Heidi Alexander: “here is my view of serving in the U.S. Senate: It is hard to get here, it is hard to stay here, and while you are here…”

“here is my view of serving in the U.S. Senate: It is hard to get here, it is hard to stay here, and while you are here, you might as well try to accomplish something good for the country. Accomplishing something good in the U.S. Senate means working with a superior staff. Today, I want to pay tribute to the 270 men and women who have served on my staff since I came to the Senate in 2003, in my personal office, both here in Washington, DC, and in the six Tennessee offices; in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; the Senate Rules Committee; the Senate Appropriations Committee; and at the Senate Republican conference. Some who started with me in 2003 are still working for me after 18 years, and some have moved on to other opportunities, but each has played a major role in the Senate, whether they were helping to pass laws, serve our constituents, or answering the front-office phone. We have some important traditions here in the Senate, including the maiden speech, which I delivered 17 years ago, in my case, and the farewell speech, which I delivered yesterday, but for me, something is missing. Usually staff is acknowledged in the farewell address, which either makes the address way too long or at least too little time to properly acknowledge their contributions. I am here today to make a ``Salute to the Staff'' speech.…”