[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12875]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO ANNETTE MARIE GILLIS

  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, as chairman of the Select Committee on 
Ethics, on behalf of the members of the committee and its staff, it is 
my privilege to give public notice and honorable mention to the 
outstanding service that Annette Marie Gillis, deputy staff director, 
has provided to the committee and the Senate for the past 36 years.
  Annette, the middle child of Henry Lee and Geneva G. Gillis's seven 
children, was born and raised in Alexandria, VA. She began her Federal 
service in 1979, right after high school, with the U.S. House of 
Representatives, working first for Congressman Herbert E. Harris and 
then for Congressman Carl D. Purcell.
  In September 1980, Annette came to the Senate Select Committee on 
Ethics as a staff assistant. While working for the committee, she 
earned an associate of science degree in management from Northern 
Virginia Community College and then a bachelor of arts in Psychology, 
magna cum laude, from Marymount University. Because of her intellect, 
hard work, and professionalism, she advanced to become systems 
administrator, then chief clerk, and finally, in 2005, deputy staff 
director. Her contributions to the critical work of the committee have 
been invaluable. Over the years, serving under 14 different chairmen, 
including myself and Senator Boxer, Annette has been the constant in 
the committee's work, expertly managing the operations of the committee 
and its staff.
  I now would like to yield to the Senator from California, whom I have 
had the honor of serving with on the Select Committee on Ethics, so 
that she can say a few words about Annette.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, Annette's contributions go far beyond the 
committee itself. Through her work on the committee's education and 
training programs, reporting requirements, and compliance functions, 
Annette has reached the entire Senate community and, indeed, the 
Nation. Her contributions, drawn from a reserve of institutional 
knowledge and experience, have been immeasurable.
  The committee commends Annette's unwavering commitment to its work 
and is honored to have been the beneficiary of her loyal service. 
Despite the impact of her retirement, we, the committee members and 
staff, are pleased to see Annette receive the recognition she deserves 
for her decades of faithful service to the U.S. Senate and the American 
people.
  We ask our colleagues to join us in thanking Annette for her 
invaluable service to the Select Committee on Ethics, the Senate 
community, and our Nation.
  We thank you, Annette, for your 36 years of dedicated service.

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