[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S3177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO EDWARD BLAU

  Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I rise along with my colleague, the 
ranking member of the Budget Committee, Senator Sessions, to pay 
tribute to Edward Blau, who is retiring at the end of this month after 
more than 32 years of distinguished service to the Congress at the 
Congressional Budget Office.
  Since joining CBO's Scorekeeping Unit in 1982, Mr. Blau has worked 
side by side with the Budget Committee, helping us keep track of the 
status of legislation and committee allocations. As an all around 
expert on budget process and the Congress, Mr. Blau has been invaluable 
in helping the Budget Committee execute our responsibilities to the 
Senate.
  Mr. Blau is well-regarded by both Democrats and Republicans for his 
tireless and diligent work--as well as his patient and easygoing 
manner. His attention to detail includes reviewing each and every 
Congressional Record to ensure that the database he maintains to help 
us with managing the Senate budget process is up-to-date at all times. 
It is an incredibly important task and one that we are grateful to Mr. 
Blau for his help in overseeing the past three decades.
  In short, Mr. Blau exemplifies CBO's high standard of 
professionalism, objectivity, and nonpartisanship. In fact, he twice 
has received the CBO Director's Award, the agency's highest recognition 
for outstanding performance.
  As chairman, I greatly appreciate the sacrifice that Mr. Blau has 
made in assisting the Budget Committee and the Congress. I wish him 
well in his future endeavors, including, as I understand it, a plan to 
spend more time following in person his beloved Nationals--the other 
Washington baseball team.
  I would like to now turn to my colleague, Senator Sessions, for his 
remarks.
  Mr. SESSIONS. I thank Chairman Murray and join her in commending Mr. 
Blau for his many years of dedicated and outstanding service to CBO, 
the Congress, and the American people. We wish him all the best in his 
well-deserved retirement.
  We hope our colleagues will join us in thanking Mr. Blau--and really 
all of the hardworking employees at the Congressional Budget Office--
for his and their service.

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