[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5887]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         FAREWELL TO JOE LAPIA

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, while we are waiting tonight for the staff 
to get the necessary closing papers ready so we can go out for the 
recess, I wish to say a couple of things about someone I have gotten to 
know over the past decade--Joe Lapia. I am going to miss tremendously, 
when we come back next work period, Joe not being in the cloakroom. He 
has been there for 10 years. He is a fixture in the cloakroom.
  He is someone who is dependable, a great sport, and he is somebody 
who is so much fun to deal with. I love to talk sports with him. He is 
from Pittsburgh. I had to tell him--and I spread it on the record 
here--that the Pittsburgh teams have never been one of my favorites, 
but they are his. He went to Penn State. They have also not been one of 
my favorite teams, but they are his. And the records of the Steelers 
and Penn State speak for themselves--the great Joe Paterno and the 
wonderful records the Steelers have made. And Joe went to the White 
House today to see the world champion Super Bowl winners--the 
Pittsburgh Steelers.
  Another thing I am going to miss is every time he went home--which 
was quite often, frankly--his mom would cook stuff. And maybe she 
thinks he ate it all, but he didn't. He brought stuff back, and we 
shared treats Mrs. Lapia fixed. Brownies were my favorite, but there 
were other things she cooked.
  I think I can speak for the entire Senate family, the people who are 
here who make this place work, when I say we will all miss Joe. He is 
going to go off into the private sector now, which disappoints me 
because it is always hard getting used to new things. No matter who 
replaces Joe, there is only one Joe Lapia. He is someone I will always 
remember and I will always consider my friend.
  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. REID. 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the quorum call be rescinded.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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