[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 20 (Thursday, February 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1520-S1521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           RICHARD M. SHAPIRO

 Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I express my gratitude and thanks to 
Richard M. Shapiro for his many years of service to the Members and 
staff of the Congress. I and other Members honor him for his dedication 
to this great institution, his tireless work on its behalf, and the 
countless ways in which he has helped us serve the public over nearly 
three decades, including almost two decades as executive director of 
the Congressional Management Foundation.
  Mr. Shapiro began his impressive career in 1978 here in the Senate, 
when he was a staff investigator at the former Permanent Subcommittee 
on Investigations. After receiving a master's degree in public policy 
from Princeton University, Mr. Shapiro returned to Congress as the 
staff director for the former House Post Office and Civil Service 
Subcommittee on Investigations and later became staff director at the 
House Small Business Subcommittee on Regulations and Business 
Opportunities. In those positions, he continued to learn Congress 
inside and out, especially the importance of good management in the 
formation of effective teams and the unique challenges facing managers 
in Congress. This experience led him to become deputy executive 
director of the Congressional Management Foundation in 1988, and just 1 
year later he became executive director.
  During his years at CMF, Rick has undertaken numerous strategies with 
just one goal--helping Congress do the public's business more 
efficiently and effectively. His efforts as a management consultant 
have involved countless office retreats, staff surveys, individual 
assessments, and strategic planning sessions. Rick has also delivered 
dozens of training programs to address the needs of legislative and 
support staff. He has also authored and coauthored several books 
including the biannual ``House and Senate Staff Salary Survey, 
Frontline Management, and Setting Course; A Congressional Management 
Guide'' which has proved to be an invaluable guide for hundreds of new 
Members as they arrive in Congress. Rick has also undertaken a wide

[[Page S1521]]

range of activities to help Congress effectively move into the Digital 
Age, including recommendations on Web site design and managing Internet 
communications.
  I can speak directly to the terrific work that Rick has done over the 
years because for more than a decade he has played a critical role in 
helping me and my staff manage the challenges and take advantage of 
opportunities we have in representing the people of Wisconsin here in 
the Senate. That assistance has taken a wide variety of forms, ranging 
from multiday all-staff retreats, to staff surveys and analysis, to 
individual staff assessment and advice. He has helped us design annual 
evaluations, improve our salary and bonus structure, design our Web 
site, improve our mail system, and--perhaps most importantly--step back 
and assess our environment regularly to be sure we are doing our best 
for the people of Wisconsin.
  Rick's efforts on behalf of our office reflect the amazing dedication 
and commitment that he has brought to every task over the years. There 
is never any question too small--or any hour too late--for him to make 
himself available to offer advice. His thoughtful analysis has been 
critical to many decisions I have made over the years, and I am 
grateful for his assistance at many key junctures in my career. I know 
that my office operates much more efficiently and effectively today 
thanks to his advice over the years.
  Beyond his work with my office, I would also like to honor Rick for 
his dedication in continuing and dramatically expanding the work of 
CMF. Nonprofit organizations are a bit like restaurants--many of them 
open every year, but few of them last. Ultimately, those that survive 
do so as a result of the tireless dedication of a very small group of 
people, and in the case of CMF, Rick has helped them not only survive 
but to thrive and grow. During his tenure, the budget for CMF has more 
than quadrulpled, while the staff has doubled and the work done for 
Congress has grown exponentially. As I mentioned earlier, Rick and CMF 
have undertaken a wide range of activities on behalf of Congress. 
Ultimately, Rick and CMF have a ``whatever it takes'' attitude, and we 
in Congress have been the beneficiaries of that intensity, creativity, 
and dedication.
  In conclusion, I would like to honor Rick for his tireless dedication 
to assisting Senators, Congressmen, staff, and the entire institution 
of the Congress in our efforts to better serve the American people. We 
are grateful for all of his hard work over the years, and we look 
forward to working with him again in the future.

                          ____________________