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 PETER FISCHER” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Senate section on pages S2576-S2577 on May 2, 2011.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO PETER FISCHER
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and honor Peter Fischer, who is retiring from Senate service. Peter has been an essential member of my staff for more than a decade, and he currently serves as chief of staff for my Washington, DC, office. I cannot thank him enough for his dedicated counsel and friendship. Time and time again, he has provided helpful insight and contagious optimism that have been instrumental in overcoming even the most difficult challenges.
I have been extremely blessed to have Peter as part of my team through multiple, valuable roles. He joined my 1998 Senate campaign as campaign finance director following his service as an economic development specialist with Idaho's department of commerce and industry. Then, in January of 1999, I was fortunate to have Peter join my congressional staff as State director for economic development. He utilized his economic development experience and profound understanding of the needs of Idaho communities to help communities navigate the Federal bureaucracy and identify partnership opportunities. He continued this outstanding advocacy after he moved to Washington, DC, nearly 2 years later, to become legislative director prior to becoming my Washington, DC, chief of staff.
Peter has a remarkable ``can-do'' spirit and resourcefulness, and he has contributed greatly to advancing countless legislative and policy priorities for Idaho. For example, his commitment to the Owyhee Initiative played a major role in the successful passage of the authorizing legislation and continued implementation efforts. As a hunter, fisher and sportsman, Peter also provided valuable perspective in enactment of electronic duck stamp legislation. He has also been very active in representing me in countless ways on Capitol Hill. For example, he is a senior Stennis fellow, serves on the Steering Committee for the Bipartisan Chiefs of Staff organization, is the Republican chair of the bipartisan Foreign Policy Study Group,has attended numerous chiefs of staff retreats and manages my Washington campaign activities during his free time.
A 1971 graduate of the University of California--Santa Barbara with a degree in history, Peter has a fascinating personal and professional life that has taken him across the country and around the world. His myriad of experiences in the private sector and across the globe has made him such an innovative economic development expert and a valued contributor to me. Peter is kind and courteous to a fault. We would be hard pressed to find anyone who has met him who doesn't like him. He has a great capacity to put people at ease, and people just generally like to be around him, as evidenced by his multitude of friends and acquaintances. It is probably because the best friendship qualities run deep in Peter: He is loyal and can be tough when needs be, but he is also a cheerful encourager.
Peter has been a great asset to me, my staff and the Senate throughout his service to Idaho and the Nation, and I will miss him greatly. However, I wish my friend and his wife Kris great happiness throughout his retirement. I am hopeful that retirement will provide them more time to spend with their family, including their two children Katy and Paul, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren. Peter's retirement is a well-deserved respite for his years of hard work for Idahoans and our country. Thank you, Peter, for your great service and extraordinary friendship.
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