[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 23, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3081-S3082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        Tribute to Bonnie Seaman

  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today I wish to commend Bonnie Seaman, who 
has loyally served the people of Pennsylvania for more than 40 years, 
more recently as the director of constituent services for my Senate 
office. Bonnie has not only been a trusted member of my staff but a 
very close family friend.
  Bonnie was born and raised on a turkey farm in Leck Kill, PA. She is 
the youngest of four children. She first began her public service 
career in county government at what was then known as the 
Northumberland County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Department, 
where she touched the lives of people in her community.
  In pursuit of a college degree, Bonnie attended Indiana University of 
Pennsylvania and graduated cum laude with a degree in education. After 
graduation, she worked as a special education teacher.
  Bonnie's passion for helping others steered her career to the 
Pennsylvania State Senate. While working in the Pennsylvania Senate, 
she was asked by her supervisor if she was interested in working on my 
father's transition team after he was elected Governor of Pennsylvania 
in 1986. This transition job offer was supposed to be temporary, but 
Bonnie would spend the next 30 years working in State government for 
both then-Governor Casey and then me, when I got to State government 
years later.
  She worked as the Governor's executive assistant for 8 years, and of 
course she wore many hats, managing the Governor's staff, scheduling 
events, and resolving constituent issues, but her most important role 
was providing support to the Governor. Her dedication and loyalty 
earned her the respect of her fellow employees in the Governor's office 
as well as those she worked with outside of the office.
  After working in Governor Casey's administration, Bonnie worked as 
well with my father on his autobiography entitled ``Fighting for 
Life.'' In his book he pays tribute to her as follows:

       I could never have made it through this project without my 
     executive assistant,

[[Page S3082]]

     Bonnie Seaman. It's hard to think of any work I have done 
     these past ten years without Bonnie. Another theme of this 
     book is loyalty, and few people have taught me more about the 
     trait than Bonnie. I am deeply indebted to her for the skill 
     and good spirit she brings to our work right up to this day.

  That was written more than 20 years ago--just about 22 years ago. Of 
course, I can say the same thing about Bonnie's work in the U.S. 
Senate. In 1996, when I was elected the State's auditor general, Bonnie 
was vital to, first, my transition team. Then she served as the 
director of the Office of the Auditor General for 8 years, where she 
oversaw day-to-day operations of my schedule and the management of 
staff. When I was elected State treasurer in 2004, Bonnie began work 
with the Treasury Department. Then, finally, when I was elected in 2006 
to the Senate, I asked Bonnie to serve as director of constituent 
services. I knew that her dedication to public service and compassion 
for others would make her an excellent director. She led the office of 
constituent services for 10 years with distinction. With her gold 
standard professionalism, and unimpeachable ethics, she was a mentor to 
her staff and served as a shining example of quality public service. 
Through her work, Bonnie has touched the lives of over 60,000 
Pennsylvania constituents.
  On behalf of my family, as well as thousands of families across our 
Commonwealth, I express our gratitude to Bonnie Seaman for more than 
three decades of stellar public service. The building we worked in, in 
Harrisburg, has this inscription on the front of it, the finance 
building: ``All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted 
in honor.'' Bonnie accepted the trust that was placed in her. She kept 
faith with taxpayers and brought honor to her work. I wish Bonnie well 
in her retirement as she travels with her husband Tom, attends yoga 
classes, and enjoys time with her family and friends.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.
  (The remarks of Mr. Cotton pertaining to the introduction of S. 1202 
are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. COTTON. I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Strange). The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. UDALL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________