The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRIBUTE TO CAROLYN EDWARDS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Senate section on pages S6946 on Dec. 10, 2019.
The Department handles nearly all infrastructure crisscrossing the country. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department should be privatized to save money, reduce congestion and spur innovation.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO CAROLYN EDWARDS
Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, together with Senator Carper, I rise today to recognize Carolyn Edwards for her distinguished career and significant accomplishments at the Federal Highway Administration, FHWA.
After 46 years of exceptional Federal service, Carolyn is retiring from FHWA on January 3, 2020. She is a dedicated public servant recognized as an unparalleled national expert on Federal Highway Programs and the highway trust fund. Through her technical assistance to Congress and her policy advice to departmental and agency officials, Carolyn has provided an invaluable contribution to the programs that support our Nation's roads and bridges. She has helped to shape not only these critical highway programs, but also, as colleague and mentor, she has shaped and guided a generation of highway policy experts. Her work will have a lasting legacy for many years to come.
Carolyn's entire 46-year Federal career has been with the U.S. Department of Transportation, USDOT--44 of these with FHWA. To put Carolyn's remarkable public service longevity in perspective, FHWA was formed in 1966, only 7 years prior to her arrival. She joined FHWA in 1973 as an economist. Over the ensuing four and a half decades, she has served in a range of high-level analytical and leadership positions, including positions in FHWA's Office of Highway Policy Information and Office of Legislative Affairs and Policy Communications. She also worked in the Office of the Secretary's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs with a portfolio that covered FHWA programs.
Carolyn is currently a member of FHWA's Legislative Analysis Team, where she serves as the authoritative expert on a wide range of highway-related topics, including Federal highway legislation, the highway trust fund, and the operations of the Federal-aid highway program. Throughout her successful and impressive career, she has been a ``go-to reference'' on these topics for both agency and departmental leaders and staff.
Among her many exemplary accomplishments, Carolyn has been in the development and implementation of every Federal surface transportation bill since the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century--TEA-21--
was enacted in 1998. Additionally, she has also been a recipient of several prestigious honors and awards. Carolyn has been recognized with a Secretary's Team Award, two Secretarial Awards for Partnering for Excellence, and multiple FHWA Superior Achievement Awards, FHWA's highest honor award.
Carolyn exemplifies the highest standards of public service and embodies FHWA's spirit of professionalism and customer service. Over the years, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, along with other congressional committees, Members of Congress, and their staff have relied on Carolyn's legislative and highway policy expertise, quick turnaround technical assistance responses, and wealth of information. Carolyn's colleagues at USDOT and FHWA have depended on her tireless efforts, her endless wealth of knowledge and willingness to share and transfer it. They will miss her indomitable spirit and her purple sweaters, purple pens, and love for everything purple to brighten their days.
Carolyn has helped shape highway policy discussions and implement new programs. Her contributions will continue to make a difference on USDOT, FHWA, and the surface transportation community. Her retirement from the Federal Government is a celebration of her dedication to the American people.
It is a great honor to recognize this exceptional public servant. Senator Carper joins me in extending our appreciation and well wishes to Carolyn on her retirement.
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