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[Pages S3070-S3071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO LOUIE RECKFORD
Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I come to the floor because I am losing
a key member of my foreign policy team who has wrestled with the issues
of the Middle East and who has been engaged in the dialogue and
conversation about a smart policy to end nuclear proliferation.
[[Page S3071]]
I can tell you that it is always, for any Senator, a moment that one
has a conflicted heart when a man or a woman on their team who has
contributed so much and has become part of the family, the Senate
family, is ready to take on a new challenge away from these Chambers to
develop their skills and to take their experience to a new extended
conversation. It is a bittersweet moment.
We are proud of what our team members have contributed and proud of
what they are going to contribute as they go off to a new
responsibility.
Today, that member of my team is Louie Reckford. Louie, seated behind
me, first came to my office in the fall of 2013 as part of that
semester's intern class, and it wasn't long before he stood out,
distinguished himself, and thus, when we were hiring a deputy scheduler
the following March, Louie's name was at the top of the list, and he
formally became a part of our team.
So for more than 5 years now, he has contributed. He has never
stopped distinguishing himself, taking on one task and one position
after another and excelling at every one of them. In his 2 years as
deputy scheduler, Louie fielded thousands of requests for meetings,
from constituents, from nonprofits, from local businesses and more,
making sure that every detail was right. His attention to detail and to
turnaround time made a very positive impression with all who contacted
our office.
Over the last 3 years, he has been an invaluable member of my
correspondence and foreign policy team, first as legislative
correspondent and later as legislative aide. On top of sending out
181,000 pieces of constituent mail, mail from my office to my
constituents, an average of 251 per day--on top of that, he has used
his considerable leadership skills and subject-matter experience and
strategic negotiating abilities to help pass a host of bills and
resolutions in committee and here on the floor. When our foreign policy
top staffer was transitioning into a new role as legislative director,
he stepped up to fill the gap, helping to manage a team with two
foreign policy fellows at that time. I could spend quite a lot more
time extolling his list of accomplishments--his instrumental role in
planning several international congressional delegations, his role in
helping me carve out a new role on the Foreign Relations Committee,
and, of course, that vital role of leading our office softball team.
I will just say that Louie will be deeply missed by all members of
Team Merkley, and we wish him well in his new adventure with Foreign
Policy for America, where he will continue to be an invaluable leader
of a myriad number of pressing foreign policy issues confronting our
Nation today.
Louie Reckford, we here in the Senate wish you all the best in your
next chapter of contributing to solving the complex international
issues that face our Nation.
Thank you, Madam President.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont.
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