[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 17035-17036]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF JOE TRUJILLO

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I honor a long-time member of my staff, 
Joe Trujillo. I usually call him Joseph, but my staff and most of those 
from my home State of New Mexico refer to him as ``Joe T.'' I do not 
want misunderstanding--he is not retiring, because his work is not 
done. However, Joseph Trujillo has served as a member of my staff, in 
one capacity or another, for 25 years.
  His always positive outlook is remarkable, and his smile is 
contagious. His jovial attitude and eagerness to deal with challenges 
is admirable. His keen understanding of people is tied to his own rich 
personality, and it is Joe's rich personality that I, and those from my 
home State, have come to know and love the most.
  Joe is a New Mexico native. He grew up in Los Alamos, and graduated 
from Los Alamos High School in 1964. He was the first New Mexico 
Hispanic to be awarded the Phi Beta Kappa key at the University of New 
Mexico.
  After graduating from UNM in 1968, he worked on a collaborative 
project to help Albuquerque's inner city poor. We first met in 1969, 
while I was chairman of the Albuquerque City Commission. Joe later 
became a City of Albuquerque employee. In 1976, he began working for 
Albuquerque mayor, Harry McKinney, as the city's federal grants 
coordinator. Mayor McKinney dispatched him to work out of my office 
here in Washington, and after awhile I convinced him to become a member 
of my staff.
  Right after coming to work for me in 1979, he became the member of my 
staff

[[Page 17036]]

who dealt with Indian affairs. But he did much more. Over the past 25 
years he has been given more responsibilities than I can count. From 
appropriations and budget, to banking, Indian affairs and economic 
development, and everything in between, Joseph has done it all. His 
wealth of experience is beyond compare. For all who know Joe, it has 
always been clear that his passion is working to help those who are 
less fortunate.
  Joe has done more for Indians than most Senators. Through the years, 
Joe has been instrumental in bringing tribal leaders to the table to 
discuss their dilemmas. He arranged several economic summits in the 
State to help Indians develop their infrastructure and local economies. 
His hard work and dedication wrought a successful economic development 
strategy, along with an education and healthcare plan to help Indians 
in New Mexico and across the Nation.
  In 2001, after 22 years in my Washington office, he returned to New 
Mexico to serve as a member of my State staff where he continues his 
fine work at the local level on Indian issues and rural development 
initiatives.
  Joe Trujillo is loyal, and one on whom I trust and depend. He has 
been a member of my staff since June 19, 1979. In that time, we have 
accomplished much, and I am extremely proud of those accomplishments. 
Most importantly, he is my good friend. Joseph, for all you have done 
for me, and for all you have done for the people of New Mexico; you 
have my utmost respect and deepest gratitude. Thank you, and keep up 
the good work, amigo.

                          ____________________