[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 17 (Thursday, January 28, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S297-S298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO MIKE BRUMAS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, before I leave the floor, let me say 
this as well. The chair of the energy committee knows how to write good 
legislation. We have proof of that before us today. But here is 
something else: The chair of the energy committee also knows how to 
pick good staff. Take Mike Brumas as one example. He served as her 
communications director. He served as communications director for the 
junior Senator from Alabama, too, and as chief of staff for the State's 
senior Senator. Mike also spent time covering Washington back when he 
was a reporter.
  Mike Brumas obviously had a lot of experience under his belt by the 
time he came to work for me. Mike was an important part of my team, he 
worked hard, and he earned positions of trust among respected Members 
of our conference and among the Washington press corps. Mike was there 
both in the minority and in the majority as we made our way through 
many challenges, but he never let his good humor or his zest for life 
get lost along the way.

[[Page S298]]

  People will tell you that Mike loves history and political history in 
particular. It is a shared passion that kept me challenged and often 
entertained. People will tell you a few other things about Mike too. He 
is always smiling. He is always laughing. He always has a story to tell 
and a recipe to share. This aspiring chef and endeavoring fly fisherman 
is happiest when he is with his family--his delightful wife Ann and his 
sons Alex and Will--and Mike is at his best when he is outdoors camping 
or biking or just simply enjoying life beyond these walls.
  When Mike told me it was his time to retire from the Senate, I was 
sad to see him go, but at the same time I was glad to see him able to 
spend more time around the people and things that make Mike, Mike.
  Ronald Michael Brumas came to my office as a colleague and leaves as 
a friend. I thank him for his many years of dedicated service to me and 
to this body, and I send him best wishes for a retirement that promises 
to be anything but boring.

                          ____________________