickles whip office. He said: ``No one 
should ever mistake Katie's grace and charm for indifference to 
conservative philosophy or Republican ideology, because within her 
beats the heart of a lion and the ferocity of a tiger. Katie always 
harnesses the very best from her colleagues to bring creative solutions 
to bear. She always seeks to suggest the best way forward to do credit 
not just to the Senators she serves, but to the values that brought 
them to Washington.''
  One more accolade. Dave Schiappa, the secretary for the majority, who 
handles all floor operations for the Republicans and who has worked 
with Katie for many years, had this to say: ``Over my 22 years, I have 
had the privilege to work with a great number of intelligent and 
dedicated people. Katie Altshuler is one of those shining stars and has 
set a standard of professionalism and devotion to the Senate as an 
institution.''
  I wish Katie could be convinced to stay and help us in the Senate, 
but I know that the pull of home and of new challenges is a strong one, 
and I wish her well in her new endeavors. So, Katie, my best wishes to 
you as you take up your new line of duty, and on behalf of the Senate, 
I commend you for your excellent work. Thank you.

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