New Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has asked the late Chairman Edward Kennedy’s (D-Mass.) staff to stay and work for him.In a meeting with Kennedy’s committee staff late Monday afternoon, Harkin “talked about how much he loved and admired Sen. Kennedy and what an honor it was for him to take over as chair,— said one senior Kennedy staffer.The staffer added, Harkin “said it was a daunting challenge, and there’s a great agenda ahead. Then he asked all Kennedy staffers to stay aboard to help move that agenda forward.—Additionally, Harkin took pains to meet with each staffer individually. Harkin took over the HELP panel last week, ceding his Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry gavel to Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.).