[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5641]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO MIKE CHAHINIAN

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the good works 
of a member of my staff who is leaving. Michael Chahinian has served 
with the Alabama congressional delegation for over 7 years. The first 5 
were with Congressman Aderholt, and the past 2 have been on my staff.
  Michael graduated from Cornell University several years ago with a 
degree in government and East Asian studies. While at Cornell he 
learned how to speak Mandarin Chinese. While on my staff, he learned to 
speak Southern English. During his time on Capitol Hill he enrolled in 
the Naval War College's master's degree program. Michael graduated last 
year a with master's in national security and strategic studies with 
highest distinction. His master's program helped revive a childhood 
dream to become a naval officer. After making application to enter 
Officer Candidate School, Michael learned late last year he was 
accepted and will report for duty in a few weeks.
  Michael has worked hard on banking, finance, small business and 
commerce issues while a member of my staff. Most recently he was 
instrumental in working on the details and negotiations over our 
Sessions-McCaskill amendment, which would have imposed multiyear 
spending caps on the Federal budget. The amendment was carefully 
crafted to get maximum bipartisan support, and with 59 votes, it 
received more support than any serious budget reform in the past 
decade.
  Michael has also been instrumental on my behalf in supporting 
domestic manufacturing through his active role working on trade policy 
in my office. While on my staff, he has helped the domestic sleeping 
bag industry deal with unfair competition from a loophole in one of our 
trade laws, known as GSP. On Congressman Aderholt's staff, he became 
known for his good work on behalf of the local sock industry, dominant 
in the northeastern part of our State.
  In each of these situations, Michael demonstrated hard work and a 
dogged tenacity. Though we hate to lose him, I am confident our loss 
will be the Navy's gain. I wish him Godspeed.

                          ____________________