[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 165 (Thursday, December 20, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S8299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO AMANDA RENTERIA

 Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to a 
truly remarkable member of my staff who is leaving the Senate.
  Amanda Renteria came to my office as a Legislative Assistant in 2006, 
and has been an integral member of my staff for the last 7 years, 
including serving as my legislative director and then my chief of staff 
for the last 4\1/2\ years.
  A proud graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Business School, 
Amanda brought a wide range of experience with her to the Senate.
  After graduating from Harvard, she worked in the private sector for a 
while before going back to California and working as a high school 
teacher and coach. She then worked for the city of San Jose before 
coming to Washington.
  And I am so glad she did. She has been my right hand through some 
very challenging times.
  When I asked her to become my chief of staff in 2008, she agreed and 
promised to stay through the 2012 election. But neither of us knew what 
we would face between then and now.
  Amanda was with me through the Wall Street collapse and our work to 
reform our financial system, and her business background was an 
invaluable resource to me during that difficult time.
  In the fall of 2008, the American auto industry nearly collapsed, and 
as I fought to save our automakers and the more than 1 million workers 
who depend on it, Amanda was right there by my side, working to make 
sure we kept manufacturing things in this country.
  She was there as we worked with partners in the State and here in 
Washington to make sure the people of Michigan had a fair shot at 
turning things around and getting back on their feet.
  During the debate on health care reform, she was a critical part of 
my effort to make sure we kept health care affordable, that we 
protected coverage for mental health care, that we closed the donut 
hole for seniors, and she worked with her counterparts in other offices 
and with industry leaders to get the best possible policies to help 
every family get the health insurance they need.
  And in the middle of all of that, she found time to have her first 
son, Diego, and prove how important it was that women have access to 
maternity care, something I was very proud to fight for in the health 
care law.
  And when I became Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, she 
led the effort to put together an amazing team of policy experts that 
accomplished a legislative achievement that is rare these days--a 
bipartisan deficit reduction bill that passed the Senate with strong 
support from both parties.
  And as we worked so hard all year long to pass a Farm Bill, she and 
her husband Pat found time to have their second son, T.J., who we were 
so happy to welcome this fall.
  I know the people of Michigan--and this country--join me in thanking 
her for everything she has done during her time in public service. She 
may not have been born in Michigan, but after all she's done for the 
people back home, she's earned herself a ``Pure Michigan'' reputation 
of hard work and dedication.
  Amanda will be missed in the Senate, but I am honored to have had her 
serve as my chief of staff.

                          ____________________