[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 215 (Friday, December 18, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7711-S7712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO KAREN ROBB

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I rise to recognize an extraordinary 
member of my staff who retired from the Senate earlier this year, Karen 
Robb.
  For 15 years, Karen Robb served as a critical senior member of my 
staff, first in my House office and then in the Senate. Karen is a 
trusted adviser, skilled leader, and wonderful friend. Over the years 
she has been a key partner in many of our successful legislative 
initiatives and was a tireless advocate for the people of Maryland. A 
humble and committed public servant, Karen is driven by her deep-rooted 
values and a strong commitment to public service and the institution of 
the Congress.
  Karen was already a seasoned pro on Capitol Hill when she joined my 
team as chief of staff in the House of Representatives office 15 years 
ago. She had previously served as Deputy Assistant to President Clinton 
in the Office of Legislative Affairs, chief of staff to Senator John 
Edwards, democratic staff director for the Senate Judiciary Committee 
under then-Senator Joe Biden, and chief counsel to Senator Dennis 
DeConcini. Her extensive experience in both the legislative and 
executive branches helped us achieve significant victories for Maryland 
and pass priorities important to the American people.
  An attorney, Karen has always identified first as a policy wonk with 
particularly deep knowledge of the judiciary, and I drafted her into 
becoming an expert on campaign finance reform and election issues. She 
worked with Fred Wertheimer of Democracy 21 and other reformers to 
change the political finance system through legislation and the courts. 
Karen worked tirelessly to help draft the Lobbying Transparency Act, 
legislation I introduced to shine a light on lobbyist bundling of 
political contributions that ultimately became law as part of an ethics 
reform package. Many Members of Congress opposed the effort, but it was 
the right thing to do, and with the support of Speaker Pelosi, it 
passed in the House, while Senators Obama and Feingold pushed it 
through in the Senate.
  After the Supreme Court's notorious decision in Citizens United v. 
Federal Election Commission, we worked for

[[Page S7712]]

months to write and pass the DISCLOSE Act in the House of 
Representatives. The DISCLOSE Act is based on the idea that voters have 
a right to know what individuals and interests are financing the 
political advertisements trying to influence their votes. It was 
vigorously opposed by deep-pocketed special interests that prefer to 
operate in the dark and hide behind front organizations, but Karen kept 
at it. She spent countless hours negotiating every comma and 
definition. With perseverance, we succeeded in eking out a victory of 
219 to 206 in the House. The Senate version failed by one vote, and we 
have been trying to pass it here ever since.
  Karen helped us pass legislation protecting whistleblowers who put 
their careers at risk to expose wrongdoing--an issue that has become 
even more important in recent years. She recognized that the success of 
our democracy depends on people's willingness to speak truth to power, 
and it is our job to advance the truth for the public good.
  During my time in the House, Karen served in a number of key roles, 
including as policy director of my Assistant to the Speaker's Office, 
where she accompanied me to all the House leadership meetings as well 
as the House-Senate bicameral leadership meetings. She always had good 
insights and was respected by all. Karen also served as counsel on the 
House Budget Committee during the time I was the ranking member on the 
committee and played an important role during my participation in the 
bipartisan budget negotiations headed by then-Vice President Biden. 
During our tenure on the House Budget Committee, House Democrats 
proposed budgets to expand economic opportunity for all, strengthen 
Medicare and Social Security, put our country on a path for strong jobs 
and wage growth, and much more. She was at the center of these efforts 
and understood that budgets are more than just lists of programs and 
tabulations of dollars and cents--they represent the priorities and 
values of the American people.
  Upon arriving in the Senate, Karen's deep roots in the Upper Chamber 
got us off to a quick start. She set up our office and had an insider's 
knowledge of how to navigate many of the Senate's byzantine traditions 
and processes. With her wise guidance, we were able to achieve much for 
Marylanders in a short time.
  Karen's love for the twists and turns of lawmaking and politics is 
surpassed only by her love of children and animals--her first stop 
after leaving our office was the Nyumbani AIDS orphanage in Kenya, 
where she has served as a guardian angel for many years. She has helped 
to raise funds for supplies for the orphanage while taking a direct 
personal interest in the children who live there, sharing photos and 
stories and delighting in their growth and progress. Karen's charitable 
efforts have never been abstract--she has personally hauled supplies on 
her trips to Nyumbani, and, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, she 
jumped in her car and drove to New Orleans to help rescue and rehome 
animals. While a loss to the Senate, Karen's retirement gives her more 
time to spend on the many causes close to her heart, including to her 
continued service on the Nyumbani board of directors.
  Karen Robb was not a bystander to any project she embarked on. She 
was hands-on, all in, and whatever it takes. From the smallest detail 
to the biggest obstacle, she threw herself into her work and our lives. 
She is a compassionate person who always puts others first. My family 
and I will be forever grateful for Karen's friendship, many talents, 
and loyal service. Our entire team will miss her and the wisdom she 
brought to the often-hectic world of congressional offices. I wish her 
the very best as she embarks on her new adventures.

                          ____________________