[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 10, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H10907]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1800
                  THANKS AND WELL WISHES TO ROB NABORS

  (Mr. OBEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, for the last 4 years Rob Nabors has served as, 
first, the staff director of the then-Minority Democrats on the 
Appropriations Committee and, in the last 2 years, as the staff 
director of the entire committee. His work ethic has been legendary. He 
has worked all hours of the day like so many in this institution whose 
names are not publicly known. He has worked overtime. He's worked night 
and day. He's worked weekdays and weekends. He's demonstrated great 
judgment and skill. And he has also been a bit of history because he is 
the first African American to have served as the staff director for the 
Appropriations Committee.
  But now, alas, President-elect Obama has asked him to serve as the 
Deputy Director of OMB, and exercising the ``faulty judgment'' that we 
have come to expect from Chicago Bears fans, he has accepted that 
invitation.
  So I simply wanted to take this moment to publicly in this 
institution thank him for the great service that he has provided this 
institution and the country and to wish him well on the road ahead.
  Mr. HOYER. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. OBEY. Surely.
  Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of chairing a subcommittee on the 
Appropriations Committee many years ago, and Rob Nabors was my staff 
director, so I had an opportunity to work with him firsthand. And I 
want to echo the comments of Mr. Obey and, I know, the comments that 
Mr. Lewis will make.
  Mr. Nabors is an individual of great intellect, great integrity, and 
great insight. And I want to frankly express on behalf of the House our 
appreciation to the President-elect for having the wisdom to choose 
somebody who knows the House so well and I think we will be able to 
work with very closely, although my impression is that his relationship 
with Mr. Obey may be modified just slightly.
  Rob, congratulations to you.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. OBEY. I yield to the gentleman.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. I appreciate my chairman's yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been my privilege to work with the chairmen both 
when they were in the minority and now running the place.
  I must say that very few staff people combine both the intellect and 
personality kind of warmth that Rob reflects in the everyday work of 
this fabulous guy. He's a wonderful member of our staff. OMB is going 
to be very fortunate to have him, and we will miss him. So thank you 
very much.
  Mr. OBEY. I yield to the Speaker.
  Ms. PELOSI. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I want to join my 
colleagues and sing the praises of Rob Nabors.
  We are blessed in the Congress with magnificent staff on both sides 
of the aisle who serve the American people very well, none more 
excellent than Rob Nabors.
  It is with great congratulations that we send him off to the new 
administration to work for President-elect and then President Obama but 
not without some sadness in losing him here in the Congress.
  Rob, thank you for your service to our country, for your excellence 
in your work, and for the friendship that you have provided to many of 
us and for the courage and fortitude you have exhibited in working 
under the great leadership of Chairman Obey. Thank you, Rob Nabors, 
again.

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