[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 172 (Tuesday, December 21, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S10924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO LULU DAVIS

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, as we approach the end of this Congress 
we are saying goodbye to people with whom we have been privileged to 
serve over the past years. We often talk about Senators who have 
completed their terms. In that regard, a number of my friends will be 
leaving the Senate and I am making statements about them.
  Today, I want to talk about a woman who has served the Senate and the 
American people for three decades, and whose career sets a high 
standard of professionalism and public service that inspires countless 
others. She was not elected to serve as a Senator, but she has been 
essential to the work of the Senate for a number of years.
  Lula Johnson Davis began her Senate career as a legislative 
correspondent for Senator Russell Long of Louisiana. She later worked 
for the Democratic Policy Committee. In 1993, she became a key member 
of our Democratic floor staff The floor staff is critical to the proper 
functioning of the Senate.
  They advise Senators on floor procedure and help keep the Senate 
operating within the formal Senate Rules and the informal Senate 
practices that honor our traditions of courtesy and civility. When 
Senators are not bollixing up the proceedings, the floor staff 
facilitates the business of the Senate.
  They are the unseen and unrecognized teachers for new Senators. They 
help guide all of us through Senate consideration and voting on every 
measure that comes before this body.
  She leaves the Senate having started as a legislative correspondent 
and having risen to become the Secretary of the Majority of the U.S. 
Senate.
  Through the decade of the 1990s and this first decade of the new 
century, as the assistant secretary and now secretary, it has been this 
woman from Louisiana who has helped guide the Senate. We each, Senators 
on both sides of the aisle, owe her our gratitude. She is a 
professional who helps set the right tone for all of us--Senators, 
staff, and pages.
  The young people, high school students from around the country, who 
continue their studies while serving as Senate pages for a semester or 
a summer are another group of beneficiaries of Lula' s tutelage. She is 
a tough but fair taskmaster. Democratic pages learn that every job, no 
matter how small, needs to be done right.
  They learn lessons that will serve them throughout their lives. She 
has been a mentor, friend and role model to hundreds of youngsters from 
around the country over the years. At the end of their tour of duty, 
they appreciate what she has given them and, I hope, share her respect 
for the Senate.
  She has never failed to fulfill her duties as she has steadfastly 
served with a succession of Democratic leaders. In truth, she has 
served not just the Democratic Senate caucus but the Senate and the 
country.
  I will miss Lula Davis and wanted to say how much I appreciate all 
she has done for each of us.

                          ____________________