[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S1070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BETH BURKE

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I am here today to recognize a loss for 
the Murray office and a major victory for Wisconsin and that is the 
return of Beth Burke, a longtime and deeply trusted aide of mine, to 
her home State after 8 years with my office.
  Over her time with us, Beth saw me through office move after office 
move, countless hectic days of running to and from the Capitol all 
without missing a vote, I should say and more rebooked flights back to 
Washington State than sure she would like to remember.
  All of that would be enough to keep a team of ordinary people busy, 
but it doesn't even scratch the surface of what Beth has meant to me, 
to our team, and to our country because, during those same years of 
Beth's service, she helped lead our team as we grew from scrappy and 
small to still scrappy, but spanning three different office buildings 
in the Senate, in addition to our two coast, as I negotiated a 
bipartisan budget agreement no one thought we could get done and 
through the negotiations between Chairman Alexander and me on reforming 
K-12 education to end No Child Left Behind.
  She was up at all hours, all week, every week, doing everything she 
could to advance our efforts to fight for patients' healthcare, for 
women's reproductive rights and equality, and always, always for our 
servicemembers, veterans, and their families.
  It is a bit of a truism that the loudest voice in the room is not 
always the one having the biggest impact. Now, Beth will be the first 
to admit that she has a loud voice. But she used it and her expertise 
at navigating every logistic and obstacle imaginable to ensure we were 
in the best possible position to succeed in whatever we set out to do. 
She is a true public servant with the biggest heart you can imagine, 
and I know families and communities in Washington State and nationwide 
are better for her time here.
  I would also be remiss if I didn't note that Beth met her wonderful 
husband Dan, got married, and had her adorable, fierce baby girl 
Lillian all while she worked in our office.
  It has been a true joy seeing her family grow, so before I close I 
want to thank Beth's family--Dan, Lillian, their dog Karl--the most 
important Burke and everyone who's excited to welcome her home to 
Wisconsin, for sharing Beth with us.
  I know it is not always easy having a Senate staffer as a spouse or a 
family member or a close friend, especially one who works as hard and 
cares as much as Beth, so I want to recognize all your loved ones for 
their service as well.
  Beth, thank you again from my State and my family to yours. We are so 
deeply grateful for you and so excited to hear about everything you 
have in store.

                          ____________________