[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 116 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5066-S5067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO DAVE JOHNSON
Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise today, with several of my colleagues
to recognize the outstanding service and contribution of a fellow
Hoosier and life-long public servant, Dave Johnson.
Dave first joined my staff in 1987 and he has been a brilliant
resource to me over the years since then. Dave is a truly gifted
individual. He is knowledgeable about all facets of agricultural and
food policy and is able to see all of the potential opportunities and
challenges with proposed legislation. Dave is always prepared to
interact with a Member on the Senate floor during consideration of
agriculture legislation, and equally at ease in dealing with Indiana
constituents or farmers from anywhere in the United States. His mark
can be found on countless pieces of Senate food and agriculture
legislation, ranging from nutrition to biomass to conservation. Dave is
always an available and willing resource to members on the Agriculture
Committee, or other members from the Senate as a whole who seldom delve
into agricultural policy discussions.
Dave and I have shared one true passion over our years of service--
nutrition. I have long been an advocate of nutrition programs, and
specifically a supporter of the school lunch program. It has been
Dave's dedicated counsel and advice that has helped to shape these
important programs into what they are today. I remember that on one
occasion, while traveling back home in southern Indiana, I learned from
my constituents of some of the deficiencies in a local summer
children's nutrition program. I shared these concerns with Dave, and
within a matter of days Dave responded to my request and had a bill on
my desk. That legislation proposed a pilot project, which was approved
by Congress, and today has been expanded to a nationwide program.
Dave has never been intimidated by the vastness of diversity in
agriculture. He has always been able to determine the appropriate
solution to a real problem, and then draft the implementing legislation
to go along with it. He is never too busy to take the time to mentor
young staff members by sharing his vast knowledge and experience, and
he is always willing to reach across the aisle to contribute to more
effective results for American agriculture.
Dave, I don't know how we will write a farm bill without you. You
will be sincerely missed.
Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to commend Dave Johnson for
23 years of service to the Federal Government. I am very grateful for
his effective and dedicated leadership as chief counsel of the Senate
Agriculture Committee during the time I served as chairman of the
Committee.
He also served in important jobs at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, as well as
the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. The farm
bills that Mr. Johnson helped draft during his career are impressive
examples of his insight and good judgment.
The far-reaching effects of his contributions to the field of
agriculture are illustrated by the successes we have had as a Nation as
a result of our food and agriculture policies. I congratulate Dave
Johnson for his impressive career of improving the quality of life of
rural America.
Mr. CHAMBLISS. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Dave
on his 23 years of service as a public servant. His career, including
service in the Senate, the Department of Agriculture and the
Commodities Futures Trading Commission, has led him to be one of the
most influential staffers on legislation supporting farmers, ranchers
and the less privileged across the country.
For those of us who have had the pleasure of knowing and working
closely with him, we know Dave as a true professional and an extremely
thoughtful individual. His knowledge and experience have served as a
virtual encyclopedia for policy makers on this Committee and in the
Executive Branch. The talent and knowledge that Dave possesses reflects
a career of dedicated service that cannot be replicated or easily
replaced. His well-earned departure will create a void that will be
difficult to fill.
As I look back at Dave's career and the years I served as chairman of
the Senate Agriculture Committee, I can say I am particularly proud of
Dave's work on nutrition and food assistance programs. I know my
colleagues and I can attest to Dave's care for and dedication to
improving the lives of the less privileged. His tireless efforts to
secure funding for the hungry and less privileged through the 1996 farm
bill, the 1994 Child Nutrition Act and countless other pieces of
legislation are a testament to his sense of duty and his nonpartisan
approach to identifying solutions that advance the promise of our great
Nation to all of our citizens. I was always honored to have his passion
and advocacy for the disadvantaged on my side of the aisle.
Dave has made a real impact on the lives of all Americans and has
done so with a modest approach that sought solutions over recognition.
Dave is one of the most modest individuals I have ever met and I am
certain his modesty is born of his upbringing. Dave's approach to work
in Washington, DC, has always been governed by the lessons he learned
on his family farm in rural Indiana. He does not boast of his many
achievements nor lecture those who seek his counsel or advice. I have
always known him to be quiet and unpretentious in spite of his
achievements and station. He has sought to act as a mentor to young
staffers and wise counsel to the Senators and policy makers who have
called on him throughout the years.
On behalf of my former agriculture committee staff and for myself, I
want to thank Dave for his service to the U.S. Senate and to our
country. I wish him the best as he moves on to his next adventure.
Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, I rise today to echo my colleagues in
recognizing Dave Johnson for his commitment to public service. Having
spent 23 years working on agriculture and food policy for the Federal
Government, Dave has demonstrated a rare dedication to an industry that
provides food, feed, fiber and fuel to people all around the globe.
While serving as Secretary of Agriculture, I had the privilege of
working closely with Dave, who was Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. I fondly remember the many hours Dave spent
putting pen to paper and drawing together our ideas into legislative
language for Congress to consider as part of the 2007-2008 farm bill
process. His knowledge of agriculture policy and his work ethic were
invaluable to our efforts. The many hours we spent working on farm
policy led to a friendship that I continue to appreciate.
Twenty-three years is a long time to spend as a public servant and
Dave has earned our sincerest gratitude for his years of service to
farmers, ranchers, conservationists, nutrition advocates, rural
Americans and all those affected by USDA policies, who have directly or
indirectly benefitted from his work.
I wish Dave the very best as he opens a new chapter in his life. I am
confident that with his positive attitude, principled approach and
genuinely kind heart, success will follow him down whatever path he
chooses.
Mr. ROBERTS. I would like to take a few moments this morning to
wander from regular order to recognize a long-
[[Page S5067]]
time staffer and public servant who will be retiring next Friday.
August 5 will be Dave Johnson's last day as a Republican staffer on
the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. It will
also be the end of a 23-year career in public service--most of that
right here on this committee.
Dave has served me as ranking member since March. He previously
served as both the chief Republican counsel and deputy staff director
of this committee. His service includes working for Chairman Lugar from
1987 to 1991 and again from 1994 to 2003. He then served Chairman
Cochran from 2003 to 2005 and Chairman Chambliss from 2005 to 2007. And
from 2007 to 2008 he served then-Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns
as a deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He
then moved to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission where he served
until we convinced him to come back and help us get up and running this
past spring.
Dave's record speaks for itself. But I am not sure some understand
just how valuable his service has been to this Committee and
agriculture and nutrition policy.
As those who know Dave can tell you, his first love has been
nutrition policy. He has worked on numerous child nutrition bills and
the nutrition title of no less than four farm bills, by my count. I
also know that if you sit down and visit with him, he'd probably tell
you that one of his proudest moments was the work he did on the 1996
Welfare Reform Act.
Dave has always been a straight shooter. He gives you the answers you
need to hear. But one of his greatest strengths is reminding you of the
things you haven't considered and need to think about. He has been a
tremendous mentor to young staff on both sides of the aisle and he was
often the first stop many of them made when looking for advice on how
to learn the ropes of the committee.
Finally, Dave's attention to detail and proofing proposed legislation
is legendary. If you are scrubbing a bill and making sure it is done
right, his is the set of eyes you want on it. A member of my staff was
once told by a former member of the Senate Parliamentarian's office
that a farm bill Dave had helped write and scrub was ``among the best
written bills we've ever seen come through the Senate.''
That pretty much sums up Dave's service to this committee. Dave, as a
former bucket-toter myself, thank you for your years of service to our
country, the Senate, the members of this Committee and our
constituents. You have been a true public servant and we all wish you
only the best as you head home to Indiana.
Job well done.
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