[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 175 (Thursday, December 3, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8370-S8371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ROBERT STIVERS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I wish to recognize a good friend of 
mine and the Kentucky Senate president, Robert Stivers, for the honor 
he recently received of being named one of the country's top nine 
public officials of the year by Governing magazine. Senator Stivers 
certainly deserves this recognition, as he has led the Kentucky Senate 
admirably since his elevation to the president's post in 2013.
  Senator Stivers has served in the Kentucky Senate since 1997. He 
represents the 25th District in eastern Kentucky, which includes parts 
of Clay, Knox, Lee, Owsley, Whitley, and Wolfe Counties. Like myself, 
Robert is a proud graduate of both the University of Kentucky and the 
University of Louisville. Before becoming senate president in 2013, he 
served as the senate's majority floor leader from 2009 to 2012.
  Senator Stivers is perfectly suited for his leadership role, as he is 
a man who naturally knows how to build consensus and coalitions. He 
remains a practicing attorney in his hometown of Manchester and is 
finely tuned in to the needs of his constituents. The Clay County 
Chamber of Commerce honored Senator Stivers with its Man of the Year 
award in 2000. In 2002 he received both the AARP Appreciation Award and 
the Kentucky River Lincoln Club Outstanding Service Award.
  Senator Stivers was recognized as one of the top public officials in 
the country because he has led the Kentucky Senate to pass some very 
important measures, including a bill to address the growing scourge of 
heroin and prescription pain pill abuse in our State. That is an issue 
I have followed closely over the years, and I can attest firsthand that 
Senator Stivers has been a real champion in working to find a solution.
  Senator Stivers also led the senate to pass a measure providing 
funding for a new cancer research center at the University of Kentucky. 
This new facility will prove to be of immeasurable benefit to the 
people of Kentucky and also helps establish the University of Kentucky 
as one of the region's top research universities, which will attract 
more talent and funding to the Commonwealth.
  I would ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers on this honor, and I thank him 
for his service to the people of our State. Those of us in Kentucky who 
have watched him at work have known for a long time that he is a 
talented and energetic legislator. And he is a great public servant on 
behalf of the people of Kentucky.
  The Lexington Herald-Leader recently published an article detailing 
Senator Stivers' recognition by Governing magazine. I ask unanimous 
consent that the article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

           [From the Lexington Herald-Leader, Nov. 17, 2015]

 Magazine Names Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers a Top Public 
                           Official in Nation

                           (By Jack Brammer)

       Frankfort--Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers has 
     been named one of the country's nine public officials of the 
     year by Governing magazine.
       Stivers, R-Manchester, was nominated for the award by the 
     magazine's editors. The magazine has honored individual state 
     and local government officials for their accomplishments 
     every year since 1994.
       The publication commends Stivers for his bipartisan work 
     since assuming the role of Senate president in 2013.
       Landmark legislation that has passed during Stivers' 
     presidency include bills to address abuse of prescription 
     drugs and heroin, and providing funding for a new cancer 
     research center at the University of Kentucky.
       ``It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of our 
     work in the legislature,'' Stivers said in a statement. ``We 
     are fortunate to have so many dedicated servants in the 
     Kentucky General Assembly who were willing to put aside 
     politics and do what was best for the Commonwealth of 
     Kentucky. While there is still plenty of work to be done, I 
     am very thankful to my colleagues and staff for their work on 
     significant pieces of legislation. It has been a great 
     year.''
       Stivers was appointed this year as the incoming chairman of 
     the Southern Legislative Conference, which is to hold its 
     annual meeting in Lexington in 2016. Stivers also will be 
     chairman of the Council on State Governments in 2018.
       Stivers will travel to Washington, D.C., next month to 
     receive the award. He represents the 25th District, which 
     encompasses Clay, Knox, Lee, Owsley, Whitley and Wolfe 
     counties.

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