[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 71 (Thursday, May 1, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S3689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING JOHNNY H. KILLIAN

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I am saddened to learn that Mr. Johnny H. 
Killian has passed away. Mr. Killian was a highly regarded, highly 
admired, and highly utilized specialist in American public law at the 
Congressional Research Service. For more than four decades, he advised 
Members of Congress and our staffs on constitutional issues.
  He had an encyclopedic knowledge of constitutional principles that 
was based on his astute mind, his many years of unbiased research, and 
his keen analytical skills. With his prodigious memory, he could 
provide guidance and cite, in detail, case law pertaining to nearly all 
of the key constitutional issues that came before the Senate. My staff 
and I depended on him for assistance and advice on a number of issues, 
including the line-item veto, the War Powers Act, eminent domain, 
prayer in schools, federal funding for education, and privacy 
protections under the fourth amendment.
  I always appreciated the level of dedication and pride Mr. Killian 
took in his work. He was never too busy to answer the phone or return a 
call. He worked tirelessly to make certain that lawmakers and their 
staffs stayed always attuned to the original intent of the Framers. 
When presented with a question or a request, he responded quickly and 
with an amazing grasp of specifics, and with thorough information, even 
when presented with an unusual inquiry late in the evening, on a 
weekend, or even during a holiday or when he was ill at home.
  All of this professionalism was enhanced by the fact that Mr. Killian 
was such a pleasant person with whom to work. He was soft-spoken, 
courteous, and a dedicated public servant. He was a man of incredible 
patience and kindness, with a warm sense of humor.
  Mr. Killian will be truly missed by his Senate family, but his legacy 
as an academic, and a researcher, blessed with an extraordinary legal 
mind will be with us for a long time. Senators will remember him for a 
lifelong, commitment to the Constitution.
  Mr. President, I extend my most heartfelt condolences to his family 
and many friends.

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