[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 214 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H7232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE SERVICE OF BILL HUGHES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Scalise) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SCALISE. Mr. Speaker, I also wish my friend from New Mexico well 
in the next phase of his life. I thank him for his service to our 
country.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make a bittersweet announcement, and 
that is to say thank you to a member of my staff who has given 31 years 
of his life to this great institution. I am talking about Bill Hughes.
  Bill Hughes has decided to retire at the end of the 116th Congress. 
More than one person has remarked over the years that Bill Hughes comes 
with the building. Bill has been my policy director since I became the 
Republican whip in 2014. He was my very first hire in that office. But 
his career was already legendary when I asked him to unretire and to 
join the whip team.
  Bill's career embodies the American Dream. He grew up in South 
Dakota. He didn't have connections in Washington. He just had a dream. 
He was drawn to public service, and his breaks came through hard work. 
He became an expert on the Federal budget and the legislative process.
  For 31 years, Bill has been part of some of the biggest policy 
debates, legislative achievements, and history-making events of our 
time. He retires still doing what he dreamed about doing as a young kid 
growing up in rural South Dakota.
  Bill has served as policy director for a Speaker of this House. He 
served as staff director for a committee, as Chief of Staff for a 
Senator, and a staff director for the Senate Republican Policy 
Committee.
  He began his career at OMB under David Stockman back in the Reagan 
administration.
  When I hired Bill, I hired the institutional memory of this place 
dating all the way back to the 98th Congress. He has an encyclopedic 
memory of budget accounts, past appropriations battles, Senate 
procedures, and, yes, also the history of American music. You can 
imagine some of those conversations that we have had through some of 
the battles we have had up here.
  His colleagues respect and admire him; and more than one generation 
of staffers have sought his advice, guidance, and mentorship.
  We have all been involved in dropping a bill right over there on the 
House floor, but very few of us have dropped a bill the way that Bill 
Hughes has.
  One day, when he was working for the legendary Bud Shuster, Bill came 
running down to the floor with a 1,700-page infrastructure bill to get 
it introduced so it could get voted on, and he literally dropped the 
bill on the floor. It took some time to put it back together and, of 
course, with Bill's attention to detail, he made sure that every page 
was back in the right place. But he never once ``dropped'' a bill for 
me.
  Bill is a consummate staffer and a humble public servant. He works 
endless hours to ensure that I have the best information and the most 
important facts about key legislation. He never made himself part of 
the story. He is that kind of person who deflects attention and credit.
  In doing so, Bill Hughes has earned the confidence, not only of me, 
but of all the leaders that he has worked with. Speaker Boehner, 
Speaker Ryan, Leader McCarthy all have sought Bill's advice and counsel 
during his tenure as my policy director in the whip office.
  I am sad to have to say good-bye to Bill. We will miss the House 
Republicans' ``Senate whisperer,'' as we refer to him. But very few 
have earned the thanks and best wishes that Bill leaves this 
institution with.
  Bill stands out among his peers and colleagues. He came to Washington 
nearly 40 years ago with a servant's heart. He came here for a career 
in public service, and he leaves the House with more than 33 years of 
legislative and executive branch experience. It is truly a remarkable 
run.
  Bill is retiring to spend more time with his wife and kids and the 
greener pastures of his cabin in the mountains. If Bill wanted to 
continue to work, it would be right here in the House that he loves, 
and the House that will be forever indebted to his sacrifice, his 
wisdom, and his great love for the United States of America.
  Bill, we were lucky to work with you, and America is a richer Nation 
thanks to your service. You will be deeply missed here, but you have 
more than earned the opportunity to enjoy this next chapter in your 
already rich life.
  Thank you to Bill Hughes, and God bless you.

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