[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 140 (Wednesday, August 22, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                         TRIBUTE TO DICK SEARS

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, it is my honor to recognize a true friend 
of Vermont, State Senator Dick Sears of Bennington, who has been named 
by FiscalNote as the sixth most productive State senator in the United 
States.
  Senator Sears, who was first elected in 1992, and as cited by 
FiscalNote, has sponsored 314 bills and has a 60 percent bill passage 
success rate. This recognition of Senator Sears' effectiveness comes as 
no surprise in Vermont, where he is respected and is a fixture on the 
nightly news during the legislative session.
  In the Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee, where Senator Sears serves 
as chair, he has acted courageously on issues including civil rights, 
marriage equality, human trafficking, and adoption. He himself 
highlights his work on corrections and criminal justice reform, as well 
as his successful involvement in the 2010 rewrite of sex offender laws, 
as major accomplishments; yet he also attributes his success in these 
important issue areas to teamwork.
  In addition to chairing the judiciary committee, Senator Sears also 
serves on the appropriations committee, the joint fiscal committee, is 
vice chair of the joint legislative child protection oversight 
committee, is vice chair of the joint legislative justice committee, 
and is a member of the legislative committee on judicial rules and the 
legislative council committee.
  Clearly, Senator Sears is a legislator who deserves recognition, yet 
doesn't seek recognition. In honor of Senator Sears' outstanding 
accomplishments, I ask that the article by Christie Wisniewski from the 
July 31 edition of the Bennington Banner, ``Sears ranked 6th in 
productivity for U.S. state senators,'' be printed into the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                    Bennington Banner, July 31, 2018


        Sears ranked 6th in productivity for U.S. state senators

       This story by Christie Wisniewski was published by the 
     Bennington Banner on July 31.
       Bennington.--State Sen. Dick Sears of Bennington is the 
     sixth most productive state senator in the United States, 
     according to an analysis released Monday by a Washington, 
     D.C.-based software startup. Each year, FiscalNote creates a 
     list of the top 10 state senators using ``unique data 
     analytics software,'' the company said in a press release. 
     The list ranks all senators and representatives in accordance 
     with their legislative productivity, which is defined as how 
     successful the legislator is at sponsoring and steering bills 
     through each stage of the legislative process.
       This research also ranks the quality, endurance and 
     substantiveness of the bills each legislator sponsored and 
     introduced. For example, legislators score higher if they 
     sponsor a higher number of bills and if their bills make it 
     further in the legislative process. A bill that is enacted is 
     weighted more than a bill that does not make it past the 
     Senate floor. Finally, legislators score higher if their 
     bills are substantive a bill that attempts meaningful change 
     rather than a memorial or commendation.
       Sears, a Democrat, was first elected in 1992. Since then, 
     he has sponsored 314 bills and has a 60-percent bill passage 
     success rate.
       ``I'm just flabbergasted,'' Sears said of the report. 
     ``[I'm] really humbled and pleased, quite frankly.''
       Sears was the only state senator from New England to make 
     the top 10.
       State Sen. Brian Campion, who is running for re-election 
     alongside his district mate Sears as a team, lauded Sears for 
     his dedication to the county.
       ``Bennington County was once the forgotten kingdom of 
     Vermont, but Dick has helped us rid ourselves of that 
     title,'' Campion said. ``He's incredibly hard working, and 
     I'm lucky to have him as a mentor and district mate.''
       According to the National Conference of State Legislatures 
     website, there are 7,383 legislators across the United 
     States.
       ``To be ranked in the top 10 of state senators is an 
     amazing thing,'' Sears said. ``. . . I've worked well with 
     various administrations over the years and sponsored some 
     really tough bills.''
       Sears has worked successfully with four different Vermont 
     governors and sponsored bills dealing with civil rights, 
     marriage equality, human trafficking, adoption, and other 
     issues. He views his work with reforming state corrections 
     and criminal justice laws--especially with juvenile justice--
     as a ``major accomplishment'' and also sees his involvement 
     with the 2010 ``complete rewrite'' of sex offender laws as a 
     success.
       However, Sears doesn't want to take all the credit for the 
     bills that have passed under his watch.
       ``Like anything else, you never do it alone,'' he said.
       Rep. Timothy R. Corcoran II of Bennington also believes 
     Sears' recognition is well-deserved.
       ``Dick has always lived by his convictions and never backed 
     down when he faced opposition to issues that weren't 
     universally accepted,'' Corcoran said. ``Bennington County 
     has been extremely lucky to have him represent us up in 
     Montpelier.''
       Corcoran commended Sears' willingness to fight for 
     Bennington County, ``whether it's been PFOA, helping to 
     secure Amtrak bus service funding, fighting for the Vermont 
     Veterans Home, or just securing funds for Bennington County 
     in general.''
       ``Dick has always stepped up to the plate and delivered,'' 
     Corcoran added. ``Congratulations Dick; job well done.''

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