[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9406]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO LAWRENCE WILLCOX

  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I rise today to offer a tribute to Lawrence 
Willcox, who has served me admirably for the past 3\1/2\ years as staff 
director of the Senate Republican Policy Committee and, before that, as 
legislative director and tax counsel in my personal office. Lawrence 
has made the decision to return to the private sector and pursue a 
career in tax law.
  Lawrence joined my personal staff in 2001, where he served me ably, 
especially in the tax policy arena. When I was elected chairman of the 
Policy Committee at the end of 2002, I asked Lawrence to become the 
staff director. Lawrence has come to be a trusted adviser, and I have 
appreciated his good work. He promptly and dutifully carried out every 
task that I charged him with, and he led the staff members of the 
Republican Policy Committee to achieve a level of excellence that I 
believe has been of value to Senators and their staff.
  During Lawrence's time as staff director, we have produced more than 
200 policy papers, and dozens of legislative notices. In each case, our 
goal was a first-rate product--one that would be thorough, accurate, 
and reliable--that would serve Senators, their staffers, the press, and 
the public. I commend him for all of his work and his successes in that 
regard.
  Additionally, Lawrence has served as my agent and adviser on Senate 
leadership matters. He has attended leadership meetings with me and 
given me sound counsel. He has also managed and attended the Policy 
Committee's weekly luncheons.
  I should mention that it was Lawrence who instituted the Policy 
Committee's practice of issuing detailed amendment descriptions in 
anticipation of every rollcall vote. The reception from this new 
service has been very positive: It has made the jobs of legislative 
directors and legislative aides vastly easier in preparing Senators for 
votes. That is just one example of innovations Lawrence has overseen.
  I think it would be fair to suggest that many of my colleagues here 
today and others in the Senate reading these words in future days would 
want to join me in thanking him for a job well done. We would not be 
able to do the work we do were it not for staff members of the caliber 
of Lawrence Willcox.
  Before I close, I note that Lawrence has been in public service for 
nearly all his working life. In addition to his more than 8 years of 
experience on Capitol Hill, including 3 years as a staffer in the House 
of Representatives, he served 5 years active duty as a naval officer, 
and he has also worked in both the judicial and executive branches, 
serving in various capacities, including as a law clerk on the U.S. 
Court of Federal Claims and as a trial attorney in the Department of 
Justice's Tax Division. Lawrence holds a bachelor's degree from the 
University of Michigan, a law degree from American University, and a 
master's degree in tax law, LL.M., from New York University.
  Lawrence is a person who is always growing from his experiences, 
putting his newfound knowledge to work in newer and better ways. So, 
while I wish him well, I am also confident that he will do well, and I 
hope to retain his friendship in the years ahead. Thank you, Lawrence.

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