[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14942-14943]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     THE RETIREMENT OF RON KAVULICK

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 131 submitted 
earlier by Senators Lott and Daschle.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 131) relating to the retirement of 
     Ron Kavulick.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today, Ron Kavulick, who has faithfully 
served the United States Senate for 20 years, will officially retire 
from the Senate family.
  It took Ron Kavulick a while to get to the Senate. He worked first as 
an official court reporter for the office of The Judge Advocate 
General, United States Air Force, and later, as an official reporter in 
the White House--serving Presidents Nixon and Johnson. When he finally 
got to us, as an Official Reporter of Senate Debates, he advanced 
quickly, ultimately serving as Chief Reporter.
  As Chief Reporter, Ron oversaw the preparation and editing of the 
proceedings of the Senate for publication in the Congressional Record. 
His greatest challenge, perhaps, was the impeachment trial of the 
President, where Ron's institutional memory and experience were called 
upon throughout the lengthy proceedings. It's all too easy for us to 
assume that capable and dedicated Senate employees, like Ron, will 
always be here providing abiding support and quiet efficiency.
  Thomas Carlyle argued that history is the sum of the work of 
outstanding individuals. If so, then Ron Kavulick has contributed much 
to our Senate history. His support to me and my staff will always be 
remembered. I commend Ron for his dedicated service, and wish him and 
his wife, Pat, many years of health and happiness in retirement.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, today we honor 20 years of service to the 
Senate by its Chief Reporter, Ron Kavulick. For 16 years, beginning in 
1979, Ron worked on the Senate floor as a reporter of debates, where he 
distinguished himself as a friend to everyone

[[Page 14943]]

and as one who labored mightily to accurately report Senators' 
statements for publication in the Congressional Record. He was a 
stickler for detail and bent over backwards to make sure every aspect 
of his work was correct, as he strove to preserve Senate history to its 
fullest.
  As a result of his tenacity and dedication, Ron was promoted to Chief 
Reporter in 1995. In that position, Ron was invaluable to the Senate in 
his dedication to the accuracy of the Congessional Record. He gave of 
himself unselfishly to be a fair and considerate supervisor.
  Ron now retires to be with his wife, Pat, and their two married 
children, Jeff and Susan, and granddaughter Allison.
  The Senate today says thank you to Ron and his family for his 
exemplary service to the Senate and its family. He truly is our friend.
  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I rise today to thank and applaud Ron 
Kavulick, the Chief Reporter of Debates, for the tremendous work that 
he did for the U.S. Senate. Being in charge of the Congressional Record 
is a very demanding and important responsibility. For it is the 
historical document of the Senate--the bills we introduce, the 
statements that we make, and all of our debates are printed in the 
Record. I am often amazed how the Record is compiled and printed in 
such a short amount of time.
  Ron was to have ended his Senate career at the close of the 105th 
Congress, but remained in his position as the Senate conducted the 
impeachment trial of the President. His experience was greatly 
appreciated throughout this historical proceeding.
  Ron's reporting background is both extensive and impressive. He 
became an Official Reporter of the Record of Senate Debates in 1979 and 
served in that capacity until he was elevated to the position of Chief 
Reporter in 1995. Before that, he was an official court reporter in the 
Air Force's Judge Advocate General Corp, and while employed with 
Alderson Reporting Company, Ron had the opportunity to work at the 
White House. He traveled extensively both with President Johnson and 
President Nixon.
  My staff and I personally cannot thank Ron enough for his service. He 
was always available, day or night, for any help that my staff or I 
needed. I once wrote that the single most exciting thing you encounter 
in government is competence, because it's so rare. In that case, Ron 
Kavulick is a rarity in government, and we are blessed to have had him 
in the Senate.
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be 
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, and, finally, that any statements relating to the 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 131) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 131

       Whereas, Ron Kavulick will retire on June 30, 1999, from 
     service to the United States Senate after twenty years as a 
     member of the staff of the Official Reporters of Debates;
       Whereas, he has served the United States Senate with honor 
     and distinction since joining the staff of the Official 
     Reporters of Debates on October 22, 1979;
       Whereas, his self-determination and hard work as an 
     official reporter resulted in his appointment to the position 
     of Chief Reporter on May 22, 1995;
       Whereas, Ron Kavulick, as Chief Reporter of the 
     Congressional Record, has at all times executed the important 
     duties and responsibilities of his office with dedication and 
     excellence; and
       Whereas, Ron Kavulick has demonstrated exemplary service to 
     the United States Senate as an institution and leaves a 
     legacy of superior and professional service: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the United States Senate expresses its deep 
     appreciation and gratitude to Ron Kavulick for his years of 
     faithful service to his country and to the United States 
     Senate.
       Sec. 2. That the Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a 
     copy of this resolution to Ron and Pat Kavulick.

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