[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 36 (Friday, March 2, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S2544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         JOHN ``PEDIE'' MORTON

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the person about whom I am going to speak 
has never been on C-SPAN. Members of the public would not recognize him 
in any capacity. But he is a central part of the Senate family, helping 
make sure offices have whatever they need to function.
  His name is John ``Pedie'' Morton. I have known him for all the time 
I have been in the Senate. He has been here almost 40 years, working to 
make the Senate a better place. His name is unfamiliar to the general 
public. He works behind the scenes in Capitol Facilities. He is a 
familiar face to those of us who walk the halls of the Capitol. We know 
him from his great smile, which is disarming. He always expresses warm 
greetings. Even though he cares a great deal about the Senate, I have 
to acknowledge that he likes the Redskins more than the Senate. That is 
his love, the Washington Redskins. After more than three decades of 
work, he will be missed.
  Students learn in civics class about the hundred of us, but they 
don't learn how many workers it takes to keep this body running. There 
are hundreds of men and women just like Pedie who help us do our jobs. 
While the American people recognize us, the hundred Senators, today I 
want to recognize Pedie and the multitude of colleagues with whom he 
shares responsibilities in making this place work so well.
  There are people every day, seated in front of the Presiding Officer, 
doing things we don't know how to do but they do to make this body 
function so that there is a Congressional Record every day and it is 
absolutely correct, the court reporters taking down every word we say. 
The police officers make sure the evil people who want to do harm to 
this beautiful building and the people in it are safe. Today, I 
recognize Pedie on behalf of all these people who do so much to make 
the Senate the wonderful institution it is and our country a better 
place.

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