[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 218 (Monday, December 21, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S7904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MIKE ANDERSON

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I would like to recognize a critical 
member of my staff, Mike Anderson--he is known as ``Big Mike''--who 
left my office in August to pursue a legal career in his hometown of 
Anchorage, AK--something he has aspired to do since a young age.
  Mike was my communications director, but it was much more of an 
appropriate title for Mike because he directed so many things in my 
office, so much of our communication both internally and externally. 
You would often find Mike going from staff member to staff member, 
asking them questions, relaying information from one team to the next.
  In our office, if you had a question about what anybody was up to, 
what anybody was doing in Alaska, here in our DC office, in our Alaskan 
offices, you would ask Mike. That is a special quality. He is an 
incredibly hard worker, incredibly gifted young man, and we are going 
to miss that talent in Mike very much.
  Mike is no stranger to Alaska political offices. Fresh out of college 
at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, he took a job with Congressman 
Young and then worked for Senator Murkowski.
  In 2014, he was looking for a little more adventure on the calm side. 
I was looking for someone to help with my communications on my 
campaign. It was my first run for office. I was running against an 
incumbent with big name recognition in our State. Mike came on board 
and took a chance on me. It is something I will never forget--loyal, 
great worker.
  He had been taking a lot of classes at night at Catholic University 
of America for the past few years, working in my office, and balancing 
it all. He was on the clock around the clock and did it with grace, 
humor, hard work, and excellence.
  As I mentioned, he was our office communicator, but he was also the 
office friend, the person you would go to for advice on things big and 
small, the person you would call on for an assist if you needed to 
move. It helped that he lived up to his name--6 feet, 8 inches. He is a 
big guy. Mike always showed up, working together--as we called in our 
office one team, one fight. We got big things done for our State.
  Speaking of one team, one fight, my office has a pretty good hoops 
team. Mike, as you can imagine--UAF varsity basketball player back in 
Alaska--was the critical member of that team. We have won a lot of 
games, particularly against the Cruz Texans. In fact, Senator Cruz once 
gave Mike the nickname ``Denali'' for his size and how he dominates the 
middle of the key on the hoops court.
  Mike is going to make a great lawyer in Alaska. As a State, we have 
so much potential--the biggest fisheries in the country, the largest 
energy fields, huge military complexes, and fascinating, important 
Alaskan Native legal issues. More than anything, Alaska needs good 
leaders with integrity, brilliant lawyers, hard-working people like 
Mike who love their State and give it all back to their State, and that 
is what he is going to do.
  We haven't seen the last of Mike. He has always been part of our 
team, and I am sure that is what he will do, working continually in the 
great State of Alaska to make sure our State thrives.
  Mike, great job. Good luck to you. You are going to be missed. Best 
wishes on a bright future ahead.

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