[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17234-17235]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ROBERT E. STURM

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, at the end of this week Robert E. Sturm 
will retire following a long and distinguished career of exemplary 
service to the U.S. Senate, most recently as chief clerk of the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. We could not have had 
a more capable, conscientious and dedicated chief clerk for these many 
years. More important, though, we will miss Bob's friendly helpfulness 
to each member of our committee, to all of the staff who work on and 
with our committee and to the many members of the public who follow the 
work of our committee.
  Bob Sturm began his service to the Senate 33 years ago in 1974, 
shortly after graduating from college, as a mail room clerk for Senator 
Birch Bayh of Bob's home State of Indiana. He served as mailroom clerk 
and mailroom manager for Senators Dick Clark of Iowa, Donald Stewart of 
Alabama, and Russell B. Long of Louisiana. For 2 years he was an office 
systems consultant for the Senate Computer Center where he assisted 18 
Senate offices and helped lay the groundwork for today's Senate-wide 
computer network.
  Bob served as Senator Patrick Leahy's office manager before he became 
the financial clerk and systems administrator for the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry in 1987, when Senator Leahy became 
chairman. Bob was promoted to chief clerk for the committee under 
Chairman Dick Lugar in 1995 and has held the position under several 
succeeding chairmen. Of course, I was pleased have Bob continue as 
chief clerk when I became chairman in 2001. He then continued in that 
position when Senator Cochran and Senator Chambliss chaired the 
committee and when I once again became chairman earlier this year. It 
is a tremendous testament to Bob's abilities, professionalism and 
dedication that he has served as chief clerk for such a number of 
chairmen of both parties.
  For all of these years, we could always count on Bob to take care of 
all types and any number of details to make sure our committee 
functioned smoothly. He took responsibility for

[[Page 17235]]

everything from stocking supplies, to covering the front office, to 
troubleshooting the computer system, to handling the whole range of 
committee finances, rules and legislative documents and reports. Bob 
starts the day early and on many occasions, without hesitation, has 
stayed late into the night, or even overnight, to do what needed to be 
done. Thanks to this high level of dedication, we could always be sure 
that the paperwork and other details were in order for hearings and 
committee meetings. Also, of special note, Bob very successfully 
oversaw the recent renovation of our beautiful committee hearing room 
in the Russell Building.
  Former Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine once said, ``Public 
service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must 
be a complete dedication to the people and to the Nation.'' Those words 
perfectly capture the extraordinary dedication of Bob Sturm.
  We all congratulate Bob on the milestone of his retirement from the 
Senate. I also thank him for all of his great work and express my 
gratitude for his friendship and invaluable help to all of us over the 
years. I am but one of many who wish Bob all the best, with many years 
of health and happiness, as he begins this new phase in life.

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