Orrin Hatch: “I could not let this opportunity pass without recognizing the extraordinary contribution that Kay Holcombe has made…”

“I could not let this opportunity pass without recognizing the extraordinary contribution that Kay Holcombe has made during almost 25 years of Government service. Kay, who currently serves as the top health staffer on my good friend Representative John Dingell's Commerce Committee staff, has worked in a variety of positions in Government, including 6 years on Capitol Hill. Unfortunately for us, she plans to retire at the end of this session-- while a fantastic opportunity for her, a regrettable loss the Congress and the Nation. I grew to know and appreciate Kay in 1984, when I was chairman of the Labor Committee and Kay joined our staff as an American Political Science Association congressional fellow. What Kay brought to that job was considerable. She is bright, witty, an expert on any issue she studies, and, above all, a true professional who puts good policy above politics. What I recall most vividly about Kay's period on the Labor Committee was her incredible ability to juggle lots of balls without dropping any of them. I could always count on her to get the job done, and, in fact, to do her job and the job of three others. I believe that Kay stands out among Government employees for the common sense she brings to any position and for an ability to bring consensus to the most difficult of issues.”