[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 13595-13596]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO RUSS THOMASSON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Now, Mr. President, on one final matter, I know my 
friend from Texas will have some words to say about the man who has 
been helping him run the whip operation so effectively the last few 
years, and I know Senator Cornyn won't mind if I share a few thoughts 
first.
  Russ Thomasson is preparing to bid farewell to the Senate after many 
years in the trenches. He is one of the most approachable and good-
humored staffers around here. He is also incredibly effective.
  This former intelligence officer always has his ear to the ground. 
When he takes the pulse of the Senate, it is with uncommon precision.
  Russ loves a good nail-biter too. And in a more open, more 
freewheeling, and, by definition, more unpredictable

[[Page 13596]]

Senate, you are inevitably going to have a few of those as well. What 
is important is that with Russ's help, we almost always seem to push 
through. Russ has all of the qualities you would look for in a highly 
successful member of our leadership team--always willing to take on the 
difficult but necessary tasks, unafraid to offer his candid advice, 
working each vote until the gavel falls, and defined by loyalty and 
integrity. This is someone whose judgment I value greatly.
  I am glad Russ's son Austin got to see him in action. He has had a 
front-row seat as a page here in the Senate. We hope Austin will be 
seeing more of his dad soon, the same with his sister Sasha and Russ's 
wife Cindy.
  Thank you, Russ, for your service to the Senate. You have been an 
invaluable member of our team, and you will be truly missed.

                          ____________________