McConnell Thanks Essential Senate Floor Staff

Now on another matter, I'd like to take some time today to salute the outstanding Senate staff who my team and I have relied on during our time in the Republican leader's office. First, I'd like to offer some fulsome thanks to the official reporters of debates, the ears of the nation here on the floor, always listening, carefully recording, and much to the relief of my staff, meticulously reconciling remarks as prepared with remarks as delivered. The official reporters are integral to the life of the Senate and central to the construction of the historical record. But by definition, they fly under the radar, bending almost intentionally into the fabric of this chamber. So I take particular pleasure today in asking to record in all caps, as the live transcript goes, my sincere gratitude to each of the Senate's official reporters of debates for their essential work. And now I'll turn to a final group of floor staff who deserve our sincere thanks. In both the Democratic and Republican cloakrooms, you'll find consummate professionals for whom loyalty service and deep institutional knowledge are calling cards. Much as I know that Democratic leader leans on the work of Gary Marek and the Democratic cloakroom staff, I'd like to brag for a few minutes on the Senate's Republican secretary and the staff of the Republican cloakroom. During my time in the Senate, I've been the majority leader, I've been the minority leader, majority's better. But whether it's designing the roadmap for a Republican majority's agenda, or trying to amend or slow down a Democratic majority's agenda, I wouldn't want to navigate the Senate's Arcania without a procedural expert like Republican Secretary Robert Duncan by my side. Duncan, in the footsteps of distinguished predecessors, has been an indispensable advisor to me and my staff. The entire Republican conference rightly trusts in his deep knowledge of the rules and precedents that govern this institution and his calm manner. projects confidence in even the thorniest procedural battles. So I'm so grateful to Duncan for his rock solid counsel. And of course, a portfolio as broad as the cloakrooms draws on the strengths of Duncan's entire team. The watchful eye of Assistant Secretary Chris Tuck, whose procedural ingenuity steers the Senate out of jams, and his sharp wit brings much needed humor to long days on the floor. The air traffic control of floor assistance, Tony Hannigan, Brian Canfield, and their recently departed colleague Catherine Foster, whose deep relationships with senators and staff across the conference keep important business moving swiftly and in good cheer. The agile readiness of the cloakroom assistants, Max Boyd, Maddie Sanborn, and Charlotte Ulan, whose record keeping conference ride communications and stewardship of the Republican pages make the cloakroom most essential functions appear to happen as if magic. And the managerial savvy of Administrative Assistant Noel Ringo, who wears a dizzying array of hats to keep the entire operation coming. Cloakroom staff spend nights, weekends, and every working day making the jobs of senators easier. Their pride in the very unique set of professional skills makes them more of a family than co-workers. And I know the sentiments extends entirely across the Republican conference. So to each of you, thank you for the hard work. You do so extraordinarily well.