[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S10310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RETIREMENT OF PAUL CULLINAN

  Mr. CONRAD. Madam President, as chairman of the Budget Committee, and 
along with my colleague, Senator Gregg, the ranking member, I would 
like to gratefully acknowledge the expert assistance that the Congress 
has received from Paul Cullinan during his time at the Congressional 
Budget Office. Paul is retiring from congressional service in August, 
and this institution will sorely miss him.
  Dr. Cullinan arrived at CBO in 1981, and has contributed to a vast 
range of policy analyses, budget projections, and legislative cost 
estimates over the past 26 years. But more important than the amount 
and variety of such work is the consistently high quality of that work 
and Paul's continual dedication to providing the Congress with thorough 
and timely analysis.
  For the past 13 years, Paul Cullinan has served as the unit chief of 
CBO's Human Resources Cost Estimates Unit. He excelled in that role, 
and his service there allowed CBO to provide critical support to 
consideration of many varied pieces of legislation, including: efforts 
to reauthorize and extend higher education programs and the food stamps 
program, potential changes to Social Security, proposals to reform U.S. 
immigration policies, and changes to a host of income security 
programs. Moreover, Paul has been a key contributor to and coordinator 
of CBO's work on long-term budget projections, which we have come to 
consider more as we move toward the pending retirement of the baby-boom 
generation.
  In addition to his superb analysis of legislative proposals, Paul has 
provided constant and wise support to the Budget Committees in both the 
Senate and the House of Representatives. In short, there are only a 
handful of true first-tier budget experts here on Capitol Hill, and 
Paul Cullinan is clearly in the top ranks of that small group--we will 
miss his input, careful judgment, and dedication to providing the best 
budgetary information possible for congressional consideration.
  Mr. GREGG. Madam President, I join with Senator Conrad in recognizing 
Paul Cullinan of the Congressional Budget Office. Paul's leadership, 
extremely dedicated work, and the products of his unit have been 
essential to understanding entitlement programs and the long-term 
fiscal condition of the United States. Paul has served CBO Directors 
and Budget Committee Members of the House and Senate with distinction. 
He represents the type of dedicated public servants whom we are 
fortunate to have at the CBO.

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