[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 87 (Thursday, May 23, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3070-S3071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LOUIE RECKFORD

  Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I come to the floor because I am losing 
a key member of my foreign policy team who has wrestled with the issues 
of the Middle East and who has been engaged in the dialogue and 
conversation about a smart policy to end nuclear proliferation.

[[Page S3071]]

  I can tell you that it is always, for any Senator, a moment that one 
has a conflicted heart when a man or a woman on their team who has 
contributed so much and has become part of the family, the Senate 
family, is ready to take on a new challenge away from these Chambers to 
develop their skills and to take their experience to a new extended 
conversation. It is a bittersweet moment.
  We are proud of what our team members have contributed and proud of 
what they are going to contribute as they go off to a new 
responsibility.
  Today, that member of my team is Louie Reckford. Louie, seated behind 
me, first came to my office in the fall of 2013 as part of that 
semester's intern class, and it wasn't long before he stood out, 
distinguished himself, and thus, when we were hiring a deputy scheduler 
the following March, Louie's name was at the top of the list, and he 
formally became a part of our team.
  So for more than 5 years now, he has contributed. He has never 
stopped distinguishing himself, taking on one task and one position 
after another and excelling at every one of them. In his 2 years as 
deputy scheduler, Louie fielded thousands of requests for meetings, 
from constituents, from nonprofits, from local businesses and more, 
making sure that every detail was right. His attention to detail and to 
turnaround time made a very positive impression with all who contacted 
our office.
  Over the last 3 years, he has been an invaluable member of my 
correspondence and foreign policy team, first as legislative 
correspondent and later as legislative aide. On top of sending out 
181,000 pieces of constituent mail, mail from my office to my 
constituents, an average of 251 per day--on top of that, he has used 
his considerable leadership skills and subject-matter experience and 
strategic negotiating abilities to help pass a host of bills and 
resolutions in committee and here on the floor. When our foreign policy 
top staffer was transitioning into a new role as legislative director, 
he stepped up to fill the gap, helping to manage a team with two 
foreign policy fellows at that time. I could spend quite a lot more 
time extolling his list of accomplishments--his instrumental role in 
planning several international congressional delegations, his role in 
helping me carve out a new role on the Foreign Relations Committee, 
and, of course, that vital role of leading our office softball team.
  I will just say that Louie will be deeply missed by all members of 
Team Merkley, and we wish him well in his new adventure with Foreign 
Policy for America, where he will continue to be an invaluable leader 
of a myriad number of pressing foreign policy issues confronting our 
Nation today.
  Louie Reckford, we here in the Senate wish you all the best in your 
next chapter of contributing to solving the complex international 
issues that face our Nation.
  Thank you, Madam President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont.

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