TRIBUTE TO BETH NIELSON

TRIBUTE TO BETH NIELSON

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2025)] [Senate] [Page S519] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO BETH NIELSON Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, I rise today to honor the service of my administrative director Beth Nielson. Soon, Beth will retire from the U.S. Senate with more than 26 years of service to the U.S. Senate and to our Nation. Beth joined my staff as administrative director in early 2019, merely the most recent stop on a wonderful journey of service to many Senators from across our Nation. Beth brought with her a great breadth and depth of knowledge about the U.S. Senate and how this institution works for Senators and staff. She quickly garnered the trust of my staff with her cheerful attitude to service and deft ability to navigate the many rules of the Senate. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Beth helped our team immediately pivot to working from home, providing information, support, and guidance as we learned to work together but apart. A South Dakota native, Beth first came to the Senate to intern in the office of Senator Tim Johnson. From there, she spent time in the office of Senator Tom Daschle, learning the ropes of the Senate and managing vast volumes of mail sent to the Senator from across the country. She returned to Senator Johnson's team and served as his deputy office manager for 5 years. From there, she joined the staff of Senator Ben Nelson as his administrative director for 3 years and then took a brief pause off Capitol Hill. She quickly returned to the Senate and served in the same roles in the offices of Senator Bill Nelson and then Senator Heidi Heitkamp before joining my staff. Beth has also worked for Senator Raphael Warnock, to aid his staff as they began their time in the Senate. My staff and I have been reflecting over the many gifts that Beth has shared with us over these past 6 years. She has been a guide to new staff, easing their transitions into the Senate and greeting them with a welcome smile. Beth has served as a mentor and sounding board to more established staff who have taken on new positions or responsibilities, helping them succeed in their roles. She was ready to answer our calls and our questions, to celebrate our milestones and ease our sorrows. We do still question her allegiances to the New York Yankees and the Chicago Bears but have agreed to let those slide. Beth, thank you for your service to our Nation, to all the staff and Senators you have served with, and to the U.S. Senate. ____________________