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Floor Speech
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Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I often come to the floor to talk about milestones in the history of this institution, the U.S. Senate. Today, I pay tribute to a member of our Senate family who has devoted half a century of service to this institution.
In 1976, Mario D'Angelo was hired by the Senate Sergeant at Arms to manage all barbershops in the U.S. Capitol, including the Senate barbershop. As manager, he supervised a remodel of what was then called the ``Senators only'' barbershop, before it closed in 1981. I think, today, we wonder: Why would they ever have a ``Senators only'' barbershop? So, finally, Senators had to sit with every other client to get a haircut.
Prior to his job in the U.S. Senate, Mario worked briefly on the House side, helping prepare mail and other documents for distribution.
Now, Mario was born in Italy. You might say he was born with a pair of silver scissors in his hand. His dad Domenico was also a barber.
Mario came to America at the age of 12. Eventually, he followed in his father's footsteps. For nearly a decade, Mario worked as a barber with his dad and uncle, before his employment here on U.S. Capitol Hill.
At some point in the 1990s, the Senate barbershop merged with the women's beauty shop, located in the basement of the Russell Senate Office Building. To this day, Senate Hair Care serves lawmakers, employees, and residents here on Capitol Hill.
I have been a regular customer of Mario's for many, many years. With my busy schedule in Washington and traveling back and forth to Iowa when the Senate is not in session, I am grateful to be able to get a quick haircut. I don't like to waste time like, hopefully, my fellow Senators don't want to. And when I sit down in Mario's barbershop, I know I can count on quick, competent service, delivered with professionalism and precision.
Some Americans think Congress gets free haircuts. I can assure you that is not the case. I hope the Iowans that come to my town meetings and ask me a question, from time to time--they get this question off the internet: How come you Senators don't pay Social Security taxes? And how come you get free haircuts?
I have been telling them for 45 years that has never been the case, but they still tend to believe what they read on the internet.
So, finally, I am here to, once again, congratulate Mario on 50 years of service here in the U.S. Senate. I consider Mario a friend. I have no doubt that his work ethic carries on through his sons Michael and Nicholas and four grandchildren: Alexander, Isabella, Gabriel, and Lio.
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