[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 173 (Wednesday, December 22, 2010)] [Senate] [Pages S11011-S11012] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] TRIBUTE TO BILLY PIPER Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, over the course of the last two decades I have had the honor of watching a very smart, but very green young man from Louisville grow into one of the finest people you could ever work with or call a friend. There is almost no hat that Billy Piper has not worn in the 19 years he has worked in my office--from driver, to mailroom staffer, to legislative aide, to campaign worker, all the way up to chief of staff. He's done it all. And in the course of doing it all, he became indispensable to me. And that's why it is so hard to say goodbye. But Billy has simply given too much of himself to leave without a proper send-off. One of Billy's defining traits is that he deflects praise. This morning I would like to deny him the chance. A native of Louisville, Billy attended the Kentucky Country Day school and then moved to Virginia to attend the University of Richmond. He spent a semester here in Washington studying public policy and politics and did an internship with Senator Lugar's office, which he liked so much he decided to look for a permanent job on the Hill. And I would like to thank Senator Lugar today for inspiring Billy to public service. Billy was so eager to take a job in my office, in fact, that he agreed to be a driver even after he learned I had a stick shift--which he didn't know how to drive. His knowledge of Washington, D.C., streets wasn't that much better. But he decided the best way to learn both was by driving around a U.S. Senator. Our first day on the road was a little rough. But ever since he mastered the clutch, Billy hasn't made a misstep since. When he wasn't driving, Billy sorted the mail that came into the office. And it didn't take long for me to see this young man had a lot of potential, so I gave him more and more responsibility. He became a legislative correspondent, handling military and foreign affairs. And in 1996 I asked him to be the finance director for my reelection campaign. Without hesitation, Billy left a secure position and his home for an extremely hard campaign job on the road. It wasn't an easy job. And in any campaign, there's no guarantee of victory. But Billy excelled at it, as usual, and at every task I've given him since. Ask other members of my staff to describe Billy and they will tell you he's not only a friend, but a teacher and a mentor. Lots of people come to Capitol Hill with good intentions and wanting to do the right thing--but not all of them learn how to get things done. In my office, the road to mastery of any job usually ran through Billy Piper. First of all, Billy puts everyone at ease, from the college student applying for an internship to heads of state. He treats everyone the same, regardless of their station. He also refuses to take praise, and even if he does, he's usually eager to deflect it onto the rest of the team. He's also got a wicked sense of humor. It's a regular part of the day to hear laughter pealing from Billy's office. Billy became the chief of staff in my personal office toward the end of 2002. And for the last 8 years, he has shown first-class leadership as the steady [[Page S11012]] hand at the wheel. He has shown extraordinarily sound judgment. He's always been ready to do whatever he was asked, whatever it took. Most of all, Billy knew who we all worked for: 4 million Kentuckians. For 8 years, Billy has been my right-hand man. Two years ago, Billy was invaluable to me in my reelection campaign. Once again, he proved himself equal to any challenge. He was the one man who knew everything that was going on and what everyone else was doing. He was and is unflappable, steady, and always confident. He gave it everything he had--and always with a smile on his face. And it wasn't easy for him, I know. With a young family at home, he sacrificed much. He's very fortunate that Holly's an understanding wife. More than anyone else, Billy is responsible for fostering the feeling of family in my office. It's one of the things we'll miss most about him. He always made staff feel like they're more than just a group of people in an office. He's grown close to a lot of them over the years, and they all love him and admire him. But as tough as this change is for me, I know it's as tough for Billy too. Here's a guy who went to the same school from kindergarten through the 12th grade, lived in the same house his whole childhood, and has had the same work e-mail address since we started using e-mail around here. But he is making this change for the right reason. When he announced his decision, Billy said, ``I love this office, I love the Senate, and I love Kentucky . . . but I love my family more.'' And no one can begrudge him that. So while this is a loss for me, my staff, my colleagues in the Senate, and the many people he's helped in Kentucky over the years, it is a gain for Billy's wife Holly, and their two little boys Billy and Tucker. And I wish the Piper family great happiness. I can hardly believe the man I am saying goodbye to is the same young man who stood for a high-school photo with me back in 1986. Sadly, Billy's parents aren't here to share in Billy's sendoff from the Senate. But if you knew Bill and Ann Piper, you would not be surprised by the kind of person Billy is or the success he has become. And I know they would be bursting with pride if they were here today to see what their son's accomplished. It was the love of a strong family that started Billy off on the right track, and it is because of his love for his family today that we bid him farewell. You can't say Billy Piper's priorities aren't in the right place. Before I finish, I would just like to read from an e-mail Billy sent to the entire staff on his last day--an e-mail that sums up the kind of guy Billy is. Here's what he wrote: ``The great honor of my professional life has been being able to call myself a McTeamer for nearly 20 years. This is an experience I will treasure all the more because of the wonderful friends I have made along the way. I am better for having known and worked with each of you. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. I am in your debt.'' Billy, as usual, you are generous with praise for everyone but yourself. But we're the ones who are thankful. We are the ones who are better for having known you. And the honor was all ours. Most of all, though, the honor was mine to stand alongside you through the years, as your mentor and your friend. I watched as you inspired others. You've inspired me. Thank you for your service and your friendship. Mr. President, I yield the floor. ____________________