[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 179 (Tuesday, October 31, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5253-S5254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO PETER MULLER

  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of my former 
colleague, the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, to recognize the 
dedicated service of her long-time State director, Peter Muller.
  Born and raised in San Jose, Peter is a native Californian and has 
spent his career serving the people of the Golden State. After 
graduating from St. Mary's College of California, he earned his 
master's in political science and government from American University.
  Peter began his career in Congress in 1992 as a legislative assistant 
for then-Congressman Norman Mineta, where he served until Congressman 
Mineta's retirement in 1995. Peter then served as legislative director 
to Congresswoman Karen McCarthy before joining Congresswoman Ellen 
Tauscher's office in 1997, first as legislative director and then as 
her chief of staff. Peter spent 9 years with Congresswoman Tauscher and 
distinguished himself through his work with the House Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and his efforts leading the 
development of the New Democrat Coalition.
  After three stints away from Capitol Hill working for California-
based Genentech, Intel, and Metrolink and a move to Los Angeles, Peter 
joined Senator Feinstein's staff in 2016 as her deputy State director. 
He subsequently served as her State director until her passing last 
month.
  Every member of this Chamber knows the importance of their State 
director. They serve as our eyes and ears in our State, and they often 
act as our proxy when a cross-country flight isn't manageable. They 
lead our State teams with incredible patience and care, ensuring our 
offices run efficiently and our constituents receive the services they 
need. And they do it all for the good of the people we were elected to 
serve.
  Peter was by Senator Feinstein's side for good times and bad, through 
a reelection campaign and Supreme Court confirmations, impeachments and 
insurrection, and the COVID-19 pandemic. I know that Senator Feinstein 
valued his counsel on many contentious issues, and he was often the 
first person she turned to when considering the impact of an issue on 
her beloved California. He was essential to her lasting efforts to 
protect California's public lands and water resources, improve our 
immigration system, secure funding for the West Los Angeles VA campus, 
and many of her other priorities throughout the State.

[[Page S5254]]

  And so, on behalf of my former colleague and her team and as a fellow 
former State staffer for Senator Feinstein, I thank Peter for his years 
of dedicated service. The people of California are forever indebted to 
him for the impacts he has made, and we wish him all the best in his 
future endeavors.

                          ____________________