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Floor Speech

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Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a staffer on my team, Zoe Aguillard, who has served the people of Louisiana for 7 years, the fourth-ranking member of my office, a staffer whom I relied upon during my time in the Senate, who is now leaving for what she thinks to be greener pastures.

It is always bittersweet when a staffer leaves. I had been teaching medical school for many years before coming here. You see talented younger people come on board, and you know they have a tremendous future ahead of them. So if they move on to that tremendous future, you can't cry; you must celebrate.

But, nonetheless, you regret losing someone who has grown so much, both as a person, but also in her achievements and in the affection your entire family has for her.

Zoe started as a scheduler, somewhat green. She quickly became the boss, making everything go on time. She had the honesty to tell me it would go even better on time if I showed up on time. But she had a real ability to speak honestly in a very tactful way to modify my behavior.

Whether it was meetings with constituents, townhalls, events, speeches, she worked behind the scenes to make it happen. And, importantly, she became very sensitive to the fact that I am a family guy who would like to be home for my grandson's graduation from fourth grade and would like to spend time with my wife--all those things that are beyond scheduling and move into trying to truly understand how someone lives their life.

The President of the Senate right now and all my colleagues know a scheduler and operations director makes or breaks your office. They help to squeeze the most out of every single day. And things you might find impossible, they find a way to get it done 7 days a week, every day of the year.

Examples: Zoe has been key in helping to plan the Senate's National Seersucker Day. I look forward to seeing my colleague from Vermont tricked out in his Seersucker suit for this year's Seersucker Day. It looks great on TV. She helped host Thursday Lunch Groups for my Republican colleagues and many other things we have done in-State and here to benefit our State and our Nation. Whether they realize it or not, nearly every office in the Senate has worked with Zoe at some point.

The difference she has made during my tenure cannot be summarized in one speech. But I don't get emotional because I will continue to work with Zoe. She is moving back to Louisiana--the State she holds in her affections--to the benefit of our State, our country, and our fellow humans. I wish her the best, and I wish her dog Louie the best. They will both be missed in our office.

(The remarks of Mr. Cassidy pertaining to the introduction of S. 4329 are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
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