[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 74 (Tuesday, May 2, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LINDA ROBERTSON

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Linda 
Robertson in honor of her storied career in public service, including 
as a key member of the Federal Reserve's staff for over 13 years. Her 
career has touched many of the most important economic events of the 
past 40 years.
  Originally from Oklahoma, Linda first came to Washington to work for 
Congressman Jim Jones. She quickly made her mark working on taxation 
and finance matters both in his office and for the Committee on Ways 
and Means. It was in this job that she had a front row seat to the 1986 
tax reform effort made famous by books like ``Showdown at Gucci 
Gulch.'' While continuing her work in Congress during the day, she 
attended classes at night to earn her master of laws in taxation.
  Based on her exceptional congressional experience and knowledge of 
policy, Linda was later nominated and confirmed to serve as Assistant 
Secretary for Legislative Affairs and Public Liaison at the U.S. 
Department of the Treasury. Following her service at the Treasury 
Department, she worked as the top public advocate for Johns Hopkins 
University and Johns Hopkins Medicine.
  Linda returned to public service in August 2009 as an assistant to 
the Federal Reserve Board and head of its congressional liaison office. 
She began this position at a time of immense challenge for the country 
and as Congress and our regulatory Agencies worked to stabilize the 
financial system following the great recession of 2008.
  From the global financial crisis through the pandemic, Linda has 
served as a trusted advisor to the Federal Reserve Board and has played 
an invaluable role in keeping Congress and the public apprised of the 
Federal Reserve's work to fulfill its mandates on behalf of the 
American people. Federal Reserve Board Chairs Bernanke, Yellen, and 
Powell all benefited from Linda's experience and dedication to public 
service.
  Linda also returned to Treasury in 2021 to advise Secretary Yellen as 
she became the first woman to serve as Treasury Secretary. Linda's work 
was vital last year when we confirmed President Biden's slate of 
Federal Reserve Board nominees. With her countless hours of hard work, 
we were able to confirm a full Federal Reserve Board, something that 
had not been done in nearly a decade.
  Linda's lasting legacy also includes those that she worked with and 
mentored throughout her career. Those that had the privilege of 
learning from her wisdom have gone on to fill positions throughout 
Washington. One of Linda's former interns from her time at the Treasury 
Department is my scheduler, Diana Baron, also from Oklahoma, who has 
been with me on my staff for nearly 25 years. I am sure many of my 
colleagues have similar stories.
  Her commitment to public service, formidable talent, and immense 
knowledge will be missed by those at the Federal Reserve and many of us 
on Capitol Hill, particularly those of us on the Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs Committee. I wish Linda much success in her next chapter 
which--without hearings to prep for or bills to review--I expect will 
include ample time spent with family and friends.

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