[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO BETH NIELSON

  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, I rise today to honor the service of my 
administrative director Beth Nielson. Soon, Beth will retire from the 
U.S. Senate with more than 26 years of service to the U.S. Senate and 
to our Nation.
  Beth joined my staff as administrative director in early 2019, merely 
the most recent stop on a wonderful journey of service to many Senators 
from across our Nation. Beth brought with her a great breadth and depth 
of knowledge about the U.S. Senate and how this institution works for 
Senators and staff. She quickly garnered the trust of my staff with her 
cheerful attitude to service and deft ability to navigate the many 
rules of the Senate. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Beth helped our team 
immediately pivot to working from home, providing information, support, 
and guidance as we learned to work together but apart.
  A South Dakota native, Beth first came to the Senate to intern in the 
office of Senator Tim Johnson. From there, she spent time in the office 
of Senator Tom Daschle, learning the ropes of the Senate and managing 
vast volumes of mail sent to the Senator from across the country. She 
returned to Senator Johnson's team and served as his deputy office 
manager for 5 years. From there, she joined the staff of Senator Ben 
Nelson as his administrative director for 3 years and then took a brief 
pause off Capitol Hill. She quickly returned to the Senate and served 
in the same roles in the offices of Senator Bill Nelson and then 
Senator Heidi Heitkamp before joining my staff. Beth has also worked 
for Senator Raphael Warnock, to aid his staff as they began their time 
in the Senate.
  My staff and I have been reflecting over the many gifts that Beth has 
shared with us over these past 6 years. She has been a guide to new 
staff, easing their transitions into the Senate and greeting them with 
a welcome smile. Beth has served as a mentor and sounding board to more 
established staff who have taken on new positions or responsibilities, 
helping them succeed in their roles. She was ready to answer our calls 
and our questions, to celebrate our milestones and ease our sorrows. We 
do still question her allegiances to the New York Yankees and the 
Chicago Bears but have agreed to let those slide.
  Beth, thank you for your service to our Nation, to all the staff and 
Senators you have served with, and to the U.S. Senate.

                          ____________________