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Floor Speech

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Ms. WARREN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a true public servant, Cameron Ricker, the chief clerk of Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, who is leaving the Senate after 8 years. And I am glad to recognize today Cameron's loving family, who is here in the Gallery: his wife Zaida, his daughter Zona, and his parents Don and Peggy, who flew all the way from Idaho to be here with us, as well as current and former banking staff.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Cameron is the backbone of the Senate Banking Committee. As chief clerk, Cameron is the person who makes sure that hearings go off without a hitch; that we are able to review paperwork from White House nominees and to fulfill our constitutional duty to advise and consent on Presidential appointments; that we are able to mark up important legislation. In short, Cameron is the reason that the Banking Committee can do the work of the Banking Committee.

I would like to ask for permission to bring Cameron to the floor while I finish my remarks.

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Ms. WARREN. Thank you.

Can you join us, Cameron?

Cameron demonstrates public service at its very best. The role of the chief clerk on the Banking Committee is nonpartisan. A chief clerk serves both the majority and minority fairly and equally. To this day, I don't know if anyone could tell you what party Cameron belongs to and how he votes--and that is no small feat in today's Washington. All we know is that he approaches his work with the utmost professionalism, competence, and kindness every single day.

Need to know the answer to some arcane rule in the committee handbook? Cameron's your guy. Need to know how many people are in the hearing room at any given moment so your boss doesn't miss their question time? Ask Cameron. Need some help brokering peace with the chairman's team across the hallway? Go to Cameron again.

I am personally very grateful for Cameron's support in the early months of my tenure as ranking member of this committee. He spent hours meeting with my staff to make sure that they were prepared for new decisions and responsibilities, impressing every single one of them with his preparation, his thoughtfulness, and his commitment to public service.

Generations of Senators and staff who have served on the Banking Committee have been inspired by Cameron's work ethic, hypercompetence, and religious devotion to his favorite pen.

It is a Zebra F-701, for those of you who are wondering.

Cameron is humble and hard-working, but don't let his humility fool you. He is also a trailblazer. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, no one knew how the Senate was going to conduct its committee business. How the heck was an institution that was still firmly stuck in the 18th century supposed to hold hearings or mark up legislation when it was dangerous for people even to be in a room together? Cameron was the first to figure it out. And thanks to his persistence, the Banking Committee was the first in the Senate to hold a virtual hearing during the pandemic, laying out the roadmap for every other committee to follow.

My respect for Cameron is broadly shared. I want to read quotes that two recent leaders of the Banking Committee sent to me--one Democrat, one Republican--so that we can hear in their own words how much Cameron has meant to the Banking Committee.

Former chairman Sherrod Brown said:

Cameron Ricker served 8 years on the Banking and Housing Committee, 6 of those years as chief clerk when I was Chairman and Ranking Member. The committee couldn't have asked for a more fair, hardworking, and forward thinking colleague during a time full of transitions and challenges. We were lucky to serve with him and wish Cameron and his family all the best in the next chapter.

Then there is former ranking member Pat Toomey, who said:

Cameron Ricker's departure from the Banking Committee is a huge loss for the Senate. For over 8 years, he's gracefully kept the trains running on time at the committee, which is no easy feat. And he's always done it with a smile. As Ranking Member, I observed firsthand Cameron's can-do spirit, [his] tireless work ethic, and [his] attention to detail. He was invaluable to me, my staff, and the entire committee. I thank him for his dedicated service in the Senate and wish him and his family all the best as he starts the next chapter of his professional career.

I want to close with a story about Cameron that is close to my heart.

Marking up legislation is one of the most important things any Senate committee does. What people may not know is how much work it is behind the scenes and especially how much work it is for Cameron and his team on Banking.

By tradition, the Banking Committee requires that any member wishing to file an amendment to legislation being considered in a markup print out 50 copies of that amendment, sign each one, and drop the stack off to Cameron's office by 4 p.m. and not a second later lest Cameron nicely slam the door in your face.

In a markup last Congress, before I was the ranking member, my office had an army of outstanding interns racing stacks of amendments over to Cameron as fast as the printer would shoot out the 50 pages so that we could get them in before 4 p.m., the deadline.

Drop off a stack of amendments to Cameron; run back to my office; pick up the next batch; run back to Cameron--over and over and over again.

It was the middle of the summer, and let's just be blunt: There was a lot of sweat. Cameron offered them kindness and encouragement the entire way, and they were deeply touched.

When our interns ferried over the last batch just in the nick of time, they sheepishly asked Cameron for a photo. Cameron obliged, and that picture of sweaty people who were committed to getting their jobs done on behalf of the American people has been hanging in our office ever since.

Work on the Banking Committee can be difficult, maybe even more than on other committees. Democrats' and Republicans' views on the issues under the committee's jurisdiction are often diametrically opposed. Things get heated, and sometimes they get personal. But Cameron is a demonstration of decency and exemplary nonpartisan public service. He has made the Banking Committee better, and I am grateful for his service to the committee and to our country.

Cameron, we will miss you. Best wishes to you and your family on your next adventure.

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