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Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I would like to turn to discussing the vital contributions of staff who worked on this bill. We are very fortunate in the Senate to be able to rely on the expertise and the support of so many talented and dedicated staffers whose efforts enabled us to finalize this conference report.
This bill turned out to be unique because it spanned so many different issues. In addition to the ones I have already mentioned, my staff also had to work on pension matters, flood insurance, Federal trust funds, labor, and a range of other issues. All of this combined to make this a very complicated bill with many moving parts.
Accordingly, I want to take this opportunity to publicly and professionally thank the following staffers for guiding this bill through markups in different Senate committees, negotiating with counterparts from the House of Representatives, and getting us over the finish line with a conference report that provides the American people with the good policies included in this bill:
There was Tom Lynch, who worked on both the Environment and Public Works Committee's portion of the bill and the Finance Committee's portion.
Tax Counsel Ryan Abraham, whose work along with Tom Lynch on the highway trust fund was key to being able to fund highways and transit projects under the bill.
Tom, Ryan, and Lily Batchelder, chief tax counsel and head of Finance Committee's tax team, held more than 20 staff meetings with Democrats and Republicans before our Finance Committee markup.
Mark Hybner, who was critical to refining the Indian Reservation Roads Program among other things, a program that is very important to the seven tribes in my State.
Tax and benefits counsel Tom Reeder, a true seasoned professional without whom we couldn't have found the essential offsets to ensure the highway trust fund would remain solvent.
Spencer Gray, who shepherded the secure rural schools and payment in lieu of taxes through this process.
Dave Hughes and Ann Cammack, who made critical contributions both to raise revenue and in tracking policy.
Sean Morrison and Blaise Cote, the Finance Committee's two excellent research assistants.
Heather O'Loughlin, easily one of the most versatile and capable staffers working in the Senate, who was key both to the education and the flood insurance portions.
Amber Cottle, Bruce Hirsch, Gabriel Adler, Hun Quach, Chelsea Thomas, and Rory Murphy, who were very helpful in the effort to develop offsets during the Finance Committee markup.
Department of Transportation detailee and Billings Montana native Avital Barnea, who lent helpful assistance at a crucial time.
Jeffrey Arnold, who was very helpful in assisting on Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation provisions and phased retirement.
Intern extraordinaire Pete Markuson, who logged a lot of meaningful hours.
The outstanding press team of Jenny Donohue, Meaghan Smith, Ryan Carey, Kate Downen, Kathy Weber, and our newest addition, Sean Neary.
And my indispensable leadership staff of Jon Selib, Russ Sullivan, and Paul Wilkins, who as always remained focused and unflappable despite the challenges.
Finally, I also want to use this opportunity to thank Bettina Poirier, David Napoliello, Andrew Dohrmann, and Grant Cope from Chairman Boxer's Environment and Public Works Committee staff; Ruth Van Mark, James O'Keeffe, Murphie Barrett, Kyle Miller, Dmitri Karakitsos, and Alex Renjel from Senator Inhofe's staff; Charles Brittingham with Senator Vitter; Tyler Rushforth with Senator Reid; Ellen Doneski, James Reid, Ian Jefferies, Rich Swayze, Richard Russell, and Bailey Edwards from the Commerce Committee; and Chris Campbell, Mark Prater, Jim Lyons, Nick Wyatt, and Preston Rutledge from the Finance Committee.
Without the individual and collective contributions of each one of these people I have mentioned, we would not have pulled this off. For them and their efforts to help support American jobs, all of us should be very grateful.
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