[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 21577]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     GRATITUDE TO SENATE EMPLOYEES

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, we in the Senate take a number of things for 
granted that we should not. There have been a number of speeches and 
remarks made on the floor and other public venues regarding how we 
depend on our Capitol Police. They do such a remarkably good job. Since 
September 11 they have worked endless hours, night and day, literally, 
7 days a week, making not only Members feel secure, but the thousands 
of people who visit this Capitol complex and the thousands of employees 
we have. We have 26,000 employees working in the 3 Senate office 
buildings and 3 House office buildings. Again, I underscore and 
emphasize how indebted we are to the Capitol Police.
  Within the Senate we have a lot of people who render invaluable 
service to the Senate. One of the most important features of the Senate 
is that we are always in line on parliamentary issues. The Chair rules, 
but at the present time we have just two Parliamentarians who are 
experts on the rules of the Senate. They do a remarkably good job. They 
are bipartisan in nature. Their rulings are grounded in precedent and 
have no regard for party affiliation. We never hear the 
Parliamentarians say a word yet their duties are essential to the 
operation of the U.S. Senate. The Chair rules, and always rules 
correctly. The reason for that is they have the backup of these two 
fine Parliamentarians, Alan Frumin and Elizabeth MacDonough. I am 
speaking for the entire Senate when I say what an outstanding job they 
do day in and day out. Perhaps we take these two people, this fine 
young woman Elizabeth MacDonough and this fine man, Alan Frumin, for 
granted. We should not do that. They do outstanding work. If the Senate 
is in session, Elizabeth and Alan are on duty. These past couple of 
months have been trying times for many. These two outstanding 
individuals have risen to the occasion. Their tireless service to the 
Senate deserves our recognition and expressions of appreciation. Their 
job is not easy and often involves making the toughest of the calls. 
They are fair, balanced and wise and their invaluable contribution to 
the U.S. Senate merits our praise.

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