[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 324-325]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO ZAK ANDERSEN

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I also rise--in fact, it is the primary 
reason I am here--to recognize and thank a remarkable individual, a 
member of my team who has served our State of Montana in the Senate for 
more than 9 years, Zak Andersen.
  Zak is leaving the post as my chief of staff to go to work for a 
government affairs firm that represents folks in Montana and the 
Northwest, The Gallatin Group.
  Zak is a huge fan of that American icon Bruce Springsteen, who once 
said: ``The door's open but the ride ain't free.'' The same could be 
said of Zak's last 9 years.
  A graduate of the University of Montana, Zak first started working 
for me during my 1996 reelection campaign as a door-to-door canvasser. 
As a sign of things to come, he was quickly bumped up to field 
coordinator.
  After the people of Montana, in 1996, decided to return us to 
represent them in the Senate, Zak came to work here in my Washington 
office, where he quickly moved from legislative correspondent, to 
assistant to the chief of staff, to legislative assistant, to 
legislative director, and finally chief of staff.
  Zak also played a pivotal role in my 2002 reelection campaign, where 
again the people of Montana decided to return us, at that time with 
more than 60 percent of the vote.
  Zak, of course, is a Montanan. He has an uncanny ability to read, 
follow, and know Montanans' real values--our hopes, our wishes, our 
fears, and our desires. And he uses that almost constantly to help our 
State.
  Zak worked his way from field staff to chief of staff in 9 years' 
time. He likes to joke that he ``went from garbage band to broadband'' 
in less than a decade. That he did. In the process, he racked up a list 
of achievements too long to do justice here, but I will name just a 
few. Recognizing the need for action on improving our State's economic 
well-being, Zak spearheaded my economic development efforts and helped 
me organize the first ever Montana economic development summit in 2000. 
That meeting drew more than 1,000 people to Great Falls. That might not 
sound like a lot of folks back here, but in Montana it is. After that, 
he helped organize two more economic summits, both of which were huge 
successes and helped the people in our State get more good high-paying 
jobs.
  Zak also helped me bring new businesses to Montana, companies like 
National Electric Warranty. He helped Montana businesses grow and 
expand, businesses like Zoot Enterprises and Summit Design. He should 
know that his efforts are not lost on the people who found good-paying 
jobs because of his work. Zak led the appropriations efforts in our 
office, during which time we got important Montana economic development 
projects funded, projects such as the Mariah II wind tunnel in Butte; 
the Fort Peck Interpretive Center, MonTec in Missoula and Tech Ranch in 
Bozeman.
  Recognizing that methamphetamines have become a scourge in our close-
knit Montana communities, Zak helped me wage a 2-year campaign--and boy 
it was tough; we worked very hard to get that done--to help me get five 
of our counties with the worst meth problems included in what is called 
the high density drug trafficking area, otherwise known as HIDTA. That 
is one of our great accomplishments, something of which I am proud, to 
help fight the scourge of methamphetamines. That has helped law 
enforcement officials in our State crack down on meth.
  Zak also helped me work in this Chamber to pass big ticket 
legislative items such as tax cuts, Medicare improvements, and new 
Healthy Forest legislation. These are just a few of Zak's outright 
achievements. But it is the intangible abilities that I will remember 
most in Zak. I dare say most in our office will remember those best, 
too.
  In particular is his amazing ability to quickly analyze an issue and 
break it down into pros and cons, both from the standpoint of policy 
and of politics. There are a lot of quick minds on Capitol Hill but 
Zak, to me, stands out as one of the very best, one of the brightest. 
Undoubtedly, that quickness of mind contributes to his sense of humor: 
a bit dark, extremely dry, ever present. Zak's sense of humor is rare. 
It is remarkable. He has used it to build bridges with the Montana 
delegation, to keep my office train on the tracks during some of the 
more bumpy times, and to mentor younger staffers as they learn the ways 
of working in this remarkable place.
  We will also remember him for his elaborate practical jokes that 
often involve the whole office. But beyond that, we will remember Zak 
for his uncanny ability to get things done and his relentless 
commitment to Montana. His no-nonsense style, his can-do attitude 
helped me and others accomplish great things for our State and most 
especially for our people.
  A humble guy from Helena, Zak embodies Montana--a very bright, 
talented, committed guy, hard working, genuine, and astute, and ever 
mindful of the fact that he is very lucky to be from and advocate for 
the greatest State in the Union. He is extremely loyal.
  Zak loves his microbrews, Mr. Bruce Springsteen, a gin-clear trout 
stream, the Oakland Raiders, record stores, and University of Montana 
football. Most of all, he loves his native State of Montana.
  Fittingly, one of his favorite authors is Cormac McCarthy. Many of 
the McCarthy books are about the American West and therefore not for 
the faint of heart. But they are also very real, sparsely punctuated, 
light on frills, heavy on matters of depth and critical thought--in 
other words, a lot like Zak.
  As the pages of his life open to endless opportunity, we will all 
remember Zak: His remarkable abilities, his devotion to the State he 
loves; and his commitment to excellence in all that he does.
  We will miss you, Zak. We will miss you in our office, but we are 
going to find you very quickly. You are still part of our team. And I 
thank you, Zak, so very much. Montana thanks you and a grateful nation 
thanks you for your service.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cornyn). The Senator from Alabama.
  (The remarks of Mr. Sessions and Mr. Warner and Mr. Allen pertaining 
to the introduction of S. 77 are located in today's Record under 
``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Hawaii is recognized.
  Mr. AKAKA. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. Akaka pertaining to the introduction of S. 13 are 
printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and 
Joint Resolutions.'')
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.

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