Chris Van Hollen: “I think all Senators can agree that we would not be able to deliver results for the people in our States and for our…”

“I think all Senators can agree that we would not be able to deliver results for the people in our States and for our country if it were not for our extraordinary staff, who work with us each and every day. They are there with us in the trenches, fighting for the constituents we pledge to serve, and defending the Constitution of the United States. It is for that reason that I am confident my colleagues will agree with me when I say congressional staff is more than just a collection of individuals; it is a family. And it is that truth that makes my presence on the Senate floor this evening all the more difficult, because my office, our family, has lost a beloved member. John Amara F. Walters, a legislative aide in my office, passed away on the morning of October 2, at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. He died in the arms of his beloved mother, Kimberley, who joins us this evening in the gallery. John was 29 years old. On behalf of myself, our office, and the people of Maryland, I want to take a little time not only to express our profound grief at the loss of a dear friend and amazing human being, but also to tell a little bit of John's story to this Senate and to the Nation, and to pay tribute to his life, to honor all that he gave us, and to celebrate all that he gave to the world. John Amara F. Walters was born on Friday, February 9, 1992, in Adrian, MI, to John A.M. Walters and Kimberley H. Davis Walters.…”