Chris Van Hollen: “I rise to recognize an extraordinary member of my staff who retired from the Senate earlier this year, Karen Robb. For…”

“I rise to recognize an extraordinary member of my staff who retired from the Senate earlier this year, Karen Robb. For 15 years, Karen Robb served as a critical senior member of my staff, first in my House office and then in the Senate. Karen is a trusted adviser, skilled leader, and wonderful friend. Over the years she has been a key partner in many of our successful legislative initiatives and was a tireless advocate for the people of Maryland. A humble and committed public servant, Karen is driven by her deep-rooted values and a strong commitment to public service and the institution of the Congress. Karen was already a seasoned pro on Capitol Hill when she joined my team as chief of staff in the House of Representatives office 15 years ago. She had previously served as Deputy Assistant to President Clinton in the Office of Legislative Affairs, chief of staff to Senator John Edwards, democratic staff director for the Senate Judiciary Committee under then-Senator Joe Biden, and chief counsel to Senator Dennis DeConcini. Her extensive experience in both the legislative and executive branches helped us achieve significant victories for Maryland and pass priorities important to the American people. An attorney, Karen has always identified first as a policy wonk with particularly deep knowledge of the judiciary, and I drafted her into becoming an expert on campaign finance reform and election issues.…”