[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 198 (Wednesday, December 11, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6970-S6971]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        Tribute to Kelly McManus

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, today, I want to take a moment to recognize 
the contributions of Kelly McManus. She is a member of my staff. She is 
U.S. Army MAJ Kelly McManus, who has spent the last year working in my 
personal office as part of the U.S. Army Congressional Fellowship 
Program.
  Before Kelly departs my office here at the end of the year to return 
to the Big Army, I rise to express my appreciation to Major McManus for 
all of her hard work and dedication and service to our Nation.
  Kelly's 10 years of service in the U.S. Army have developed her 
leadership abilities and shaped her perspective on major defense issues 
of national significance. These assets and attributes have made her an 
invaluable asset to our team as we work to serve Kansans, 
servicemembers, and veterans.
  Before joining our office, Kelly's assignments had taken her around 
the world in service of our country. She deployed to both Iraq and 
Kuwait to support operations New Dawn and Spartan Shield, from 2011 to 
2012, served as the medical planner for the Allied Land Command in NATO 
headquarters in Izmir, Turkey, and reported to Wiesbaden, Germany, to 
serve on the personal staff of the U.S. Army Europe headquarters 
commanding general, LTG Ben Hodges.
  Kelly has also served stateside, leading her detachment through 
deployment in Fort Dix, NJ, in support of Hurricane Sandy relief 
efforts and commanded a medical company in the 2nd Infantry Division at 
Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State.
  Kelly joined our team in January 2018. From day one, she embraced 
Kansas, its people, and the challenges they face day in and day out. On 
her first official trip to Kansas, she visited our

[[Page S6971]]

military installations and talked with soldiers and airmen to learn 
about their life experiences. She made it a priority to spend time in 
Kansas and to learn from the Kansas people so that she could bring 
their thoughts and ideas back to the Nation's Capital. These personal 
conversations with Kansans and Kelly's experience in the Army have 
helped to drive meaningful policy.
  She led our efforts to secure maternity leave for those serving in 
the National Guard and Reserve after talking with an expectant mother 
in the Kansas National Guard. She has also sought to increase access to 
suicide prevention programs and destigmatize the notions surrounding 
mental illness.
  In addition, her experiences in serving in uniform have been 
instrumental to my efforts to support our veterans. Over the past year, 
I have continually been impressed by Kelly's leadership and 
professionalism. At every opportunity, she has proven herself to be an 
important and fully integrated member of my team, carrying the equal 
weight and responsibility of my personal staff. Her seamless 
communications and her skill in tackling issues big and small have been 
a great benefit to our office and the people that we serve. Kelly has 
exceeded all of my expectations and has demonstrated a commitment to 
excellence that has been nothing short of outstanding.
  A testament to her leadership over the past year was her promotion to 
major in July. It was my honor to be part of her promotion ceremony and 
to have the privilege to pin her new and deserving rank on her uniform.
  It will be sad when she leaves our office at the end of the month, 
but I know she will serve the Army well next year in the Army's Budget 
Liaison Office, where I am confident she will be a highly effective 
ambassador to Congress for the Army.
  Kelly is one of the most impressive military officers I have had the 
honor of knowing, and I hold her in the highest regard, personally and 
professionally. She is a significant asset to our country and to the 
U.S. Army. Kelly represents the best that the Army has to offer, and I 
know that she will continue to be a benefit to the future of our 
Nation. There is no group of people I hold in higher regard than those 
who serve our Nation, and I want to reiterate my gratitude to Kelly for 
her dedication and service to our country.
  Once again, thank you, Kelly, for all you have done for Kansans this 
year and what you will continue to do for our Nation. You have been a 
model of selfless service and leadership. I know you will continue to 
do great things throughout your Army career and your life in service, 
wherever that path my lead you.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.