[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 38 (Monday, March 1, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO CHRISTINA NOLAN

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I would like to pay tribute to a great 
Vermonter, Christina Nolan, a most dedicated public servant who has 
served as U.S. attorney for the District of Vermont since November 
2017. She will be resigning her post at the end of this month, 11 years 
since she first joined the U.S. Attorney's Office, but her work and the 
strong partnerships she forged will carry on for many years to come.
  A profile of Christina recently appeared in Vermont Business Magazine 
under the headline ``A Born Advocate for Justice.'' And she has been 
just that. During her tenure, Christina worked to stem the deadly surge 
of heroin and fentanyl in our small State, and she has joined with 
Federal partners to slow the illegal trafficking of firearms. She has 
also used her voice to shine a spotlight on domestic violence and human 
trafficking, not only prosecuting critical cases but also highlighting 
the plight of victims who are caught in the path of such heinous 
crimes. Her personal approach to each and every case, signing off on 
every charging document in the office, as well as her commitment to 
victims and her dedication to upholding the rule of law are evident to 
anyone who has witnessed her work and her work ethic.
  While Vermont's U.S. Attorney's Office is among the smallest in the 
country, it is fair to say that under Christina's leadership, the team 
has punched well above their weight. In one instance, her office set 
out to investigate kickbacks and fraudulent billing practices involving 
the electronic health records industry, unraveling a scheme that 
resulted in an $8 billion national settlement with Perdue Pharma, which 
admitted to needlessly and shamelessly promoting the prescribed use of 
OxyContin, a highly addictive opioid.
  During her time as U.S. attorney, Christina has forged strong 
relationships with her partners in Federal, State and local law 
enforcement circles, many of whom have shared with me how much they 
appreciated her engagement. In the courtroom, colleagues on both sides 
of the bench have lauded her fairness. A Federal judge, interviewed for 
the aforementioned magazine profile, spoke of her ``quiet confidence'' 
and her ``natural courtroom presence: graceful and commanding.''
  I am proud to have worked with Gov. Phil Scott to recommend Christina 
Nolan for the position of U.S. attorney back in 2017. She has served 
Vermonters very well during her tenure. Marcelle and I wish Christina 
and her longtime partner, Jill, and their family our very best in 
future endeavors.

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