Orrin Hatch: “I wish to pay tribute to Antonia Ferrier on my staff. After 4 years of trying to keep this tough old bird in line…”

“I wish to pay tribute to Antonia Ferrier on my staff. After 4 years of trying to keep this tough old bird in line, she'll be leaving my office in the coming days. She will most certainly be missed. Antonia first came to Capitol Hill to work for the former distinguished majority leader and my good friend, Bill Frist from Tennessee. After that, she went on to serve on the staff of another one of our former colleagues, Olympia Snowe. Now, Maine is pretty different from Tennessee, but I'm sure it felt like a bit of a homecoming for Antonia, who is from Massachusetts. After more than 3 years with Senator Snowe, Antonia made her way across the Capitol Rotunda to work for Senator Roy Blunt during his time as the House Republican Whip. For a Senate purist like Antonia, one House Member probably felt like enough, but she then went on to serve John Boehner during his time as the House Republican leader. Finally, we were able to woo her back on this side of the Capitol to come be a member of our team. As I said, Antonia is a Senate purist. She understands the Senate's role in our system of government, she appreciates the personalities and complexities of those that are honored to serve here, and she knows how much the work we do here impacts the lives of Americans from Tennessee to Maine, and Ohio to Utah. And, given her experience, she understands the House very much as well.…”