[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 13, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2215-S2216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF STAFF
Mr. REID. Madam President, things were very hectic when the health
care legislation passed. At the end of that work period, I acknowledged
the contribution of several staff members to helping Congress pass
health care reform--the most significant domestic policy legislation in
a long time. There were so many valuable players on this team that it
was inevitable, in the haste of things, that perhaps I would forget
someone who was very important. I did that extemporaneously and tried
to go over all my staff, but I had many things running through my mind,
and I inadvertently left off one of the key players on my staff who
worked so hard; that is, a man by the name of Bruce King, who worked so
actively on health care, especially as it related to reconciliation.
More importantly, he is a good person, a fine human being, and the
American public is fortunate that people as talented and as selfless as
he have chosen public service.
Bruce came to my office after, among other things, serving in a
senior role for two distinguished Senators from New Jersey--Senators
Lautenberg and Corzine. He did that for more than a decade. He also
served as staff director for the Senate Budget Committee. He graduated
from Tulane University and Stanford School of Law and attended the
prestigious London School of Economics, so his academic background is
really sensational. He was one of the first people I hired when I
became Democratic leader, and it turned out to be one of the best
decisions I made for the people of Nevada and the country. He is very
easy to work with, very bright, and very helpful all of the time.
[[Page S2216]]
He has staffed me so well on so many issues in the last 6 years. He
did an especially exceptional job on the reconciliation bill we put
together to make improvements on the Senate-passed health care bill.
Reconciliation is perhaps the most complicated process the Senate
undertakes, and thanks to Bruce and the staff of the Senate Budget
Committee, we produced a reconciliation bill that both helped millions
of Americans and remained consistent with arcane and complex Senate
rules.
I wish to publicly acknowledge Bruce and thank him for all he has
done on health care and countless other issues for the people of Nevada
and the people of America.
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