McConnell Thanks Essential Senate Floor Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor thanking Senate staff:
“I’d like to take some more time today to salute the outstanding Senate staff who my team and I have relied on during our time in the Republican Leader’s office.
“First, I’d like to offer more fulsome thanks to the Official Reporters of Debates – the ears of the nation here on the Senate floor.
“Always listening. Carefully recording. And much to the relief of my staff, meticulously reconciling remarks as prepared with remarks as delivered.
“The official reporters are integral to the life of the Senate and central to the construction of the historical record.
“But, by definition, they fly under the radar, blending almost intentionally into the fabric of this chamber.
“So I take particular pleasure today in asking to record – in all caps, as the live transcript goes – my sincere gratitude to each of the Senate’s Official Reporters of Debates for their essential work.
“And now, I’ll turn to a final group of floor staff who deserve our sincere thanks.
“In both the Democratic and Republican cloakrooms, you’ll find consummate professionals for whom loyalty, service, and deep institutional knowledge are calling cards.
“Much as I know that the Democratic Leader leans on the work of Gary Myrick and the Democratic cloakroom staff, I’d like to brag for a few moments on the Senate’s Republican Secretary and the staff of the Republican cloakroom.
“During my time in the Senate, I’ve been the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader. The majority is better.
“But whether it’s designing the roadmap for a Republican majority’s agenda or trying to amend or slow down a Democratic majority’s agenda, I wouldn’t want to navigate the Senate’s arcana without a procedural expert like the Republican Secretary, Robert Duncan, by my side.
“Duncan, in the footsteps of distinguished predecessors, has been an indispensable advisor to me and my staff.
“The entire Republican conference rightly trusts in his deep knowledge of the rules and precedents that govern this institution, and his calm manner projects confidence in even the thorniest procedural battles.
“I’m so grateful to Duncan for his rock-solid counsel.
“And of course, a portfolio as broad as the cloakroom’s draws on the strengths of Duncan’s entire team;
“The watchful eye of assistant secretary Chris Tuck, whose procedural ingenuity steers the Senate out of jams and whose sharp wit brings much-needed humor to long days on the floor…
“The air traffic control of floor assistants, Tony Hanagan, Brian Canfield, and their recently departed colleague, Katherine Foster, whose deep relationships with Senators and staff across the Conference keep important business moving swiftly, in good cheer…
“The agile readiness of cloakroom assistants, Max Boyd, Maddie Sanborn, and Charlotte Ueland, whose record-keeping, Conference-wide communications, and stewardship of the Republican pages make the Cloakroom’s most essential functions appear to happen by magic…
“And the managerial savvy of administrative assistant, Noelle Ringel, who wears a dizzying array of hats to keep the entire operation humming.
“Cloakroom staff spend nights, weekends, and every working day making the jobs of Senators easier. Their pride in a very unique set of professional skills makes them more of a family than co-workers.
“And I know that sentiment extends across the Republican Conference.
“So to each of you: thank you for the hard work you do so well.”
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