[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 68 (Thursday, April 18, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DIANNE RENNACK

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Dianne E. Rennack, 
specialist in foreign policy at the Congressional Research Service--
CRS--for her distinguished career in service to Congress. Ms. Rennack 
retired on March 29 after more than 39 years with CRS, during which 
time she has made exceptional contributions to Congress as an expert on 
sanctions policy and foreign affairs legislation. Ms. Rennack has 
called Maryland home for many decades, making it a home for her family. 
She has dedicated her time to Maryland through volunteer work at 
Shephard's Table and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, once being 
named Volunteer of the Year.
  Since 1985, Ms. Rennack has informed Congress on some of the most 
important foreign policy issues of our time. Congressional committees 
have relied on her nonpartisan sanctions policy expertise to shape 
legislation and inform their oversight activities. Her knowledge of 
executive-legislative branch relations and general foreign policy 
authorities has been a critical resource for Congress and long made her 
a pillar of the institutional memory of Congress
  For years, Ms. Rennack was the driving force behind updates to the 
Legislation on Foreign Relations compendium, a resource used across the 
foreign policy community. She provided leadership at crucial times in 
CRS history, serving 3 years as head of FDT's foreign policy management 
and global issues section. Ms. Rennack is also known among her 
colleagues for her commitment to substantive collaboration and 
mentoring. Her dedication to sharing with junior colleagues the 
expertise she has earned over nearly four decades of service will have 
a lasting impact on the work of Congress.
  Throughout her career, Ms. Rennack has personified CRS's mission of 
providing authoritative, objective, nonpartisan, and timely service to 
Congress. In recognition of her wide-ranging achievements on behalf of 
the Congress, she received the CRS Directors Award in 2019 and the 
Distinguished Service Award in 2024.
  In conclusion, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Dianne Rennack for 
her outstanding contributions to the Senate community and the country 
and offer her best wishes in her retirement.

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