[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 2, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JOANNA CAPPS

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I join with the vice chairman of the 
Appropriations Committee, Senator Shelby, in honoring Joanna Capps on 
her retirement on January 21, 2022, after more than 33 years of 
distinguished service to the Congress. Joanna, better known as Jodi, 
has supported the annual appropriations process throughout her career. 
Republican and Democratic staff of both Chambers hold Jodi in high 
esteem for her deep expertise of appropriations law and budget process 
and for her steady, even-keeled collegiality.
  Jodi came to Capitol Hill in 1989, joining the staff of the Senate 
Appropriations Committee. For 4 years she worked as a professional 
staff member of the full committee, productively and reliably working 
for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to support the orderly 
development of appropriation bills by coordinating the compilation and 
presentation of scoring data across all subcommittees. During her time 
at the committee, Jodi gained invaluable expertise and insight into the 
highly detailed and fast-paced nature of appropriations-related work, 
as well as the myriad budget-related rules and procedures that govern 
Senate consideration of those bills.
  In 1994, Jodi transitioned to a new role within the Congressional 
Budget Office's Budget Analysis Division, where she has worked as a 
scorekeeper for the past 28 years. In that capacity, she has been a 
valuable asset to eight CBO Directors. Initially tasked with scoring 
the Energy-Water and Interior appropriation bills, Jodi served as the 
primary or backup scorekeeper for multiple bills, expanding her 
substantive expertise and institutional knowledge along the way. For 
the past several years, she has handled both the vast Labor, Health and 
Human Services, and Education bill and the legislative branch bill, 
coordinating CBO's analyses of the President's budget request for those 
bills and compiling scores for countless versions at each stage of 
Congressional consideration. She also supported the production of 
baseline projections, cost estimates for authorizing legislation, CBO's 
annual report on Expired and Expiring Authorizations of Appropriations, 
and other vital efforts related to the Budget Analysis Division 
functions.
  Throughout her congressional career, Jodi nurtured strong, 
collaborative relationships that enabled her to act as a trusted and 
effective liaison between appropriations staff and CBO analysts. Staff 
of the Senate Appropriations Committee value her candor and ability to 
juggle multiple requests with a calm, steady demeanor. Within CBO, Jodi 
is regarded as a generous and amiable team player who goes out of her 
way to support colleagues, both professionally and personally.
  Jodi is also known for her many creative talents and her civic-
mindedness. From setting out trays of homemade scones for CBO 
colleagues to enjoy with their morning coffee to leading lunch-time 
tutorials on how to create a floral centerpiece, Jodi has an eye for 
elegance and enjoys sharing her gifts. She is a committed volunteer who 
makes time to support causes that benefit her community and boost 
people's spirits. But perhaps above all, Jodi is famously known as an 
avid animal lover, a passion she shares with her husband of many years, 
Alan.
  Jodi's expertise, institutional knowledge, and generous spirit will 
be sorely missed throughout Capitol Hill. We are grateful for her 33 
years of exemplary service to the Congress and wish her the best in the 
years to come.

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