Trent Lott: “the Senate works well when it is served by very competent and dedicated staff members--on our personal staff, the people…”

“the Senate works well when it is served by very competent and dedicated staff members--on our personal staff, the people who operate the elevators, the security people, the policemen, but most importantly our staff at the committee level and here on the floor of the Senate. Over the past few years, I think most of the staff members know how much I have appreciated their good work because I have taken the time occasionally to say so and because I tried to make the Senate a family-friendly place. Although they may look like just part of the furniture, there are really some fine, dedicated people who spend long hours here who really live outside this Chamber. Sometimes I see members of our floor staff in other parts of the Capitol complex, or at Pentagon City, and I am shocked to see them out of the cave they work in. Far too often, we don't take the time to say 'thank you' and 'job well done' because you have made us look good, because you have served some State in our great Nation well, and because you made America a better place. So I am here today to say thank you to one of our dedicated staff members who has now retired and is moving on to her next life--probably the third generation of her very important life--one who has served us well and one whom I will miss seeing on the floor of the Senate every day. That person is Denise Greenlaw Ramonas.”