[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H4384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING McLEAN PINER

  (Mr. Murphy of North Carolina was recognized to address the House for 
5 minutes.)
  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, I take great joy today to recognize the 
dedication, loyalty, and hard work of my legislative director and 
healthcare adviser, McLean Piner, and to congratulate him on a well-
earned next chapter he will soon embark upon.
  I have known McLean his entire life. McLean comes from a great family 
who live just around the corner from me in our neighborhood in 
Greenville, North Carolina. My wife and I are great friends with his 
parents, and our children played and went to school together for many 
years.
  In fact, only one issue ever caused any consternation between the 
Murphys and the Piners, and it was their inexplicable, and, frankly, 
despicable, allegiance to Duke University sports programs. Such a fine 
family, but such misguided loyalty. At least they know that the great 
basketball coach, Coach K, lost his final game to UNC. Fortunately, 
this one personal impediment, which I hope one day he will grow out of, 
has not impacted his character nor will it impede his career.
  McLean first began working for me back in 2016 as an intern while I 
served in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Not possessed 
with a loud voice, nonetheless, he was still a hard worker, tenacious, 
and a joy to have around.
  When I came to Congress in 2019, I was able to wrangle him away from 
a job downtown to come work for my office. Since then, he has put his 
head down and continued to earn a place of very high respect in 
Washington.
  Over nearly 8 years, McLean distinguished himself, working his way up 
from legislative correspondent all the way to legislative director, a 
role he has now held for 3 years.
  He quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with when it 
came to healthcare issues. As a physician, my chief focus in Congress 
has been one of making healthcare accessible, affordable, and of the 
highest quality. I have fought for patients and those who deliver their 
care.
  We have endured close to 7 years of late-night votes, painful policy 
briefings, unconscionably long markups, and spirited hearings in the 
Ways and Means Committee. Yet, through countless meetings, briefs, and 
events, McLean has been there every step of the way with me. We have 
learned from each other, and his counsel is one I have learned to 
appreciate and trust.
  At the beginning of this session, he came to me and told me he was 
being recruited by the administration for a job there. I told him no, 
he wasn't ready, and he had more to learn. Now he is ready. As all good 
mentors should do, when it is time, they should let their proteges fly 
away.
  McLean will soon depart Team Murphy for the next chapter of his 
career, an enormous and deserving leap forward over at the Department 
of Health and Human Services as Deputy Assistant Secretary.
  With gratitude and a heart full of pride, I honor and congratulate 
McLean on this remarkable run we have had and his very, very bright 
future.
  It is not often a Member possesses a staff member that has shown such 
loyalty, thoughtfulness, and dedication as McLean Piner. Washington can 
be a very difficult environment to operate in, especially those new to 
politics.
  McLean has developed a keen sense of what is necessary to deliver 
meaningful change to improve American healthcare. His intellect, 
ability to connect with others, and communication have made him an 
indispensable asset to anyone who wants to get down to business and 
make an impact.
  While I wish I could keep McLean in my office as long as I have the 
privilege to serve in this body, it is time now for him to move on. I 
have no doubt that he will be successful in his new perch, continuing 
to serve the American public.
  This is not a good-bye, but it is a celebration. It is a heartfelt 
congratulations that I salute a special individual who deserves great 
recognition and will continue to impress beyond my imagination.
  I give my congratulations to McLean. I wish him well in his next 
chapter and next journey. I thank him for his service in my office on 
behalf of the constituents of eastern North Carolina.

                          ____________________