[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 130 (Wednesday, August 1, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO PATRICK RENZI AND SCOTT SANBORN

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, before we wrap up, I would be remiss if 
I let the day pass without calling our attention to two veteran Senate 
staff members who are concluding their distinguished service this week.
  Patrick Renzi has served the U.S. Senate for 27 years, rising to 
chief reporter in the Office of Official Reporters of Debates.
  Patrick is a native of Silver Spring, MD. His mother Eileen also 
worked in transcription, including here in the very same office, but, 
as my colleagues know well, no route to the Senate is a straight line. 
After completing his studies at the University of Maryland and Strayer 
College, Patrick moved furniture, tried freelance court reporting, and 
recorded a brief, forgivable stint working over in the House of 
Representatives. But by 1991, he had returned to where it all began.
  Over the next 27 years, Patrick became a key staff member, updating 
the technology and team that keep the Office of Official Reporters 
running smoothly. His staff describe him as a stalwart chief with great 
respect for the Senate and those with whom he has served.
  Mr. President, Scott Sanborn currently serves as the Senate Journal 
clerk. He arrived in this body back in 1979 as a page for Lowell 
Weicker, our former colleague from Connecticut.
  Scott wound up serving the Secretary's legislative staff as an 
assistant bill clerk. I am told he impressed so many colleagues so 
quickly that in short order he was asked to serve as assistant editor, 
deputy chief reporter, and coordinator of the Congressional Record.
  By 2001, Scott had become the 20th Journal clerk of the U.S. Senate. 
Along the way, he has helped revolutionize the way the Senate records 
and reviews its transcripts. He found ways to increase efficiency and 
cost-savings, and he served as a go-to technical liaison, connecting 
the official reporters with the Members' offices.
  These two gentlemen have combined to contribute, literally, decades 
of service to this body. To see them both embark on well-earned 
retirements in the same week serves as a useful reminder of just how 
many incredibly talented men and women there are who may seldom find 
themselves in the spotlight but who are absolutely essential to the 
smooth functioning of the Senate in a thousand ways that we all get to 
take for granted every single day.
  We don't say thank you nearly enough around here. I am honored to be 
able to say it today.
  Thank you, Patrick.
  Thank you, Scott.
  We are sorry to see them go, but I know that Patrick's wife Germaine 
and their nine children--nine children--and Scott's wife Kim and their 
two kids must be happy to see what this next chapter has in store.
  So we bid them farewell with gratitude for their time here and best 
wishes for the times ahead.

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