Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the retiring Parliamentarian of the Senate, Alan Frumin, who has for the past two decades faithfully and honorably served this institution and who will, beginning tomorrow, embark upon a new chapter in his professional life. For 20 years, Alan has advised the Senate and the hundreds who have had the privilege of serving here with a deft understanding of its rules, some of which can be quite arcane, and an abiding passion for this august body that will reverberate for generations to come. As Alan departs this Chamber, I extend my personal gratitude to him, wish him the very best, and hope he knows that this country is deeply indebted to him for his longstanding service. At the same time, I want to recognize and applaud a milestone moment in the life of this venerable institution as we welcome Alan's successor, Elizabeth MacDonough, the first woman in the history of the Senate to assume the indispensable responsibilities of the Parliamentarian. Elizabeth, who has served as Senior Assistant Parliamentarian since 2002, has proved herself to be not only well- versed in the labyrinthine procedures of this body but fully prepared for the demanding and often unheralded work of ensuring that my colleagues and I remain within the bounds of proper parliamentary procedure, allowing us to focus less on the operation of the Senate and more on fulfilling the Senate's constitutional role.…”