nearly a decade ago as a senate staffer working for jean carnahan. the contact was both direct, our staff work closely with theirs on a variety of issues. we attended the excellent d.l.c. policy retreats. but it was also indirect. our missouri police departments called us frequently about the cops program, young poem called about america corps, the earned income tax credit, d.l.c. programs but without ever mentioning the d.l.c. the political current al created was so strong that it was mainstream and seminal. in a place lick missouri he could provide direction for national leaders like dick gephardt, high profile governors lick mel carnahan, for jean carnahan during her 10 newer in the senate or state legislators like me navigating the rock y waters of a tricky political climate. i know over time he has guided every one of my political heroes including our former president. al has given us through the d.l.c. a consistently invaluable repository of ideas for the laboratory of the 50 states. through the national conversation, the new d.l.c. fellows pro

direction for national leaders like dick gephardt, high-profile governors like mel carnahan, for jean carnahan in her tenure in the senate and state legislators like me, 1/2 gatting the -- navigating the rocky waters of a local political career. al has given us through the d.l.c. a consistently invaluable repository of ideas for the laboratory of the 50 states. through the national conversations, the new d.l.c. fellows program, or simply through the d.l.c. website, he invites us in and sends us out armed with ideas that strengthen our communities, keep our family safe, implement fiscal discipline, ect our children and spur on economic development. through the decade i have known him, just one small chapter, i know, i have witnessed the genius of his short and long-term vision, a powerful reminder of the capacity of one person to impact systemic change. with his magnetic intensity, he is constantly seeking and finding new challenges, pushing the frontier a little farther. now, of course, the responsibility is ours to meet his challenge. the tremendous challenge of al from to move beyond politic