[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19608]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING CLAY SELL

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise to honor a remarkable and 
talented young man who will be sorely missed as he moves to the 
administration to become the special assistant on energy to the 
President of the United States. Clay Sell has been working for me as 
chief clerk for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and 
Water Development for the past 4 years and while I am extremely proud 
of his accomplishments, I am sad to see him go.
  When Clay first came to the Senate, he impressed us all with his 
quick uptake of his new position and we were pleasantly surprised with 
his negotiation skills. It has been said of Clay that even when he 
negotiated a victory for his position, all parties involved left the 
negotiation table happy. His keen understanding of people and his 
genuine attitude are just a few of the great personality traits that 
Clay possesses.
  Clay's hard work and dedication began at an early age. Growing up in 
greater West Texas, he learned the value of hard work and perseverance. 
The Sell family settled in Petersburg, TX in the early 1900's, a small 
farming community that has changed very little over the past century. 
Clay's father George grew up to become the first person in the family 
to receive a college degree. The hard work that drove George to succeed 
was prevalent in his son Clay.
  Clay graduated from Tascosa High in Amarillo, TX where after he went 
on to receive his undergraduate degree in finance from Texas Tech 
University at Lubbock. Immediately following his graduation from 
college, Clay moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas Law 
School where he met and married his lovely wife Alisa.
  After a short stint in Amarillo, Clay and Alisa moved to Washington, 
DC, where Clay began his political career working as a legislative 
assistant for a newly elected Representative from Texas, Mac 
Thornberry. While working in the House of Representatives, Clay spent a 
great deal of time working with energy policy. He worked in all aspects 
of energy legislation and played a key role in formulating and drafting 
the legislation which set up the National Nuclear Security Agency, 
NNSA. This experience made Clay a prime candidate for the position he 
would eventually assume upon his move to the Senate. Clay's work in the 
House of Representatives prepared him a great deal for his new job, but 
his new position required a greater understanding of national energy 
policy.
  Over the past 4 years, I have gotten to know Clay and his wonderful 
family very well. Alisa and their two sons, Jack and Robert, have been 
Clay's stabilizing force. With another child on the way, that force 
will no doubt grow even stronger.
  It has been my privilege to know and work with Mr. Clay Sell, but my 
words today are bittersweet. I do not feel that words alone can 
properly show my admiration for all that Clay has done for me, but I am 
confident that he understands how greatly he will be missed.

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