[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 136 (Sunday, August 1, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5233-S5234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             THANKING STAFF

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I know a lot of negotiations have been 
going on in the bill that is soon to be before us, and I appreciate the 
Senators from both parties who have done that, but sometimes we forget 
that there are hundreds of other people who work on it.
  I know the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee have been 
working extremely hard. I think of people--Chuck Kieffer, Chanda 
Betourney, Jessica Berry, and others in our committee--who have given 
up weekends, evenings. They were working and briefing me until last 
evening on the work they were doing because we can say what we want to 
do, but then you have got to write it down.
  The same thing happened with the bill that, fortunately, passed 
unanimously here to reimburse our National Guard, to pay the backpay 
and other necessities of the Capitol Police, to try to repair the 
damage and improve the situation after what happened--the terrible 
things that happened on January 6--to go for higher protections of 
COVID for everybody who works here in the Capitol: the staff, 
professionals, everybody. This is from those who clean the Capitol to 
those who guard the Capitol; they all need this kind of protection.
  And with the help of Jeanne Shaheen and others, we were able to put 
in additional money and changes in the law to help us bring translators 
back from Afghanistan, people who had worked and put their lives on the 
line for our military, and bring them to safety.
  As soon as, first, President Trump and then President Biden said we 
are leaving, their lives and the lives of their families were greatly 
endangered by the Taliban, and now they are back.
  But I mention that because sometimes I might say, only half in jest, 
that Senators are merely constitutional impediments to their staffs, 
but we are very fortunate to have some of the brightest women and men 
anywhere in the staffs of the Senators in both parties, and certainly 
in those who administer the Senate, including those who are presently 
sitting and preparing to help us on everything from points of order to 
making sure the right papers are done and that the votes are counted 
properly.
  I see all of these people working hard here today when I came into 
the Capitol, everybody from those who have to follow and make a copy of 
what I say on the floor, on through. I didn't hear anybody say: Boy, I 
wish I wasn't here.
  I am sure just about everybody had other plans for Saturday and 
Sunday instead of being here. I think we owe a great debt of gratitude 
to those who

[[Page S5234]]

have come here who are helping us perform our duties. And I hope that 
Senators on both sides of the aisle will take note of that, try to 
bring these things to a conclusion--of course, have whatever votes we 
need--but keep in mind that there are hundreds, thousands of people 
working in the Capitol whose schedules are ofttimes disrupted because 
of our schedules.
  They do it. They help us. They support us. We could not do our job 
without them. And I hope we will take note of that and help them in 
reaching a conclusion or at least give some finality to what we are 
doing.
  I am willing to stay here whatever hours are necessary, but I am 
hoping that we will know what those hours are so that the hundreds, 
even thousands of other people who work here in the Capitol can go 
about planning for themselves, their families, their friends, whatever 
need be.
  So I would note that both the distinguished Presiding Officer is 
here, and I am here in the Senate. I am not holding up anything because 
no other Senator is seeking recognition, but I hope this may be coming 
to a conclusion.
  With that, I will yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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