[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 14, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S1955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HARD WORK YIELDS WISE INVESTMENTS FOR AMERICA

  Mr. BYRD. Madam President, the Senate today gave final Congressional 
approval to a comprehensive $463.5 billion funding resolution. The vote 
today was the culmination of many weeks of determined effort by 
Senators and Members of the House from both parties, and from their 
talented staffs.
  I take a moment to thank Senators for their support for this 
legislation, and to the members of the Appropriations Committee, 
Democratic Senators and Republican Senators, for their determination 
and effort to reach this milestone.
  This was not easy legislation to craft. Members and staff took on the 
difficult task of wrapping the funding of every domestic department and 
agency into a single bill, without Congressional earmarks and within 
very austere budget limitations. It was one of the most complex 
processes that the Appropriations Committee has undertaken in recent 
memory. But it was a challenge that we met in a smart, innovative way.
  I thank the Appropriations Committee staff: Staff Director Terry 
Sauvain; Deputy Staff Director Charles Kieffer; Agriculture, Rural 
Development, FDA clerk Galen Fountain; Commerce, Justice, Science clerk 
Paul Carliner; Defense clerk Charlie Houy; Energy and Water clerk Doug 
Clapp; Financial Services clerk Marianne Upton; Interior clerk Peter 
Kiefhaber; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education clerk Ellen 
Murray; Legislative Branch clerk Nancy Olkewicz; Military Construction 
and Veterans Affairs clerk Christina Evans; State and Foreign 
Operations clerk Tim Rieser; and Transportation and Housing and Urban 
Development clerk Peter Rogoff; their associate staffs; Communications 
Director Tom Gavin and Communications Coordinator Cindy Huber; Deputy 
Chief Clerk Elnora Harvey; and professional staff members Jack Conway 
and Bob Knisely. Senators know the value of a strong staff, and this 
staff is, in my opinion, the best on Capitol Hill. Each of these men 
and women devoted long hours to this legislation. But it was not just a 
commitment of time; it also was the application of their years of 
experience and their dedication to this country that helped to craft 
this funding resolution and help see it through the Senate.
  This was a bipartisan effort, and I want to pay tribute to Senator 
Thad Cochran, the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations 
Committee, his staff director Bruce Evans, and the Republican 
subcommittee staffs. They were partners in producing this balanced 
funding legislation, and their ideas and input were invaluable.
  Not only was the writing of this legislation a bipartisan process, 
but it also was a bicameral one. House Appropriations Chairman Dave 
Obey and his staff, and Ranking Member Jerry Lewis and his staff, were 
integral to the success of this legislation.
  This final funding package is an example of how the Congress can work 
together, without regard to party lines or partisan positions. this 
legislation focuses not on Democratic priorities or Republican 
priorities, but rather on national priorities of health care; law 
enforcement and counterterrorism efforts; education, medical care for 
our troops and our veterans; and energy independence. We invest 
resources wisely in an effort to meet the country's needs today while 
building the foundation for a stronger America tomorrow.
  I thank Senators for their support of this legislation, and I look 
forward to continuing this bipartisan effort on the Fiscal 2008 
appropriations legislation.

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