December 9, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 196 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page S6902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO JULLIANE FRAZIER

 Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, on Friday, December 31, 2019, 
Julliane Frazier, a lifelong resident of Maryland, will retire from 
Amtrak after an extraordinary 40 years of service.
  Julie joined Amtrak in December 1980 when President Jimmy Carter was 
just leaving the White House and Ronald Reagan was about to be sworn 
in. In May of the following year, Amtrak celebrated its 10th 
anniversary. The number of current Amtrak employees with 40 or more 
years of service is fewer than 20; the number of retirees is not much 
more. Julie therefore joins a small but elite group of Amtrak employees 
who have been the founders and builders of America's passenger 
railroad.
  Over the years, Julie has seen the growth and maturity of an 
organization whose existence was born of great uncertainty. For most of 
her career, she served as the senior executive assistant for the 
Government Affairs Department, serving and assisting the vice 
presidents who guided and managed Amtrak's relations with the Federal 
Government and with Congress. Amtrak's CEOs, who worked in their Union 
Station offices next door to government affairs, often relied on Julie 
as well because she was quick to complete assignments and was loyal to 
her colleagues in pursuit of Amtrak's important mission. While it would 
appear at first blush that the vice president of government affairs 
runs the office, it was clear to anyone who spent time there that Julie 
was really the one in charge. She is the consummate professional.
  Julie has said that while she will miss the pace of work, she will 
miss the people she worked with most of all. Having spent 40 years in 
the organization and having celebrated good times while coping with 
hard times, Julie formed many close and deep friendships. She will be 
truly missed by all who worked with her, but her service will be 
appreciated for years to come.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Julliane Frazier for her 
service and wishing her many happy and healthy years in retirement with 
her husband Phil and her sons Zack, Max, and Austin.

                          ____________________