[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Page 27803]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                      TRIBUTE TO CARAN KOLBE McKEE

 Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a loyal 
friend and trusted advisor who left my staff in late August. Caran 
Kolbe McKee came to work for me 14 years ago. She served the people of 
Iowa in a number of capacities in my office. In every case, Caran 
demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities, steadfastness of purpose, 
and the kind of problem-solving ability that can make our Government 
work for the people in the best way possible.
  Caran came to the Senate in 1987, when she joined my staff as 
assistant press secretary. Two years later, she became my press 
secretary. During this time, she dealt with a range of important 
issues, including the Gulf War, Supreme Court nominations, whistle-
blower protections, a farm bill, civil rights legislation, a campaign 
to apply labor and employment laws to Congress, and the budget battle 
of 1990. She made certain that Iowans had access to accurate and timely 
information through the news media and fostered a better understanding 
of the way in which the issues addressed by Congress affect the lives 
of individuals and families.
  In 1994, Caran took on new challenges as a special assistant. She 
developed initiatives and reached out to the grassroots. Caran brought 
to her work a great appreciation for the people who make Iowa the 
extraordinary place that it is. She grew up on a farm in Western Iowa, 
graduated from Iowa State University, and maintains many close family 
ties in Iowa.
  Caran is the kind of person who is always looking ahead and making a 
plan to improve things for others no matter what their stage and place 
in life. Just last week, President Bush signed into law legislation re-
authorizing the Drug Free Communities Act, a bill I sponsored in the 
Senate. During his remarks, the President took time to recognize a 
coalition I launched in Iowa to address our state's growing drug 
problem. Called ``Face It Together''--or FIT--it is the first-ever 
community-based, statewide anti-drug coalition. The goal is to help 
Iowans work together to keep their neighborhoods, schools, workplaces 
and communities drug-free. I hope to see this productive effort 
continue in the years ahead. No individual deserves more credit for 
making FIT a reality and a success than Caran Kolbe McKee. Her vision 
for the project, gift for bringing people together and dedication to 
making the program happen were vitally important.
  In recent years, Caran also managed my correspondence with Iowans. In 
the Senate, I work hard to made the process of representative 
government work. I keep in close touch with Iowans by returning home 
when the Senate is not in session. And since 1981, I have conducted a 
meeting in each of Iowa's 99 counties at least one time every year. I 
am committed to an active dialogue with constituents, so at town 
meetings I always say representative government is a two-way street. 
While I have come to them for a meeting about the issues, they also 
have a responsibility to write to me expressing concerns and views and 
asking questions. Well, each and every one of these letters or e-mail 
messages deserves and receives as answer from me. Caran made sure that 
Iowans who wrote or called received a reply that was not just a piece 
of paper but a substantive, informative response. In this way, she 
helped representative government work for the people in a fundamental, 
meaningful way.
  Caran Kolbe McKee was a true public servant. She was a mentor to many 
of her fellow staff members. And she was an inspiration for the way she 
handled challenges--both professional and personal--with compassion, 
strength and courage. Now Caran has decided to spend more time with her 
family. She will be greatly missed, but I admire her decision and wish 
her the very best. Above all, I extend to her my deepest 
thanks.

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