[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 151 (Thursday, December 11, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6684-S6685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO ZACHARY SCHECHTER-STEINBERG

  Mr. HARKIN. Madam President. I wish to pay tribute and to extend my 
thanks to one of my smartest and most passionate staff members Zachary 
Schechter Steinberg. A native of Iowa City, IA, Zach started with the 
office as an intern in the summer of 2007. He became an official staff 
member immediately upon his graduation from Wesleyan University in 
2008. Just 6 years later he serves as the Economic Policy Adviser for 
the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and my 
most trusted advisor on tax, budget and banking issues. Zach is perhaps 
the strongest and most knowledgeable staff voice in the Senate on 
effectively preserving Social Security and on the critical importance 
of maintaining and strengthening the Social Security Disability 
Insurance program.
  Zach has the ability to quickly develop a full understanding of very 
complicated issues and to work with other staff to forge policy 
solutions. This is perhaps best illustrated with his work on the Dodd-
Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Although newly 
promoted to legislative assistant, when I was appointed to the 
conference committee to resolve differences between the House and 
Senate bills, he advised me on many narrow convoluted issues. He not 
only performed well, but won the respect of many of the committee's 
professional staff for his ideas. Zach also understands that passage of 
provisions into law is but one step, and has remained a stalwart 
advocate of successful implementation of the bill.
  As many of you here in the Senate know last year saw the retirement 
of Richard Bender, my longest serving

[[Page S6685]]

staff member and a Senate institution in his own right. It is my firmly 
held opinion that Richard only allowed himself to begin his retirement 
because he was leaving Zach to handle his portfolio. I am also quite 
certain that Zach is the only staff member during Richard's 35 year 
tenure that he would have felt comfortable leaving in charge.
  That is because not only does Zach possess a keen intelligence, a 
work ethic second to none and an innate ability to translate arcane tax 
and budget data into understandable prose--but he has the heart of a 
true progressive. Zach cares deeply about the people of Iowa, about the 
future of the middle class in this country and about making sure that 
every American has a fair shot at economic security.
  It has been a pleasure to watch Zach grow personally and 
professionally over the past 6 years--as he transformed from a 
headstrong intern to one of the most skilled and able staffers in the 
Senate, from a new college graduate to a senior advisor newly married 
to Sarah this past summer.
  This week I am concluding my 40 years in public office. It has been 
an amazing ride. One of the things that makes it easier to say goodbye 
is that I am leaving behind talented people like Zach from whom I know 
I can expect great things in the future.

                          ____________________