Joe Biden: “all of us in this Chamber know the dedication of those on our staffs who work tirelessly to keep us informed and keep…”

“all of us in this Chamber know the dedication of those on our staffs who work tirelessly to keep us informed and keep this process moving forward. And, once in a great while, a staffer comes along who becomes so much a part of the process, so much a presence in this place, that few can't imagine the Senate without them. Ed Hall, staff director on the Committee on Foreign Relations, is one of those people. A dedicated public servant for more almost 25 years now, he has been a rock-solid steady hand, an extraordinary professional, and--above all--a gentleman. Now he is completing his final week with the U.S. Senate. And we wish him well. But before he goes, I hope Ed won't mind too much, though I know he will, if I take a few minutes to pay tribute to him. Ed is one of those rare, talented staffers who always seems to know the answer before we ask the question. He always has the facts. He conscientiously attends to the details of the hearings, the legislation, the briefing books, the negotiations--with a trademark combination of wisdom and graciousness, and without ever expecting a word of thanks, much less an entire speech. All of us know and appreciate the hard work and dogged efforts of our staffs, but too often it goes unspoken. And rarely is it expressed on the Senate floor. Bud Ed Hall is an exceptional man who deserves exceptional recognition for making what we do here possible. He is here when most of us arrive.…”