[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 67 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S3355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO KATHLEEN McGHEE

  Mr. Bond. Mr. President, today I rise to pay tribute to one of the 
most widely respected professional staff members in the Senate--
Kathleen McGhee. She recently marked her 30th anniversary with the 
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and has been serving here 
longer than I have been serving as a U.S. Senator.
  Kathleen joined the committee staff on April 7, 1980, in order to 
assist the committee's arms control expert. She subsequently provided 
administrative support to the committee's budget director, minority 
counsel, and minority staff director. In 1987, Chairman David L. Boren 
appointed Kathleen as the chief clerk of the Intelligence Committee, a 
position she has held ever since. She has served 11 chairmen, 12 vice 
chairmen, and 278 staff members since joining the staff.
  Kathleen is the longest serving staff member and the longest serving 
chief clerk in the committee's history, but you would not know it by 
looking at her. I have it on good authority that she is just as bright 
and energetic today as she was more than 20 years ago. If only we all 
were so fortunate.
  In a world where politics often seems to define who we are and with 
whom we associate, Kathleen transcends those barriers. She has earned 
the deep respect of Members and colleagues on both sides of the aisle. 
Her work ethic--as evidenced by long hours and ready availability--and 
her attention to detail are admired by all.
  During my tenure on the Intelligence Committee, and in particular, 
since becoming the vice chairman, I have benefited from Kathleen's 
behind-the-scenes orchestration of committee activities. She supervises 
the administrative support staff of the committee, manages all of the 
day-to-day operations, and is responsible for the preparation and 
implementation of the committee's operating budget. Simply put--the 
committee would cease to function without Kathleen at the helm; she has 
kept the place running like a Swiss watch. We all know that the demands 
of working in Congress often take the greatest toll on those who 
support us and sustain us in life--our families. For selflessly giving 
Kathleen to us for so many years, her husband Mike, son Luke, and 
daughter Molly deserve our gratitude. We thank them for their 
sacrifices.
  Ensuring our great Nation's security is a high calling and one of 
tremendous responsibility. Through her service to the Intelligence 
Committee, the U.S. Senate, and the United States of America, Kathleen 
McGhee has answered this call with outstanding professionalism, 
integrity, and perseverance. Although I will be retiring at the end of 
this Congress, it is my hope that Kathleen will continue to honor the 
Senate with her service for many years to come. May God bless Kathleen 
and her family.

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