[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18125]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                      TRIBUTE TO ELMER BOYD STAATS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 28, 2001

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to congratulate and 
pay tribute to Elmer Boyd Staats, President, Trustee, and Chairman of 
the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation. Mr. Staats will soon end a 
distinguished career in public service. His dedication spans more than 
six decades and includes appointments under every U.S. President from 
Franklin Roosevelt to George W. Bush.
  Mr. Staats began his career in public service in 1936, spending a 
summer as a research assistant for the Kansas Legislative Council. 
During 1937 and 1938, he was a member of the staff of the Public 
Administration Service of Chicago. In 1938, Elmer came to Washington, 
D.C. to be a fellow at the Brookings Institute. A year later he joined 
the staff of the Bureau of the Budget, thus beginning a remarkable 
Federal service career.
  As a member of the Bureau's Division of Administrative Management and 
later of the War Agencies Section, Elmer worked with Presidents 
Roosevelt and Truman in converting the U.S. economy to war time 
production and back to peace time again. Later, he became Assistant 
Bureau Director for Legislative Reference, working with Truman White 
House staff to help coordinate the President's legislative programs. 
Mr. Staats then became the Bureau's Executive Assistant Director then 
Deputy Director, a position he held until 1953.
  Later, Elmer was appointed Executive Director of the Operations 
Coordinating Board of the National Security Council. He then returned 
to the Bureau of the Budget, serving as Assistant Director then Deputy 
Director under Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson.
  In 1966, President Johnson appointed Elmer Comptroller General of the 
United States. He served a full 15-year term and implemented 
significant changes in the General Accounting Office. Elmer focused on 
expanding GAO's work and issue areas to serve Congress more 
effectively. When Elmer Staats took charge of GAO, less then ten 
percent of the its professional staff's effort toward providing direct 
assistance to Congress. When he left, GAO was devoting nearly 40 
percent of its effort to helping Congress.
  During his tenure at GAO, Elmer helped user in many improvements. He 
helped to implement ``Government Auditing Standards,'' providing 
standardized methods for governments at all levels to determine the 
effectiveness of programs. Upon his retirement in 1981 Elmer Staats was 
called, ``a pragmatic of good government.''
  Elmer's public service did not end with his retirement from 
Comptroller General, as he soon became President and then Trustee and 
Chairman of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation. This Federal 
agency administers the scholarship program established as the sole 
Federal memorial to President Truman. Each year the Truman Foundation 
awards 80 scholarships to outstanding students who wish to undertake a 
career in public service. This December Elmer Staats will complete his 
third consecutive six year term as a Foundation Trustee and as its 
Chairman. Having had the privilege to serve with him as Vice Chairman 
of the Trustees, I can personally attest to the ways in which this 
important program has flourished under his leadership.
  Elmer has served on numerous commissions, committees, boards, and 
councils, making each better because of his involvement. He has also 
been the recipient of many awards, including the Rockefeller Public 
Service Award and the Presidential Citizens Medal. Elmer received 
degrees from McPherson College, the University of Kansas and the 
University of Minnesota and honorary doctorate degrees from eight 
different schools.
  Mr. Speaker, Elmer Staats has been a truly great American, serving 
the United States for 65 years. I know the Members of the House will 
join me in thanking him and wishing him all the best in the days ahead.

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