[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S272-S273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING CHRIS ALLEN

  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the life 
of Chris Allen, who worked as my senior economic policy adviser. It is 
fitting that I do so on the Senate floor because Chris Allen would be 
the first one to tell you he loved his job.
  This statement was delivered so frequently and with such sincerity 
that one was compelled to look inward and remind one's self of what a 
privilege it is to work in the U.S. Senate on behalf of the American 
people.
  Chris Allen was a student of history and a lover of politics. Ladies 
and gentlemen, Chris Allen loved tax policy. If that doesn't tell you 
what a special person he was, I don't know what does.
  Chris's attitude about his job extended to his coworkers. He loved 
his coworkers. When he was on my staff, Chris was always willing to 
help junior staff, senior staff, or interns. It didn't matter--he had 
time for you. He rolled up his sleeves and pitched in. He gave you 
advice. He truly cared.
  When it came time for my 2014 campaign, Chris spent his vacation days 
with me in Kansas--knocking on doors, walking in parades, and being a 
force of positive energy no matter what we faced. Normally these are 
grueling tasks but not for Chris. He had fun. He loved it.
  As a matter of fact, posted on the wall of our little Hart kitchen, 
we have a selfie on election night of my crew at the victory party. The 
picture is entitled ``This is what victory looks like.'' And right 
smack-dab in the middle is one smiling Chris Allen. Now, when I am 
heating up my coffee, I look at Chris in the picture, and I can feel 
his joy as he is surrounded by our family of staffers.
  Elections weren't his only love. Chris Allen loved a cold beer. He 
loved a natty jacket. He loved loud pants. Sometimes he loved wearing 
them together. He loved his lacrosse. He loved his Baltimore 
neighborhood. He loved all things English and French. He loved 
researching his ancestry.
  Chris Allen loved his parents, his in-laws, his brothers, his nieces 
and nephews, but nothing compared to his love for Lynda, Lucie, and 
Sophie. He was not just a proud dad who boasted of his daughters' 
accomplishments big and small; he was better. He was a father who took 
delight in the things his daughters said and did, big and small. They 
were cherished. May they understand today and always that we loved 
Chris, and he loved them.
  I always looked forward to my briefings with Chris. For one, he got 
my jokes. He understood my references to radio and television shows and 
personalities that my other staff would have to research and look up. 
But he was also understanding of the history of the issues, even those 
not in his portfolio.

[[Page S273]]

  He was an excellent steward of my priorities on the Finance 
Committee, so much so they stole him from me. At the time I told him, 
``Listen, you still work for me, you are just sitting down the hall.''
  To illustrate Chris' popularity, I would like to share this story.
  There is an annual, all-day legislative meeting held in Washington 
for a Kansas group that requires a lot of preparation. My staff must be 
able to speak about a variety of topics and difficult issues before an 
audience of at least 100 Kansans. At one of these such meetings, Chris 
had just left my office to work at tax nerd nirvana, the Senate Finance 
Committee. I called him back to answer a few tax questions while my new 
staffer transitioned into the role. Before Chris was scheduled to 
arrive, a number of questions about taxes came up and my staff deferred 
to him, mentioning they would wait for the ``real tax guy'' to show up. 
Their repeated deference to him built up a feeling of anticipation in 
the room. At long last, Chris strolls in, and heads swivel around to 
the back of the room to see the great tax man cometh. It was like Elvis 
had entered the building. The audience got to their feet and gave him a 
standing ovation. One man was even moved to testify how Chris had 
helped his community on a rural tax issue and it had made all of the 
difference. And at the front of the room on the panel, there sat Chris 
in his dapper jacket, his head tilted back and his beaming smile. He 
loved to help and they loved him.
  Whether it was the tax reform bill or pension legislation, Chris' 
brilliant mind made the measure better--every time. And his work will 
have a long lasting influence on our Nation and literally millions of 
Americans. What a career Chris Allen had.
  Everyone in this room will probably agree that Chris's best stories 
were about himself, and he was usually his own punchline. Something had 
happened to him. He had messed something up, or he had gleefully 
embarrassed his daughters. You can hear him now. I was a bit player in 
one of his favorite tales. It was his first Finance Committee hearing 
working for me. Chris had prepped for days--weeks probably. He was both 
nervous and excited. As we walked over to the committee room, he told 
me he was calling Lynda, hoping she could watch the hearing on CSPAN 
and catch him sitting behind the dais.
  So I decided to have a little fun with Chris. As the time for 
questions got to the Senator next to me, I very dramatically motioned 
to Chris. Chris looked shocked--I am sure he was thinking, ``Oh no, 
what could I have forgotten to tell him.'' Chris leaned in, and I put 
my hand to the side of my mouth: ``Chris, this is your moment. Look 
very serious. Nod your head a few times. Now point at the paper I am 
holding--now tell me something very crucial . . . we are going to make 
sure Lynda sees you!''
  Chris got the biggest kick out of it, and we met the goal--he was on 
CSPAN. So while we take the issues and the policy very seriously, and 
we negotiate very intensely--and Chris could sure do that--we can also 
stop for a minute to appreciate where we are and what a privilege it is 
to do these jobs. As I said, Chris never forgot or took it for granted. 
He appreciated every minute in the Senate.
  I understand Lucie has shared a link to a Google doc for Chris's 
friends and loved ones to share their ``short but interesting stories 
about Chris.'' I encourage everyone to do so. These stories will be a 
treasure trove for Lynda, Sophie, and Lucie. I hope you can preserve 
them in some way with his genealogy work. I know he would like that.
  I will conclude with a note to Lynda and the girls: I always say you 
are only as good as your staff; it is your friends and family who make 
you what you are. In my office, staff are family. Chris was family; you 
will always be family. Besides, Chris still works for me. He is just 
sitting and smiling a few floors up.

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