[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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