[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 155 (Tuesday, December 16, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S6919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO REBECCA SCHMIDT

 Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, I would like to recognize the 
outstanding career of Rebecca L. Schmidt, who retired in 2014 after 30 
years of dedicated service in the Federal Government. For the last 8 
years of her career, Ms. Schmidt served the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission as the Director of the Office of Congressional Affairs. In 
that position, she brought to the agency a fresh approach to 
congressional relations, implementing a more rigorous and proactive 
liaison role with congressional offices as well as expanding the 
office's outreach to other Federal agencies and external groups. She 
received the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award in 2010 in 
recognition of her valuable contributions to the agency, including her 
organizational and communications skills and her ability to build 
better relationships between the NRC, Congress and community groups.
  Ms. Schmidt started her career in the Congressional Budget Office, 
and later was selected for the Presidential Management Intern Program, 
where she participated in executive development assignments throughout 
government. Ms. Schmidt's assignments included working in the Office of 
Program Analysis and Evaluation for the Army Chief of Staff; the Budget 
Division at Army Western Command Headquarters, Hawaii; the Management 
Secretariat and the National Security Division at OMB; and the House 
Budget Committee.
  She later worked for the U.S. Army Support Command in Hawaii, where 
she supervised analysts responsible for formulating long-run strategic 
plans and performing management studies for the installation. For the 
next 7 years she worked for the Congress serving as a senior defense 
and international affairs analyst for the House Budget Committee and 
then as a senior professional staff member of the House Armed Services 
Committee where she briefed Members of Congress on technical budget 
matters and legislative language for the Defense authorization bill.
  Following her time working for Congress, Ms. Schmidt spent the next 
10 years working for the Secretary of Defense. Her service included 
evaluating costs and benefits for operating bases as the Deputy 
Director of the Base Closure Office; serving as staff assisting the 
members of Secretary Cohen's Defense Reform Task Force; and as a budget 
analyst developing the Department of Defense's 5-year budget for the 
Under Secretary of Defense, Comptroller. Prior to her work at the NRC, 
Ms. Schmidt served 6 years in the Senior Executive Service as the 
Associate Director for Budget Presentation and Congressional Liaison in 
the Office of the Secretary of Defense for the Comptroller. She was 
responsible for preparing the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy 
Secretary of Defense, and the Comptroller for all budget hearings 
before Congress.
  Over the years, she worked for four NRC Chairmen, three Secretaries 
of Defense and four congressional committee chairmen. She contributed 
her knowledge of nuclear, defense, and budget process issues and became 
skillful in political strategy, strategic planning and management 
analysis. During her three decades of public service, she demonstrated 
integrity, a commitment to excellence, and outstanding leadership.
  Ms. Schmidt received a bachelor's degree from Wittenberg University 
and earned a master's degree in public policy analysis from Duke 
University. She has remained a loyal supporter of the Blue Devils since 
her graduate school days, and her blue frosted cupcakes and enthusiasm 
for her basketball team will be greatly missed by her congressional 
affairs staff during March Madness and regular season games.

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