[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17576]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         TRIBUTE TO BOB TOBIAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 21, 1999

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to rise in tribute to 
Bob Tobias, who is retiring after 31 years with the National Treasury 
Employees Union--including sixteen years as its president. He has been 
a tireless and effective advocate for the workers he represents, and he 
is a well-regarded spokesperson for the interests of all federal 
employees.
  I got to know Bob in 1996 when we were both appointed to the National 
Commission on Restructuring the IRS, which I co-chaired with Senator 
Bob Kerrey. He was an active and productive member of the Restructuring 
Commission, and helped to develop a number of the Commission's 
recommendations that were later signed into law as part of the IRS 
Restructuring and Reform Act.
  I admire Bob for speaking up on IRS reform at a time when I suspect 
many of his members were uneasy about the long-term ramifications of 
the restructuring effort. He deserves a great deal of credit for 
helping to shape a bill that will not only benefit American taxpayers, 
but will also create a greatly improved work environment for IRS 
employees.
  I understand that Bob plans to teach and write on public policy 
issues after leaving the NTEU. But he will also be continuing to work 
on IRS reform--I understand that he will be nominated by the President 
to serve on the IRS Oversight Board.
  Bob played an important role in creating the framework for a new IRS 
for the 21st Century. I look forward to continuing to work with him in 
his role on the IRS Oversight Board, and I wish him the best of luck in 
all his future endeavors.

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