[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 13485]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO BRYSON BACHMAN

  Mr. LEE. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to Bryson Bachman, who 
has served as a critical member of my staff for nearly 3 years, and as 
my chief counsel for the past year.
  Bryson Bachman is an extraordinary judicial talent. His legal 
pedigree began at Harvard Law School and continued in his clerkship 
with the Honorable Thomas B. Griffith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for 
the DC Circuit and later as an associate at Sidley Austin. Bryson's 
talent and contribution do not come solely from his impressive 
background and experience but from his personal commitment to making a 
difference and adding value in everything he does.
  I have valued and benefited greatly from his deep understanding of 
the law and his ability to approach each issue in a thoughtful, 
respectful and insightful way. Above all I have come to admire and 
trust him as a person of unmatched integrity. As a member of the 
judiciary committee Bryson's assistance and guidance have been 
invaluable. When he briefs an issue I know he has done the often unseen 
and unrecognized work of truly understanding the issue from all angles. 
His willingness to do the heavy mental lifting on a wide range of 
issues always provided me great confidence going into important 
judiciary hearings or voting on difficult legislation.
  The test of a great leader and a great lawyer is not found simply by 
what they do in a given role, but more importantly, how they do it. 
Some walk into a room and people recognize them as the smartest person 
in the room. True leaders, such as Bryson Bachman, walk into that same 
room, as the smartest person in the room, but leave everyone in the 
room feeling smarter and better as a result of how the dialogue and 
discussion were fostered. Creating space for every member of the team 
to participate in and contribute to a discussion, while still driving 
the most salient points to consider and evaluating an array of 
scenarios, is the hallmark of Bryson's time as a member of my staff.
  Bryson will be sorely missed in our office but we wish him, his wife 
Destiny and son Hamilton continued success in their next season of life 
and work. This Congressional Record is but a small note in history of 
Bryson Bachman's impact on the important work done in the Senate. 
However, his more important work and longer lasting impact is found in 
the imprint he has made on the hearts and minds of those with whom he 
has worked. I count myself as one of those deeply influenced by Bryson. 
I admire him for his talent, I acknowledge him for his loyal service 
and thank him for his friendship.

                          ____________________