[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 184 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6967-S6968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO KATE KAUFER

  Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I rise today to recognize Kate Kaufer, 
who is retiring after serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee 
for 20 years and who has left her fingerprints on so much of the 
crucial legislation to keep our country safe and improve the lives of 
our servicemembers and their families.
  Kate Kaufer first started on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee 
in December 2004 when Senator Stevens was chair and served under Chairs 
Inouye, Cochran, Durbin, Shelby, and Tester. Colleagues from each era 
can attest she has always been an invaluable member of the team--so 
valuable in fact, that, in March 2022, she was asked to take over as 
clerk of the subcommittee.
  Through times of immense global change, instability, and uncertainty, 
when the investments we make in our military have had huge 
implications--not just for families today and not just for our own 
country, but for the world--Kate Kaufer has worked tirelessly to help 
the Senate solve problems, address threats, and ensure Congress makes 
critical strategic investments in our servicemembers and our national 
security.
  It is impossible to sum up two decades of Kate's leadership and smart 
analysis on the subcommittee. When Kate started in the Senate, 
individual appropriations bill were routinely debated and passed on the 
Senate floor. More recently, much of that work is done off the Senate 
floor, and she has remained steadfast in her loyalty to the 
deliberative processes of this body and tirelessly advocating for the 
well-being of our troops and the security of this country.
  Over her 20 years of service, Kate handled almost every single 
appropriations account and military service. Those include several 
classified accomplishments for which there is no public record. But 
publicly, from firsthand experience, I can say that she was 
instrumental in providing for our men and

[[Page S6968]]

women in uniform and their families, protecting our national security 
workforce, and preserving the national security investments over the 
last several years.
  We all owe Kate Kaufer a debt of gratitude for working through many 
long nights and hard negotiations in service of our Nation. As 
Appropriations chair this Congress, I have leaned on Kate's expertise 
and counsel; and it is clear to all that her expertise, dedication, and 
ability to work across the aisle to make progress have made our country 
stronger. She will be deeply missed.
  On behalf of all the past chairs--and all the Senators and staff--who 
have worked with Kate over the years and who know firsthand just how 
important her counsel has been, I would like to thank you, Kate, for 
your service. You will be missed, and we wish you all the best for what 
lies ahead. Thank you.

                          ____________________