[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 27, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S3738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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                        TRIBUTE TO PHYLLIS GREEN

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, it is not often one gets to experience and 
celebrate a living legend. But we have a chance today to do with a 
member of our Senate family. On February 27, 1984, an important part of 
the Senate community opened: the Senate Employees Child Care Center. 
There for that historic opening was a very special teacher, Ms. Phyllis 
Green.
  Over the ensuing nearly four decades, Phyllis masterfully impacted 
the lives of so many students that passed through center. She helped 
them get started in their young, tender lives with humor, warmth, 
devotion, skill, and of course, great patience.
  She is also something of a legend among the families on my staff 
whose children had the privilege of being taught by her--Wren, Rayn, 
Alex, Leo, Oliver, Avery, and Harry--so much so that even the ones who 
didn't have her for a teacher knew of her class. It is hard to imagine, 
but students that were in her early classes are now in their 40s.
  Some years ago, during her 30th anniversary at the center, a number 
of former students, now adults, came back to celebrate with her, and 
there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Think about how many of us had a 
teacher who made an impact in our lives and the rare opportunity to go 
back as an adult to offer warm thanks for those memories. What a gift 
to reflect upon so many lives impacted during one's career, so much so 
that Phyllis's colleagues said during her final week that ``the 
Legendary, the one and only Ms. Phyllis is retiring.''
  In fact, one of them wrote a poem that aptly noted of Phyllis, ``Your 
patience, knowledge and guidance opened up so much potential. For the 
children and the parents, your being has been essential. . . . In the 
eyes of many, you are a living legend, A pillar of our community, an 
educator, a teammate, a friend.''
  On the 30th anniversary of the child care center, the former Senator 
Tom Harkin described its teachers and administrators ``as some of the 
unsung heroes of the Senate.'' I wholeheartedly agree and certainly 
Phyllis Green is one such hero.
  I thank Phyllis for her incredible service to nearly four decades of 
Senate employee families and their children. You have made a real 
impact on our world.

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