[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 73 (Monday, May 1, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1438-S1439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BRAD WATTS

  Mr. TILLIS. Madam President, over the years, I have taken a moment to 
recognize the hard work and dedication of my staff as they depart and 
advance their professional development. One of the most capable 
staffers I have had the honor of working with is Brad Watts, who served 
as my chief counsel for more than 4 years.
  Brad is truly one of a kind. He is tenacious, tireless, and 
objectively brilliant. He has earned a reputation for being someone you 
want on your team advocating on your behalf because he will fight for 
you tooth and nail and leave nothing on the table. And he has earned a 
reputation for being someone you don't want to see on your opposing 
team because he is one tough negotiator who can take you to hell and 
back.
  Brad became my chief counsel shortly before the 116th Congress, which 
is when I first became chairman of the Intellectual Property 
Subcommittee. I don't think Brad came in knowing much or anything about 
intellectual property, which is regarded as one of the most difficult 
areas of law for even the most intelligent lawyers to pick up.
  Not only did Brad pick it up, he excelled at it. Our subcommittee was 
the most active one on the Senate Judiciary Committee during the 116th 
Congress as we explored ways to improve and modernize our intellectual 
property system.
  Perhaps most notably, we held a historic 3-day sprint of hearings 
during which we heard from 45 different witnesses about the broken 
state of patent eligibility. Only someone as hard-working as Brad could 
have made that happen.
  Brad was also instrumental in negotiating, writing, and passing some 
of the most consequential bipartisan legislation in generations during 
the 117th Congress, addressing issues long considered to be ``third 
rails'' in American politics.
  One example was the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Brad was 
masterful throughout the negotiation process as Senators and their 
staff worked

[[Page S1439]]

nonstop to forge a compromise. The end result was passing the first law 
in more than three decades aimed at reducing violence, expanding access 
to mental health services, and improving community safety. And we did 
it in a way that protected the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding 
Americans.
  Later that year, Brad was assigned another important task: making 
major modifications to the Respect for Marriage Act and winning enough 
votes to pass it through Congress. It is a sensitive issue for both 
sides of the political spectrum that required a well-thought-out 
approach, and Brad played a key role in reaching that compromise that 
included a number of new legal protections for religious institutions 
and nonprofits. These new protections struck the right balance, and the 
bill earned the bipartisan support it needed to pass both Chambers and 
be signed into law.
  Neither of those bills would have even gotten a vote had Brad not 
been at the negotiating table and burning the midnight oil every single 
day.
  I take pride in playing an active role in the professional 
development of my staff, and it was no surprise that the private sector 
also took notice of Brad's personal dedication and policy expertise. 
The Chamber of Commerce hired him to serve as their vice president of 
innovation policy. It is a testament to the work he put in to quickly 
become of the Nation's top policy experts on intellectual property.
  While I am sad to see him go, I am also very proud of the work he has 
done through his service to the State of North Carolina and the U.S. 
Senate. And I am excited to see the great things he will accomplish in 
the coming years. To borrow a line from one of Brad's favorites, the 
legendary Dolly Parton, ``You'll never do a whole lot unless you're 
brave enough to try.''

                          ____________________