[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15953]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING WEBSTER P. PHILLIPS

 Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, today, Senator Grassley and I 
recognize Webster Phillips, a distinguished executive at the Social 
Security Administration. Web is Associate Commissioner for Legislative 
Development. He is a dedicated public servant who has served his 
country for more than 30 years.
  A native of Illinois, Web served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He 
began his career at Social Security in the local office in Alton, IL, 
as a claims representative. In 1980, he became an operations supervisor 
in the Rock Island, IL, Social Security office. In 1983, Web was 
selected as a management intern and completed a series of developmental 
assignments in the Chicago regional office and in SSA headquarters in 
Baltimore. In 1987, Web joined the staff of the Office of Legislation 
and Congressional Affairs, and has worked in a variety of assignments 
since that time.
  Senator Grassley and I met Web in 1991, when he was assigned to the 
Senate Committee on Finance while participating in the LEGIS-Fellows 
program. In 1993, Web returned to the Finance Committee where he 
participated in the development of the legislation enacted by the 
Congress in 1994 that established SSA as an independent agency. Since 
1995, Web has been assigned to SSA's Legislative Affairs Office in 
Washington. He was selected to serve in his current position as 
Associate Commissioner of Legislative Development in February 1999.
  The staff of the Finance Committee has had the pleasure of working 
with Web on many issues relating to Social Security during his tenure 
at SSA. He has always been resourceful, insightful, and forthcoming.
  Web will retire from the Social Security Administration on July 3, 
2007. He will be sorely missed by his colleagues and his many friends 
on the Hill. He will leave behind the numerous individuals he has 
mentored and encouraged over the years and who will now carry on this 
work.
  Both Senator Grassley and I feel that it is important that we in 
Congress recognize the many women and men who devote their working 
lives to improving the lives of others. Career civil servants often do 
their work in quiet anonymity behind the scenes providing vital service 
to the American people. They are rarely recognized for their many 
contributions. Webster Phillips is one of those people. His record of 
leadership at the Social Security Administration and his commitment to 
providing the American people with effective and compassionate service 
is a record of which he can be justly proud.
  Senator Grassley and I wish Web all the best in his retirement from 
Federal service and thank him for his many years of dedicated 
service.

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