[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 60 (Monday, April 16, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S4463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO BETTY BURGER

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to Betty Burger, a 
remarkable public servant and extraordinarily devoted congressional 
staffer. Betty died on Saturday at the age of 87. Betty was my chief 
caseworker and my oldest and longest serving staff person. She was 
still on the payroll as of Saturday.
  Although I am deeply saddened by her departure, it brings me comfort 
to know this devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother slipped 
peacefully into the hands of her Maker.
  It is fitting that Betty's loved ones kept vigil at her bedside. For 
nearly 40 years, Betty Burger kept vigil for the people of Iowa. She 
started on Capitol Hill working for Iowa Representative Fred Schwengel. 
After Congressman Schwengel left office, she worked for an Illinois 
Congressman by the name of Hanrahan for 2 years. Then she wanted to 
work for an Iowa Congressman again, and she joined my staff on my first 
day on the job in Washington after I was elected to the House of 
Representatives in 1974. Since then, for the last 32 years, Betty has 
worked as a congressional staffer for the people of Iowa.
  If Congress needed any rationale for eliminating mandatory retirement 
age in 1986, Betty Burger is that example. As my chief caseworker, 
Betty earned a lifetime of experience on the job mastering the ins and 
outs of the Federal bureaucracy. Her countless contacts within Federal 
agencies put a face on the so-called faceless bureaucracy. No one knew 
how to cut through redtape more swiftly and surely. Betty was a 
masterful detective the way she tracked down disability claims and 
benefit errors at the Social Security Administration. She decoded the 
maze of paperwork at the Veterans Affairs Department, and navigated 
Byzantine immigration rules for constituents struggling with 
citizenship, employment status, and deportation issues. Betty Burger 
knew how to cut to the chase at the State Department for Iowans who 
were traveling, working, or studying abroad.
  Most of Iowa's 2.9 million residents didn't know Betty Burger 
personally, but I want them to understand how this dedicated public 
servant made a difference for Iowans. Betty did her job for them with 
remarkable efficiency, tenacity, and integrity. I heard firsthand 
gratitude about Betty's work from individual Iowans nearly every time I 
went home and held town meetings. Betty also touched the lives of 
Iowans and their families through her work to nominate outstanding 
young people to our Nation's service academies. She would always talk 
about what a great group we had this year. Let me tell my colleagues 
something about Betty. We always had a great group of academy nominees 
as far as Betty was concerned. These young high school kids and their 
parents had several conversations with Betty as they maneuvered through 
the nomination process. They were an inspiration to her and she knew 
with good young people in her academies, such as the ones she helped 
nominate, our country from a national security standpoint would be left 
in good hands.
  In my office, Betty served as a role model for young staffers and 
seasoned colleagues alike. Her work ethic taught others to keep one's 
nose to the grindstone. Her professional attire taught others 
appearances do make a positive impression in the workplace. Her sharp-
witted humor elicited laughter and taught us we could count on Betty to 
put a smile on everybody's face. Her uncanny grasp of cultural trends 
and current events taught others how to embrace aging and use one's 
work and life experiences for the greater good.
  I can't talk about Betty without making it clear she was a fiercely 
loyal and proud Republican. She modeled compassionate conservatism each 
and every day she helped an Iowan. Day in and day out, Betty untangled 
a knot at a Federal agency for those who may have felt at the end of 
their rope trying to get an answer.
  I often tell Iowans that representative government is a two-way 
street. Well, Betty Burger lived and breathed the spirit of 
representative government. She was the capable, no-nonsense person on 
the other end of the phone who brought thousands upon thousands of 
Iowans hope and peace of mind. She paved the street between Iowans and 
the Federal agencies from which they required service.
  As her boss, I owe Betty a debt of gratitude for her tireless 
commitment, unwavering loyalty to this country, to the people of Iowa, 
and to me. As Iowa's senior Senator, I place a premium on constituent 
service. Betty understood this as well as anyone and exceeded my 
expectations.
  As her friend, Barbara and I extend our heartfelt sympathies to 
Betty's family and the loved ones she leaves behind. As they remember 
their beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and neighbor, 
please know we will dearly miss this classy and spirited Iowan who 
became part of our family during her honorable tenure--a lifetime--on 
Capitol Hill.
  In the last four decades, many Iowans have felt touched by a guardian 
angel when Betty worked her magic on their behalf. May God's blessings 
continue to shine upon this guardian angel from Fairfield, IA, as she 
rests in peace alongside her husband John.
  If I could give some advice to my colleagues, I last saw Betty in 
early January. If we hadn't been in session in early January of this 
year, probably the last time I would have seen her would have been 
before Christmas.
  Betty got sick about that time and was going to the doctor. We were 
keeping in touch with her by phone but always waiting for her to get 
better and come back to work. Then, all of a sudden, she got very weak. 
We actually thought she would come back to work, but she got weak and 
then suddenly died.
  My advice to colleagues would be this: I didn't get to see her since 
that last time she was in my office in January. Don't make the mistake 
I did. I should have been there by her bedside sometime during the 
period of her last week in hospice. I am sorry I wasn't. To my 
colleagues, take a lesson from me: When people are sick, see them. They 
may not come back to the office as you expect.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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