[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2128]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING CINDY DWYER ON HER RETIREMENT

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to call to attention of all 
Senators, the retirement of a dedicated public servant and an 
individual who has given much to the operation of four Senate offices. 
Cindy Dwyer, a member of my staff for the past 2\1/2\ years, will be 
ending her career as a staff person in the Senate. As the scheduler in 
my Washington, DC, Senate office, Cindy has been a model for other 
dedicated and talented staff members to emulate, and an invaluable 
asset to everyone who had the honor of working with her. It is with 
deep regret I announce she will be leaving my office and the Senate in 
February.
  Before coming to Washington, Cindy worked as a kindergarten teacher 
in Wakonda, SD. In 1975, she began her congressional career in the 
office of former South Dakota Senator James Abourezk. She worked as a 
staff assistant in Senator Abourezk's office, and also a part-time 
employee of the Senate's post office.
  After Senator Abourezk's retirement in 1978, Cindy joined the staff 
of then-Congressman Tom Daschle, in his first term as a Member of the 
House of Representatives serving South Dakota. It was during that time 
that Cindy began her long and distinguished career as a scheduler for 
Members of Congress.
  Cindy worked as a consultant for several years before rejoining 
Congressman Daschle's staff in 1985. She went on to become Senator 
Daschle's first Senate press secretary when he was elected to the 
Senate in 1987. She worked for our South Dakota colleague for another 
1\1/2\ years, before leaving to work for another of our colleagues, 
Senator J. Robert Kerrey of Nebraska. For 12 years, from 1988-2000, she 
worked for Senator Kerrey, first on his campaign, and later as a senior 
member of his staff and a very integral member of the Kerrey team. I 
have been told that little occurred in Bob Kerrey's office that Cindy 
wasn't involved with. As one of Senator Kerrey's closest and trusted 
advisers, she was responsible for helping to execute the very strong 
record of service that Senator Kerrey delivered for his Nebraska 
constituents.
  While I regretted Senator Kerrey's retirement from the Senate in 
2000, his departure turned out to be my good fortune, because it was at 
that point in time that I had the fortune of working with Cindy. I 
needed to hire an experienced scheduler, and Cindy Dwyer was that 
answer. To show Cindy's dedication to the Senate and the Senators with 
whom she has served, she undertook a herculean effort by working in 
both offices. For a period of time in 2000, she continued to work with 
Senator Kerrey, helping to wind down his final few months of Senate 
service, and began working in my office as my scheduler. Very few staff 
members could have undertaken the responsibilities that Cindy did, 
working well beyond a normal workweek, even by Senate standards, to 
provide service to two Senators.
  During her 2\1/2\ years of service, Cindy helped to organize the day 
to day activities of my office and my schedule. The efficiency and 
organization of my office is a direct result of her hard work and 
preparation. She is not only a valuable member of my staff, but a great 
friend. Her friendly demeanor and willingness to go above and beyond 
the call of duty have made her a popular figure in my office and 
throughout the Senate.
  Some have suggested that Cindy gets her political roots from her 
family. Her father, Gene Dwyer, still works as a staff assistant in 
Senator Daschle's Sioux Falls office. Her sister and brother-in-law, 
Peter and Barbara Stavrianos, have distinguished careers working for 
Senators McGovern, Abourezk, and Daschle.
  Cindy will be greatly missed, and Barbara and I wish her the very 
best on all her future endeavors. It is an honor for me to share 
Cindy's accomplishments with my colleagues and to publicly commend her 
outstanding service to my office and the people of South Dakota.

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