[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 58 (Tuesday, May 3, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2614-S2615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JOE RICHARDSON

  Mr. HARKIN. Madam President, when most people think of how our 
government works, they tend to think of the elected officials, the 
President, Senators, House Members, and of the institutions in which 
they serve. However, in order for elected officials to fulfill their 
constitutional duties, Members of Congress rely on many individuals and 
institutions whose work is vital to the basic functions of government. 
These are individuals who often work in relative obscurity, but whose 
contributions are often no less important than those of the more 
visible actors and institutions who stand before the public.
  I rise today to recognize one such individual who, over his decades-
long career of service at the Congressional Research Service, the 
nonpartisan research branch of the U.S. Congress, has had provided a 
profound and lasting contribution to the U.S. Congress. That 
individual, Joe Richardson, the food and nutrition policy analyst of 
CRS, will soon be leaving CRS and I, for one, feel that it is not only 
important, but vital, for Joe to be recognized for his decades of 
public service to the U.S. Congress and to the American public.
  As a long-time member of the Agriculture Committee, on which I served 
as both the chair and ranking Democrat on several occasions, my staff 
and I relied heavily on Joe Richardson on numerous occasions. He 
provided technical assistance and professional judgment in the 
formulation of the nutrition title of the 2002 and 2007 farm bills, and 
also played a key role in the committee's successful enactment of the 
2004 and 2010 child nutrition reauthorization. In each of these cases, 
Joe went above and beyond the call of duty--in many cases enduring, 
like the rest of us, long, late night conference committee meetings 
that would carry on for weeks, even months. As a result of his efforts, 
I can say with confidence that, absent Joe's efforts, the legislation 
that we produced would not have been nearly as sound. More importantly, 
because of Joe's help, each of these pieces of legislation succeeded in 
its core mission--helping to ensure that millions of Americans are able 
to obtain a sufficient and nutritious diet.
  Each of us, in one way or another, takes for granted the work of 
others as we do our own jobs. This is not because their efforts are not 
noticeable, but rather, because the efforts are so consistent and 
steadfast, carried out with humility and without any expectation of 
praise or recognition. This is exactly how Joe has carried out his 
duties over the years. But I would be remiss in not taking the 
opportunity to stand up and thank Joe for his truly remarkable service 
to the Congressional Research Service, to Congress, and to the country. 
I have no doubt, after such long service, that moving on to new 
opportunities and challenges is not without its bittersweet moments for 
Joe. But I know that Joe can move on to these challenges secure in his 
knowledge that he has discharged his duties with the utmost 
professionalism and competence. He has been a pillar of the food and 
nutrition assistance policy community for years. For his service, I am 
grateful.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, I am pleased to recognize and commend 
Joe Richardson for his dedicated service as a Specialist in Social 
Policy at the Congressional Research Service.
  The Congressional Research Service, CRS, was formed in 1914 as a 
Federal agency within the legislative branch to provide Congress with a 
nonpartisan source of information. For nearly a century, CRS has 
supplied valuable policy analysis to committees and Members of both the 
House and Senate, and it continues to play a vital role in all stages 
of the legislative process.
  Joe Richardson has been with CRS for nearly 40 years and has proven 
himself to be an expert agricultural policy analyst, particularly with 
regard to our domestic food assistance programs. These programs address 
many needs of America's poor, youth, and elderly, and continue to be 
very important in assisting our rural and underserved communities. 
Joe's contributions throughout his tenure have been invaluable in this 
effort, and his insightful input will undoubtedly be missed.
  As a member and former chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, 
I have greatly benefitted from Joe's knowledge and experience. His 
expertise has helped the committee formulate and pass a number of 
important pieces of legislation, such as the past several farm bills 
which authorize a wide range of agricultural and food assistance 
programs. His timely reports and analyses have allowed Congress to 
better monitor, update, and improve nutrition programs as economic 
conditions change and the need for efficiency greatens.
  We are forever grateful for Joe's service and commitment to 
agriculture policy and the U.S. Congress, and I wish him the very best 
in his future endeavors.
  Mr. LUGAR. Madam President, from 1987 until 2002, I served as either 
the chairman or ranking minority member of the Senate Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. The jurisdiction of the committee 
is quite broad. One important portion of that jurisdiction is food and 
nutrition programs.
  During my years of service on the Agriculture Committee, the 
committee has considered several significant changes in the food and 
nutrition programs. However, one constant presence throughout all those 
changes was Joe Richardson of the Congressional Research Service. Now, 
after 40 years at the Congressional Research Service, Joe has decided 
to retire.
  Joe's thorough knowledge of the history and programmatic details of 
nutrition programs was vitally important in those deliberations. 
Moreover, his cogent, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis was 
respected on, and sought after by, both sides of the aisle, both 
chambers of Congress, and within the administrations of both parties. 
During

[[Page S2615]]

deliberations on important legislation, Joe's willingness to be 
available to committee staff on evenings, weekends and holidays was 
much appreciated.
  I am pleased to join my colleagues in thanking Joe Richardson for his 
40 years of service and wishing him well in his future endeavors.
  Mr. ROBERTS. Madam President, I rise to congratulate Joe Richardson 
on his pending retirement. Joe exemplifies the meaning of public 
servant. I have served as chairman and ranking member of the House 
Committee on Agriculture, and today I serve as the ranking member of 
the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. All along 
the way, Joe has served the Congressional Research Service and thereby 
the Congress with excellence and distinction over the course of 40 
years. His focus has included the nutrition assistance programs, almost 
from their inception. From programs ranging from SNAP, WIC, school 
meals, and faith-based initiatives, Joe is a recognized expert, a 
prolific writer, and unparalleled in his field.
  A nonpartisan professional, Joe has been an invaluable resource for 
Members and staff and has regularly been relied upon to navigate the 
complexities of statutes, rules, and regulations, and the myriad of 
forms public assistance has taken over the last several decades. From 
farm bills to child nutrition reauthorizations and related legislation 
in-between, he has been a compendium of information on the ideas 
generated, efforts attempted, reforms enacted, and the effects and 
changes to society our laws have made. He is a tribute to his 
profession, and our Nation is a better place to live for all Americans 
as a direct result of his efforts.
  I and my staff have greatly appreciated Joe's counsel. Whenever 
called upon, Joe would answer, be it during regular business hours, 
late into the night, or early the next morning, always helpful, and 
always forthright. I appreciate the dedication demonstrated by public 
servant Joe Richardson. Thank you Joe, you will be missed.
  Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, as the chairwoman of the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, I know we will sorely miss the 
expertise and dedication of Joe Richardson as we work this year to 
write the next farm bill. Since 1971, Joe has shared his expertise on a 
wide range of issues with Members of the House and Senate. He has an 
incredible understanding of social policy programs, and knows their 
history inside and out. He seems to know everything about everything. 
His expertise has been absolutely invaluable to my staff over the 
years.
  In his four decades of service, Joe has played a key role in writing 
seven farm bills in 1977, 1981, 1985, 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008. His 
understanding of Federal nutrition programs, which represent a 
significant majority of the farm bill, has helped the committee address 
the issues of hunger in America and has helped keep millions of 
Americans out of poverty.
  While Joe is leaving us to spend time closer to his family in 
California, his work will continue to guide and inform us as we begin 
work on the 2012 farm bill. He is a wonderful example of a great public 
servant, and I wish him well in his retirement.
  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, there is an old saying that ``where there 
is a will there is a way.'' That was very true of the many pieces of 
legislation I worked on as chairman and ranking member of the Senate 
Agriculture Committee. The Senate Agriculture Committee has proven time 
and again that Congress can work together when it wants to get a job 
done.
  But I have to share with you that we had a secret weapon, at least 
when it came to the farm bill nutrition titles and the child nutrition 
bills. I know that we would have had a much tougher time getting that 
job done successfully without the assistance and technical expertise of 
Joe Richardson of the Congressional Research Service. Since 1971 Joe 
has played an important part of nutrition policy discussions and has 
played a key role behind the scenes working on countless pieces of 
legislation over these past four decades, including seven farm bills. 
As a member of the Agriculture Committee during most of those 40 years, 
including turns as chairman and ranking member of the Agriculture 
Committee, I have been fortunate to benefit innumerable times from 
Joe's institutional memory and impressive encyclopedic knowledge of our 
Nation's critical nutrition programs.
  Very few Americans have ever heard about the Congressional Research 
Service, but for the men and women who served in the U.S. Senate and 
for all of our staff, we know the important role that this branch of 
the Library of Congress plays. The Congressional Service is a 
legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress and works 
exclusively and directly for Members of Congress, their committees and 
staff on a confidential, nonpartisan basis. The Congressional Research 
Service, Congress, and the American people have been well served by Joe 
Richardson and his impressive public career.
  For the last four decades Joe Richardson has gone above and beyond to 
serve the Senate and House of Representatives with his objective and 
always helpful information and often 24 hours a day if needed. I know 
that Members of both sides of the aisle have the highest regard for his 
work, attention to detail, and dedication.
  With the retirement of Joe Richardson, we are losing an important 
perspective and historical knowledge that I fear that no other single 
person will be able to fill. To say that he will be missed is a true 
understatement. While I wish Joe all the best in retirement, I 
certainly hope that he will make sure his replacement at the 
Congressional Research Service and the Senate Agriculture Committee 
still know how to get ahold of him during development of the next farm 
bill.

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