[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 3, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3201-S3202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO SEAN MOORE
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a remarkable U.S.
Senate staffer Sean Moore for his 30 years of dedicated public service
in the U.S. Congress. Sean's path to public service started early in
childhood. His father was a longtime staffer at the National Security
Agency, and Sean always knew he wanted to follow in his footsteps and
dedicate his life to serving the greater good. He wasted no time
embarking on his career in public service: immediately after graduating
from the University of Delaware with B.A.s in international relations
and history, Sean arrived in the Senate, beginning as a legislative
correspondent for then-U.S. Senator Joe Biden of Delaware on May 30,
1995.
In 1997, he joined the office of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer of
California, where he worked for 17 years until her retirement in 2016.
He was a trusted and invaluable adviser, rising through the ranks all
the way from legislative aide to chief of staff. Sean also served as
Senator Boxer's legislative director and led her foreign policy team
for many years, including during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Though
his humility prevents him from admitting so, he was key to some of her
incredibly impactful work, including her 2008 efforts to secure visas
for Vietnamese adoptees; her advocacy to ratify the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, or CEDAW; her
work on the Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in
Developing Countries Act of 2005; and notably, her landmark vote
against declaring war on Iraq in 2002.
After Senator Boxer's retirement in 2016, Sean came to the U.S.
Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, where he
became staff director under then-Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen. Nine
years later, he continues to serve in this role today, having served
under three different Democratic leaders of the committee.
Sean embodies what a Senate staffer should be, mastering complex
policy, grasping complicated political dynamics, giving studious
attention to every detail, understanding the intricacies of the
institution, and always working to advance the priorities of the
committee and its membership. Sean anticipates every situation and is
ready with politically astute and intellectually sound advice on how to
approach any challenge.
This was never more apparent than in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic
hit and America's small businesses faced an existential threat unlike
anything seen before. Under then-Senator Cardin's leadership, the
committee led the effort to save small businesses by creating programs
like the Paycheck Protection Program, Restaurant Revitalization Fund,
Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program, and other critical relief
efforts. Sean rolled up his sleeves and worked tirelessly to help
create, enact, and implement multiple bipartisan relief programs.
Ultimately, these programs provided over a trillion dollars to small
businesses and helped keep them and the American economy afloat. A
staffer to the core, he will never accept credit or recognition for any
of his work, but he was truly a key part of our country's monumental
response to a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. He not only was a witness to
history but played a critical role in it.
Not only is Sean an excellent adviser and staffer, but he is also an
exceptional leader. He empowers his staff, draws out their strengths
and abilities, and never fails to uplift their work. He believes that
part of his public service is mentoring and raising the next generation
of staffers, and he takes this responsibility very seriously. He has a
unique ability to identify hard-working, talented staffers who rise to
the occasion regardless of their years of experience or degrees. This
mentality has led him to build smart and effective teams for several
U.S. Senators throughout his tenure.
As with many public servants, his career is made possible by the
support of his family. The Moores are a force on Capitol Hill. Sean and
his wife Shane Moore met while they both worked under then-Senator
Boxer. Shane is also a longtime public servant who went on to serve
former U.S. House Representative Loretta Sanchez of California for
nearly two decades and continues to serve in the House of
Representatives today. Sean and Shane raised two children McKenna and
Ryan in Bethesda, MD, and together, they have built a life dedicated to
serving the American public and this institution. Together, Sean and
Shane helped this body navigate some of our country's most challenging
moments, including 9/11, the Iraq War, the Great Recession, and, most
recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. Careers like theirs do not come
without sacrifice. Thirty years of service is as much a milestone for
this remarkable family as it is for Sean.
I would like to share quotes from some of my colleagues for whom Sean
has worked during his career. I believe his impact on Capitol Hill is
best summarized by them:
U.S. Senator Boxer (retired): ``Sean is the best of the best: wise,
humble, respectful and committed to serving the people. Sean was able
to take the toughest issue, break it down and lay out a clear plan to
solve the problem, whether it was legislation, a hearing, a letter, a
press conference or a simple phone call. He always knew the staff's
strengths and weaknesses and put together the right team at the right
time. He was always on top of everything which is what a true leader
does. I still stay in touch with Sean because I still want to hear his
perspective and his ideas. Congratulations on 30 years of outstanding
work.''
U.S. Senator Shaheen: ``For thirty years, Sean Moore has been serving
families in Delaware, California and, through the Small Business and
Entrepreneurship Committee, every state,
[[Page S3202]]
including New Hampshire. Like many of our best public servants, Sean
may not be known by most folks in the country, but I can tell you that
many families and small businesses certainly know his work. I worked
closely with Sean as both Chair and Ranking Member of the committee and
his work supporting small businesses through COVID, including with the
Paycheck Protection Program, helped so many small businesses get
through the pandemic. I know Sean isn't going anywhere right now and
hope he continues to serve, but on behalf of the countless Granite
State families and businesses that have and will continue to benefit
from Sean's work, I join my colleagues in thanking Sean for his thirty
years of public service.''
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (retired): ``Sean Moore is everything a
senator needs and wants in a staff director--or any staff person. He is
a consummate professional. He is an honest broker and a calming
influence. He knows the Senate and the agencies with which he connects
daily. He gets things done and doesn't worry about who gets credit--but
he is always quick to uplift and spotlight the quality work of more
junior staffers. I was blessed to have Sean as a resource and partner
during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to his round-the-clock work and
innovative thinking, we quickly created new programs like the Paycheck
Protection Program to save jobs and keep small businesses afloat during
the most challenging economic crisis in a generation. We saved
nonprofits and live entertainment venues. We did all this on a scale
never expected. Sean made this possible. The best thing I can say to
describe Sean Moore and his 30-year tenure with the Senate is that he
is a true public servant. He understands that our work is for the
American people, and he fights daily to make people's lives better. I
will forever be grateful to Sean for his dedication, kindness and
service. He is a legend.''
These quotes show the remarkable impact Sean has had and how his
tireless work has left the country a better place. I want to thank Sean
for his dedication to the institution and to serving the American
people. Congratulations on 30 years of service and counting.
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