The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“THANKING STAFF” mentioning Patrick J. Leahy was published in the Senate section on pages S5233-S5234 on Aug. 1.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THANKING STAFF
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I know a lot of negotiations have been going on in the bill that is soon to be before us, and I appreciate the Senators from both parties who have done that, but sometimes we forget that there are hundreds of other people who work on it.
I know the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee have been working extremely hard. I think of people--Chuck Kieffer, Chanda Betourney, Jessica Berry, and others in our committee--who have given up weekends, evenings. They were working and briefing me until last evening on the work they were doing because we can say what we want to do, but then you have got to write it down.
The same thing happened with the bill that, fortunately, passed unanimously here to reimburse our National Guard, to pay the backpay and other necessities of the Capitol Police, to try to repair the damage and improve the situation after what happened--the terrible things that happened on January 6--to go for higher protections of COVID for everybody who works here in the Capitol: the staff, professionals, everybody. This is from those who clean the Capitol to those who guard the Capitol; they all need this kind of protection.
And with the help of Jeanne Shaheen and others, we were able to put in additional money and changes in the law to help us bring translators back from Afghanistan, people who had worked and put their lives on the line for our military, and bring them to safety.
As soon as, first, President Trump and then President Biden said we are leaving, their lives and the lives of their families were greatly endangered by the Taliban, and now they are back.
But I mention that because sometimes I might say, only half in jest, that Senators are merely constitutional impediments to their staffs, but we are very fortunate to have some of the brightest women and men anywhere in the staffs of the Senators in both parties, and certainly in those who administer the Senate, including those who are presently sitting and preparing to help us on everything from points of order to making sure the right papers are done and that the votes are counted properly.
I see all of these people working hard here today when I came into the Capitol, everybody from those who have to follow and make a copy of what I say on the floor, on through. I didn't hear anybody say: Boy, I wish I wasn't here.
I am sure just about everybody had other plans for Saturday and Sunday instead of being here. I think we owe a great debt of gratitude to those who have come here who are helping us perform our duties. And I hope that Senators on both sides of the aisle will take note of that, try to bring these things to a conclusion--of course, have whatever votes we need--but keep in mind that there are hundreds, thousands of people working in the Capitol whose schedules are ofttimes disrupted because of our schedules.
They do it. They help us. They support us. We could not do our job without them. And I hope we will take note of that and help them in reaching a conclusion or at least give some finality to what we are doing.
I am willing to stay here whatever hours are necessary, but I am hoping that we will know what those hours are so that the hundreds, even thousands of other people who work here in the Capitol can go about planning for themselves, their families, their friends, whatever need be.
So I would note that both the distinguished Presiding Officer is here, and I am here in the Senate. I am not holding up anything because no other Senator is seeking recognition, but I hope this may be coming to a conclusion.
With that, I will yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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