HONORING THE SERVICE OF RICH RIMKUNAS

On 2017-04-06, Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE SERVICE OF RICH RIMKUNAS" in the House.

HONORING THE SERVICE OF RICH RIMKUNAS

Congressional Record, Volume 163 Issue 60 (Thursday, April 6, 2017) [Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 60 (Thursday, April 6, 2017)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E484] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE SERVICE OF RICH RIMKUNAS _____ HON. NANCY PELOSI of california in the house of representatives Thursday, April 6, 2017 Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish Rich Rimkunas congratulations for his many long years of service to Congress. Rich Rimkunas has had a career filled with outstanding achievement at the Congressional Research Service. After nearly 37 years of service, Rich will be retiring from CRS on Friday, April 28th. When Rich joined CRS in 1980, he was an analyst working on a broad array of social policy issues. Initially, he worked on such issues as child nutrition, poverty, social security, social services for the aged, and unemployment insurance. Rich co-created and co-authored a widely circulated CRS report on federal social welfare spending. He was also a co-author and contributor to several chapters in the House Ways and Means Committee print Children in Poverty, which provided a detailed look at the incidence and characteristics of child poverty in the United States. Rich ultimately became heavily involved in providing research and analytical support to the Congress on many health policy issues, including analyses of aggregate national health expenditures, the Medicare hospital prospective payment system, the Medicare Advantage program, and Medicare catastrophic drug costs. Additionally, he has worked on numerous issues related to Medicaid. He both directed a team of CRS analysts as well as contributed his own analysis to the Medicaid ``Yellow Book,'' a 1988 House Ways and Means Committee print that provided a comprehensive analysis of the Medicaid program as it existed at the time. Rich also managed the 1993 update of the ``Yellow Book.'' Rich's analyses have typically involved quantitative research methodologies, modeling techniques, and the use of complex databases. Rich has excelled at developing approaches for simulating the effects of potential changes to federal benefits and grant allocation formulas. In addition to the direct impact his research and analytical work has had on federal policies, Rich has made equally important contributions within CRS in managerial roles. During his tenure at CRS, he has served as Section Research Manager (SRM) of the Methodology Section, the Research Development Section, the Research Development and Income Support Section, and the Health Insurance and Financing Section. During his tenure as an SRM, Rich helped manage CRS work on the 1996 welfare reform law and the 2003 overhaul of Medicare in the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act. Rich helped manage an inter-disciplinary team numbering about 3 dozen CRS analysts that provided legislative support during the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Throughout his career, Rich has served as a role model for the highest level of CRS service to Congress, upholding the Service's standards of authoritativeness, objectivity and confidentiality. He is known within CRS for his attention to detail, methodological strength, and creative approaches toward conducting analyses. His input is sought on a great many research efforts spanning virtually all of the major domestic social policy issue areas that Congress deals with. Rich is renowned for his tremendous work ethic and energizing presence. Those who have worked closely with him appreciate his ability to keep his sense of humor even during the most stressful times. In recent years, Rich has served as the Deputy Assistant Director of CRS's Domestic Social Policy Division. In that role he has mentored and helped develop many of the division's managers, analysts and research assistants. He has also played a central role in reviewing written work produced by the division, helping to ensure its accuracy, completeness and quality. Moreover, in his work as a division manager, Rich has served on numerous advisory panels that have recommended organizational practices and policies for CRS, many of which have been adopted. Rich's policy expertise has been broadly recognized. He is regularly sought for his expertise at professional meetings and conferences. He was nominated to the National Academy of Social Insurance in 2002 and has served on the steering committee of the National Health Forum. He has also been recognized with numerous Library of Congress Special Achievement Awards. Rich has devoted nearly his entire distinguished professional career to supporting the work of the Congress and to helping build and strengthen CRS and forward its mission. Congratulations to him, and I wish him many long and happy years in retirement. ____________________