[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 21108-21109]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO FEDERAL WORKERS


                              John Merlino

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I was heartened to hear the comments the 
majority leader made, that we are close to an agreement to make sure we 
do not put the American people or the great Federal workers through 
another one of these eleventh-hour fire drills, where we get to the 
brink of the precipice of shutting down our Federal Government.
  It is in that spirit that I rise because, as many know, over the last 
year and a half or so I have come regularly to the floor of the Senate 
to continue a tradition that was started by Senator Kaufman from 
Delaware, where we recognize the contributions of great Federal 
employees.
  Today, I am pleased to honor another exceptional--exceptional--
Federal worker, Mr. John Merlino.
  Mr. Merlino is the Senate assistant legislative clerk, working on the 
legislative team of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate.
  Mr. Merlino began his Senate career in 1994 as a Senate doorkeeper. 
He then joined the Secretary's legislative staff and has performed many 
of its functions, including the constitutional task--the constitutional 
task--of maintaining the Senate Journal.
  Another of Mr. Merlino's main responsibilities is to call the roll 
during votes and quorum calls. More important, he is also one of those 
special workers on the dais who have been known at times to actually 
keep new Members, as they preside over the Senate, awake during long 
stretches in the chair.
  He is always ready with a good sports quip and is known as a person 
who goes above and beyond the call of duty. As a matter of fact, I know 
it was his birthday yesterday and I have been planning this speech for 
some time and I wanted to make sure it coincided with that important 
date for him.
  The Secretary of the Senate, Nancy Erickson, noted that in addition 
to his hard work and attention to detail--this is a quote--``It is his 
great sense of humor that helps many of us keep smiling, especially 
during the Senate's late [night] legislative sessions.''
  A small cog in the greater legislative process, Mr. Merlino is a 
member of an often unrecognized but dedicated team that keeps the 
Senate running smoothly and one that is charged with ensuring 
continuity of operations no matter what the situation.

[[Page 21109]]

  In fact, Mr. Merlino recently entered the history books. During a pro 
forma session held at the Postal Square Building immediately following 
the earthquake in August, Mr. Merlino, unknowingly, became one of only 
two people, along with Senator Coons, to have spoken during the only 
official session of the Senate convened outside the Capitol Building 
since 1814. The last time the Senate met outside the Capitol Building 
for such a session was when the British troops burned the Capitol 
during the War of 1812. So again, Mr. Merlino took his role in the 
history books of this great institution.
  I hope my colleagues--and I know the Presiding Officer, again, by 
expelling me from the chair this morning to allow me to make this 
statement--will join me in honoring Mr. Merlino, a fellow Virginian, 
for the excellent work he and the legislative team do each and every 
day and for their commitment to public service.
  It is in that sense of Mr. Merlino's commitment to public service 
that I know the Presiding Officer joins me in this and that we get our 
work done today, so we can give this team--and the literally couple 
other million Federal workers across the country--the sense that we are 
not going to shut down the government, that they are going to be able 
to go into the holiday season with the recognition that the government 
will continue operating, but, more important, that so many of us 
recognize the great work they do to keep this country moving forward.
  With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor and again thank my good 
friend, Mr. Merlino, for his good work.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk (Mr. Merlino) proceeded to call the 
roll.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader.
  Mr. REID. Could I ask my friend to yield for a colloquy between the 
Republican leader and myself?
  Mr. GRASSLEY. I will yield and ask unanimous consent that I reclaim 
the floor when the leader is done.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The majority leader.

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