[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18945]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      IN RECOGNITION OF ERIN RATH

 Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to my longtime 
communications director and friend Erin Rath, who for the past 9 years 
has had the unenviable task of turning a sow's ear to a silk purse, of 
explaining what I ``really'' meant and consoling reporters whose call I 
missed.
  Erin comes from hearty New Hampshire political stock and was brought 
up in an environment where politics and community service was very much 
a part of her life. Her mother Chris is a leading educator in Concord, 
serving as superintendent of schools, and her father Tom is a bit of a 
legend in New Hampshire politics for offering sound advice to 
Presidential candidates who wander into the Granite State. But, anyone 
who knows Erin will tell you she has always cut her own path, willing 
to take any task and accomplishing it with a smile. Whether it was 
dealing with a not so media friendly member or an aggressive reporter, 
Erin has perfected the skills needed to pitch any story with style and 
grace. She understands how to craft a message and have it be 
understood, whether by a weekly paper in New Hampshire or the Wall 
Street Journal.
  On those rare days that I didn't want to do press, Erin was always 
the one coming to me and promoting an interview or conference call and, 
even when temporarily rebuffed, would find a way to cheerfully get her 
mission accomplished. And, when she was left to translate the day's 
events to a press corps that was disinterested or confused, Erin would 
find a way to make the story intelligible and get it in print or across 
the airwaves.
  Erin has also worn another very important hat in my office as the 
lead on appropriations issues. She excelled at organizing and managing 
my appropriations requests and making sure worthy New Hampshire 
projects were not overlooked. Erin has been responsible for helping to 
deliver hundreds of millions of dollars to better our State.
  Just as important to Kathy and I has been the friendship that went 
well beyond the office. Knowing Erin since she was rather young, 
allowed us the rare opportunity to watch a bubbly, redheaded, star 
athlete mature into a charming and professional woman and soon to be 
mother. Whether it was house-sitting or helping watch over our active 
family, Erin has long been a part of the Gregg family.
  Erin has decided to delay the dream many of us had for her of running 
for Congress in New Hampshire until after the birth of her first child 
and move to Minnesota with her husband Dan Moos as he begins his 
teaching career at the Gustavus Adolphus College. Erin, after being in 
the eye of the storm for the past 9 years, will enjoy living in a 
frozen, quiet land where community spirit is derived from singing the 
Golden Gophers fight song.
  Kathy joins me in wishing Erin continued great success and in 
thanking her for all that she has done for the Gregg family, our 
office, and New Hampshire.

                          ____________________