A resolution designating Jean M. Manning as Chief Counsel for Employment Emeritus of the United States Senate.

Mr. President, I congratulate Jean Manning on her retirement from the Senate and thank her for her 21 years of dedicated service. Her wise counsel will be missed in the Senate. That is why the Senate recently passed S. Res. 391 designating Jean Manning as Chief Counsel for Employment Emeritus of the United States Senate.

Jean grew up in the heart of Chicago and received three degrees from the University of Illinois--a B.A., an M.B.A., and a J.D. While pursuing her law degree, Jean was a member and the articles editor of the University of Illinois Law Review and was awarded the Rickert Award for Excellence in Legal Writing. Not forgetting where she came from, today Jean remains very active at the University of Illinois, where she is a member of the University of Illinois Foundation and of the College of Law Board of Advisors, serving as president at one time.

In the early 1990s, Congress as a workplace underwent a sea change when all major employment laws became applicable. In 1993, following a nationwide search, Jean was tapped to establish and manage the Office of the Senate Chief Counsel for Employment. She and her staff helped guide Senate offices as these employment laws were implemented and has continued to assist our offices to this day. Jean has counseled Senate offices to ensure compliance with the Equal Pay Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and many other laws. It was her responsibility to see that Senate offices understood and followed employment laws so that Senate employees have the rights and protections the laws provide.

To Jean's credit, the Office of the Senate Chief Counsel for Employment

has earned a stellar reputation throughout the Senate. Her office provides impartial and discreet legal advice, training, and representation to Senate committees, support services, and the 247 Senators who have served in this body since Jean's hiring. Jean and the attorneys under her supervision have resolved countless administrative matters within the Senate and have always been ready to assist with any question a Senate office may have on employment matters. Considering the Senate is comprised of some 150 offices--Member, committee, and support services--this is no small task.

Jean also has represented Senate offices at all levels of the Federal court system, including the U.S. Supreme Court. And since its inception 21 years ago, the Office of the Senate Chief Counsel for Employment has never lost a case.

I thank Jean for her exceptional service to the Senate. The Senate is losing a great legal advocate, educator and source of institutional knowledge. We will miss her, though I will be among the many who will gladly welcome her back when she returns to Illinois.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration en bloc of the following resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 388, S. Res. 389, S. Res. 390, S. Res. 391, and S. Res. 392.

Mr. President, this resolution concerns a subpoena for documents and deposition testimony in a civil action pending in New Jersey Federal District Court. Plaintiffs in the case own and manage five assisted-living facilities in Connecticut and are in a labor dispute with the employees of those facilities. They have sued the union representing those employees for allegedly criminal and fradulent tactics in this labor dispute.

Plaintiffs have sent a subpoena to Senator Blumenthal seeking testimony and documents involving a broad scope of matters beyond merely the underlying labor dispute. Senator Blumenthal has agreed to seek Senate authorization to provide written communications between his office and the union regarding the underlying labor dispute. However, the Senator believes this subpoena presents an undue burden as it is overly broad in scope and seeks material that is not relevant to the lawsuit, and also encroaches on areas subject to privilege, and therefore objects to producing other documents and to the request for deposition testimony.

This resolution would authorize the production of documents from Senator Blumenthal's office except where a privilege or objection is asserted. The resolution also authorizes the Senate Legal Counsel to represent Senator Blumenthal in this matter.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate.