[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 218 (Friday, December 17, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9301-S9302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO STAFF
Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, as this year draws to a close, I rise today
to recognize my staff and their exemplary service to Pennsylvania in
the face of immense challenges. Even under the best of circumstances,
public service can be challenging work. For the past 2 years my staff
have, like all Americans, grappled with the daunting uncertainty and
isolation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic and grief for the more than
800,000 lives lost.
Despite these difficulties, they have risen to the demands of the
moment to support, advocate for, and empower the people of
Pennsylvania. The end of the year is a time for reflection on all that
we have overcome and an opportunity to express gratitude for those we
hold dear. This December, I would like to express my gratitude for the
men and women who have served in my office--some of whom have since
moved on--and their indelible contributions to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania during such an extraordinary time.
I am grateful for my administrative staff, who build and maintain the
solid foundation on which an effective congressional office is built.
These are the people who tirelessly ensure that everyone on our team
has the support and resources needed to do their jobs effectively.
While the work that they do may not be noticeable to everyone, they are
truly the connective tissue which allows the rest of the office to
function.
Similarly, the office's executive staff are tasked with ensuring my
time is used as efficiently as possible and that my day runs smoothly.
From building schedules that balance constituent engagements, committee
hearings, floor votes, and travel; to managing the flurry of briefing
memos on any given day and drafting my constituent greetings, I could
not be nearly as effective on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania
without their hard work.
It is impossible to overstate the importance of the work of the
constituent services team, who walk with constituents in their darkest
moments in pursuit of a brighter resolution. Day in and day out, these
are the men and women who help Pennsylvania seniors navigate issues
with Social Security checks, help veterans secure benefits owed to them
and medals they have earned, among so many other things. During COVID,
they have continued to assist with routine cases while also working
tirelessly to connect Pennsylvanians with testing and other resources,
apply for small business relief, navigate unemployment systems, and so
much more.
The outreach staff, spread out over seven offices across the
Commonwealth, serve as a vital resource in ensuring the needs of all 67
counties are met. These individuals are my liaisons to local
communities across Pennsylvania, representing me in their regions every
single day. Throughout the pandemic, they have been in constant contact
with local elected officials, sharing information back and forth and
bringing to bear Federal resources when they have been needed most.
Their relationships across the Commonwealth, and their granular
knowledge of communities large and small are extraordinary. I am
grateful for innumerable phone calls and meetings that they lead and
attend every year and the thousands of miles that they drive as they
crisscross their regions to show up for the communities they represent.
The legislative staff fight daily for policies that will improve life
for every American, but especially those who are too often overlooked
and left behind. These men and women bring their expertise to bear to
help inform my policy positions and floor votes. In answering
constituent correspondence, they parse through complex matters of
policy to help constituents better understand how critical legislation
will impact Pennsylvania. I am deeply grateful for the benefit of their
extraordinary minds and their dedication to improving the lives of
working families with sound policy.
It is through the tireless work of the communications staff that
Pennsylvanians understand how I am representing them in Washington.
These men and women are a vital bridge between the work that I do in
the Senate and the people of Pennsylvania, helping me connect the
voices of the Commonwealth to the halls of Congress, and in turn
bringing our legislative work back into communities across
Pennsylvania.
Since 2017, I have had the privilege of serving as the lead Democrat
on the Senate Special Committee on Aging. During the pandemic, this
team has relentlessly demanded accountability from the programs and
institutions that serve older adults and people with disabilities. As
COVID devastated nursing homes, they pushed for increased transparency
to protect residents and workers. They now lead the call for
transformative investments in life-changing home and community-based
services.
There is an inscription on the Finance Building in Harrisburg, PA,
that has guided me during my time as a public official. It reads: ``All
public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor.'' Each
and every day, my staff demonstrate their commitment to that trust with
tireless work and personal sacrifice. They are hard-working and
talented individuals who form a distinguished collective of honorable
public servants whom I respect and whom I am grateful to work
alongside.
Today, I am proud to list them alphabetically by name to memorialize
their service to our Commonwealth and our country during this pandemic:
Tad Abramowich
Natalie Adams
Sandra Aguilera Garcia
Jennifer Baker
Jordan Ball
Rob Bielunas
Kim Bierly
Hulan Bikales
Regina Brennan
Sydney Brooks
Jessica Butherus
Kathi Caber
Jenna Carmen
Alyssa Charney
McKenzie Cliatt
Christian Clesi
Bob Coomber
Connor Corpora
Rory Daly
Stephanie DeLuca
Teresa Dennis
Josh Dubensky
Thomas Eagen
Micah Escobedo
Erika Felix
Marlon Ferguson
Lara Flynn
Adam Fountaine
Michael Gamel-McCormick
Peter Gartrell
Kristen Gentile
Ben Gilsdorf
Jasmine Goodman
Veronica Goodman
Ian Graham
Rashage Green
Jack Groarke
Andrea Guscott
Kyle Hannon
Hans Hansen
Kristen Harfield
Doug Hartman
Corey Husak
Sean Hyland
[[Page S9302]]
Maurya Incavido
Narda Ipakchi
Brian Jennings
Aisha Johnson
Christopher Johnson
Robert Joyce
Liz Kishbaugh
Samantha Koehler
Molly Krafcik
Josh Kramer
Trace Ledgard
James Lee
Jose Leoncio
Nefetia Lundy
Mairead Lynn
Ian Madigan
Kristin Magnotta
Shoshana Marin
Ben Martin
Lindsay Martin
Sara Maskornick
Robbie Matesic
Cindy Matos Beltre
Jae'Von McClain
Jake Medvitz
Alina Meltaus
Carolyn Mendez-Luck
Leah Mercik
Datnilza Metz
Kate Mevis
Derek Miller
Keith Miller
Gillian Mueller
Janet Murphy
Grace Nelson
Paul Nestler
Stephen O'Brion
Kennedy O'Dell
Max Olender
Hector Ortiz
Panini Pandya
Reecha Patel
Isabel Perez
Joycelyn Pickens
Nikki Rai
John Rizzo
Rahmon Ross
Ryan Ross
Kate Samuelson
Stacy Sanders
Valli Sanmugalingam
Judy Schaechter
Abigail Seibert
Julia Sferlazzo
Zach Shaw
Livia Shmavonian
Sara-Paige Silvestro
Madison Sloat
Allegra Smith
Cam Thompson
Amanda Toth
Jenna Valle-Riestra
Lieke van Heumen
Landy Wade
Caitlin Warner
Tia Watson
Aimee Wechsler
Ebony Staton Weidman
Madison West
Wesley Whistle
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