January 16, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 10 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session
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REMEMBERING CHRIS ALLEN; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 10
(Senate - January 16, 2020)
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[Pages S272-S273] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] REMEMBERING CHRIS ALLEN Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Chris Allen, who worked as my senior economic policy adviser. It is fitting that I do so on the Senate floor because Chris Allen would be the first one to tell you he loved his job. This statement was delivered so frequently and with such sincerity that one was compelled to look inward and remind one's self of what a privilege it is to work in the U.S. Senate on behalf of the American people. Chris Allen was a student of history and a lover of politics. Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Allen loved tax policy. If that doesn't tell you what a special person he was, I don't know what does. Chris's attitude about his job extended to his coworkers. He loved his coworkers. When he was on my staff, Chris was always willing to help junior staff, senior staff, or interns. It didn't matter--he had time for you. He rolled up his sleeves and pitched in. He gave you advice. He truly cared. When it came time for my 2014 campaign, Chris spent his vacation days with me in Kansas--knocking on doors, walking in parades, and being a force of positive energy no matter what we faced. Normally these are grueling tasks but not for Chris. He had fun. He loved it. As a matter of fact, posted on the wall of our little Hart kitchen, we have a selfie on election night of my crew at the victory party. The picture is entitled ``This is what victory looks like.'' And right smack-dab in the middle is one smiling Chris Allen. Now, when I am heating up my coffee, I look at Chris in the picture, and I can feel his joy as he is surrounded by our family of staffers. Elections weren't his only love. Chris Allen loved a cold beer. He loved a natty jacket. He loved loud pants. Sometimes he loved wearing them together. He loved his lacrosse. He loved his Baltimore neighborhood. He loved all things English and French. He loved researching his ancestry. Chris Allen loved his parents, his in-laws, his brothers, his nieces and nephews, but nothing compared to his love for Lynda, Lucie, and Sophie. He was not just a proud dad who boasted of his daughters' accomplishments big and small; he was better. He was a father who took delight in the things his daughters said and did, big and small. They were cherished. May they understand today and always that we loved Chris, and he loved them. I always looked forward to my briefings with Chris. For one, he got my jokes. He understood my references to radio and television shows and personalities that my other staff would have to research and look up. But he was also understanding of the history of the issues, even those not in his portfolio. [[Page S273]] He was an excellent steward of my priorities on the Finance Committee, so much so they stole him from me. At the time I told him, ``Listen, you still work for me, you are just sitting down the hall.'' To illustrate Chris' popularity, I would like to share this story. There is an annual, all-day legislative meeting held in Washington for a Kansas group that requires a lot of preparation. My staff must be able to speak about a variety of topics and difficult issues before an audience of at least 100 Kansans. At one of these such meetings, Chris had just left my office to work at tax nerd nirvana, the Senate Finance Committee. I called him back to answer a few tax questions while my new staffer transitioned into the role. Before Chris was scheduled to arrive, a number of questions about taxes came up and my staff deferred to him, mentioning they would wait for the ``real tax guy'' to show up. Their repeated deference to him built up a feeling of anticipation in the room. At long last, Chris strolls in, and heads swivel around to the back of the room to see the great tax man cometh. It was like Elvis had entered the building. The audience got to their feet and gave him a standing ovation. One man was even moved to testify how Chris had helped his community on a rural tax issue and it had made all of the difference. And at the front of the room on the panel, there sat Chris in his dapper jacket, his head tilted back and his beaming smile. He loved to help and they loved him. Whether it was the tax reform bill or pension legislation, Chris' brilliant mind made the measure better--every time. And his work will have a long lasting influence on our Nation and literally millions of Americans. What a career Chris Allen had. Everyone in this room will probably agree that Chris's best stories were about himself, and he was usually his own punchline. Something had happened to him. He had messed something up, or he had gleefully embarrassed his daughters. You can hear him now. I was a bit player in one of his favorite tales. It was his first Finance Committee hearing working for me. Chris had prepped for days--weeks probably. He was both nervous and excited. As we walked over to the committee room, he told me he was calling Lynda, hoping she could watch the hearing on CSPAN and catch him sitting behind the dais. So I decided to have a little fun with Chris. As the time for questions got to the Senator next to me, I very dramatically motioned to Chris. Chris looked shocked--I am sure he was thinking, ``Oh no, what could I have forgotten to tell him.'' Chris leaned in, and I put my hand to the side of my mouth: ``Chris, this is your moment. Look very serious. Nod your head a few times. Now point at the paper I am holding--now tell me something very crucial . . . we are going to make sure Lynda sees you!'' Chris got the biggest kick out of it, and we met the goal--he was on CSPAN. So while we take the issues and the policy very seriously, and we negotiate very intensely--and Chris could sure do that--we can also stop for a minute to appreciate where we are and what a privilege it is to do these jobs. As I said, Chris never forgot or took it for granted. He appreciated every minute in the Senate. I understand Lucie has shared a link to a Google doc for Chris's friends and loved ones to share their ``short but interesting stories about Chris.'' I encourage everyone to do so. These stories will be a treasure trove for Lynda, Sophie, and Lucie. I hope you can preserve them in some way with his genealogy work. I know he would like that. I will conclude with a note to Lynda and the girls: I always say you are only as good as your staff; it is your friends and family who make you what you are. In my office, staff are family. Chris was family; you will always be family. Besides, Chris still works for me. He is just sitting and smiling a few floors up. ____________________
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