[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 136 (Thursday, September 24, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           GOLDEN GAVEL AWARD

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, earlier today--actually, at 1:43 p.m. 
today--Senator Tom Udall, the Senator from New Mexico, joined the 100-
hour presiding club of the 111th Congress. He is the third member of 
the freshman class to achieve this goal. These are individuals who 
preside over the Senate for 100 hours.
  We have a tradition that those Senators who devote so much time to 
presiding in the Senate are given what we call a golden gavel. It is a 
very nice presentation, very nice keepsake, and we will make that 
presentation at our next caucus. I appreciate very much the work of Tom 
Udall, devoting his time to making sure the proceedings on the floor 
are in keeping with the rules of the Senate, and we welcome him to this 
most prestigious club--a member of the golden gavel society.
  I believe the Presiding Officer is a member of the golden gavel 
society.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.
  Mr. REID. I ask the Presiding Officer, were you the first to get it? 
In your capacity as a Senator from the State of Alaska, what is the 
answer?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. In my capacity as a Senator from the State of 
Alaska, the answer is yes.
  Mr. REID. It was a close battle, but you won.

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