[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 146 (Thursday, September 19, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6208-S6209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ROBERT SUNSHINE

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, along with the distinguished ranking 
member of the Budget Committee, Senator Grassley, we congratulate 
Robert Sunshine on his retirement after 48 years of service to the 
Congressional Budget Office, Congress, and our country.
  We would like to take a few minutes to honor this truly exceptional 
public servant and the legacy he leaves behind. Throughout his 
distinguished career, Bob has served as a mentor to countless members 
of the CBO staff--and to many a CBO Director--and he has remained 
steadfast in his commitment to CBO's mandate to be objective, 
impartial, and nonpartisan.
  Bob joined CBO in 1976, when the Agency was in its infancy, and his 
first job was as principal analyst covering transportation issues. In 
1995, Bob became the Budget Analysis Division's Deputy Assistant 
Director, and in 1999, he was named CBO's Assistant Director of Budget 
Analysis. He oversaw much of the Agency's work, including the 
preparation of cost estimates for legislation being considered by 
Congress and the preparation of the multiyear budget and economic 
projections that are the foundation of the congressional budget 
process.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, Bob served as Acting Director of CBO 
from November 25, 2008, to January 22, 2009, before becoming senior 
adviser to the Director and unofficial quality control officer for 
CBO's written products.
  Douglas Holtz-Eakin, CBO's Director from 2003 to 2005, described Bob 
as ``the living heart of CBO.'' Peter Orszag, CBO's Director from 2007 
to 2008 said, ``It is no exaggeration to say that CBO is what it is 
today--rigorous, independent, and widely respected--in no small part 
because of Bob Sunshine. For nearly half a century, he has worked in 
service of facts, good analysis, and sound policymaking.''
  Bob is highly regarded on both sides of the aisle for his deep 
knowledge of the budget process and commitment to

[[Page S6209]]

CBO's role in that process. But as his colleagues have said, it is his 
personal ethic--his optimism and thoughtful consideration for his 
friends and colleagues--that truly defines him.
  We thank Bob for his decades of service and wish him the best in the 
years to come.

                          ____________________