Recognizing McLean Piner

Floor Speech

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Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, I take great joy today to recognize the dedication, loyalty, and hard work of my legislative director and healthcare adviser, McLean Piner, and to congratulate him on a well- earned next chapter he will soon embark upon.

I have known McLean his entire life. McLean comes from a great family who live just around the corner from me in our neighborhood in Greenville, North Carolina. My wife and I are great friends with his parents, and our children played and went to school together for many years.

In fact, only one issue ever caused any consternation between the Murphys and the Piners, and it was their inexplicable, and, frankly, despicable, allegiance to Duke University sports programs. Such a fine family, but such misguided loyalty. At least they know that the great basketball coach, Coach K, lost his final game to UNC. Fortunately, this one personal impediment, which I hope one day he will grow out of, has not impacted his character nor will it impede his career.

McLean first began working for me back in 2016 as an intern while I served in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Not possessed with a loud voice, nonetheless, he was still a hard worker, tenacious, and a joy to have around.

When I came to Congress in 2019, I was able to wrangle him away from a job downtown to come work for my office. Since then, he has put his head down and continued to earn a place of very high respect in Washington.

Over nearly 8 years, McLean distinguished himself, working his way up from legislative correspondent all the way to legislative director, a role he has now held for 3 years.

He quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with when it came to healthcare issues. As a physician, my chief focus in Congress has been one of making healthcare accessible, affordable, and of the highest quality. I have fought for patients and those who deliver their care.

We have endured close to 7 years of late-night votes, painful policy briefings, unconscionably long markups, and spirited hearings in the Ways and Means Committee. Yet, through countless meetings, briefs, and events, McLean has been there every step of the way with me. We have learned from each other, and his counsel is one I have learned to appreciate and trust.

At the beginning of this session, he came to me and told me he was being recruited by the administration for a job there. I told him no, he wasn't ready, and he had more to learn. Now he is ready. As all good mentors should do, when it is time, they should let their proteges fly away.

McLean will soon depart Team Murphy for the next chapter of his career, an enormous and deserving leap forward over at the Department of Health and Human Services as Deputy Assistant Secretary.

With gratitude and a heart full of pride, I honor and congratulate McLean on this remarkable run we have had and his very, very bright future.

It is not often a Member possesses a staff member that has shown such loyalty, thoughtfulness, and dedication as McLean Piner. Washington can be a very difficult environment to operate in, especially those new to politics.

McLean has developed a keen sense of what is necessary to deliver meaningful change to improve American healthcare. His intellect, ability to connect with others, and communication have made him an indispensable asset to anyone who wants to get down to business and make an impact.

While I wish I could keep McLean in my office as long as I have the privilege to serve in this body, it is time now for him to move on. I have no doubt that he will be successful in his new perch, continuing to serve the American public.

This is not a good-bye, but it is a celebration. It is a heartfelt congratulations that I salute a special individual who deserves great recognition and will continue to impress beyond my imagination.

I give my congratulations to McLean. I wish him well in his next chapter and next journey. I thank him for his service in my office on behalf of the constituents of eastern North Carolina.

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