[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO LINDA NORRIS

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, late this fall, my longest-serving staff 
member, Linda Norris, will be retiring from my staff. Linda has 
provided 18 years of professional, tireless and dedicated service to 
the people of Idaho, first as a member of my first House campaign staff 
in the early 1990s, then as my regional director in Twin Falls, ID, and 
my State director of constituent services on my Senate staff while 
retaining her position as Twin Falls regional director. She spent the 
last few years here in my Washington, DC, office, finishing her time on 
my staff in her function as State director of constituent services. 
Linda has consistently worked long hours over the years, and helped me 
immeasurably by her excellence in the field of constituent and 
community services and military and veteran relations.
  When I met Linda in 1991, I was beginning my bid for a seat in the 
U.S. House of Representatives, representing the Second Congressional 
District of Idaho. She asked me very direct questions about my stand on 
issues, my goals were I to be elected, and my priorities. She vetted 
me. Once she was satisfied that I met her standards, she offered to 
take over regional operations for my campaign in south central Idaho in 
the Magic Valley and Sun Valley area. That began what was to be a 
highly successful working relationship of close to two decades, and a 
close personal friendship of a lifetime for me, my wife and family.
  Linda has worked diligently on every task that she took on, either 
given to her or ideas she pursued independently. She has been involved 
in land issues, helping as we negotiated sensitive access and 
conservation policies with the tribes, the Air Force, the Idaho 
Department of Lands, private entities and the counties in the 1990s. 
She was my office liaison for the Harriman hiking trail in Sun Valley 
that finally was completed just a few years ago. A nurse by training, 
Linda is the reason why I became so closely involved in domestic 
violence issues. She was the first to crystallize the issue by 
arranging for me to visit a safe house where I met two children 
physically and emotionally devastated by brutality in their home. At 
that moment, I pledged to do all I could to work toward eliminating 
this terrible violence that occurs in too many homes across the United 
States and beyond.
  Linda has a special place in her heart for the military and for 
veterans. As an Army spouse, she brought a special sense of empathy to 
her work, together with an extraordinarily perceptive understanding of 
protocol that goes a long way in ensuring that a Member of Congress's 
office maintains a positive relationship with Department of Defense 
officials. The importance of this cannot be understated when it comes 
to helping Idaho military members and veterans when they have questions 
or concerns about military and veterans' affairs issues. Linda leaves 
my office held in very high esteem by both Idaho and national military 
and veterans affairs officials. Linda also has been solely responsible 
for the past 15 years for the military academy nomination process in my 
office. The other members of the Idaho delegation have even advised new 
staff members to talk to her about the proper procedures and protocol 
for this complicated and very important process. And, close to 10 years 
ago, Linda suggested that I create the Spirit of Idaho and Spirit of 
Freedom awards. The Spirit of Idaho award recognizes extraordinary 
efforts of Idahoans for community service performed outside of their 
work life. The Spirit of Freedom Award is one that I present annually 
to veterans and volunteers for their service to our country and to 
veterans.
  Linda has worked behind the scenes, helping countless constituents 
when they encounter difficulties with federal agency processes and 
procedures. She has done everything from facilitate a faster passport 
application, to helping a number of Idahoans receive Purple Hearts and 
other military awards, and even helped family members obtain them for 
relatives long deceased. Linda has celebrated with people who have had 
long-term problems resolved and cried with mothers who have gotten 
frightening, desperate calls from a son or daughter deployed overseas 
and going through bouts of depression or worse. Through it all, she has 
maintained her composure, professionalism and judicious compassion. 
Linda also has a reputation for being a patient teacher and mentor. She 
has provided new staff members with effective training and advice
  In all the years Linda has worked for me, she has put Idahoans first 
and strictly adhered to the ethical and moral requirements of 
congressional staff work. I could ask for no better service nor could 
Idahoans. Linda Norris will be missed by staff and constituents alike, 
and I will miss her professional counsel and hard work. Fortunately, my 
wife and I have years of her friendship to look forward to, and she 
knows that Susan and I wish her the best as she begins a new and 
different journey in her life.

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