[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4096-S4097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Tribute to David Weinberg

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, today, I am honored to recognize an 
exceptional public servant and Michigander who is sitting right next to 
me here. His name is David Weinberg.
  For nearly 18 years, David has served on my team, guiding our office 
through major challenges and always delivering results for the people 
in Michigan as well as all across our country.
  David's Michigan roots run deep. His great-great-grandparents Max and 
Jenny Fisher left Eastern Europe in the 1890s and sought an opportunity 
in the United States of America. They eventually settled in Kalamazoo, 
where Max's work as a peddler went on to become a three-generation 
family business of buying scrap metal and fabricating steel. They also 
founded their synagogue in Kalamazoo, which remains there today.
  David's grandfather Martin Kalb first came to Michigan after 
enlisting in the Army, which stationed him at Fort Custer. He took an 
additional intensive language training program at the University of 
Michigan before deploying to Europe during World War II, where he 
served as an interpreter and a military police officer.
  Martin's education started a long line of Wolverines in David's 
family. His grandmother Marcia was the first in her family to go to 
college, graduating with a degree in political science. David's parents 
Neal and Susan, who are up in the Galleries here today, met at the 
University of Michigan in 1970. And just 35 years later, David 
graduated with a political science degree as well.
  Before becoming one of the longest serving members of my team, David 
got his start on Capitol Hill by working for two titans in Michigan's 
congressional delegation. David interned for venerable Congressman John 
Dingell and then served as a law clerk for Senator Carl Levin in his 
role as chairman of the powerful Subcommittee on Investigations.
  In the 18 years that David has worked for me, I have been able to 
watch him grow from a recent law school graduate and junior campaign 
staffer to one of the longest serving staff directors in the U.S. 
Senate. Over the years, David has helped shape some of the most 
consequential policies that I have been privileged to work on as a 
legislative assistant and as a legislative director in both my House 
and Senate offices and, most recently, as staff director of the 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
  During my tenure in the House, David helped create--and later 
expand--the State Small Business Credit Initiative which helped small 
businesses grow and create jobs.
  He worked hand in hand with Senator Debbie Stabenow's team and across 
the aisle to deliver $170 million to support the city of Flint during 
its water crisis.
  (Mr. ARMSTRONG assumed the Chair.)
  On the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, David 
has led an incredible team, supporting my work to make government more 
efficient and effective for the American people. With his help, I have 
been able to enact bipartisan bills into law that save taxpayer 
dollars, streamline Federal contracting, track and improve Federal 
Agency performance, modernize Federal cloud computing, and dozens more.
  He and I share a mindset that Congress can't just focus on the 
problems right in front of us; that we also have to look ahead, look 
ahead to the challenges that we will be facing in the future.
  David helped me steer the Cyber Incident Reporting for the Critical 
Infrastructure Act of 2022 across the finish line, passing what the 
Washington Post called ``the most significant cyber legislation in 
history.'' Once this rule is finalized, it will help keep our critical 
infrastructure safe from dangerous cyber attacks and ransomware 
attacks.
  He has also helped me look ahead and prepare for emerging threats by 
working to pass bipartisan legislation that strengthens the cyber 
security for State and local governments, secures our Federal supply 
chains, and improves our disaster preparedness, gives us the tools to 
defend against drone threats, and protects Americans' most sensitive 
genetic data.
  He has also been instrumental in helping author cutting-edge 
legislation to prepare our Nation for emerging technologies. In 2017, 
he played a critical role in my efforts to craft bipartisan 
legislation--along with Senator Thune--to help guide the safe 
deployment of self-driving cars.
  Through that process, David and I both became equally steeped in 
artificial intelligence policy. And since then, he has helped me enact 
several bills to help drive the responsible adoption and use of AI by 
the Federal Government.
  David also understands the vital role that congressional oversight 
plays in making our government accountable to the public. He played a 
vital role in bringing together our Republican partners for major 
investigations led by my committee, including the January 6 Capitol 
attack and the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
  David has a keen--keen--understanding of exactly what it takes to be 
successful and be successful in moving bills or accomplish a goal in 
Congress. If there is a path of something getting in the way of being 
done, David will find it. Over the years, he has built incredibly 
strong relationships with fellow staffers on both sides of the aisle, 
which is how this place has to work. I watched him deftly handle 
markups on some of the most complicated legislation that this body 
considers.
  Helping to keep both Democratic and Republican Senators together is 
absolutely important to advance critical bipartisan bills. He knows 
when a deal can be made to compromise on legislation without ever 
sacrificing core principles that drive my work on behalf of the people 
of Michigan. He is able to see around corners, identifying potential 
roadblocks and determining how to break through them in order to get 
things done.
  David's ability to distill complex information to get to the heart of 
an issue and to find the right path forward have made him one of my 
most trusted

[[Page S4097]]

advisers over these many years. I could speak at length about David's 
work ethic and the many ways in which he has helped me serve the people 
of Michigan.
  But I have also been proud to witness some of the key moments of his 
life outside of work, including his marriage to Meghan, and the joy 
with which he has thrown himself into being a dad to his two sons Jay 
and Elliott.
  In fact, David just recently celebrated perhaps one of his most 
important and impressive accomplishments: He is now a championship 
winning Little League coach.
  And after seeing David in action over the years, I can't help but 
think there is a lot of overlap--a lot of overlap--in the skills it 
takes to be an effective U.S. Senator and managing a dozen sixth and 
seventh graders.
  I have been proud to see everything that David has accomplished over 
these past 8 years, and I cannot wait to see all that he will 
accomplish in his next role.
  David, Colleen and I are so grateful for all of your hard work and 
leadership over the years. We wish you all the best of luck as you head 
into your next chapter of your career, but you will always--always--be 
part of Team Peters.