[Senate Document 106-22]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





                         Paul Douglas Coverdell

                          LATE A SENATOR FROM

                                GEORGIA

                                   a



                           MEMORIAL ADDRESSES

                           AND OTHER TRIBUTES





               





                                                         S. Doc 106-22


                                 Memorial Addresses

                                 and Other Tributes

                                 HELD IN THE SENATE

                            AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                OF THE UNITED STATES

                           TOGETHER WITH MEMORIAL SERVICE

                                    IN EULOGY OF

                               PAUL DOUGLAS COVERDELL

                      Late a Senator from Georgia

                             One Hundred Sixth Congress

                                   Second Session

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                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
                           WASHINGTON : 2000       








                            Compiled under the direction

                                       of the

                             Joint Committee on Printing






                                      CONTENTS

                                                                   Page

             Biography...........................................   vii
             Proceedings in the Senate:
                Tributes by Senators:
                    Abraham, Spencer, of Michigan................    34
                    Akaka, Daniel, of Hawaii.....................    90
                    Allard, Wayne, of Colorado...................   121
                    Baucus, Max, of Montana......................    77
                    Bennett, Robert F., of Utah..................     9
                    Boxer, Barbara, of California................    27
                    Breaux, John B., of Louisiana................    48
                    Brownback, Sam, of Kansas.................... 7, 32
                    Burns, Conrad R., of Montana.................    81
                    Byrd, Robert, of West Virginia...............    98
                    Campbell, Ben Nighthorse, of Colorado........    70
                    Chafee, Lincoln D., of Rhode Island..........    88
                    Cleland, Max, of Georgia.....................    16
                    Cochran, Thad, of Mississippi................   112
                    Collins, Susan M., of Maine.................. 4, 89
                    Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota................    71
                    Craig, Larry, of Idaho....................... 4, 40
                    Crapo, Mike, of Idaho........................   129
                    Daschle, Tom, of South Dakota................    21
                    DeWine, Mike, of Ohio...................... 19, 109
                    Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut.........    95
                    Domenici, Pete V., of New Mexico.............    61
                    Dorgan, Byron L., of North Dakota............    43
                    Durbin, Richard J., of Illinois..............    76
                    Edwards, John, of North Carolina.............   124
                    Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming.................    90
                    Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin...........    94
                    Feinstein, Dianne, of California.............    23
                    Fitzgerald, Peter G., of Illinois............    75
                    Frist, William, of Tennessee.................    12
                    Gorton, Slade, of Washington.................   108
                    Gramm, Phil, of Texas........................    22
                    Grams, Rod, of Minnesota.....................    42
                    Grassley, Charles E., of Iowa................    94
                    Gregg, Judd, of New Hampshire................    68
                    Hagel, Chuck, of Nebraska....................    59
                    Harkin, Tom, of Iowa.........................    57
                    Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.....................    36
                    Helms, Jesse, of North Carolina..............    60
                    Hollings, Ernest F., of South Carolina.......    87
                    Hutchinson, Tim, of Arkansas.................    41
                    Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas............ 18, 113
                    Inhofe, James M., of Oklahoma................    26
                    Jeffords, James M., of Vermont...............    33
                    Johnson, Tim, of South Dakota................   107
                    Kennedy, Edward M., of Massachusetts.........    85
                    Kohl, Herb, of Wisconsin.....................    16
                    Kyl, Jon, of Arizona....................... 11, 106
                    Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana..............   124
                    Lautenberg, Frank R., of New Jersey......... 88, 93
                    Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont................    83
                    Levin, Carl, of Michigan.....................    78
                    Lieberman, Joseph I., of Connecticut.........    55
                    Lincoln, Blanche, of Arkansas................   120
                    Lott, Trent, of Mississippi.............. 3, 5, 100
                    Lugar, Richard, of Indiana...................    63
                    Mack, Connie, of Florida.....................   110
                    McCain, John, of Arizona.....................    46
                    McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky................    30
                    Mikulski, Barbara A., of Maryland............    70
                    Miller, Zell, of Georgia.....................   125
                    Moynihan, Daniel Patrick, of New York........ 7, 86
                    Murkowski, Frank H., of Alaska...............    47
                    Murray, Patty, of Washington.................    72
                    Nickles, Don, of Oklahoma.................... 7, 79
                    Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island..................    67
                    Reid, Harry, of Nevada.......................     8
                    Roth, William V., Jr., of Delaware...........    53
                    Santorum, Rick, of Pennsylvania..............   118
                    Sarbanes, Paul S., of Maryland...............    73
                    Sessions, Jeff, of Alabama........ 72, 81, 116, 129
                    Shelby, Richard C., of Alabama...............    74
                    Smith, Bob, of New Hampshire.................    49
                    Smith, Gordon, of Oregon.....................   127
                    Snowe, Olympia J., of Maine..................    24
                    Specter, Arlen, of Pennsylvania..............    28
                    Stevens, Ted, of Alaska......................    66
                    Thomas, Craig, of Wyoming....................   105
                    Thurmond, Strom, of South Carolina...........    14
                    Voinovich, George, of Ohio...................    82
                    Warner, John W., of Virginia.................    45
                    Wellstone, Paul, of Minnesota................    20
             Proceedings in the House of Representatives:
                Tributes by Representatives:
                    Barr, Bob, of Georgia..................... 133, 148
                    Bishop, Sanford D., Jr., of Georgia..........   139
                    Blunt, Roy, of Missouri.............. 131, 134, 159
                    Chambliss, Saxby, of Georgia.............. 133, 141
                    Collins, Mac, of Georgia.................. 134, 146
                    Deal, Nathan, of Georgia.................. 132, 144
                    Dreier, David, of California.................   156
                    Fowler, Tillie K., of Florida................   154
                    Gibbons, Jim, of Nevada......................   135
                    Gilman, Benjamin A., of New York.............   155
                    Goss, Porter J., of Florida..................   162
                    Isakson, Johnny, of Georgia............... 132, 150
                    Kingston, Jack, of Georgia................ 134, 151
                    Lewis, John, of Georgia................... 132, 135
                    Linder, John, of Georgia.................. 131, 137
                    McKinney, Cynthia A., of Georgia.............   143
                    Norwood, Charlie, of Georgia.................   147
                    Rangel, Charles B., of New York..............   133
                    Souder, Mark E., of Indiana..................   163
                    Wamp, Zach, of Tennessee.....................   158
             Memorial Service....................................   165


                                      BIOGRAPHY

               Senator Paul Douglas Coverdell was born in Des Moines, 
             IA, January 20, 1939. He graduated Lee's Summit High 
             School (MO) in 1957 and earned a B.A. in journalism from 
             the University of Missouri in 1961. He subsequently 
             received an honorary Ph.D. in business administration from 
             Piedmont College in 1994 and an honorary J.D. from Mercer 
             University in 1995.
               After serving as a captain in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 
             1964, Senator Coverdell returned to Georgia to help his 
             parents turn a small family business into a successful, 
             national financial product marketing firm, Coverdell & 
             Company, serving as its president. In 1970, while 
             continuing to run the family business, he was elected to 
             the Georgia State Senate, where he was elected Senate 
             Minority Leader in 1974, a post he held for 15 years. He 
             served as chair of the Georgia Republican Party from 1985 
             to 1987 and as chair of the Southern Steering Committee, 
             George Bush for President, 1987-1988. In 1989 he became 
             the Director of the U.S. Peace Corps under President 
             George Bush, where during the next 2 years he redefined 
             the agency's mission by addressing the needs created by 
             the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe. His vision is 
             being carried forward by the Peace Corps to this day. 
             Senator Coverdell was elected as a Republican to the U.S. 
             Senate on November 14, 1992.
               After joining the U.S. Senate in 1993, Senator Coverdell 
             emerged as one of the most ardent defenders of American 
             freedom. In recognition of his hard work on behalf of 
             Georgia and the Nation, Senator Coverdell was elected by 
             his colleagues to a Senate majority leadership post, 
             giving Georgia an important voice in how the government 
             conducts its business.
               Senator Coverdell believed that our freedom is under 
             attack by the international drug Mafia who pollute and 
             corrupt our children with drugs. As the most recent former 
             Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee with 
             jurisdiction over international narcotics and terrorism, 
             he led the fight against drugs, winning increased funding 
             for enhanced law enforcement efforts along U.S. borders. 
             At home, he initiated Operation Drug-Free Georgia, which 
             represents one of the best examples of effective 
             cooperation among parents, teachers, students, and their 
             communities in the Nation.
               Senator Coverdell believed that freedom is nurtured by a 
             well-educated citizenry. He served as Chairman of the 
             Senate Republican Task Force on Education and introduced 
             the Senate Republicans' sweeping education reform bill, 
             The Safe and Affordable Schools Act. That legislation 
             provides schools, communities, and States the tools they 
             need to fight drugs and violence in the classroom, and 
             provides measures to ensure that all children--regardless 
             of income--have access to a good education from 
             kindergarten through college. Earlier this year, Senator 
             Coverdell's tax relief proposals making college more 
             affordable became law.
               Senator Coverdell believed that the freedom and means to 
             raise, educate and care for families are threatened by a 
             government that takes more than 50 percent of the average 
             family's income in taxes and cost of government. As a 
             member of the Senate Finance Committee and Small Business 
             Committee, Senator Coverdell consistently fought for lower 
             taxes and a fairer tax code. In August 1997, he won 
             passage of his bill to outlaw the practice by rogue IRS 
             agents of ``snooping'' through the private tax files of 
             ordinary citizens.
               As Chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on 
             Marketing, Inspection and Product Promotion, Senator 
             Coverdell successfully fought for changes that promote 
             Georgia's contribution to this Nation's outstanding 
             tradition of agricultural exports and the family farm. He 
             recently secured passage of his proposal to increase 
             research on how to improve food safety.
               Senator Coverdell believed that freedom is enhanced by 
             ensuring that the decisions that affect our lives are made 
             by families, local communities, and charitable 
             organizations whenever possible and then worked to promote 
             the spirit of volunteerism. His Volunteer Protection Act, 
             which shields volunteers from outrageous lawsuits 
             involving charitable and nonprofit activities, was signed 
             into law by President Clinton in June 1997.
               Thoughout his years of public service, Senator Coverdell 
             was honored at local, State, and national levels for his 
             efforts to improve the quality of life for all Americans 
             in the areas of health care, education, tax reform, and 
             small business growth, and for his attention to 
             maintaining the balance between corporate and community 
             interests. Highlights from a long list of awards spanning 
             more than two decades of public service include: Second 
             Sidney Marcus Public Service Award (Atlanta Fulton County 
             League of Women Voters, 1985); Summa Cum Laude 
             presentation for public service (Georgia State University, 
             1987) and the Legislative Service Award (Medical 
             Association of Georgia, 1989). In 1990, Senator Coverdell 
             received the Man of the Day award from Vanity Fair 
             Magazine, and the Oklahoma Foundation Award for 
             Excellence. Recognition followed from the Americans for 
             Tax Reform in 1996 (Friend of the Taxpayer) and from the 
             104th Congress, U.S. Chamber of Commerce 1995-1996 (Spirit 
             of Enterprise). The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also 
             presented Senator Coverdell with the Taxpayer Appreciation 
             Award in 1997, and he received the Guardian of Small 
             Business Award from the National Federation of Independent 
             Business in 1994, 1996, and in 1998.
               Senator Coverdell died Tuesday, July 18, 2000, after 
             undergoing surgery for a cerebral hemorrhage at an Atlanta 
             hospital. He was married to the former Nancy Nally, of 
             Sandy Springs, Georgia. Their parents and families reside 
             in Atlanta, Decatur, Sandy Springs, and Marietta, Georgia.



 
    MEMORIAL ADDRESSES AND OTHER TRIBUTES FOR PAUL DOUGLAS COVERDELL    



                              Proceedings in the Senate

                                                  Monday, July 17, 2000

               The Senate met at 12 noon and was called to order by the 
             President pro tempore [Mr. Thurmond].

                                       prayer

               The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie, offered the 
             following prayer:
               We praise You, dear God. You have promised never to 
             leave or forsake us. Our confidence is in You and not 
             ourselves. We come to You in prayer, not trusting our own 
             goodness but solely in Your grace. You are our joy when we 
             get down, our strength when we are weak, our courage when 
             we vacillate. You are our security in a world of change 
             and turmoil. Even when we forget You in the rush of life, 
             You never forget us. Thank You for Your faithfulness.
               At this moment we claim that faithfulness for our 
             friend, Senator Paul Coverdell, as he undergoes surgery. 
             Bless him, care for him, and heal him.
               And now dear God, filled with wonder, love, and 
             gratitude, we commit this week to live and work for You, 
             inviting the indwelling power of Your spirit. Bless the 
             Senators. Control their minds and give them Your 
             discernment. Give them boldness to take stands for what 
             You have revealed is the application of Your righteousness 
             and justice for our Nation.
               Thank You for the privilege of living this week for You. 
             In Your all powerful name. Amen.

               Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I express my appreciation to 
             our Chaplain of the Senate, Lloyd John Ogilvie, for his 
             remembering our friend and my most trusted confidante, 
             most reliable lieutenant, the Senator from Georgia, Paul 
             Coverdell. I do not know of a Senator who works any harder 
             or has a more indomitable spirit. I noticed particularly 
             Friday afternoon how happy he was as he took leave of this 
             Chamber because of the vote that we had just taken, 
             realizing that he would have the opportunity to be home in 
             Georgia on Friday afternoon and on Saturday. Our thoughts 
             and our prayers are with him as he apparently undergoes a 
             surgical procedure at this hour. I thank the Chaplain for 
             his prayer.
               Coincidentally, this weekend I also had a little more 
             time than I anticipated and was able to spend some time 
             thinking about our country and reading some books. One of 
             those that I read was ``Going For The Max,'' by Senator 
             Max Cleland, also of Georgia. It is a really inspirational 
             book about his life and his experience as a Vietnam 
             veteran and the recovery period he went through and the 
             inspiration from things he had learned in his life--12 
             principles of life that he had learned and on which he 
             relies. I talked to him this morning to tell him how much 
             I enjoyed his book; that I was inspired by it. And he said 
             he was at that very moment standing there looking at 
             Piedmont Hospital where our friend, Senator Coverdell, is, 
             and he was saying a prayer for him. He offered to cover 
             any meetings or appointments that needed to be done today 
             or this week by Senator Coverdell.
               That is the kind of real love and appreciation and 
             bipartisanship we need more of in this institution and in 
             our lives. So I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to 
             get a copy of ``Going For The Max.'' It will be an 
             inspiration to you.

               Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, before I deliver my remarks on 
             the marriage tax penalty, for just a moment, let me say 
             that our colleague, Paul Coverdell, is struggling at this 
             moment. Our prayers and thoughts are with him and his wife 
             Nancy as he struggles with his health in an Atlanta 
             hospital. He is a champion of the issue of marriage 
             penalty tax relief.

                         CONCERN FOR SENATOR PAUL COVERDELL

               Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I want to express the sorrow 
             that is in my heart, and I know in the hearts of all of my 
             colleagues and, indeed, everybody who works in the Senate, 
             about the sad news of the unexpected ill health of our 
             friend and colleague, Senator Paul Coverdell of Georgia. 
             My heart and my prayers go out to him, his family, his 
             staff, his constituents, and all of the many people who 
             care so much about our good friend. He will be in our 
             hearts and in our prayers. I know I speak for all of my 
             colleagues when I wish him a speedy recovery.

                                                 Tuesday, July 18, 2000

               The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie, offered the 
             following prayer:
               Gracious Father, You have all authority in Heaven and on 
             Earth. You are sovereign Lord of our lives and of our 
             Nation. We submit to Your authority. Bless the Senators as 
             they serve You together in this Senate Chamber and as they 
             recommit to You all that they do and say this day. Make it 
             a productive day. Give them positive attitudes that exude 
             hope. In each difficult impasse, help them to seek Your 
             guidance. Draw them closer to You in whose presence they 
             will discover that, in spite of differences in 
             particulars, they are here to serve You and our beloved 
             Nation together. Gracious Lord, You have made this Senate 
             a family, and we care for each other. Together we 
             intercede for the needs of our friend, Paul Coverdell, and 
             ask You to guide and keep him this day. All praise and 
             glory and honor be to You, Gracious Lord. Amen.

                   THE DEATH OF SENATOR PAUL COVERDELL, OF GEORGIA

               Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I have one of the most 
             difficult things to do now that I have had to do since I 
             have served as Majority Leader of the Senate, and that is 
             to announce that our beloved colleague from Georgia, Paul 
             Coverdell, passed away today at approximately 6:10 p.m. in 
             the Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Paul has been a 
             close friend and confidant, an outstanding Member of this 
             body, and we will miss him greatly.
               At the appropriate time, I will join the rest of my 
             colleagues in trying to make appropriate remarks to pay 
             tribute to Paul, but for now I cannot do any more than 
             just make this announcement. I do want to say to Nancy 
             Coverdell and the family that we extend our sympathy and 
             our love. Our hearts are breaking also.
               Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk and ask 
             for its immediate consideration; further, that the 
             resolution be read.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The resolution will be stated by 
             title.

                Senate Resolution 338--Relative to the Death of the 
               Honorable Paul Coverdell, a Senator from the State of 
                                       Georgia

               Mr. LOTT (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Abraham, Mr. 
             Akaka, Mr. Allard, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mr. 
             Bennett, Mr. Biden, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Bond, Mrs. Boxer, 
             Mr. Breaux, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Bunning, Mr. 
             Burns, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Campbell, Mr. L. Chafee, Mr. Cleland, 
             Mr. Cochran, Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Craig, Mr. 
             Crapo, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. 
             Durbin, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. 
             Feinstein, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Frist, Mr. Gorton, Mr. 
             Graham, Mr. Gramm, Mr. Grams, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Gregg, Mr. 
             Hagel, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Helms, Mr. Hollings, Mr. 
             Hutchinson, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. 
             Jeffords, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerrey, Mr. Kerry, 
             Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
             Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Lugar, 
             Mr. Mack, Mr. McCain, Mr. McConnell, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. 
             Moynihan, Mr. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nickles, Mr. 
             Reed, Mr. Reid, Mr. Robb, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, 
             Mr. Roth, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Schumer, Mr. 
             Sessions, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Smith of New Hampshire, Mr. 
             Smith of Oregon, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Mr. Stevens, Mr. 
             Thomas, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. 
             Voinovich, Mr. Warner, Mr. Wellstone, and Mr. Wyden) 
             submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
             and agreed to:
               The legislative clerk read as follows:

               A resolution (S. Res. 338),
               Whereas the Honorable Paul Coverdell served Georgia in 
             the United States Senate with devotion and distinction;
               Whereas the Honorable Paul Coverdell served all the 
             people of the United States as Director of the Peace 
             Corps;
               Whereas his efforts on behalf of Georgians and all 
             Americans earned him the esteem and high regard of his 
             colleagues; and
               Whereas his tragic and untimely death has deprived his 
             State and Nation of an outstanding lawmaker and public 
             servant: Now, therefore, be it
               Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow 
             and deep regret the announcement of the death of the 
             Honorable Paul Coverdell, a Senator from the State of 
             Georgia.
               Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate 
             these resolutions to the House of Representatives and 
             transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the family of the 
             deceased.
               Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it stand 
             adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of 
             the deceased Senator.

               Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
             all Members of the Senate be made co-sponsors of this 
             resolution, and further that the resolution be agreed to 
             and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.
               The resolution (S. Res. 338) was agreed to.
               The preamble was agreed to.

               Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we will announce for the Senate 
             and all those who knew and loved Paul, the details of the 
             services for him when they are available. We do not have 
             that information at this time. I presume sometime tomorrow 
             we will know that. And also I want colleagues to know that 
             they are encouraged to make statements of sympathy during 
             the proceedings tomorrow when we are in session, if they 
             feel so inclined. But, as is the tradition, we will 
             designate a specific time at a later date so that all 
             Senators will have time to appropriately express their 
             feelings for this fine Senator.
               I ask the Assistant Majority Leader to conclude our 
             proceedings this afternoon.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New York.

               Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, might I join with our 
             distinguished Majority Leader in expressing the grief we 
             all feel for a man of peace who did so much in his life, 
             and brilliantly, as Director of the Peace Corps under 
             President Bush. We know him so well and miss him so much 
             and can only share in the thought that he rests in peace.

               Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, the announcement the 
             Majority Leader just made that our friend and colleague, 
             Paul Coverdell, passed away at 6:10 p.m. today is a very 
             sad statement. Paul Coverdell was an outstanding Senator 
             from the State of Georgia. This is Georgia's loss, but it 
             is also a loss for all of our country.
               I join with my colleagues in expressing our sympathy to 
             Nancy Coverdell, to the Coverdell family, to all the 
             friends and associates of Paul Coverdell, for he was truly 
             an outstanding Senator. He served this body with great 
             distinction, with great humor and leadership. Frankly, he 
             was a leader in everything he did, certainly in the Peace 
             Corps and his service in the Senate. He will truly be 
             missed, not just by Georgians but, frankly, by all 
             Americans.

               Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, before we close, I ask 
             that we have a moment of silent prayer for the family of 
             Paul Coverdell.
               (Moment of silence.)

               Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I thank my friend and 
             colleague from Kansas, and I wish to reiterate the 
             statement that all of us are praying for the Coverdell 
             family.
               Mr. President, if there is no further business to come 
             before the Senate, I now ask unanimous consent that the 
             Senate stand in adjournment under the provisions of S. 
             Res. 338, out of respect for our colleague, Senator Paul 
             Coverdell.

                                               Wednesday, July 19, 2000

               The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie, offered the 
             following prayer:
               Gracious Father, we need You. Our hearts are filled with 
             grief over the death of Senator Paul Coverdell. The Senate 
             has lost a great friend, fellow leader, distinguished 
             American, and outstanding legislator. We praise You for 
             his intelligence, his integrity, and his intentionality. 
             No one worked harder, longer, with greater commitment than 
             this truly good man. He spelled love l-o-y-a-l-t-y and 
             gained the respect, admiration, and esteem of Senators and 
             staff alike. Lord, we will miss the Senator's smile, his 
             warmth, his caring concern. You have enriched our lives 
             through this kind and gracious Georgian. Bless his wife 
             Nancy. Comfort her and give her courage this morning. 
             Tenderly watch over his dear mother and family. Uplift the 
             Senator's staff whose faithfulness and admiration he was 
             given with such enthusiasm.
               Now Father, we reaffirm our conviction that death is not 
             an ending, but a transition in eternal life, and only a 
             small part of the whole of eternity. So help us to live 
             our lives more fully, more selflessly for the cause of 
             democracy, and more completely in trust in You. In You we 
             live and move and have our being--forever. Amen.

               Mr. REID. Mr. President, I learned shortly before 
             Senator Lott came to the floor last night that Senator 
             Coverdell had passed away. I felt it was in my best 
             interest to leave at that time and not be present on the 
             floor, as I usually am.
               It was unique, in that I am in the minority--Senator 
             Coverdell was in the majority--that I got to know him as 
             well as I did. I always knew that things were moving along 
             and that we were going to get legislation completed when I 
             would look over and Senator Coverdell had been called into 
             the Chamber by Senator Lott to help move legislation.
               As I look back, I remember the bankruptcy legislation. 
             We started out with a little over 300 amendments on that 
             legislation. Everyone thought it was futile to even try to 
             pass it, but, of course, Senator Coverdell came in and 
             worked with me and the Senators on his side and my side, 
             and we were able to get that legislation cleared and 
             basically completed. That was the story for many, many 
             different pieces of legislation.
               I got to know him. He was very calm and deliberate and 
             extremely courteous and polite--a real gentleman. I think 
             it speaks volumes to recognize that the first person 
             Senator Lott called upon when there was trouble on the 
             floor was Paul Coverdell. I think it speaks volumes to 
             indicate that Paul Coverdell was Governor Bush's No. 1 
             person in the Senate.
               He was someone whom the people of Georgia will miss; 
             this country will miss; the Senate will miss; and whom I 
             will miss.
               I have the honor of working on the minority side to help 
             move legislation along. He was a very good legislator, in 
             addition, obviously, to being such a good friend to 
             everyone.
               I express my sympathy to Nancy and his staff. Speaking 
             for the entire minority, we will miss a great legislator.

               Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, when my constituents ask me 
             what the nicest thing is about being a Senator, what I 
             enjoy the most, I have a ready answer: ``It is the people, 
             the people we meet, the opportunities we have to interact 
             with some of the most extraordinary individuals throughout 
             the world.''
               When I say that, my constituents immediately think of 
             the great names: Presidents of the United States, 
             Presidents of other countries, famous Prime Ministers. 
             Schoolchildren look at me and say: ``Have you ever met 
             President Clinton?'' They are always a little in awe when 
             I say ``yes.'' Then others, when I tell them of having met 
             President Gorbachev, President Mubarak, or Chairman Arafat 
             or some of the other names they read about all the time, 
             say: ``Well, we can understand why you think that the 
             people you get to meet is the fun part of the job and the 
             most extraordinary benefit that comes from being a 
             Senator.''
               That is true--meeting these famous people is something 
             of a trip and a great opportunity.
               I always explain to them that the great privilege is not 
             only meeting the famous names. It is meeting my fellow 
             Senators. This is an extraordinary body, filled with 
             extraordinary individuals, many of whose names never get 
             into the headlines beyond their own States or outside of 
             the circle of the beltway, but who bring to this body an 
             incredible background of wisdom, experience, humor, 
             perspective, balance, and understanding that makes it a 
             great privilege and blessing for the rest of us to be with 
             them.
               Paul Coverdell and I came in the same class. We were 
             sworn in on the same day. We went through the experience 
             of being freshman Senators who did not quite know our way 
             around.
               We would get together on a weekly basis, those in that 
             class, and swap stories about how we had foolishly gone to 
             the wrong room, or lost our way in a corridor, or found 
             ourselves buried in the unexpected tide of work, mail, 
             phone calls, and requests. We went through all that 
             together as friends. We decided that, in taking advantage 
             of our situation as freshmen and serving in the minority, 
             we would use the time that comes with that condition--time 
             which more senior and majority Senators do not have--to 
             educate ourselves and prepare ourselves for the service on 
             which we were embarking.
               Paul Coverdell arranged a trip to Kennebunkport to see 
             his good friends, George and Barbara. The rest of us did 
             not call them George and Barbara. It was Mr. President and 
             Mrs. Bush. Paul knew them well enough, went back long 
             enough with them, that he arranged for the freshman class 
             of Republicans to go up to Maine and spend a day with the 
             Bushes. It was about 3 or 4 months after President Bush 
             had lost the election. He was full of stories, 
             reflections, and philosophic observations. It was a 
             wonderful time. We also went together, under the 
             sponsorship of Senator Dole, to New Jersey to have a 
             similar day with President Nixon.
               Paul was one of those who would use that, and any other 
             occasion, to learn as much as he could soak up, to prepare 
             himself as much as he could for whatever might come. That 
             was one of the delightful things about him. He was 
             enormously curious, always searching, and always anxious 
             to find out how he could be of greater help.
               We finally stopped meeting every week as we got busier 
             ourselves and as we got a little more experienced in the 
             way the Senate works, so that we did not need to 
             commiserate quite so much about our earlier blunders. But 
             our class remained close. We gathered together when Kay 
             Bailey Hutchison was under fire in Texas and gave a little 
             party for her before she left for her trial. We told her 
             we would keep things straight until she could come back 
             fully exonerated, which, of course, she has done. Paul was 
             a moving force in putting together that bit of solidarity 
             among the members of our class.
               Paul is the one who moved on to a leadership position in 
             our class. We were all proud of him, all happy to support 
             him. It goes without saying that we will miss him 
             terribly. But it is my conviction, Mr. President, that as 
             we mourn, we do not mourn for Paul. I do not know the 
             details of what goes on, but I think it is not out of the 
             question to think that John Chafee may be showing Paul the 
             ropes now, suggesting to him that ``it will work a little 
             better if you go this way,'' or, ``Yes, I tried that when 
             I first got here. Paul, let me show you the ropes.'' That 
             may not be happening, but I do not think it is beyond the 
             realm of possibility.
               We do not mourn for Paul; we mourn for ourselves, for 
             the loss we have sustained, not for the problems he faced. 
             The problems he faced are behind him now, as far as this 
             life is concerned. And, knowing Paul, he will be learning, 
             inquiring, asking questions, trying to find out and 
             progressing still further, as he always did as a Member of 
             the Senate. It is our loss that moves us to tears--the 
             fact that we will no longer have his companionship and his 
             wisdom and his friendship. But just as I suggest John 
             Chafee may be greeting Paul, we can be confident that 
             whenever the time might be for the rest of us, Paul will 
             be there to greet us, and that helps lift some of the 
             gloom and sorrow we feel on this occasion.
               I extend to Nancy and other members of Paul's family my 
             deepest sympathy and condolences at this time. And I 
             express gratitude, once again, for the experiences I have 
             had as a Senator of knowing great people, meeting 
             extraordinary individuals, and partaking of their wisdom 
             and guidance. I count Paul Coverdell in the first ranks of 
             that group.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Roberts). The Senator from 
             Arizona is recognized.

               Mr. KYL. Mr. President, except for those who knew Paul 
             Coverdell and his constituents in Georgia, I suspect it is 
             very hard for others who may be watching here today or who 
             hear other tributes to Paul Coverdell to appreciate the 
             depth of sadness that all of us in this Senate family feel 
             by the loss of Senator Paul Coverdell.
               Paul Coverdell was a special man. He was so active in 
             nearly everything going on in the Senate that it is 
             impossible to believe he is gone. The images of Paul 
             smiling, gesturing, counseling, are still so fresh. If 
             there was an indispensable Senator, Paul Coverdell was it.
               Paul was a doer, as we all know. He was successful not 
             because of his energy alone--though that was 
             considerable--but because he was trusted by all, and he 
             sought no recognition for himself. His judgment was sound, 
             his intelligence keen. He was always kind and cheerful, 
             never critical. The word ``helpful'' does not even begin 
             to describe the aid and assistance he was always so ready 
             to provide.
               I have lost a real friend and a confidant. Georgia and 
             America have lost a great leader. Paul's family's loss is 
             incalculable, especially for Nancy and his mother. Our 
             sense of grief is tempered only by the faith that the Lord 
             has His own purposes. We take comfort in the wisdom of 
             Abraham Lincoln who said:

               Surely God would not have created such a being as man, 
             with an ability to grasp the infinite, to exist only for a 
             day. No, no, man was made for immortality.

               Godspeed, Senator Paul Coverdell.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished Senator from 
             Tennessee is recognized.

               Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, as the American Revolution 
             drew to a close in 1782, a Philadelphian turned to his 
             friend, Dr. Benjamin Rush, and remarked, ``It looks as if 
             the battle for independence has been won.''
               Dr. Rush replied, ``Sir, you are mistaken. The 
             Revolutionary War may be over, but the battle of 
             independence has just begun.''
               On the day before he died, as I had the opportunity to 
             spend time with Paul Coverdell and his family, I thought 
             about these words, and they have stayed in my mind over 
             the last 48 hours because that idea--that only constant 
             vigilance can keep the flame of freedom from being 
             extinguished--is one that perhaps no one believed in more, 
             at least since I have been in the Senate, or acted upon 
             more decisively than Paul Coverdell. With his passing, 
             America has lost one of its most principled leaders and 
             freedom, one of its staunchest friends.
               There will be a number of comments made today by people 
             who have known Paul well, who have observed his 
             commitment, his discipline, and his willingness to do jobs 
             that most people leave to others, jobs he did in a way 
             that was humble, gentle, and gave others the credit. We 
             will hear again and again today because they were the 
             hallmark of Paul Coverdell's work in this wonderful 
             institution called the Senate.
               As a Senator from the neighboring State of Tennessee, I 
             had the opportunity to work side by side with Paul 
             Coverdell as we addressed issues important to both our 
             States. But if there is one idea, one word, that best 
             summarizes Paul Coverdell, his commitment to public 
             service, to family and community, the word is ``freedom.'' 
             Paul Coverdell was a relentless, tireless champion of 
             freedom.
               I first met Paul 6 years ago when I was still Bill 
             Frist, the physician who wanted to be a U.S. Senator. Paul 
             sat down and talked to me about freedom. He came to help 
             me with a campaign event in Chattanooga, TN, and his whole 
             talk--while saying, ``Yes, people, come out and support 
             this new guy on the block, Bill Frist''--was about 
             freedom.
               And since I have been in the Senate, he continually 
             fought for freedom. He fought for the rights of 
             individuals to raise, educate and provide for their 
             families free of government intervention and excessive 
             taxation. He fought to protect the privacy of individual 
             tax returns. He fought to free local education from too 
             much Federal control. Believing freedom to be under 
             genuine attack from the corrupting influence of drugs, he 
             fought to increase funding for law enforcement, especially 
             along our borders, and created a program to coordinate 
             resistance to drugs among parents, teachers and 
             communities that became a model for the Nation. 
             Understanding, as Jefferson did, that a well-educated 
             citizenry is the surest foundation for freedom and 
             happiness, Paul Coverdell fought to ensure that all 
             children, regardless of income, receive the very best 
             education from kindergarten to college.
               Perhaps it was his service with the U.S. Army in Okinawa 
             that fanned the flames of freedom that never seemed to 
             diminish in his heart. Perhaps it was his parents' 
             ability--and I got to know his mom over the last 48 
             hours--to turn a small family business into a successful 
             nationwide enterprise that strengthened his belief in the 
             power of the individual to achieve the American dream. 
             Perhaps it was his experience with emerging democracies as 
             President Bush's Director of the Peace Corps that deepened 
             his resolve to ensure that freedom, once planted, has 
             everything it needs to survive. President Bush and I spoke 
             about that shortly after Paul was admitted to the 
             hospital. Or perhaps it was his beloved wife, Nancy, who 
             is going through such a difficult time right now, who 
             helped him realize that love and freedom are the great 
             gifts God has planted in the human heart, and so we must 
             do all we can to preserve them.
               Whatever the reasons, Paul Coverdell believed in 
             freedom, and he believed in America--the greatest 
             expression of freedom next to man himself. He fought for 
             both America and freedom because he understood, as Justice 
             Brandeis once wrote, that ``liberty is the secret of 
             happiness, and courage, the secret of liberty.''
               Over the past few years, I had the honor and the 
             privilege of seeing Paul Coverdell's courage up close--in 
             the Senate Republican Working Group on Medicare, where his 
             commitment to our seniors was very apparent; in the 
             Foreign Relations Committee, where he specialized in areas 
             of the world not addressed by others; a commitment that 
             obviously grew out of his work with the Peace Corps; in 
             Republican strategy sessions, where his expert guidance 
             helped us ensure that the American people, as well as our 
             colleagues, understood the importance of the issues before 
             us. It was a quiet courage, characterized not by bluster, 
             but by humility and respect for others.
               Paul Coverdell knew what was right, and every day on 
             this floor and in strategy sessions behind the scenes, he 
             worked for what was right with all his might. Through men 
             like him, the American Revolution is constantly reborn, 
             the reservoir of freedom continually replenished, and all 
             that is best America preserved for those who will follow.
               He was a wonderful husband, a great citizen of Georgia 
             and the United States, an outstanding Senator--as 
             reflected by his position of leadership--and a great 
             patriot. He will be sorely missed by all Members of this 
             body.
               May the Lord God who loves us all, shine His perpetual 
             light upon our colleague, and comfort Nancy, his mother, 
             and Nancy's parents in the days ahead.
               Mr. President, I thank the chair and yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished Senator from 
             South Carolina is recognized.

               Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise to say a few words 
             regarding the death of Senator Paul Coverdell.
               Winding its way to the sea, the Savannah River forms a 
             natural boundary between South Carolina and the State of 
             Georgia. Yet the river is not a barrier dividing these two 
             States. Rather, its lakes, tributaries, and bridges bring 
             the people of these two States together as neighbors and 
             friends. As neighbors, we share many fine attributes of 
             southern living and culture, agriculture, and the values 
             that Americans hold dear. As friends, we work and play 
             together, while raising our families and supporting our 
             communities.
               Today, I rise to pay tribute and respect to my neighbor 
             and friend from Georgia, Senator Paul Coverdell. Senator 
             Coverdell was my neighbor. He was more than just a 
             colleague from a neighboring State. For the past 8 years 
             we have walked together and worked in the same corridor of 
             the Russell Senate Office Building.
               Senator Coverdell was also my friend. Everyday, each of 
             us looked forward to his warm smile, kind words, and 
             expressions of care and concern. As I worked with him on 
             regional issues, in the Senate Republican leadership 
             circle, where he served as Republican Conference 
             Secretary, or in more general circumstances, Senator 
             Coverdell always was thoughtful and considerate of others.
               Senator Coverdell leaves a great legacy. His life was 
             dedicated to serving others and his Nation. After serving 
             in the U.S. Army, he returned to Georgia and built the 
             family business into a successful nationwide company. 
             Elected to the Georgia State Senate, he was chosen by his 
             peers to serve as Senate Minority Leader, a post he held 
             for 15 years. In 1989, President Bush named him as 
             Director of the U.S. Peace Corps, where he redefined the 
             agency's mission to serve the emerging democracies of 
             Eastern Europe.
               Since his election in 1992, Senator Coverdell has worked 
             hard in the Senate as a defender of freedom. He led the 
             fight against international narcotics and terrorism. 
             Understanding that freedom is nurtured by a well-educated 
             citizenry, he introduced education reforms, and served as 
             Chairman of the Senate Republican Task Force on Education. 
             Senator Coverdell fought to protect the individual 
             economic and political liberty of individuals and 
             families.
               We mourn the loss of Paul Coverdell. We shall miss his 
             companionship, but we will not forget the bond we had with 
             him. Though his voice is silenced, we shall not forget the 
             encouraging words he had for others. Though he now rests 
             in peace, the impact of his good deeds will be felt for 
             years to come.
               Shortly before his death, our former colleague Senator 
             Everett Dirksen, responded to the question which each 
             person faces. It is found in the Bible, in the book of 
             Job: ``If a man die, shall he live again?'' (Job 14:14.) I 
             quote Senator Dirksen's words published in U.S. News & 
             World Report, November 8, 1965, p. 124:

               What mortal being, standing on the threshold of 
             infinity, has not pondered what lies beyond the veil which 
             separates the seen from the unseen? What mortal being, 
             responding to that mystical instinct that earthly 
             dissolution is at hand, has not contemplated what lies 
             beyond the grave? What mortal being, upon whom has 
             descended that strange and serene resignation that life's 
             journey is about at an end, has not thought about that 
             eternal destination and what might be there?
               If there be a design in this universe and in this world 
             in which we live, there must be a Designer. Who can behold 
             the inexplicable mysteries of the universe without 
             believing that there is a design for all mankind and also 
             a Designer? . . . ``If a man die, shall he live again?'' 
             Surely he shall, as surely as day follows night, as surely 
             as the stars follow their courses, as surely as the crest 
             of every wave brings its trough.

               William Wordsworth, the revered poet, captured in verse 
             a glimpse of this glorious plan and entitled his classic 
             ``Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of 
             Early Childhood'':

                   Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
                   The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
                   Hath had elsewhere its setting,
                   And cometh from afar:
                   Not in entire forgetfulness,
                   And not in utter nakedness,
                   But trailing clouds of glory do we come
                   From God, who is our home:
                   Heaven lies about us in our infancy!

               Paul Coverdell was a bright star in this world. Though 
             it is now out of view, it is not dimmed. We take comfort 
             that he has returned home, to his eternal destination. 
             This day, my thoughts and prayers are with his wife Nancy, 
             his family, his staff, and his constituents. I yield the 
             floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished Senator from 
             Wisconsin is recognized.

               Mr. KOHL. Last night, as we began consideration of the 
             agricultural appropriations bill, we were informed of the 
             death of Senator Coverdell. The bill officially is still 
             on the floor this morning for Senators who wish to speak 
             on the bill but more appropriately for Senators who wish 
             to speak about Senator Coverdell, who we all remember as 
             an outstanding Senator, a good, a kind, and a decent man, 
             a great patriot, and a great American.
               We will be officially in session on the bill but more 
             appropriately here to listen to remarks by fellow Senators 
             on his behalf.

               Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, it has been my honor, and a 
             privilege, to know our distinguished friend and colleague, 
             Paul Coverdell, for a long time. I have had, overnight, 
             the opportunity to think about his life and about his 
             death.
               When a man dies, especially a friend, we are inevitably 
             struck by the frailty of life, the speed of death, and the 
             very painful void that is left behind. With the passing of 
             our friend and colleague, Paul Coverdell, we are also 
             struck by the promise of a truly brilliant future left 
             unfulfilled.
               Alphonse de Lamartine once said: ``Sometimes, when one 
             person is absent, the whole world seems less.''
               Today, that is exactly how I feel. The world seems less 
             today.
               Paul and I worked together for many years. We were sworn 
             into the Georgia State Senate on the same day, in January 
             of 1971. In Georgia, we sit not as partisans, across the 
             aisle, but we sit by numbers of our State Senate 
             districts. Fate had it that Senator Paul Coverdell sat 
             right in front of me. So even though he was of one party 
             and I another, we shared space on the floor of the State 
             Senate. We worked together in harmony for 4 years. It was 
             a joyous time. It was a marvelous time to get to know this 
             young talent.
               When I came to the U.S. Senate, Paul had preceded me. 
             Paul stood on the floor of the Senate here with my parents 
             watching from the balcony as I was sworn in. After that 
             day, he helped me, he guided me, tutored me in the same 
             way we had worked together so beautifully in the early 
             1970s in the Georgia Senate. From time to time in this 
             body, on different sides of the aisle, we were on 
             different sides of the issues. But he helped me learn. He 
             helped me because he was a good man and a great friend, 
             because he knew it was good for Georgia and for the 
             country.
               I watched him work, incredulous--putting in 12- and 14- 
             and 16-hour days. In Georgia, we have a saying: You are 
             either a workhorse or a show horse. He was certainly a 
             workhorse. He fought hard for our State, for our farmers 
             and businesses and the average taxpaying citizen. He used 
             his deep breadth of knowledge in international affairs, 
             which he had gained as Director of the Peace Corps, to 
             fight what he called the most serious threat to America's 
             freedom today--the war on drugs.
               Our colleague, Senator Moynihan, yesterday called Paul 
             Coverdell a man of peace. I will reiterate that 
             observation. From his time in the Georgia Senate to his 
             post as head of the Peace Corps under President Bush, to 
             his quiet and wonderful leadership in the Senate, Paul had 
             a peaceful and resolute efficiency about his work that I 
             think we could all try to emulate. He worked hard. He 
             achieved results. And he did not care who got the credit. 
             To lose a leader of this quality in this body in this day 
             of ``gotcha'' politics and one-upmanship is a loss for 
             this body and for our country and for Georgia.
               Paul was a leader. He led in his own quiet, positive 
             way. I never heard him speak an ill thought or an ill 
             phrase or a mean-tempered comment about anyone. He was a 
             great legislator and a dear personal friend.
               I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Nancy, whom I 
             have known for almost 30 years. I knew them when they 
             first got married.
               Proverbs tell us: Good men must die, but death cannot 
             kill their names.
               I think we can all take great comfort in that. Nothing 
             will lessen the impact that Paul Coverdell and his legacy 
             have had on the State of Georgia and on this country. It 
             is not the time for political thoughts or words but only 
             words to remember one of the best U.S. Senators this body 
             has ever known. Paul Coverdell, U.S. Senator from Georgia, 
             a peach of a guy.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished Senator from 
             Texas is recognized.

               Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, cheerful, fun, 
             accessible, down to earth, loyal, friend--those are the 
             words you think of immediately when describing Paul 
             Coverdell. I am not going to make a long statement today 
             because I know there will be a time set aside for our 
             memorials to Paul Coverdell. I have seen some of our 
             friends today--Paul's friends, my friends--and many of 
             them do not feel capable of talking about him right now. 
             It is not that he was not one of our greatest friends. 
             They are not here because they cannot talk about him yet.
               This is a man who served our country in so many ways, 
             all the things a good citizen should do: He served in the 
             Army; he was the head of the Peace Corps; he was a 
             wonderful Senator, one of our leaders in the majority--the 
             fourth highest ranking among us.
               I do want to say more about him later, but for now I 
             think our Majority Leader said it very well last night. 
             All of our hearts are broken for the loss of this 
             wonderful man who will have every tribute that we can give 
             him in the future weeks.

               Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, this is a sad day for all of 
             us. It is a sad time in the Senate. Paul Coverdell was, 
             first of all, our friend. He was someone who, if we took a 
             secret poll in this Senate, I think many Members would 
             say, was their best friend. That tells us something about 
             this man.
               He was a kind, he was a gentle, he was a sweet man. This 
             Senate will not be the same without Paul. It will not be 
             the same because of that kindness, because of that spirit, 
             because of that unbelievable energy he brought to any task 
             he took on, and did he take on the task! Whatever it was, 
             Paul would do it and do it effectively. He was one of the 
             key people in making this Senate run. Candidly, he was 
             that person not because of his leadership position, which 
             was significant, but the leadership position he obtained 
             was a result of the fact that he was one of the key 
             players in the Senate and he got things done.
               That effectiveness came because of his energy, because 
             of his drive, because of his determination, but it also 
             came because he could get along with people on both sides 
             of the aisle. He knew people, he understood them, he liked 
             people and people liked him back, and that made him 
             effective.
               He was effective because he did not have a big ego. We 
             all have big egos in the Senate, but Paul did not seem to 
             have one. He did not seem to care if he got credit; 
             another rarity, I suppose, among politicians. He just got 
             the job done. He was always seeking some way to get it 
             done. He did not seek the limelight. He did not worry 
             about who got the credit.
               Each one of us brings different stories or remembers 
             different things about Paul Coverdell. I worked with him 
             on Central American issues, Caribbean issues, and Latin 
             American issues. Paul Coverdell is from Georgia. It was 
             not necessarily logical that he had to concentrate on this 
             hemisphere or worry about this hemisphere, but he did. He 
             did because he understood it affected the people of 
             Georgia and it affected the people of this country. He 
             brought his passion to deal with the drug problem to that 
             concentration and work on this hemisphere.
               I worked with Paul when we worked on the Caribbean 
             initiative, when we worked on the initial drug bill we 
             passed several years ago on drug interdiction in this 
             hemisphere, and I worked with him when we were able to 
             pass the Colombia aid bill.
               I remember on both bills going to Paul at different 
             times and saying: Paul, this is not going very well. What 
             do we do?
               Not only did the leadership responsibility go to Paul 
             Coverdell to get things done, but people who are not in 
             leadership went to Paul to get things done. I remember 
             Paul would look at you, as only Paul could, and say: Well, 
             let's do this. And he would tick off three or four things. 
             Basically then I had the plan. We got it done. That is 
             what we are going to miss in this Senate.
               The last time I talked with Paul was as we were leaving 
             for the weekend. I said: I am worried about what is going 
             on in Colombia. Why don't you and I go down there.
               He said: Let's do it. So we were talking about a trip 
             sometime in the next few months to Colombia to look 
             firsthand at the problem.
               I know all of us at a later date will have more formal 
             comments to make, but I wanted to pause here for a moment 
             with my colleagues to say thank you for the life of Paul 
             Coverdell. He is someone who made a difference every 
             single day he was in the Senate. We will miss him very 
             deeply.

               Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I want to speak about my 
             colleague, Senator Coverdell. I know other Senators have. 
             I absolutely have nothing rehearsed. There are many 
             Senators who will speak about Senator Coverdell probably 
             in a more profound and moving way than I can.
               There is one moment I want to remember about Senator 
             Coverdell because this small story tells a large story. We 
             had had a major debate about the Colombia aid package. 
             Senator Coverdell and I were in a debate. We did not 
             agree. It was a pretty good debate back and forth. I know 
             from time to time during the debate I would reach over and 
             touch his hand and say something to the effect: I just 
             cannot believe you said this; this is wrong--something 
             like that.
               At the end of the debate, I said, because I believed it 
             and believe it: Senator Coverdell is a really good 
             Senator.
               He smiled and touched my hand and said: Senator 
             Wellstone is a really good Senator.
               I do not know if the latter part is true, but the point 
             is that is the way he was. That is the kind of Senator he 
             was. We talk about civility. He was just a beautiful 
             person. I really enjoyed him. We need a lot of Senators 
             like Senator Coverdell: Paul, you might be wrong on the 
             issue but you are a really good person.
               The Senate has lost a wonderful person and a wonderful 
             Senator, and the United States of America has lost a 
             wonderful person and a wonderful Senator.
               As a Senator from Minnesota, I send my love to Paul's 
             family.
               I will not forget Paul Coverdell.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished Democratic 
             Leader is recognized.

               Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, we are all stunned and 
             saddened by the sudden death of our friend and colleague. 
             Our hearts and prayers are with Senator Coverdell's wife 
             Nancy, with his parents, with his family members, his many 
             friends, and, I may say, particularly our colleagues on 
             the other side of the aisle who have lost not only a close 
             friend but a gifted leader.
               The great English poet Alfred Tennyson wrote of a dear 
             friend who died suddenly: ``God's finger touched him, and 
             he slept.''
               Yesterday, God's hand touched our friend. Now he sleeps. 
             And now we mourn.
               Paul Coverdell's life was too short in years, but it was 
             long in accomplishments: A husband, a son, a friend, a 
             loyal ally, an honorable opponent, an Army veteran, a 
             business owner, a State Senator, a Peace Corps Director, 
             and a U.S. Senator.
               In his 61 years, Paul Coverdell filled all of those 
             roles--and more--with dignity.
               He spent half his life, and nearly all his adult life, 
             in public service. He and I did not see eye to eye on a 
             lot of matters. To be honest, I can't think of too many 
             times we found ourselves on the same side of the debate. 
             But I cannot think of a single time that he was not fair, 
             that he was not decent, and that he was not honest.
               Paul Coverdell, above and beyond anything else, was a 
             gentleman. He was a reminder to us that we can all 
             disagree without being disagreeable. He is also a 
             reminder, sadly, that none of us knows how long we will be 
             here; how many more opportunities we will have in this 
             life to right a wrong or to advance a peace or to make a 
             difference.
               Last night, I was reading an interview Senator Coverdell 
             gave a year or so ago. He was asked why he worked so hard 
             on so many tasks, usually with very little public 
             recognition. He replied, characteristically: ``If you have 
             been given a moment here, you should not let the dust grow 
             under you.''
               Paul Coverdell felt that in the marrow of his bones. He 
             worked hard every day--to advance the causes he believed 
             in and to serve the Nation he loved--until God's finger 
             touched him.
               Now he sleeps the sleep of the just. We have lost a good 
             and honorable friend. I will miss him.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished Senator from 
             Texas is recognized.

               Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, at this time of shock and loss 
             we tend to focus on Paul's death, but it seems to me that 
             it is really a time that we should focus on his life. As 
             we weigh how our lives and the life of our Nation has been 
             diminished by the loss of Paul Coverdell, I think it is 
             important that we also reflect on how our lives have been 
             enriched.
               I first met Paul Coverdell when I went to Georgia. He 
             was campaigning for the Senate. And he was doing an event 
             in a dingy old steel mill about industrial renewal. I had 
             talked to him on the phone, I was chairman of the 
             senatorial committee, but I had not seen him in action. So 
             I got up and spoke, and then Paul got up and spoke in that 
             squeaky voice, and he sort of had a way of jumping up and 
             down when he was speaking and waving his hands, so I tried 
             to delicately whisper to him, quit jumping up and down, be 
             still, but little did I know at that moment that with all 
             of his outward appearance and the squeaky voice, that this 
             man had the heart of a lion.
               He went on and won in that campaign. As chairman of the 
             senatorial committee I was involved in 67 Senate 
             campaigns. And he won the toughest race, defeated an 
             incumbent, was in a runoff after the general election when 
             everybody else would have sat down, given up, gotten 
             tired.
               Paul Coverdell did not sit down and give up or get 
             tired. He came to the Senate and we were immediately 
             involved in the Clinton health care debate, and he and 
             John McCain and I traveled all over America. We did 147 
             events in this crusade to defeat the Clinton health care 
             bill. And in all those events and all that travel--you all 
             know Paul Coverdell--he never got tired or never let on he 
             was tired or got irritable.
               In the Senate where we all want glory, we all want to be 
             out front, we all want to see our picture in the paper, 
             Paul was one of those remarkable people who simply wanted 
             to get things done. There was no job too small for Paul 
             Coverdell. And there is no job too big for Paul Coverdell. 
             Paul Coverdell managed in 8 short years to become 
             absolutely indispensable to the U.S. Senate.
               And I am very happy today about one thing--not much I am 
             happy about today, but I am happy about one thing. We 
             often feel something about people--we often love people, 
             but we do not often tell them that. It is especially hard 
             for men to tell other men that they love them. But what I 
             am happy about is the following point. I realized over a 
             year ago that Paul Coverdell had become an indispensable 
             Member of the Senate, that he was the greatest Senator 
             from Georgia since Richard Russell. And so I always went 
             to great lengths to say it. Here, in Georgia, and 
             everywhere I got the opportunity to say it.
               This is a hard time for the Senate, and I just would 
             like to conclude on the two points I tried to open up with 
             but did not quite get said. In these terrible moments when 
             we are shocked and hurt we tend to think about how someone 
             died. But at these moments it is critical that we focus on 
             how they lived. We tend to look at how our lives and the 
             life of our Nation have been diminished, but it is 
             important that we focus on how our lives were enriched by 
             Paul Coverdell. My grandmother used to say that as long as 
             anyone remembers you, that you are not dead. As long as I 
             live, Paul Coverdell will be remembered.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Hutchinson). The 
             distinguished Senator from California is recognized.

               Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, yesterday this body lost 
             one of its finest Members. I greet this day with a very 
             heavy heart.
               Paul Coverdell was not only a good Senator, he was a 
             good and decent man. I found him to be a very nice man. I 
             worked with him closely as an original co-sponsor of his 
             Education Savings and School Excellence Act. I found him 
             very dedicated and very easy to work with. I found him to 
             be above political correctness; he strived to do what he 
             believed would work and would help people.
               We shared a common interest. We worked together on many 
             antinarcotics efforts. We debated together on 
             certification. I was his Democratic co-sponsor of the 
             Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. We talked 
             together about what was happening. We tried to plan 
             together. I found him to have a deep and abiding knowledge 
             about Mexico, Central America, and Latin America.
               He had a kind of energy, enthusiasm, and dedication well 
             known on both sides of the aisle here in the Senate. He 
             was never one to seek the spotlight, but all of us here 
             know how hard he worked. He was not the proverbial ``show 
             horse''--he was a workhorse.
               He was a man who served the people of Georgia and this 
             Nation with great distinction. He worked all of his adult 
             life in public service. Simply put, Paul Coverdell made 
             this body a better place and a more collegial place. All 
             one really had to do was spend time alone with him in an 
             office and listen to him and his thoughts as he sought to 
             frame and advance an issue.
               Senator Harkin was in the elevator as I came up this 
             morning. He said: ``It is so hard because on Friday he was 
             alive and well in the Senate and today he simply is not 
             here.''
               There is a passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes--
             chapter 5, verse 12--I will leave with the Senate: ``The 
             sleep of a laboring man is sweet.''
               Paul Coverdell, you have labored hard. Your sleep will 
             be sweet.

               Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, it is with profound sadness 
             and the heaviest of hearts that I come to the floor today 
             to pay tribute to the memory of a friend, a colleague, and 
             a man who brought honor upon the State of Georgia, our 
             country, and the institution of the Senate--Paul 
             Coverdell. My deepest sympathies go to his wife Nancy, 
             Paul's family, friends, and his staff at this most 
             difficult of times.
               It is tragedies like this that remind us that, beyond 
             the policy and the politics and the tremendous gravity of 
             the issues we deliberate--beyond the grandeur of this 
             Chamber and the history we write on a daily basis--we are 
             at heart an institution of individuals--of people. And 
             when one of our own is lost to us forever, all of us are 
             diminished by that loss.
               I first met Paul when I was a member of the House 
             Foreign Affairs Committee and he came before us as 
             President Bush's Director of the Peace Corps. I recall 
             being struck not only by his obvious qualifications for 
             the job, but by his warmth and his obvious esteem for the 
             mission he was chosen to fulfill. To help foster the 
             ideals of freedom and democracy for people throughout the 
             world was for Paul a high and noble calling. And it was 
             one he answered with typical energy and enthusiasm, 
             optimism and hope.
               Indeed, when I think about all that Paul was--all that 
             he symbolized, all that he meant to those who cared about 
             him and the people he served--the single word that comes 
             to my mind is, ``decency.'' Paul Coverdell was many 
             things: a devoted husband, a talented legislator, a strong 
             and principled leader--but above all else, Paul was simply 
             one of the most decent human beings one could ever hope to 
             know. And any of us should be so fortunate to be 
             remembered as that.
               I well remember when I first came to the Senate from the 
             House in 1995, Paul had of course been here for 2 years, 
             and he knew how difficult it was to get started, to get 
             your feet firmly planted on the ground in these foreign 
             surroundings.
               And so he helped us freshmen--and women--to find our way 
             around, to set up offices, to figure out the basics of how 
             things work around here. While it is perhaps true that 
             none of us has ever really figured out that secret, Paul 
             and his staff certainly did their best to give advice and 
             lend a helping hand. But then, knowing Paul as I do now, 
             that really comes as no big surprise.
               Paul was always helping people, always contributing to 
             the world around him. From his service in the U.S. Army to 
             the State Legislature to Director of the Peace Corps to 
             U.S. Senator, Paul believed that to serve others was a 
             privilege, not a burden. He truly believed that he could 
             make a difference in people's lives. And he was right.
               What a lesson his life can teach an often cynical world. 
             We ask ourselves, what can one person do? What kind of a 
             positive impact can government truly have on the lives of 
             others? What happened to the idea of public service as a 
             noble calling?
               To those questions there is one simple answer--people 
             like Paul Coverdell exist in the world: Good, honorable, 
             trustworthy people who call to our better nature, who 
             exemplify what the framers of this Nation had in mind when 
             they created what they hoped would one day be the greatest 
             deliberative body on earth.
               He personified another virtue that often seems in short 
             supply in a world where the volume of one's indignation is 
             all too frequently the sole measure of one's passion--and 
             that virtue is civility. Paul let the weight of his 
             arguments speak for themselves, and where there were 
             disagreements he respected those who disagreed with him. 
             Perhaps that is why he engendered such deep respect in 
             return.
               It is little wonder, then, that Paul rose so rapidly 
             through the ranks of leadership. He had a keen grasp of 
             policy and detail, and nobody worked harder on behalf of 
             his constituents and his party.
               He was truly a ``legislator's legislator''--not only 
             creative in developing solutions, but always focused on 
             moving the ball forward, on producing results for the 
             people of Georgia and America whether in the areas of 
             education, keeping drugs out of the hands of our children, 
             or allowing hardworking Americans to keep more of their 
             hard-earned money.
               In fact, I remember at one point my staff commented to 
             me that everything we were considering in the Senate 
             seemed to have Paul's stamp on it. But that was typical of 
             Paul. He never stood still--and he never forgot the sacred 
             trust that must exist between elected officials and those 
             they are obliged to serve.
               Just as important, Paul was a man for whom his pledge 
             was his bond--and that only counts for everything in this 
             institution. His words had credibility, his ideas merit, 
             and his actions sincerity. He made me proud to be a Member 
             of the U.S. Senate. He made us all proud.
               Once again, my heart goes out to Paul's wife Nancy, his 
             family, friends, and all of his staff--whom I know are 
             heartbroken as we all are--and to the people of the State 
             of Georgia, who have lost a great leader and true friend. 
             He will surely be missed by all of us who were fortunate 
             to have known him, but his legacy will just as surely live 
             on in all those whose lives he has touched.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.

               Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, after watching my colleagues 
             and the depth of concern and personal passion they have at 
             the loss of Paul Coverdell, I want to tell them of an 
             experience I had last night. Something came to me when I 
             was at a dinner and we had just heard the news. It was the 
             seventh Beatitude: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they 
             shall be called the sons of God.
               It occurred to me that this was really Paul Coverdell; 
             he was the ultimate peacemaker. It was impossible for Paul 
             to walk into a roomful of people, whether Democrats, 
             Republicans, liberals, conservatives--hostility, anxiety, 
             it all subsided when Paul came in.
               I remember when I was first elected from the House into 
             the Senate in 1994. Paul had just arrived here. He did not 
             give the first impression as being a dynamic person, even 
             an articulate person. You had to know him and know him 
             well. But after you did, he was unlike anyone else we have 
             been exposed to here in this body.
               I thought last night about all the things we deal with 
             here in the Senate. It was articulated in Matthew 9, 
             starting with verse 35. It says:

               Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching 
             in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the 
             kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he 
             saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they 
             were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

               This is kind of the way we are. We are dealing with the 
             problems of poverty, the problems of crime--a multitude of 
             problems. So somebody has to be the one to take on those 
             responsibilities.
               I read the following verse:

               Then he [Jesus] said to his disciples, ``The harvest is 
             plentiful, but the laborers are few. Ask the Lord of the 
             harvest, therefore, to send out laborers into his harvest 
             field.''

               When I, last night, thought of that verse, I thought, 
             really, Paul Coverdell is the laborer who was sent, was 
             raised up to deal with these problems, and all the 
             problems we deal with on a daily basis, in his own unique 
             way. So I would just say our prayer for Paul Coverdell 
             right now is the last verse of the 23d Psalm: Surely 
             goodness and mercy shall follow me all the rest of my 
             days; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. 
             Amen.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California.

               Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I come to the floor to 
             express my sadness at the passing of a very kind 
             colleague. I want to say to his family and to his close 
             friends, in Georgia and here in the Senate, who really 
             loved him and who worked with him every day, I send you my 
             strength and my prayers.
               Paul Coverdell was never afraid to disagree because he 
             came here with beliefs. But he never, ever was 
             disagreeable. I went back through the Record this morning 
             because I remember actually several occasions where he and 
             I were on different sides on issues, tough issues. Gun 
             control, for example, was one of them, where we disagreed 
             on a particular piece of legislation; Education, where we 
             disagreed on a particular piece of legislation. We were 
             yielding time back and forth, and every single time it was 
             ``my friend from Georgia,'' ``my friend from California.'' 
             The disagreement was deep on the issue, but it was always 
             collegial; it was a model for what should happen here in 
             the Senate where we definitely have deep, heartfelt 
             disagreements but we can disagree in a way that shows 
             respect for one another and caring for one another. And he 
             did that.
               I wanted to come to the floor to say that because it is 
             perhaps a quality we do not see enough of, and all of us 
             ought to think about that.
               I do not want to repeat what has been said about his 
             contributions to this country. The record shows they were 
             powerful and strong--from the Peace Corps, to serving in 
             the Senate, to helping his party, to helping Governor 
             Bush. He was his key person, as I understand it, in the 
             Senate. People trusted him with these responsibilities.
               I wanted to say as a Member from the other side of the 
             aisle that I am stunned and saddened, and I see my 
             colleagues are very affected by this. I feel for everyone 
             who feels this loss in a very personal way. I feel it in a 
             way of someone on the other side of the aisle who really 
             did respect this man and enjoyed the colloquies and 
             debates we had because it never was with animus. It was 
             always done with great respect. He will be missed. Again, 
             I send my sympathy to his family and his friends. I yield 
             the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania.

               Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, there is a heavy cloud 
             hanging over the Senate Chamber today. A bouquet of 
             flowers with a black tapestry is on the desk of our 
             departed colleague, Senator Paul Coverdell, whose presence 
             will be greatly missed.
               There is a saying that in Washington, in Congress, in 
             the government, a great deal could be accomplished if 
             there was less concern--perhaps no concern--for who gets 
             the credit. Paul Coverdell epitomized that concept.
               He was always in the thick of the action. He was always 
             prepared to help. He did it with conciliation, with good 
             will and accommodation, and in the spirit of compromise; 
             self-effacing and never interested in the credit, not 
             interested in the news reports or the television acclaim 
             or any of what is customarily associated with the 
             politics, the public relations of the Congress in 
             Washington, DC. That kind of effective, quiet Senator 
             behind the scenes is a relative rarity here.
               He had a very distinguished career in the Georgia 
             Legislature, in the Georgia State Senate, going back to 
             1970. He was the Republican Leader. Just this morning I 
             talked with people who knew him in Georgia. It was the 
             same Paul Coverdell 30 years ago whom we saw in Washington 
             heading up the Peace Corps, a nonglamorous but a very 
             important undertaking to project America around the world 
             with young people, and then in his election to the Senate 
             in 1992 and the immediate recognition of his colleagues 
             who knew him well, even though he was not so well known 
             with the television cameras but very well known by his 
             colleagues, and elected to a leadership position, No. 4 in 
             the Republican caucus.
               He was the point man for the Republican caucus on 
             education. He brought to that very important subject, a 
             subject of priority second to none in America today and in 
             the world today, again his quiet effectiveness.
               I had the opportunity to work with him on the 
             appropriations bills on the subcommittee which I chair 
             which covers, among other agencies, the Department of 
             Education. For the last 2 years, we had a list of a couple 
             hundred amendments, and in the flurry of floor action, 
             Paul Coverdell was enormously effective in talking to 
             Senators about their amendments, saying which ones could 
             be accepted, which ones could be accommodated without 
             coming to the floor even for a voice vote, and then 
             narrowing the frame of reference as to which ones had to 
             be debated with time agreements and which ones had to be 
             voted upon.
               The management of a Senate appropriations bill is a 
             complicated matter, especially when you have a $100 
             billion-plus budget and you have to worry about Head 
             Start, drug-free schools, the National Institutes of 
             Health, worker safety, and the myriad problems. Paul 
             Coverdell was an effective man to get that job done.
               Senator Bill Frist--Dr. Bill Frist--gave us all a report 
             on the medical aspects of what happened to Senator 
             Coverdell: that it was not painful, an extraordinary 
             medical incident with problems which simply could not be 
             contained or controlled.
               I know every Senator sends sympathies to the Coverdell 
             family, to his wife Nancy. He will be sorely missed for 
             the great contribution which he has made.
               There are tough days in the Senate. Last year, in 
             October, we had the passing of our dear friend, John 
             Chafee, and now the passing of Paul Coverdell. While we 
             intend to focus on matters of government and high finance, 
             international affairs and war and peace, nothing is more 
             sobering than to see what is really important with the 
             loss of a very special friend and a really great Senator.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky.

               Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we celebrate today the 
             life of our friend and colleague, Paul Coverdell. On 
             behalf of my wife Elaine, who succeeded Paul in the job as 
             Director of the Peace Corps, and myself, I extend to Nancy 
             and all of Paul's friends our sincerest condolences.
               I first met Paul in 1988. I was traveling around the 
             South during the Republican presidential primaries. I was 
             a supporter of then-Vice-President George Bush. I happened 
             to find myself in Georgia, and ran into a State Senator in 
             Georgia named Paul Coverdell, who was also active in that 
             campaign. Paul, as he often did, made an immediate good 
             impression. I recall the people in the Georgia meeting 
             were all quite deferential to him. It was clear he had 
             achieved a level of respect at that point in his career. 
             Having served in the State Senate in Georgia for 18 years, 
             having been the leader of a rather small group of 
             Republicans in that body, he had nevertheless achieved a 
             level of respect at that point.
               As we all know, Vice President Bush became President 
             Bush, and the next time I met Paul Coverdell, he had been 
             nominated to be Director of the Peace Corps. As many 
             Senators have said, he did an extraordinary job running 
             that well-known agency.
               Sometime in 1991, Paul came into my office and said: I 
             am thinking of running for the Senate. I am going to be 
             running against an incumbent Democrat in the South. I know 
             that is rather difficult to do.
               We talked about the experience I had running against an 
             incumbent Democrat in the South. We struck up the 
             beginnings of a real friendship during which we talked off 
             and on during his extraordinary quest for the Senate.
               It was indeed an extraordinary quest. Because of the 
             peculiarities of Georgia law, Paul Coverdell is surely in 
             the Guinness Book of Records because he won four elections 
             in 1 year. I am not certain what the law of Georgia is 
             today. I think it is still the same with regard to 
             primaries. In order to be the nominee of a party in 
             Georgia, you have to get 50.1 percent of the vote. Paul 
             had a very contested primary for the nomination. He did 
             not get 50.1 percent of the votes, so he was in a runoff 
             in order to achieve the nomination. So it took our good 
             friend two elections to get the nomination.
               Then Georgia had--I believe they have since changed this 
             law--a requirement that in the general election, in order 
             to become a U.S. Senator, you had to get 50.1 percent of 
             the vote.
               Election day came and went, and neither Paul nor his 
             opponent, the incumbent, had achieved 50.1 percent of the 
             vote. So there was a runoff for the general election--a 
             hotly contested, spirited contest--in which Paul came out 
             on top, I believe, in early December of 1992.
               So he had won four elections in 1 year in order to find 
             his way to this body. Paul was indeed tested right from 
             the beginning in his quest to become a Senator.
               I remember in the early stages of that campaign, people 
             did not take Paul very seriously. As I watched his growth 
             and development, almost from the beginning it seemed he 
             was consistently underestimated. But in his 
             extraordinarily effective and friendly manner, he managed 
             to make himself a force in the Senate very quickly, to the 
             point, as many have said already, that he was elected as 
             one of our leaders in his first term.
               One of his staffers lives in my neighborhood. I noticed 
             on the back of the car the Coverdell bumper sticker, which 
             says: ``Coverdell Works.'' There may have been another 
             bumper sticker somewhere in America that said: ``Someone 
             Works,'' but I cannot think of a bumper sticker or, for 
             that matter, a better way to sum up our friend and 
             colleague Paul Coverdell than ``Coverdell Works.''
               He was ubiquitous. He was everywhere. As all of us who 
             work in the Senate know, in order to make anything happen, 
             you have to develop little groups to work in an area to 
             try to advance the ball in the middle of these 100 
             substantial egos, each of which has its own goals and 
             aspirations. Paul was literally ubiquitous, all over the 
             place, in a group here, in a group there, always advancing 
             the cause. He did it in a friendly, effective, and 
             intelligent manner.
               No one is irreplaceable. The Senate continues to 
             function. We are functioning today, although probably not 
             very effectively. But if I have ever met somebody about 
             whom I could say he was almost irreplaceable in the 
             Senate, it was Paul Coverdell.
               So it is with extraordinary sadness, not only personally 
             but in terms of the loss in this institution, that we say 
             goodbye to our good friend, Paul Coverdell.
               I yield the floor.

               Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I rise to recognize and 
             celebrate the life of Paul Coverdell, as many of my 
             colleagues have today, a beautiful, warm-hearted, deep-
             souled man who was constantly encouraging and engaging 
             people. I know he is hearing these comments. I wish I 
             would have said them to him physically as well, but we 
             know he is here, as we celebrate a life well lived.
               It is a very sad day for us in the Senate. I caught the 
             comments of Senator Gramm earlier wherein he said that 
             instead of staring at the death, we should stare at the 
             life; instead of staring at our loss, we should stare at 
             our gain from having known Paul Coverdell. That is a very 
             appropriate way for us to look at and think about it.
               Paul touched so many of us in the Senate in many 
             wonderful ways. One of the things he did for my family 
             that I most remember was sending us a book by a Georgian 
             author. The title of the book was ``Lights Along the 
             Way.'' It was a collection of vignettes of people of 
             faith, acts they had performed--many of them very obscure, 
             some of them well known--to help people along the way. For 
             example, one person had adopted 10 children, and the light 
             this person had been along the way; some of the things 
             Abraham Lincoln had done, a clear light along the way. My 
             daughter and I would frequently read one, maybe two of 
             these stories at night before going to bed. They were 
             uplifting, happy, light, joyous stories of lives well 
             lived, of somebody being a light along the way.
               That is exactly what Paul Coverdell was, a light along 
             the way. If you saw him during the day, it was never a 
             confrontational meeting. It was always a happy meeting. 
             Even though you may disagree about something, he was 
             always trying to be helpful. He was a peacemaker. As you 
             would pass through your day, he was one of those lights 
             along the way. That is why our grief is so great. When you 
             lose part of that light, it makes it very difficult. He 
             clearly was that. He was one of those people who talked 
             about the Scripture of God working through an individual, 
             and it was God working in him to be that light along the 
             way.
               I think Paul was truly that, a beautiful, deeply caring 
             man. He cared for his country, cared for his friends. He 
             cared for people who were not his friends. I never saw him 
             give a harsh or a cross word to anybody. I never saw him 
             hardly give a frown to anybody, let alone a harsh word. It 
             is those sorts of vignettes of Paul's life that I 
             remember, that stick out in my mind, his being such a 
             light along the way.
               I hope he is a light we do not forget. I hope he is a 
             light we learn from. Light cleanses. Light shows us the 
             way. Light points to where we ought to be and where we 
             ought to go. Many times, it is a point of light in the 
             distance that we seek, toward which we aim, whether it is 
             a lighthouse or a distant shining light.
               That is what Paul is to us now, one of those lights we 
             seek and aim toward, hoping that in some way, at some time 
             in our life, we will be able to draw closer, move toward 
             it, be purer, be a greater light; that when we enter a 
             room, people will react as they did when Paul entered a 
             room. You can enter a room and there are shadows that come 
             out, frowns, or you can enter a room and people start to 
             smile and be happy, even though they are not exactly sure 
             why you are there. Paul was one of those where the room 
             started to light up rather than get darker when he 
             entered.
               I hope his is a light we will always remember. As we 
             mourn today, we celebrate that light among us, a light for 
             us to aim toward. He was a great man.

               Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I want to spend a few 
             minutes today to join in paying tribute to our former 
             colleague, Paul Coverdell. Memories of Paul consistently 
             paint a picture of a hardworking, even-tempered consensus 
             builder. He sought results, not headlines. He was not one 
             who basked in a national spotlight, but his quiet 
             influence within this body has made a profound impact on 
             public policy affecting all Americans.
               My last opportunity to work with Paul was during 
             consideration of the Educational Opportunities Act this 
             spring. It is fitting that our final work together 
             addressed the subject of education, as this is an area 
             where we had many dealings over the years. We did not 
             always agree on the specifics, but the one thing about 
             which we wholeheartedly agreed is the importance of 
             education.
               During the S. 2 debate, Paul made a compelling case for 
             the need to assure a good education for all of our 
             citizens. He said:

               From our very founding, we have understood that a core 
             component of maintaining a free society is that the 
             population is educated. To the extent that any among us 
             who are citizens do not have the fundamental skills, the 
             basic education, they are truly not free. They cannot 
             enjoy the full benefits of American citizenship because 
             they are denied the ability to think for themselves, for 
             their families, for their communities, for the Nation.

               In all my work with Paul, I found him to be fair and 
             accommodating. He was always one to search for the areas 
             of consensus, and he was enormously successful in finding 
             ways to reach accommodation to move things forward. His 
             persistence and his commitment to making things happen--no 
             matter how many obstacles were placed in the path--earned 
             him the respect of all who had the privilege to work with 
             him.
               I join in extending my deepest sympathy to his wife 
             Nancy. I also offer my condolences to members of his 
             staff, who have lost not just an employer but an inspiring 
             example of the work and rewards of a life devoted to 
             public service.
               We will miss Paul, but his inspiration to me and to all 
             the others of this body will continue until we are gone 
             from here also. I join all my colleagues in the deep 
             sympathy that we feel at this moment.

               Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to join my 
             colleagues in expressing our condolences to Paul 
             Coverdell's wife Nancy and all the members of his family.
               I think that anybody who has watched the expressions and 
             condolences that have already been offered would recognize 
             immediately the extent to which Senator Coverdell touched 
             all of us in the Senate and the extent to which he was a 
             beloved colleague and friend.
               Paul's life achievement, in so many different ways, 
             obviously deserves the tributes we are paying today. I 
             wish to comment on some of those achievements. First, Paul 
             Coverdell was one of the really remarkable leaders of our 
             time. He began his political career in the Georgia 
             Legislature and rose up to the leadership position in the 
             Republican Party in the Georgia State Senate. He then came 
             to Washington and made his mark as the Director of the 
             Peace Corps. He was very instrumental in expanding and 
             successfully helping the Peace Corps to transition into a 
             new era.
               Paul was a leader in his party. He served as chairman of 
             the Georgia Republican Party at a time when there weren't 
             a lot of Republicans in Georgia. But thanks to him, the 
             party grew in strength. That is when I actually first 
             became acquainted with him, because I chaired the 
             Republican Party in Michigan at that time and we met in 
             the context of national party meetings. Then, of course, 
             Paul was elected to this body in 1992. I think everybody 
             here is aware of how effective and how competent and able 
             he was. He moved into the leadership of this Chamber 
             fairly quickly--in, I think, his first term in the Senate. 
             That does not happen too often in a place where seniority 
             counts so much. But his observable abilities, talents, and 
             incredible work ethic brought him to the attention of all 
             of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle. On our side 
             of the aisle, it resulted in him being put in a leadership 
             role early in his career.
               More than being an effective leader, Paul was a 
             tremendous colleague when it came time to needing some 
             assistance on a project. I cannot think of one important 
             piece of legislation that I have worked on in the time I 
             have been in the Senate when Paul Coverdell was not 
             helping me in some fashion to get it through. I remember 
             coming here in my very first couple of legislative efforts 
             on amendments and bills as a freshman Member who did not 
             know how this place worked and looking to him, who was a 
             slightly more senior Member, for guidance and help; he was 
             always there. He has been there for all of us. That is why 
             I think today is such a tough day. It would not really 
             matter what the issue was, he was somebody who would try 
             to help you. His staff was built by him to be of similar 
             assistance.
               Of course, for all of us, probably the principal thing 
             we would acknowledge in terms of Paul's attributes was the 
             tremendous friendship he offered to all of us who were his 
             friends. I had a unique relationship with him in the sense 
             that he served as a mentor and friend to me in my first 
             couple of years. When he sought a leadership position, I 
             was proud of the fact that he asked me to place his name 
             in nomination for that. I did so on the second occasion he 
             sought to be in the leadership of our party. When you are 
             asked to nominate somebody for one of these jobs, it 
             obviously means a lot to you and tells you that you are 
             well regarded by that person. I have to say it means an 
             unbelievable amount to me to think that Senator Paul 
             Coverdell thought of me as someone who he would want to 
             play that role in his political career.
               As I said earlier, the reaction of his colleagues today 
             demonstrates that others share my high opinion of Paul. So 
             many have given statements already, and I know more will 
             follow that will move us all. We have seen people express 
             themselves in ways we never thought we would see. People 
             who are known to come to the Senate floor and wage verbal 
             debates back and forth on serious topics have already come 
             here today and demonstrated, in the most human way, that 
             they were so close to and touched by Paul Coverdell, and 
             that all of the partisanship and the political debate is 
             really second to them in importance to describing the 
             friendship he provided all of us.
               So as I close we pray for the best for Paul's wife and 
             family. We give thanks for having been able to share his 
             friendship. On a personal level, I say: Goodbye, Paul, we 
             will never forget you. You were a key part of all we have 
             done here, and you will continue to play a role as our 
             memories of you continue.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah is 
             recognized.

               Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, many years ago William 
             Wordsworth wrote a wonderful poem entitled ``Ode: 
             Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early 
             Childhood,'' in which he said:

                   Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
                   The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
                   Hath had elsewhere its setting,
                   And cometh from afar:
                   Not in entire forgetfulness,
                   And not in utter nakedness,
                   But trailing clouds of glory do we come
                   From God, who is our home. . . .

               I feel particularly bereft today because of the loss of 
             Paul Coverdell.
               I have served here for 24 years and I have seen great 
             people come and go. There are people in this body who are 
             just as great as the Founding Fathers were. There may not 
             be many, but there are people here who by any measure 
             qualify as great leaders.
               These great people, who are able to cross party lines 
             and bring people together, make this body the greatest 
             legislative body in the world. Paul was one of those 
             people.
               He was kind, he was considerate, a good listener; he was 
             wise and he was a person with whom you would want to 
             counsel if you had any concerns.
               But Paul was more than that. He was politically astute. 
             He knew when to get tough about matters and stand up for 
             what he believed. But there was also a kindness, a 
             softness, a decency about him that is going to live long 
             after today.
               I know that ``our birth is but a sleep and a 
             forgetting,'' and that we come ``from God, who is our 
             home.''
               I know that Paul was one of God's chosen people. He was 
             given the privilege of coming here to be with us in the 
             Senate. We had the privilege of knowing him.
               William Cullen Bryant once said:

                   So live that when thy summons comes to join
                   The innumerable caravan that moves
                   To that mysterious realm, where each shall take
                   His chamber in the silent halls of death,
                   Thou go not, like a quarry-slave at night,
                   Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed
                   By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
                   Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
                   About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.

               Paul was like that. We are all going to miss him. The 
             fact that he died such a quick and unfathomable death has 
             made a mournful impression on all of us.
               Paul was one of those people who could move mountains 
             because of his personality, because of his intelligence, 
             because of his background, because of his experience, 
             because of his kindness, because of his love, because of 
             his fairness, and because of his leadership.
               I could go through all of his leadership qualities, all 
             of the things he was working on and the accomplishments he 
             made. Right now, I am thinking more of the mourning and 
             the sense of loss we feel in losing Paul Coverdell.
               Tennyson wrote this wonderful poem called ``Crossing the 
             Bar.''

                   Sunset and evening star,
                   And one clear call for me!
                   And may there be no moaning of the bar,
                   When I put out to sea,

                   But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
                   Too full for sound and foam,
                   When that which drew from out the boundless deep
                   Turns again home.

                   Twilight and evening bell,
                   And after that the dark!
                   And may there be no sadness of farewell,
                   When I embark;

                   For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
                   The flood may bear me far,
                   I hope to see my Pilot face to face
                   When I have crossed the bar.

               I have no doubt that Paul is going to see his pilot face 
             to face. I have no doubt that he does not want any moaning 
             of the bar as he puts out to sea. I know he does not want 
             any sadness or farewell now that he has embarked on this 
             next phase of eternity.
               Let us today concentrate on all the good that Paul stood 
             for on all his amazing accomplishments, not only as a 
             Senator, but also as a man.
               We all know about Paul's love for education--he led our 
             caucus on that issue--and all the work he did as chairman 
             of the Senate Republican Task Force on Education to 
             encourage learning opportunities for America's 
             schoolchildren.
               Paul worked hard to make sure that every parent, every 
             child, and every teacher could devote enough time 
             throughout each year to educational matters. He made 
             encouraging a love of reading his special priority for 
             students, pupils, and teachers alike. He was a leader in 
             formulating ``A+'' tax-free accounts for education. His 
             landmark Safe and Affordable Schools Act has been widely 
             regarded as a model program to improve our country's 
             education policies. Paul authored bills to make sure we 
             appreciate the hard work of our Nation's teachers, 
             something we tend to forget so easily when formulating 
             education policy.
               Paul must also be memorialized for his steadfast work to 
             lower taxes and make our tax policies more fair. Many 
             times Paul reminded us of his belief that the freedom and 
             means to raise, educate and care for our families are 
             threatened by a government that takes more than 50 percent 
             of an average family's income in taxes and cost of 
             government. Paul was very proud of his work on tax issues 
             and in particular, of the law he authored to stop 
             unscrupulous IRS workers from rummaging through the tax 
             files of private citizens. It is many ways so ironic that 
             the last vote he cast was on repealing the death tax, an 
             important policy change he had worked so hard to advocate.
               I worked closely with Paul on his antidrug efforts, his 
             work to stop narcotics trafficking, and his efforts to 
             make the workplace drug free. All of these things Paul 
             did, and he did them well.
               Paul never forgot the needs of his home State, whether 
             it was through his work as chairman of the Agriculture 
             Subcommittee on Marketing, Inspection and Product 
             Promotion, or through his work as a member of the Finance 
             Committee and the Small Business Committee. His record is 
             replete with accomplishments that benefited his 
             constituents back home.
               Of course, there were so many other legislative things I 
             would like to mention, but let me leave it at that.
               Another side of Paul was his love for baseball. He was 
             as excited as anybody I have ever seen when Hank Aaron 
             broke Babe Ruth's Major League home run record as a 
             beloved Atlanta Brave.
               I am deeply saddened by his passing. I am going to miss 
             him very much.
               One of my favorite poets is a poet named Sara Teasdale 
             who wrote an interesting poem. Although this was surely a 
             love poem, I think it applies to our memories of Paul as 
             this poem is called ``The Beloved.''

                   It is enough of honor for one lifetime
                   To have known you better than the rest have known,
                   The shadows and the colors of your voice,
                   Your will, immutable and still as stone.
                   The shy heart,

               Which Paul had--

                   so lonely and so gay,
                   The sad laughter and the pride of pride,
                   The tenderness, the depth of tenderness
                   Rich as the earth, and wide as heaven is wide.

               I like that. Even though it was meant for someone else, 
             I think it applies to a large degree to Paul Coverdell.
               Paul was a good man. He did the right things. He set a 
             good example. He was a good colleague here. He was one of 
             the most respected Senators in this body for all of these 
             qualities, qualities that very few people can come close 
             to matching.
               I wish Paul the best in his afterlife.
               My sympathy and heartfelt feelings to Nancy, his wife, 
             and to the rest of his family who are mourning him.
               I thank God for the privilege of knowing Paul, working 
             with Paul, accomplishing things with Paul, laughing with 
             Paul.
               I am grateful for our colleagues in this body on both 
             sides of the floor. We do learn that these people are here 
             for a very important reason. They have been selected by 
             their respective constituents to do good things. I can say 
             as one who has been here long enough to know that Paul 
             Coverdell did good things while he was here and that his 
             legacy will be that all of us need to do better in the 
             things we have been and are doing. All of us need to 
             follow and emulate his example so that we can hopefully be 
             as good as he was.
               My sympathy and my best to Nancy and other members of 
             his family, and to my fellow colleagues who are mourning 
             Paul Coverdell this day.
               Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.

               Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I join with all of my fellow 
             Senators today to express our feelings and mourn the death 
             of our colleague, Senator Paul Coverdell.
               I always find these kinds of circumstances difficult to 
             speak to, to find the appropriate words to reflect my 
             emotions or to in some way express my love for a man such 
             as Paul Coverdell and the way he worked for all of us and 
             for his country.
               I grew up in a ranching environment in the State of 
             Idaho. Oftentimes I think back to those experiences when I 
             am caught in emotion or when I cause myself to sit down 
             and contemplate how to deal with an issue or a situation. 
             My experience with Paul was largely a part of our time in 
             the Senate, a leadership time.
               I was one of four Senators elected by the Republican 
             majority to lead them in the 106th Congress; Paul 
             Coverdell was a part of that leadership team. He was 
             Secretary of what we call our Republican Conference, or 
             all Members on the Republican side. It was through that 
             relationship that I grew to know Paul and to appreciate 
             the tremendous talents that he had. We all know he was an 
             activist on the floor on many occasions, in pursuit of 
             what the leadership team and ultimately the Republican 
             Conference decided was a direction we ought to head in or 
             an issue we ought to debate. He did it with phenomenal 
             energy and talent.
               When I think of that relationship, I can only come to 
             this analysis; I think it so well fits Paul: A team 
             approach, as in a western ranching environment. We all 
             remember the great cattle drives that used to come out of 
             the Southwest into the Plains of the West to graze, 
             thousands of head of renegade cattle moving all in one 
             direction. The reason they were moving in one direction 
             was because there was a trail boss who headed up this 
             drive. There were a group of wranglers on horseback who 
             were out there working day to day to keep that drive 
             shaped and headed in the direction in which the trail boss 
             wanted them to head.
               There is no question that in the Senate Trent Lott is 
             our trail boss. He decides the direction with the consent 
             of the herd, if you will, and head Members. There is a 
             group who are the wranglers, who work with that herd, to 
             help shape it and keep it moving. Paul Coverdell was one 
             of those wranglers and probably the best among us. He was 
             constantly out there from daylight until dark and, if it 
             were on the range, we would say in all kinds of weather 
             because he was doing what he was asked to do but more 
             importantly because he believed in what he was doing and 
             he was very passionate about it.
               All of us are here for a reason; some of us for larger 
             reasons than others. Clearly, to be here with the kind of 
             passion and energy that Paul Coverdell from the State of 
             Georgia came here with is unique. As a result, he was 
             selected to be one of those wranglers, to follow the 
             leadership, to follow the directions of the trail boss, to 
             make sure that we all stayed headed in the right 
             direction.
               I will miss him. I will miss his talents as a wrangler. 
             He was a great American and history will record that. He 
             has made his mark. But never once in the business of 
             making that mark, or leading, shaping the herd, or 
             wrangling the herd, did he ever do it for Paul. He did it 
             for his country and for what he believed was the right 
             cause and the right belief.
               Paul, I think God has called you to a different trail 
             herd. He obviously needed a hell of a good wrangler, and 
             He's got one. We will miss you. We love you.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.

               Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I join my colleagues in 
             rising to offer my sympathies and condolences to Nancy and 
             the Coverdell family.
               Today, we all grieve Paul's passing, but we also 
             celebrate his life. What a life it was; a life of 
             achievement, a life of incredible service and 
             accomplishment.
               I did not know Paul Coverdell until I came to the Senate 
             in 1996. I followed his career, as many Americans did. I 
             followed with interest and admiration his campaign for the 
             Senate and his election to the Senate from Georgia. It was 
             only when I arrived at this institution that I got to know 
             Paul Coverdell, the man.
               Much has already been said this morning and yesterday 
             and has been said well. He was ubiquitous. It seemed Paul 
             was everywhere. The breadth and number of issues he was 
             involved in takes your breath away. It was amazing how 
             much he knew and how much he was willing to invest his 
             time and energy. He was incredibly hard working and 
             willing to do what others did not want to do, did not have 
             time to do. He made time and he was willing to take on the 
             nonglamorous jobs. He did not seek glory and he did not 
             seek adulation. He gave credit away freely because he did 
             not seek it for himself. He was a consensus builder; he 
             was a doer. If you wanted it accomplished, you gave the 
             task to Paul Coverdell.
               One quality which I as a junior Member of the Senate 
             especially appreciated and admired was his deep respect 
             for his fellow man and his deep respect for his 
             colleagues, regardless of their rank or status. I served 
             on the education task force with Paul. We had a lot of 
             strategy meetings. We had meetings in Senator Lott's 
             office in which we would talk over the education issue and 
             discuss not only how we would communicate our message but 
             how we would pass legislation. There were a lot of senior 
             Members on the task force. They were always quick and bold 
             to speak out and give their opinion. What I noticed about 
             Paul Coverdell was that he was always observing who had 
             spoken and who had not, who had expressed their opinion 
             and who had not. At every meeting he said: Tim, you have 
             not said anything yet. What are your thoughts? Do you have 
             an opinion?
               Or he would see Susan Collins and say: Susan, how do you 
             feel about this issue?
               He always included junior Members. He included everyone 
             because he respected not only their opinion, but he 
             respected them as human beings.
               He epitomized what service is all about. I think that 
             Paul Coverdell provides the lasting role model of what a 
             U.S. Senator should be, what a public servant should be.
               Many of my colleagues have struggled to find words and 
             to find Scripture and verses to express what they felt 
             about Paul Coverdell. I have found a verse that I think 
             applies most appropriately to Paul. It is Mark 10:31. 
             Jesus said: But many that are first shall be last; and the 
             last first. Paul was a leader. But he was a leader among 
             us because he was servant of all of us.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota.

               Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to join my 
             colleagues in paying tribute to the life and legacy of a 
             man I considered a friend first, a Senator second, and a 
             great American above all.
               Senator Coverdell was everything that those of us who 
             were blessed to serve with him strive to be: effective, 
             committed, compassionate, and tenacious when it meant 
             doing right by the people of Georgia and the American 
             taxpayers he revered.
               Paul was a voice for families, for children, for the 
             Nation's workers, and every individual seeking to build a 
             better life for themselves, their family, and generations 
             to come.
               Of all my colleagues, I think I spent more of my working 
             hours with Paul Coverdell, in meetings, strategy sessions, 
             and casual conversations.
               I considered him to be the ``sparkplug of the Senate'' 
             because of the life and energy he brought to this body.
               As others have said, very little went on here that Paul 
             was not somehow involved in, and he was the man I went to 
             when I needed a friendly ear. I did not always hear what I 
             wanted to hear, or get the sympathy I thought I needed, of 
             course, but I always received the counsel of a man who 
             spoke from the heart.
               He leaves behind a remarkable legacy of service, and not 
             just here in the Senate. Other colleagues have spoken of 
             his leadership of the Peace Corps, his 16 years in the 
             Georgia State Senate, his military service, his real-world 
             experience in business.
               In this Chamber he will be especially remembered for his 
             unyielding dedication to working Americans, whether 
             through his work on education, and in particular his 
             education savings accounts, leading the fight against 
             illegal drugs, promoting volunteerism, and lifting up 
             America's farmers.
               I think, though, that Paul will be remembered foremost 
             as an ardent defender of freedom.
               The highest tribute one can pay to colleagues is to say 
             that, day in and day out, they got the job done. Senator 
             Paul Coverdell got the job done, with humility, with 
             enthusiasm, and always with good humor.
               With Paul's passing, the State of Georgia has lost a 
             leader, the Senate has lost its sparkplug, many of us have 
             lost our best friend, and the Coverdell family has lost a 
             truly exceptional man. My prayers, and the prayers of our 
             colleagues and our staffs, are with Nancy and her entire 
             family during this difficult, difficult time.

               Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I join my many colleagues 
             here in the Senate today expressing my sympathies to the 
             Coverdell family and telling them our thoughts and prayers 
             are with them during this difficult time. A poet once 
             said: There is no joy life gives like that it takes away.
               I expect the Coverdell family and all who loved Paul and 
             understand the hurt and anguish at his passing, today know 
             well what that verse means.
               This is an unusual place, this Senate. There are 100 of 
             us, men and women from all parts of the country. We have 
             days where we have pretty aggressive debates and fights 
             about public policy. Paul Coverdell was in the middle of 
             many of those. I never heard Paul Coverdell say a mean 
             word to anyone in the Senate. I told him one day at the 
             end of a rather lengthy debate in which I was on the other 
             side and the vote was called and we were standing in the 
             well: ``You and I don't agree on this issue, but you are a 
             very good Senator.''
               We served in different political parties. We, in many 
             cases, believed differently about issues. But Paul 
             Coverdell was a very good Senator and served this country 
             well.
               The important part about Paul was, though he felt great 
             passion about public policy and the issues he brought to 
             the floor of the Senate, again, he never uttered a mean 
             word about anyone in debate. You can always disagree in 
             this country without being disagreeable. Paul Coverdell 
             demonstrated that every day in his pursuit of the public 
             policy he believed was important for this country.
               We are so busy and our schedules have us on our way here 
             and there and everywhere all week, and then often to our 
             respective homes in the 50 States on weekends, so it is 
             hard to get to know each other very well. But each day, as 
             we move around in this Capitol, all of us in the Senate 
             exchange greetings and words, occasionally a story or two. 
             Last week, I was in the elevator with Senator Coverdell. 
             We laughed a bit about his being compared, from time to 
             time, in his presentation, to George Bush. I always used 
             to kid him about that, that sometimes he had a cadence 
             that reminded me of the ex-President.
               He sort of kidded me and said someone told him he was 
             doing Dana Carvey who was doing George Bush, so he was two 
             steps away from the impression. We laughed about that.
               Last Friday, as we were having a long series of votes, 
             toward the end of the votes I visited with Senator 
             Coverdell because Georgia has been a State hardest hit by 
             drought. I told him we had been hit so severely with 
             respect to floods. On behalf of our farmers, I was trying 
             to see if we could put together a piece of legislation 
             that would deal with crops that had been flooded out, 
             destroyed by water, and crops in Georgia and elsewhere 
             that were being destroyed by drought. On Friday morning, 
             Paul indicated he wanted to join me in an amendment to 
             this bill, the agriculture appropriations bill that is 
             being considered in the Senate, to provide some assistance 
             for family farmers who were victims of the drought that 
             was occurring in his State and throughout the South.
               He was always available to talk about public policy and 
             what was happening; always especially available and 
             concerned to talk about the people of his State of 
             Georgia. I wanted to come today to say the Senate will 
             miss Paul Coverdell. He was not only a good Senator, but 
             he served this country very well. He was a friend to all 
             of us. My thoughts and prayers go to his wife and his 
             family. We say thank you to his memory.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.

               Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, in the 211-year history of 
             the Senate, the State of Georgia has one of the richest 
             and most storied legacies. Since the formation of the 
             Senate, and that was in 1789, Georgia has sent to the 
             Senate 62 individuals as Senators. I have had the distinct 
             privilege of serving with six of them, including our 
             beloved Paul Coverdell. When the people of Georgia elected 
             Paul Coverdell to represent them here in the Senate 8 
             years ago, they sent to Washington a unique, especially 
             talented, and gracious gentleman; a gentleman of the 
             South, I say to those of us who are privileged to come 
             from that region.
               Paul began his service to the Nation nearly 30 years ago 
             when he served his Nation in the U.S. Army, stationed in 
             Okinawa, Taiwan, and Korea, and he never stopped in his 
             quest to serve the people. He was truly a public servant.
               He gave almost half his life to serving the Nation and 
             the State of Georgia. It is no overstatement to say that 
             his presence in public life has made this Nation more 
             prosperous and more secure. He was a leader in the fight 
             against drugs and the fight for better education and the 
             struggle to keep this Nation strong, both economically and 
             militarily.
               We have a saying around the Senate: There are show 
             horses and workhorses. We know for sure Paul was no show 
             horse; He was a workhorse. He worked hard and often he 
             worked behind the scenes. He did not seek the headlines. 
             Paul Coverdell did not seek the headlines. He would seek 
             results--he wanted to get the job done, let others take 
             the credit--and always results that were in the best 
             interests of our Nation. That was his guide; that was his 
             compass.
               All of us here, before we cast the first vote, before we 
             discharge the first responsibility, take the oath of 
             office. We solemnly commit ``to support and defend the 
             Constitution against all enemies.'' We commit ``to bear 
             true faith and allegiance.'' We undertake ``to faithfully 
             discharge'' our duties.
               Paul Coverdell fulfilled each of those constitutional 
             obligations under the oath of office. He was a man of his 
             word and he has lived his life in the Senate true to his 
             principles and true to that oath.
               He was a quiet man. His office was right across the hall 
             from mine in the old Russell Building. How often we would 
             meet walking to and from the votes. Those are the moments 
             when Senators do not have staffs around them, constituents 
             are waiting somewhere, and you share those private 
             thoughts, comments, and ideas. How often I shared them 
             with this giant of a Senator.
               The Nation lost a true patriot, a true gentleman, a true 
             statesman. But his memory and his legacy will remain with 
             us forever.
               May God bless his family. God blessed America with this 
             man's service.

               Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I join my colleagues on both 
             sides of the aisle who have come today to express sorrow 
             and deep regret over the loss of a treasured friend and 
             colleague. I have watched many of the tributes that have 
             been made to Paul Coverdell this morning. There is very 
             little I can say to add to some of the wonderful comments 
             that have been made about this truly remarkable American.
               I want to talk for a minute about my personal 
             relationship with Paul Coverdell.
               When he was running for the Senate for the first time, 
             he was running against an incumbent Senator who was 
             popular in his State. I came to the State of Georgia and 
             campaigned for him. Before I arrived, I thought I was 
             doing what a lot of us in politics do, and that is doing 
             what is necessary for a losing cause. But after spending a 
             few days with Paul Coverdell, I could see this man was 
             going to win his election because he was a man of 
             integrity; he was a man who knew the issues, a man who was 
             dedicated to the concept and belief of public service, a 
             man who had served his country in other capacities and had 
             prepared himself over many years of public life to serve 
             the Nation as a Senator from the State of Georgia.
               As we all know, he won a very close race, perhaps one of 
             the closest races in the history of certainly the State of 
             Georgia, if not the entire Senate, which required a runoff 
             election. Then he was reelected rather handily.
               Again I went down to Georgia to help him in his 
             reelection, and I saw that during his first term, Paul 
             Coverdell had established a unique relationship with his 
             constituents. Everyplace I went with him, they recognized 
             him, they showed their appreciation for him, and whether 
             they were Republican or Democrat, they respected him for 
             his strongly held values and views.
               As I talked to his citizenry around the State of 
             Georgia, it was clear, whether they were going to support 
             his candidacy for reelection or not, they held him in the 
             highest regard because they knew, as we who have had the 
             privilege and honor of working with him and serving with 
             him in the Senate know, that he was a man who worked 
             incredibly hard, a man of firmly established values and 
             ideals, and one who believed and acted in the public 
             interest.
               As all of us experience deep emotion and sorrow over the 
             loss of a dear friend, I am sometimes reminded that we 
             should also celebrate the fact that we were blessed to 
             have the opportunity to know and appreciate a man of such 
             enormous and wonderful qualities, and the people of his 
             State and the people of this Nation, including my own 
             State of Arizona, were honored to be in the presence of 
             and have the service of this dedicated, wonderful 
             American.
               As our best wishes and condolences go out to the 
             Coverdell family and friends, we also offer our hardiest 
             celebration for a life well lived and one which is written 
             in the pages of America's history, in the history of the 
             Senate, bright pages filled with the Coverdell name in the 
             State of Georgia with glory.

               Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, as I enter the Chamber and 
             look to the rear to the seat occupied by our dear friend, 
             the late Senator Paul Coverdell, it reminds me of the 
             reality of the fragility of the lives we lead. The message 
             is one of taking stock of what our real priorities are. 
             Life is so short, so fragile, and our period on Earth is 
             so temporary.
               At this time we join together in grieving with the 
             family of our beloved colleague who passed away Tuesday 
             evening. Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with his 
             wife Nancy and the family during their time of 
             extraordinary grief.
               We all share in the reality that this was a tragic and 
             unexpected loss. We all feel it in this Chamber, in the 
             halls of the Senate office buildings and, of course, in 
             Paul's beloved State of Georgia. But we cannot be blinded 
             by grief to the point that we fail to recognize and 
             celebrate the life of this outstanding public servant.
               He was an extraordinary public servant. I listened to 
             some of the comments made last night after we learned of 
             his passing. The Senator from New York said he was a man 
             of peace. Reflecting on Paul's public service, he served 
             his country in the Army, with deployments in Okinawa, 
             Korea, and the Republic of China, came home to Georgia, 
             joined the family business, helped it thrive and grow and 
             then, beginning in 1970, served his State in the 
             Legislature, serving as Minority Leader for a period of 15 
             years. In 1989, he continued his commitment to peace as 
             Director of the Peace Corps. In this capacity, Paul saw 
             the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of the cold war. He 
             seized the opportunity to place Peace Corps volunteers in 
             former Eastern bloc nations in an effort to speed their 
             transition to democracy and peace.
               The wise people of Georgia, in 1992, elected Paul to the 
             U.S. Senate. I vividly recall that this genuine, quiet man 
             made an immediate impression upon all of us. As we got to 
             know Paul, we found him to be deeply thoughtful, hard 
             working, and utterly unconcerned about the limelight. His 
             Republican colleagues recognized his efforts and selected 
             him to the leadership post of Republican Conference 
             Secretary.
               As a U.S. Senator, Paul did superb work in the issues of 
             education, food safety, protecting our children from 
             drugs, promoting volunteerism, lowering the tax burden on 
             working families and small business, and protecting the 
             rights of citizens in their dealings with the Internal 
             Revenue Service.
               We were all privileged to know Paul. He enriched our 
             lives. My prayers and thoughts are with Paul's family, 
             especially his wife Nancy. The Senate will miss his work 
             ethic and thoughtfulness. The Nation will miss his ideas 
             and his example.

               Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, I rise, as have some of our 
             colleagues today, to express my deepest sympathy to 
             Senator Paul Coverdell's friends, family, and to his wife 
             Nancy, as others throughout the State of Georgia as well 
             as throughout this country mourn the passing of one of our 
             colleagues who, indeed, was a very special person.
               I think when we reflect on the times we had and the 
             opportunity we had to spend with Paul Coverdell, we will 
             certainly remember him as a Senator's Senator; by that I 
             mean a person who was really interested not so much in the 
             message of the day but, rather, in actually working 
             together to bring to this floor and to the American people 
             legislative products that were appropriate to get the job 
             done.
               I think all of us, when we see our legislative branches 
             becoming more and more partisan and more and more 
             separated by imaginary aisles that separate us, can think 
             back and remember Paul Coverdell as a person who was 
             willing to work with anyone who was willing to work with 
             him in order to accomplish legislation that was in the 
             interest of this whole country.
               I had the opportunity, as so many of our colleagues did, 
             to work with him on education. I think his approach to 
             that major legislative effort was one from which we can 
             all learn a great deal--how he handled the product he was 
             trying to get passed into law.
               What I mean by that was he was willing to sit and talk 
             with Democrats as well as his Republican colleagues to try 
             to fashion a compromise that could accomplish the reform 
             of our legislative system. Far too often, that is sort of 
             unique and different in the way things are done--both in 
             this body and in the other body across the Capitol.
               I think as we remember the experiences and good times we 
             had with him, we can take with us the admiration and 
             respect all of us have expressed of him, but also, at the 
             same time, the lesson he taught us by his actions. That 
             lesson, in my mind, was how we work together to accomplish 
             good things for the American people. He did that. We can 
             remember and we can learn from his actions. That is how I 
             want to remember the good times I had and the privilege of 
             experiencing it with him during the legislative process.
               He will be missed, of course, by his family and close 
             friends back home. He will be missed by the people of 
             Georgia. He will, indeed, be missed by the people of 
             America--those Americans who think that the function of 
             this body and our Congress in general is to do whatever we 
             can, working together, to make lives better for all 
             American citizens. That is what Paul Coverdell attempted 
             to do as he was able to accomplish so many things in that 
             fashion.
               He will be particularly missed by this institution and 
             by everyone who wants to make government work better for 
             the American people. Paul Coverdell represented that type 
             of Senator. He, indeed, was a Senator's Senator. He will 
             be sorely missed but very fondly remembered.

               Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, as have so 
             many of my colleagues, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
             friend, Paul Coverdell.
               It is very difficult to look at those flowers, which are 
             silent. As my colleagues do, I find it difficult to deal 
             with. It is something that is very hard for all of us to 
             understand.
               We are here to pay tribute to Paul Coverdell and to 
             express our sincerest condolences to Nancy and his entire 
             family.
               They say true friends are there when you need them most. 
             We know Paul Coverdell was there when we needed counsel. I 
             remember about a year ago I went through some rather 
             difficult times on the floor of the Senate. Paul was there 
             to counsel me and to give me a lot of advice through all 
             that--for which I will always be grateful--in a political 
             world often poisoned by partisanship. Paul was always 
             there for counsel and friendship. He was there for all. He 
             was not a partisan person. He could be partisan when he 
             had to be. There is a difference between being partisan 
             and being mean.
               The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said it best when they 
             said there is a lot of meanness in politics. But he was 
             not one of the mean people. I do not think it can be said 
             much better than that. He was a fierce partisan on the 
             battlefield of ideas but not among friends. We are 100 
             people here who are friends. Even though we have our 
             partisan differences from time to time, we do not take it 
             off the floor. Paul was certainly a stalwart in leading 
             the way in that. He knew what friendship was and what it 
             meant. Friendship to Paul could not be obscured by any 
             party label or disagreement or an argument.
               That is why so many of our colleagues have been here 
             today to make tributes. It is also one of the reasons why 
             history will record Paul Coverdell as a great Senator. I 
             remember vividly the first time I came to the well and 
             signed the book, being joined with a very distinguished 
             few individuals, a little over 2,000 people throughout the 
             course of our country who have become U.S. Senators. 
             Senator Robert Byrd came over to me and said: ``Don't ever 
             forget that. That is something that they can never take 
             away from you.''
               When you think through the years of all those people, 
             Paul will be remembered in that way as one of the best in 
             terms of friendship, in terms of his own issues he felt so 
             passionately about--drugs, what drugs were doing to our 
             society, especially to our young people, and education for 
             which he fought so hard.
               He was a passionate man, a caring man. I do not believe 
             anyone who has ever served here who was not compassionate 
             and did not care could ever be considered an outstanding 
             Senator. Paul was the best when it came to that.
               He had the disarming personality, the humor, the quick 
             mind. He had rock solid philosophical groundings. These 
             are traits that made for a great and potent legislator. 
             Most important, if he gave you his word, that was it. You 
             could trust his judgment. You could trust his instincts. 
             Most of all, you could trust his motivations were right. 
             They were heartfelt; they were sincere; they were 
             honorable. I think that is the most important.
               There is a campaign slogan that Senator Coverdell had: 
             Coverdell works. Those who worked with him every day knew 
             he was tireless. He was working on the day that he was 
             stricken. He was a hard worker. He worked hard for his 
             State and he worked hard for his country and the people in 
             whom he believed.
               In 1732, when the colonists came to Paul's great State 
             of Georgia, they came onshore, touched the shore, they 
             kneeled down and said: Our end in leaving our native 
             country is not to gain riches and honor but singly this--
             to live in the glory of God.
               I think Paul Coverdell has lived up to that about as 
             well as any human being could, certainly as well as any 
             Georgian could. You can certainly be proud of this 
             Georgian.
               Abraham Lincoln, on the passing of Henry Clay, said 
             about the ardent patriot and profound statesman: ``He had 
             a quality possessed by few of the gifted on Earth. His 
             eloquence has not been surpassed in the effective power to 
             move the heart of man.'' Paul Coverdell was without an 
             equal. I think I agree with Abraham Lincoln on that.
               We all have vivid memories of the last time we spoke to 
             Paul Coverdell. I remember on the Senate floor, with all 
             the confusion of the votes on Friday, all the things going 
             on, and although I cannot recall a specific conversation, 
             you can always remember Paul engaging somebody in a 
             conversation.
               The worst part for me, when I reflect on a sudden death, 
             is that if I had the chance to say goodbye, what would I 
             have said? I also find myself wishing I had known so I 
             could take the time to say goodbye. I did not get that 
             opportunity to say goodbye to a friend that I loved and 
             respected, but if I had the chance, I would have thanked 
             him for his friendship because it means more than anything 
             else here. I would have said: Thanks, Paul, for being 
             there for me.
               In his letter to Mrs. Fairbanks, Mark Twain wrote about 
             friendship:

               . . . I remember you and recall you without effort, 
             without exercise of will; that is, by natural impulse, 
             undictated by a sense of duty or of obligation. And that, 
             I take it, is the only sort of remembering worth having. 
             When we think of friends, and call their faces out of the 
             shadows, and their voices out of the echoes that faint 
             along the corridors of memory, and do it without knowing 
             why save that we love to do it, we can content ourselves 
             that that friendship is a Reality, and not a Fancy, that 
             it is built upon a rock and not upon the sands that 
             dissolve away with the ebbing tides and carry their 
             monuments with them.

               That is how I feel about Paul Coverdell today.
               The second thing I would have thanked Paul for, if I had 
             had the chance to say goodbye, was his sense of humor. He 
             had a great sense of humor. Lord knows, one needs a sense 
             of humor serving in this place. It gets intense from time 
             to time. I remember two cases, one recent and one a long 
             time ago, which I will recall. I will take the long time 
             ago first.
               Some of my colleagues will remember Paul had a very 
             interesting election. Georgia, at that time, had a law 
             that candidates had to get 50 percent of the vote to win. 
             Paul got a little less than that. His opponent got a 
             little bit more than Paul but less than 50 percent. So 
             Paul was here and he was talking to Members, saying: I 
             want to join you guys, but I need a little help, a few 
             contributions. We need to have another election and I have 
             to face this guy again with the third guy out.
               I said: I will help you, but I am not sure that law is 
             right. Maybe the other guy should have won; he got more 
             votes than you the first time.
               Paul said: Well, it is all right to change but not yet.
               I remember that. Paul said that in his gregarious way, 
             not meaning anything malicious.
               The second memory I have of his humor was more recent, 
             about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Paul, who is the Conference 
             Secretary, came out with this little card. He held the 
             card up proudly. He wanted people to have this for the 
             Fourth of July recess. It proudly boasted ``The Republican 
             Priorities for the Surplus,'' and he went down through the 
             list. We all looked at them and after he finished, Senator 
             after Senator stood up and said: I do not know where you 
             got that, that is not my priority. Who gave you this? And 
             on and on and on for 10 minutes. Paul took it well.
               After it was over, I walked up to him and I said: Do you 
             regret you printed the card?
               He said: ``Were those guys drinking something? What was 
             going on here?''
               It was a fond memory, but so typical. There was no 
             animosity, no anger, just rolling with the punches.
               He said: ``Next time, I will check with a few people 
             before I print the card.''
               If I had the chance to say goodbye, I would have thanked 
             Paul for that.
               Let me close by referring to comments that were made 
             several years ago on this floor by our distinguished 
             colleague, Robert Byrd, who was talking about the death of 
             William Fulbright. He quoted Longfellow. In quoting 
             Longfellow, Senator Byrd said:

                   There is no death! What seems so is transition;
                   The life of mortal breath
                   Is but a suburb of the life Elysian,
                   Whose portal we call death.

               Then he went on to say about William Fulbright the same 
             thing I would say right now about Paul Coverdell:

               Life is only a narrow isthmus between the boundless 
             oceans of two eternities. All of us who travel that narrow 
             isthmus today, must one day board our little frail barque 
             and hoist its white sails for the journey on that vast 
             unknown sea where we shall sail alone into the boundless 
             ocean of eternity, there to meet our Creator face to face 
             in a land where the rose never withers and the rainbow 
             never fades. To that bourne, from which no traveler ever 
             returns, [Paul Coverdell] has now gone to be reunited with 
             others who once trod these marble halls, and whose voices 
             once rang in this Chamber--voices in this earthly life 
             that have now been stilled forever. Peace be to his ashes!

               Paul Coverdell loved his God; he loved his country; he 
             loved his native Georgia; he loved Nancy and his family. 
             He served them all, and he did it well. I am proud to be 
             called a friend of Senator Paul Coverdell.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Delaware.

               Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, often the most difficult 
             moments we have on this floor are not when we're trying to 
             advocate a political philosophy, or debate a legislative 
             initiative, but when we pause to remember friends and 
             colleagues who have left us. Words, which come easily on 
             most occasions, seem suddenly inadequate to express the 
             feelings we have stirring in our hearts--the fond 
             recollections, the abiding respect, and the sudden, 
             overwhelming feelings of loss.
               Paul Coverdell was a friend to each of us, a leader with 
             a spirit that was as buoyant as it was inspiring. His 
             vision and ability to get things done elevated him quickly 
             into increasingly more important roles in this 
             distinguished body. As a leader, he was unwavering in this 
             dedication to freedom, his support for the bedrock of 
             liberty--family, community, education, and personal 
             responsibility.
               I fondly remember the many occasions we worked together, 
             the discussions we had, and the ever-increasing sentiment 
             that in Paul I had found something of a kindred political 
             spirit. In fact, I was in Atlanta on Monday, at an event 
             he sponsored on my behalf. As always, it was tremendously 
             successful, indicative of how well Paul is regarded by 
             those he serves.
               It is easy to understand why. From efforts to make 
             education more affordable, to reforming the Internal 
             Revenue Service, to working to roll back the tax burden, 
             Paul has been a leader, as articulate and convincing as he 
             was constant and unwavering.
               He intuitively understood the values that bless America. 
             His background and upbringing groomed him to understand 
             the importance of family, the concerns of small business 
             owners, the value of learning, and the ability of 
             government to promote an environment that supports these 
             areas. Just as important, Paul understood the necessity of 
             service and the blessings that come through service.
               Not only was he a distinguished soldier, but after the 
             Army--as Paul succeeded in business--he gave back through 
             his service in the Georgia State Senate, where he served 
             for many years as the Minority Leader. His service 
             continued as he led the Peace Corps under President Bush 
             and focused that important organization on building and 
             sustaining the fundamentals of freedom in the emerging 
             democracies of Central and Eastern Europe.
               Because of his service, Paul was well prepared when he 
             came to the Senate in 1993. He knew what he would do here, 
             and I can think of no one with whom I have served who 
             accomplished more than he did in the time he spent among 
             us. His work will remain his legacy. His memory will 
             continue to inspire. And the successes he achieved here 
             will bless the lives and brighten the futures of families 
             and children for years to come.
               At this time I express my appreciation for Paul and his 
             leadership, and I want to express my condolences to Nancy 
             and the family, along with my gratitude for their 
             willingness to share a great man with all of us.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.

               Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise to join my 
             colleagues in paying tribute to our departed friend and 
             colleague, Paul Coverdell.
               The Senate today is a very sad place, it is a shaken 
             place, because of the suddenness of Paul's death. It is 
             also a day on which I think we, by this tragic event, are 
             reminded that underneath the headlines and the great 
             debates and the partisan divides and all the rest of the 
             sound and the fury, ultimately this institution, as so 
             many others across America, is 100 people coming to work 
             every day, trying to get a job done. It is the hundreds 
             and hundreds of others who work with us here, our staffs 
             and support personnel, who constitute what to me has 
             always seemed to be a small town.
               Today we are saddened and we are shaken by the loss of 
             one of the prominent people in this small town of ours on 
             Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, United States of America, 
             Senator Paul Coverdell.
               My wife said to me once: ``Remember that being a Senator 
             is just your job; it's not you. It's a great job. It's an 
             honor to hold it. It is an extraordinary opportunity. But 
             ultimately there is a `you' there.''
               That personal side of all of us comes home today as we 
             confront, and try to absorb and deal with, the death of 
             our friend, our colleague, our co-worker, Paul Coverdell.
               It reminds us, of course, of the limits of human 
             understanding and human capacities. As great as we are as 
             a species, as high as we have gone, as exciting as the 
             reaches of technology are today, ultimately we reach a 
             point of human limitation. It is the point where we meet 
             up with faith in God that, hopefully, transcends those 
             limits, capacities, and doubts and moves us forward.
               Thinking about Paul Coverdell's death and his life, 
             there are two quite disparate thoughts that came to my 
             mind--but both of them, I think, fit him. I remember when 
             I first came to Washington--this is an old expression--
             somebody said to me: ``Remember that there is no limit to 
             what you can accomplish in Washington if you are not 
             looking for credit.'' In so many ways that have been 
             testified to here on the Senate floor today, that wisdom 
             fits the career of Paul Coverdell. He was a quiet and 
             gentlemanly person, not looking for headlines but 
             committed and anxious to be part of making this place 
             work.
               The second sentiment is something I heard from my own 
             beloved mother, and I will bet everybody heard it from 
             their mother, which is, when I was growing up, she always 
             said to my sisters and me: ``You know, it never hurts to 
             be kind to people. You gain nothing by being harsh.''
               That, too, is a very apt description of Paul Coverdell: 
             a very fine human being, a very kind human being. In the 
             normal interactions of this extraordinary place where we 
             work together trying to get things done, Paul always had a 
             smile, always a kind word. Even in the partisan moments we 
             all are involved in on the floor, they never seemed to 
             become personal with him. That, in both senses, is the way 
             it should be.
               It is, of course, sad but always true: We tend to 
             appreciate people more when they are gone and speak more 
             openly of them when they are gone. I think that is the 
             case of this quiet, strong, decent, productive man. I have 
             a sense, in listening to the comments made, of the 
             critical role he played in this Chamber within the 
             Republican caucus, to transcend the divisions that exist 
             in any group of people, particularly any group of 
             political people, and the critical role he played helping 
             the Senate Majority Leader in trying to keep the place 
             moving and getting some things done.
               I can testify, of course, to the fact that Paul was 
             clearly a proud Republican loyal to his party. He was not 
             hesitant to reach across party lines to look for support 
             for something in which he believed or to offer support to 
             someone on our side of the aisle for something in which he 
             believed and felt was right and necessary.
               I had the greatest opportunity to work side by side with 
             Paul Coverdell as a co-sponsor of the pioneering, 
             progressive, very important education savings account 
             proposal he made which would have taken the basic idea of 
             higher education savings accounts and expanded them to 
             cover K-12 education to help parents support the 
             improvement of their children's education. There is 
             nothing we can do in this Chamber that is much more 
             important than facilitating a better education for all of 
             our children.
               It was easy to work with Paul. He was obviously very 
             bright, he was understanding, and he was energetic and 
             steadfast. It is an idea I hope those of us on both sides 
             who support it will carry on because it is a good idea, 
             but it is also a tribute to him.
               I was thinking earlier this year about a proposal that 
             became associated with the Clinton administration; namely, 
             the aid package to Colombia to deter and diminish the 
             problem of drugs coming in from that country. Paul stepped 
             forward and gave sturdy, steadfast, effective support, 
             which ultimately resulted in its adoption with bipartisan 
             backing of a problem that is obviously complex and indeed 
             cannot but help us as we go forward.
               We all think of Nancy today and Paul's family. We extend 
             to them our condolences, and we hope, of course, that they 
             are strengthened and, in some measure, comforted at this 
             difficult time by good personal memories of their time too 
             short with Paul, and I am sure they are strengthened and 
             comforted by the pride they should feel and the 
             extraordinary record of public service that was Paul 
             Coverdell's life, and hopefully given ultimate strength by 
             their faith in God. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. 
             Blessed be the name of the Lord.
               I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa.

               Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, the State of Georgia and the 
             United States of America lost a great, decent leader 
             yesterday. Paul Coverdell was one of the quiet heroes of 
             this Senate Chamber. He was not showy; he was not proud; 
             he was not here for the credit or the prestige or the 
             power. He was a gentle man in every sense of the word and 
             in every aspect of his being.
               He was here because he loved his State and loved his 
             Nation. He was here because he wanted to improve 
             education. It was a profound concern of his. He was here 
             because he wanted to end drug abuse and the scourge of 
             drugs among young people. He was here because he wanted to 
             protect our national security and secure our children's 
             future and open America's promise to all of those he 
             served. He fought for all these things with a humble 
             dignity and a quiet passion that touched each one of us.
               In a way, Paul was the Senate peacemaker. We get a lot 
             of contentious issues around here. We are all human 
             beings. Tempers flare. Voices rise. It seems as if you are 
             never going to get together with people again across the 
             aisles. Paul Coverdell could step in and work his way back 
             and forth and calm things down.
               Recently, we had the Labor, Health and Human Services, 
             Education bill up. I am the ranking member on that 
             subcommittee. The chairman is Senator Specter from 
             Pennsylvania. It seems that every year when that bill 
             comes up the debate gets hotter. The decibel level goes up 
             a little bit. We seemed to be locked in a week-long 
             struggle on that bill, and I had a chance, once again, to 
             watch Paul Coverdell at work in soothing the tensions on 
             both sides, of reaching across to Democrats and his own 
             Republicans to find that common ground and just calm 
             things down. He was really good at that. I watched him 
             work. I said once to Senator Specter: ``I am sure glad we 
             have Paul Coverdell around here because he was able to 
             keep things calm.''
               He helped us reach the compromises, as we must do around 
             here, and to find a common ground between people.
               I also served with Paul on the Agriculture Committee. We 
             shared a common love of farmers and rural people. Again, 
             in his own quiet way, I saw the determination and the grit 
             of Paul Coverdell in fighting for his farmers in Georgia 
             during many deliberations on the Agriculture Committee and 
             especially in the passage of the last farm bill.
               A lot of people do not know this--but Paul and I talked 
             about it often--he was born in Des Moines, IA, not more 
             than 10 miles from where I was born and reared.
               It is an honor that I represent a State that produced 
             someone as good and as decent as Paul Coverdell. He was 
             one of the finest leaders this body has ever seen.
               Standing here and looking over at his desk and looking 
             at the black cloth and the flowers on the desk cannot help 
             but remind each of us of the transitory nature of human 
             life. Just last week--it seems like yesterday--I was on 
             the floor talking with Paul Coverdell about an issue, 
             asking for some help and seeing if he could work some 
             things out. He was as alive and as vibrant and as engaged 
             and committed to the smooth functioning of this 
             institution as anyone else. Four days later, he passed on.
               Looking at his desk, and thinking about seeing him just 
             a few days ago, being alive and vibrant and full of 
             health, and looking forward, not only makes us think about 
             the transitory nature of human life but it also should 
             serve to remind us we should make every day count--make 
             every day count in emulating the kindness and the 
             gentleness and the caring nature of a Paul Coverdell.
               One of my political heroes, Hubert Humphrey, once said: 
             ``To be a leader means a willingness to risk--and a 
             willingness to love. One must ask: Has the leader given 
             you something from the heart?''
               Paul Coverdell had the guts and the courage to take 
             risks. He had a great will to love. And to that question 
             by Hubert Humphrey, I can say yes about Paul Coverdell. He 
             gave us all something from that wonderful heart of his.
               So I join with my friends and colleagues in extending to 
             Nancy and to his family our profound sorrow. We share your 
             sorrow. But we hope you take comfort, as we do, in knowing 
             that the kind and gentle and caring life of Paul Coverdell 
             is now rewarded by the kind and gentle and caring hand of 
             Almighty God.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.

               Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I, like most of my colleagues 
             today, have listened carefully to the remarks made about 
             our colleague, Paul Coverdell. What it has been is a 
             weaving together of a magnificent tapestry representing 
             the life of a unique and complete human being--Paul 
             Coverdell.
               Paul Coverdell was a complete human being. We are all 
             judged by many facets of our lives. In the end, what is 
             really most important is: Did you leave the world better 
             than you found it? That question has been answered rather 
             assuredly today in the case of our friend Paul Coverdell.
               I found part of a speech that President Ronald Reagan 
             gave. As a matter of fact, it was the last speech that he 
             gave before the United Nations in September of 1988, 
             before he left office. I think it captures, rather well, 
             Paul Coverdell--a man who served his country in uniform, a 
             man who served his country as head of the Peace Corps, who 
             truly touched the world and made the world better, who 
             served his country as a Senator, who helped all of us as a 
             friend, and who was a faithful and wonderful and loving 
             husband.
               These words--that I would like to recite in closing my 
             remarks about Paul Coverdell--truly capture the essence of 
             this remarkable colleague and friend of ours. As President 
             Reagan ended his speech to the United Nations on September 
             26, 1988, he said--and we hear the echo of Paul Coverdell 
             in these words--

               . . . when we grow weary of the world and its troubles, 
             when our faith in humanity falters, it is then that we 
             must seek comfort and refreshment of spirit, in a deeper 
             source of wisdom, one greater than ourselves.
               And so if future generations do say of us that, in our 
             time, peace came closer, that we did bring about new 
             seasons of truth and justice, it will be cause for great 
             pride. But it shall be a cause of greater pride still, if 
             it is also said that we were wise enough to know the 
             deliberations of great leaders and great bodies are but 
             overture; that the truly majestic music--the music of 
             freedom, of justice, of peace--is the music made in 
             forgetting self and seeking in silence the will of Him who 
             made us.
               Thank you for your hospitality over the years. I bid you 
             now farewell. And God bless you.

               We bid farewell to Paul Coverdell. And God bless Paul 
             Coverdell.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Carolina.

               Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, none of us knows precisely 
             when the hereafter begins, when the life of one of the 
             Lord's servants ends. I myself have lost an unusually 
             large number of good friends during the past few weeks. 
             But I find it helpful to imagine that I can visualize each 
             of them sitting on some sort of Cloud Nine up there, 
             listening to those of us who are mourning the loss of good 
             friends.
               Yes, I do have a hunch that Paul Coverdell is up there, 
             cheerfully and busily lending a hand to Saint Peter. For 
             me, it serves the purpose of reassuring that Paul is all 
             right--in fact, better off than he has ever been before.
               We all remember a hundred different personal vignettes 
             at times like this. In Paul's case, my first acquaintance 
             with him was very early in the morning the day after he 
             was first elected to the Senate in 1992.
               I had gone quietly into the den of our Raleigh home and 
             turned on the television set--the volume very low, so as 
             not to awaken Mrs. Helms. I wanted to catch up on the late 
             returns from the election the day before.
               I heard a voice; and I was intrigued and impressed by 
             that voice. Then I looked carefully. I did not recognize 
             the young man who was speaking. It was Paul Coverdell. I 
             saw the picture of him that appeared on the screen. It was 
             a live interview. Paul had not yet gone to bed. He had 
             been up for about 36 or 40 hours.
               There he was fielding questions politely, intelligently, 
             and with that inevitable smile on his face.
               That was the moment my respect and admiration--and 
             affection--for Senator Coverdell began.
               Now fast forward: Like most, if not all, other Senators, 
             I realize today that I will forever have special memories 
             of Paul Coverdell. He was a good man, an honorable man, a 
             dedicated man with whom I shared a great affection for 
             today's young people--the responsible ones, the ones who 
             understand their good fortune of living in this country--
             those who, as Paul Coverdell once put it, understand that 
             the strength and the goodness and the very future of 
             America will shortly be in their hands.
               I have sat and listened to others who have spoken so 
             eloquently today of the Senator's rapid rise in the 
             leadership of the Republican Party in the Senate. That 
             happened because Paul believed in the Senate. He believed 
             in the meaning of the U.S. Senate, and he believed that we 
             have a duty to endeavor to achieve a spirit of cooperation 
             and understanding--including the realization that we have 
             the duty to make the tripartite system work.
               So, Paul, if that is you whom I think I am looking at on 
             Cloud Nine, you know that we are missing you and that we 
             are so dearly grateful for the years that we enjoyed 
             working with you. I have a notion that the Lord will be 
             blessing you for being His good and faithful servant while 
             you were among us.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico.

               Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I thank Senator Helms. He 
             asked if he could speak before me. I said, of course, and 
             that permitted me to hear what he had to say. It was 
             beautiful, and I was privileged to hear it.
               Most of us are privileged to believe in a hereafter. 
             Frankly, it is difficult for me to conceive of an adult 
             human being with a mind and a heart, difficult for me to 
             see how they do not all believe there is a hereafter. But 
             there is no doubt in my mind that what I believe by faith 
             is true, and there is no doubt in my mind that Paul 
             Coverdell is in the hereafter.
               I did not come to the floor today to speak about matters 
             of great depth or of religion or faith or hope. I came to 
             talk about the Paul Coverdell I knew day by day.
               Let me first say it is very difficult to put the flowers 
             and the cloth where they actually belong, because Paul 
             Coverdell is not known as much for being at that desk as 
             he is being in this aisle and taking somebody's place in 
             this chair. For most of his time in the Senate, he was 
             either putting together a group of Senators to address an 
             issue or he was trying to get the Senate's work done, 
             because he was asked either by a chairman or by the leader 
             to do it. The more difficult the task, the more it was 
             given to him.
               When you had an education bill with 200 amendments or a 
             Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations bill with, 
             at one point, 270 amendments, somebody quietly asked that 
             one of our Senators help. It was almost always Paul 
             Coverdell who was asked. He was so good at it and so 
             friendly and could bring people together so well that the 
             chairman willingly accepted his help. I can see the last 
             time he pulled up his coat and was given, after he 
             accepted the assignment, a list with hundreds of 
             amendments on it. The task was: Narrow them down. By the 
             end of the day, they were talking optimistically about 
             finishing. And by the next day, Paul Coverdell, not at 
             that desk but walking these aisles and sitting with 
             Senators everywhere, was getting the work done, always 
             being considerate, kind, and understanding.
               Sometimes we herald Senators because they have been here 
             a long time. I suggest that Paul Coverdell and his wife 
             Nancy and those who knew him, those who elected him, and 
             those who supported him must know by now that he was a 
             wonderful Senator. That was not measured by his having 
             four or five terms as Senator, as I have been lucky to do, 
             or my friend, Thad Cochran, who sits here, from the State 
             of Mississippi. But he, in a few years, captured all of 
             our hearts and all of our hopes for success. We would 
             transplant them over to him.
               I came with no speech but with a letter. Two days, three 
             days before he died, I arrived at my desk and found a 
             letter. My staff had taken it out of the mail and put it 
             on my desk. Frankly, I left it there not knowing he would 
             die. I was going to read it in due course. Surely, the day 
             that he died, I sat down at my desk and read his letter.
               The letter is not profound. The letter is Paul 
             Coverdell. It is the Paul Coverdell who is so considerate 
             that after coming to my office and spending an hour and a 
             half of his time with a staffer of his and two of mine, he 
             had asked me if I would be of help. He did a job for the 
             Republicans in preparing something we needed, and then he 
             wrote a letter on top of all that he was doing--the labor, 
             the work. He wrote this letter:

               Dear Pete: Thanks again for meeting to discuss our 
             recess communication efforts. As always, your insight has 
             been quite helpful in determining how to craft a credible 
             short term message on the surplus. Bill Hoagland and Jim 
             Capretta of your staff were of invaluable assistance to us 
             as well. Thanks again.
                 Sincerely,
                     Paul D. Coverdell

               I submit there are not too many of us who would be so 
             considerate that when we wrote a Senator to say it was 
             good to be with you, would mention the staff people who 
             really got the work done because they knew more about it 
             than we did. But here is Paul Coverdell, the last sentence 
             of his letter, thanking Bill Hoagland and Jim Capretta by 
             name. He puts it in here. How many Senators are that 
             considerate as to add the names of staffers who they meet 
             in another Senator's office? Some of us are not 
             considerate enough to say: ``Would you please repeat your 
             name because I would actually like to know your name.''
               I believe this is typical of Paul Coverdell. I surmise 
             that for his whole life, certainly while he was in the 
             Peace Corps, and the public service part of his life, he 
             was always considerate.
               Let me suggest that being considerate does not mean 
             being weak. Being considerate does not mean you do not get 
             something done. Being considerate does not mean you cave 
             in. Being considerate is being like Paul Coverdell.
               As I indicated, I will never remember him in that seat 
             that we honor him by today because that is his assigned 
             seat. I will remember him as more the epitome of a Senator 
             who worked on the floor of the Senate. That is a very 
             special kind of Senator. First of all, most of us do not 
             know how to do it. Second, most of us are not asked to do 
             it. He was asked. He knew how to do it in terms of helping 
             people bring difficult matters to a head, to solutions, 
             and helping his party with great insights on strategy.
               Mr. President, I say to his wife Nancy and his beloved: 
             We do not know how to explain this to any of you. We are 
             incapable of doing that. But, clearly, if you do not know 
             it now, in very short order you will understand that he 
             lived a very great life as a Senator, and the respect and 
             admiration that has been shown, and will be shown, is 
             probably an indication that he was as close to all of us 
             as any Senator around.
               With that, I say goodbye, Paul; God bless you and your 
             family.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Indiana.

               Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, our colleagues have spoken so 
             well about Paul Coverdell as a gentleman, as a person who 
             was thoughtful and persuasive. As Senator Domenici said, 
             he worked the aisles indefatigably with the ideals that he 
             held.
               First of all, it is fundamental that Paul Coverdell was 
             elected to the Senate. It was a very difficult contest--
             one not decided on election day, the day of his first 
             election. He was an extraordinarily experienced politician 
             and statesman in the State of Georgia, with remarkable 
             legislative experience as a leader throughout much of his 
             tenure. But those from our party in Georgia have a very 
             difficult time with that, and that was the case for Paul. 
             It was a very close contest. He won graciously, came to 
             the Senate, and had a difficult reelection contest for 
             which he began to prepare early and in which he asked many 
             of us to participate. But he did it all so gracefully, so 
             thoughtfully, so constructively, that we rarely think of 
             Paul Coverdell as a very tough political competitor and 
             someone who was in a difficult arena. It took great 
             courage to make those races to begin with and remarkable 
             tenacity to follow through to success.
               My own first impressions of Paul Coverdell came during 
             the often commented period in which he served as head of 
             the Peace Corps. Paul Coverdell was in Latin America and 
             various other places where some of us tried to work for 
             democracy in those days. They were remarkable days--the 
             1980s--in which all of the countries of our hemisphere 
             finally landed on their feet with democratic institutions. 
             That was true of countries in Asia and countries elsewhere 
             around the world. Paul Coverdell's tenure in the Peace 
             Corps is distinguished by the fact that the Peace Corps 
             had matured, literally.
               Many members of the Corps were now very mature 
             individuals, not young persons out of college, or in some 
             type of transition before they went into another 
             professional career. As a matter of fact, under Paul's 
             tenure, the Peace Corps evolved into a group of teachers, 
             environmentalists, and farm experts, in addition to, 
             still, a very strong component of young idealistic people. 
             It was this combination of people that gave sustenance to 
             democracy, helped the economy, helped the pushing forward 
             of intellectual pursuits, and likewise forged an 
             increasing friendship and reverence for the United States 
             and for our traditions.
               Therefore, it was with great excitement that I welcomed 
             Paul Coverdell to the Foreign Relations Committee. That is 
             a committee on which he belonged. He made huge 
             contributions on that committee. We focused frequently on 
             Latin America, Central America, South America, and the 
             Caribbean--areas with which he was well acquainted from 
             previous times when he had observed first hand the 
             beginning of the evolution of many democratic 
             propositions. I sat next to him in the committee through 
             the markups, through the hearings. He was always cheerful. 
             He was always thoughtful in exchanging views in a very 
             forthright way. I admired and I listened to Paul. He made 
             a very strong contribution day by day in the work of the 
             committee.
               But my close association with Paul came in the 
             Agriculture Committee. I will mention that Paul was 
             chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Subcommittee 
             on Marketing, Inspection and Product Promotion. He did a 
             great job. We have just four subcommittees in the 
             Agriculture Committee. These are committees that have 
             opportunities to hold hearings independently, or to 
             contribute to the body as a whole as they may wish. Paul 
             Coverdell had a broad philosophical view of agriculture 
             that included freedom--freedom for the farmers whom he 
             represented to make decisions with regard to management of 
             their land and their crops and their livestock, and the 
             prospects for their communities. He championed that idea 
             without apology. But he also was very much in tune with 
             the very specific problems of Georgia farmers.
               They included an interest in peanuts. Paul and I had 
             disagreements about the peanut program. In fact, it has 
             either been my fate or privilege for many years to suggest 
             reform. Paul always feared that those reforms would come 
             during his time, and he tried to dissuade me and, having 
             failed in that respect, to at least bring me up to date on 
             what the actual problems of peanut farmers were, how they 
             could be helped, and how the legislation I was suggesting 
             could be brought before the committee and modified, and 
             ways to be helpful to the overall policy and to the 
             constituents whom he saw very much in need of his support.
               Mr. President, he prevailed in that area. We made 
             reforms. But I think they were reforms that were very 
             heavily influenced by the hand of Paul Coverdell. Due to 
             the fact that he did his homework, he was persuasive, and 
             he knew the farmers. He spoke for them.
               In addition to the peanut situation, which was always 
             with him, in recent years, severe drought--and this is one 
             of those years in Georgia--occupied much of Paul 
             Coverdell's time, working with specific landowners and 
             communities, with much of his State in the throes of a 
             very difficult predicament. As I looked at the weather map 
             just last week, I saw how the drought problem has shifted 
             just in a very few weeks in our country from patches that 
             covered much of the area of the United States to very 
             isolated situations. Unfortunately, Georgia is one of 
             those situations. It is especially cruel because the rains 
             have come to the Midwest and to many of the Plains States 
             with isolated problems still--in some parts of Nebraska, 
             Iowa, and the Dakotas.
               But Paul, in his own way, always made certain we knew 
             about Georgia and the very specific problems there. So 
             when we had the large debates that we were privileged to 
             have on the floor, dealing with risk management, dealing 
             with payments to farmers to supplement their income in a 
             very difficult year, and with specific emergencies, Paul 
             was very active in that debate. He was successful in that 
             debate.
               As Senator Domenici pointed out in his beautiful 
             statement, Paul Coverdell was always one who thanked 
             everybody involved and made certain that they knew of his 
             care and attention and appreciation. It was my privilege 
             to receive one of those notes after the debate which we 
             had here. It is very difficult to try to think about the 
             representation of that State without thinking of Paul 
             Coverdell. He was so good, so faithful and, really, so 
             effective and articulate. He was such a good friend. We 
             will miss him. Our thoughts are with him and with Nancy.
               I yield the floor.

               Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I join my colleagues today 
             in expressing my sadness over the loss of a valued 
             colleague. I think we have lost a great friend.
               I was looking over some of the correspondence I had with 
             Senator Coverdell. He sent me some Vidalia onions and told 
             me they had a punch. He had a way of writing that was very 
             interesting, in fact.
               I think Senator Coverdell grew in stature every year he 
             was here.
               I remember so well when he came to us. We had known him 
             as part of the Peace Corps group. I believe his wife was a 
             Delta stewardess at the time. He came around to visit each 
             one of us. He told me a little bit about some of his 
             background. I knew then that we had a person who was going 
             to be outgoing because not many Senators do that. He took 
             time to visit with each one of us as he came to the 
             Senate.
               I think the skills he developed as a mediator will be 
             missed in this Senate. I remember some of the bills he 
             worked on even just this year--the Health and Human 
             Services bill, for instance--bills with so many 
             amendments, and it took committed work on the floor of the 
             Senate.
               Paul Coverdell was a volunteer. He volunteered himself 
             for the task; he worked with Senator Reid from Nevada. I 
             think he assisted members of our committee on an enormous 
             number of disputes. Without his help and without his 
             skills, I think we would still be involved in some of 
             those bills.
               He also came to us with some educational background from 
             his life in Georgia. He brought us some educational 
             concepts that are going to last, I hope, for years to 
             come. His education savings account program, for instance, 
             is one.
               He also helped us in the field of general education 
             because of his approach. He prodded us, I think Senator 
             Specter would agree, to not only meet but to exceed the 
             President's request this year on educational funding.
               He was a very interesting and complex man. He was an 
             advocate for keeping drugs out of the hands of children. 
             He saw the appropriations process--as Senator Cochran and 
             others who work with me on appropriations know--as a means 
             to try to solve problems through the proper use of public 
             funds.
               As chairman of the Defense Subcommittee of our 
             Appropriations Committee, I met with him often on problems 
             of military families in his State. I know of no person who 
             was a more vigorous advocate for production from a State 
             than Paul Coverdell. When it came to the C-130 aircraft, 
             he was a workhorse and not a show horse. I do not remember 
             seeing Paul Coverdell's name in the paper in terms of some 
             who sought publicity, but I saw in him a great deal as a 
             man who sought results.
               I say to the Senate that we lost a great friend and a 
             valued colleague. I join in expressing my sadness over his 
             loss.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.

               Mr. REED. Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to join 
             my colleagues in expressing my sadness and my condolences 
             on behalf of the family of Paul Coverdell.
               In the more than 3 years that I have had the privilege 
             of serving in the Senate, he was someone who was respected 
             for his work, for his effort, and for his sincere 
             commitment to ensuring that all the viewpoints were heard, 
             and that we moved forward and acted for the people of this 
             country.
               He was particularly protective, obviously, of his State 
             of Georgia and his constituents because he felt deeply for 
             their needs. He worked hard to achieve benefits for his 
             constituents. He had talent, personality, and character. 
             You could disagree with him, but he was not a disagreeable 
             person. He was a consummate gentleman. He was polite. He 
             was civil. He was approachable. He had those personal 
             qualities that endeared him to all who serve in this body. 
             He was someone respected by all of us. We all admired him.
               Other colleagues have talked about his many efforts in 
             educational policy, such as his efforts to ensure 
             appropriate response for our military posture around the 
             world.
               I had the occasion just briefly in the last debate about 
             Colombia to work with him and speak with him. He was 
             committed to ensuring that our policy in that part of the 
             world was not only consistent with our ideals as a 
             democratic nation but also helped decisively stem the tide 
             of drugs that has weakened this country. He did it in his 
             typical fashion--quietly, diligently, without a lot of 
             fanfare but with great success and great results.
               We shall miss his temperament. We shall miss his 
             commitment to this process. We shall miss his character 
             and his contribution to the country.
               To his family I offer my sincerest condolences.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire.

               Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I rise with my colleagues to 
             express my deepest sympathy for Nancy and Paul's family.
               I had the great good fortune to come to the Senate with 
             Paul Coverdell, as did the Senator from North Dakota, who 
             I see sitting across the aisle.
               Paul was a special individual. He brought to this Senate 
             an infectious enthusiasm and gracious energy which 
             dominated the institution and those of us who worked with 
             him. He always had a smile. He always had an idea. He 
             always had a purpose. The purpose was tied to making this 
             country a better place to live--for all of us and for our 
             children.
               He used to wander around this institution with a 
             styrofoam cup that had ``Waffle House'' on it. That was 
             one of the great mysteries to me in this institution--how 
             Paul Coverdell managed to get Waffle House coffee sent all 
             the way from Georgia.
               It was a great promotor of Georgia. He never missed an 
             opportunity to promote Georgia. That was only one of the 
             minor ways he did it.
               He was a great friend, also. I had lots of discussions 
             with him. We worked on lots of issues--our concerns about 
             the original health care proposal put forward by this 
             administration, to when we set up the first aggressive, 
             active task force that I got involved in and that he was 
             also involved in. Even at the time we were both new to 
             this institution, he had an incredible amount of ideas and 
             initiatives on ways to address the issues. He was always 
             tactically two or three steps ahead of the rest of us. He 
             understood the way the institution worked long before some 
             of us--I put myself in that category--who did not fully 
             understand the institution. He had an intuitive sense 
             about the Senate--a feel for it and a love of it. He knew 
             how to work an issue, to address an issue in order to 
             produce better policy and better government for our 
             country. I worked with him on that.
               It seemed almost all of the time we were working on an 
             answer with Paul Coverdell because he was involved in 
             about every issue that came through the institution that 
             had significance. The last major issue I worked with him 
             on, of course, was education. We had a task force on our 
             side to put forward what I thought was an extremely 
             positive educational agenda, much of which came from his 
             thought processes, which I was proud to support.
               We worked a lot, of course, on Governor Bush's campaign. 
             I had a discussion last Friday with him about that. He was 
             working hard on an issue having to do with that campaign, 
             and he was very hopeful that Governor Bush would become 
             the next President.
               He also had, as I mentioned, a deep regard for this 
             body.
               I think one of the discussions I will remember fondly 
             occurred last week when we were sitting in my office. Some 
             of the offices in the Russell Building have unique marble 
             fireplaces. Many offices have unique desks. He was very 
             concerned that we did not really have a historical 
             database of where these desks came from, who had these 
             desks, and we did not have a historical database of where 
             the marble, for example, of the fireplaces came from; We 
             had not, as a Senate, done our job of maintaining our own 
             traditions and our own history as well as we might. We got 
             to talking about that and the history of the Senate. His 
             love of the institution was exuberant.
               What a huge impact he had in such a short time. We only 
             came here 8 years ago--the two of us. At that time, I 
             think there were 11 after the class finally got settled 
             in. He took a while to get here because he confronted a 
             number of races, but with his perseverance he was totally 
             committed and won them all. In that time, he left a huge 
             mark.
               One of the true strengths of our democracy is that it 
             totally exceeds any individual. This institution includes 
             Daniel Webster, Calhoun, Clay; people in our century who 
             had a huge impact, including Taft, Bob Dole. When they 
             leave, the institution goes on; it functions. It functions 
             extraordinarily well for a democratic body--as well as a 
             democratic body can function. It produces governance for 
             our people which is fair and honest and committed to a 
             better life.
               Recognizing that the institution goes on, there are 
             still people who leave a mark. There are still people 
             whose memory will be there, and will be there for a 
             considerable amount of time. Paul certainly falls in that 
             category. It will be hard for me to turn and look at that 
             door and not see Paul standing by it, working on some 
             issue. That is where he usually worked from, the pillar 
             back there, addressing some concern, planning some 
             initiative, all of which was directed at one single 
             purpose: Preserving and keeping our democracy.
               We will miss him.
               I yield the floor.

               Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to 
             the life and legacy of Senator Paul Coverdell. His passing 
             has shocked and saddened us all. It has left a void in the 
             Senate and in our Nation.
               For Senator Coverdell, public service was his profession 
             and his passion. After serving in the Army, he began his 
             public life as a member of the Georgia State Senate where 
             he served as Minority Leader. After working in the private 
             sector, he was appointed Director of the Peace Corps. In 
             this important position he worked to spread American 
             values around the world. This experience helped him when 
             he later served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 
             where he was a leader in our international effort to 
             strengthen our antidrug efforts.
               In the Senate, Senator Coverdell was known as a hard 
             worker who often reached across the aisle to build 
             coalitions. Senator Coverdell fought hard for his 
             principles. We did not always agree on policy--but he 
             always treated those on the other side with dignity and 
             respect. He knew that despite our different views, we all 
             shared a common goal. We all want to do what is best for 
             our constituents and our Nation. He understood that we can 
             get more done with civility than with contention.
               Senator Coverdell will be greatly missed. My thoughts 
             and prayers are with his family.

               Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I would like to address the 
             terrible loss the Senate suffered yesterday, when Paul 
             Coverdell left this Earth. I was truly shocked by the 
             news. Just last week, Paul was on the floor of the Senate, 
             working in his quiet and nonassuming way. Yesterday, I was 
             writing him a get well card. Today, he is gone.
               Paul was a dedicated public servant. He served the State 
             of Georgia and this Nation in the Army, the Legislature, 
             as a businessman, as the head of the Peace Corps and in 
             the U.S. Senate. The respect he had earned from his 
             colleagues here is evident in his appointment to numerous 
             task forces and his election to a leadership position. His 
             passing is a major loss to this body and this great 
             country.
               Since I am also from a State where agriculture is an 
             important part of the economy, Paul was a valuable ally in 
             ensuring the family farms do not disappear. I also admired 
             his work to keep our children safe from drugs and crime, a 
             priority he and I shared. Paul represented the best of 
             America: a belief that people flourish when they have the 
             freedom to work and make their own decisions.
               Paul will truly be missed. He stood out in the Senate 
             for the simple reason that he never drew attention to 
             himself. In a business where egos can run rampant, Paul 
             did not display one. He preferred to get things done.
               My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Nancy, and 
             their family. They have some tough days ahead of them. I 
             hope they can look back, as I do, at the impressive record 
             of Paul's work with a sense of pride. I am thankful for 
             the chance to know such a man.

               Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to join my 
             colleagues in mourning the sudden and untimely death of 
             our colleague from Georgia, Paul Coverdell.
               Senator Coverdell had a long and distinguished career of 
             public service, capped by his dedicated service in the 
             U.S. Senate. Senator Coverdell served his country in the 
             U.S. Army in Japan, Taiwan and Korea. In 1970, he embarked 
             on a career in politics in his native Georgia, serving as 
             a State Senator and chairman of the State Republican 
             Party. In 1989 he was selected by President Bush to lead 
             the Peace Corps.
               We here in the Senate, though, knew Paul Coverdell as a 
             friend and as a real gentleman. We did not always agree on 
             the issues, but Paul Coverdell never took policy 
             disagreements personally and never let them affect his 
             relationships with other Senators. Senator Coverdell was 
             always very positive, very upbeat. On every issue, even 
             when we disagreed, I found Paul to be fair, decent, and, 
             above all, honest.
               In this body, some Senators are known as ``workhorses.'' 
             Others are known as ``show horses.'' There is no question 
             that Paul Coverdell was a workhorse. He was not flashy. He 
             did not seek the media spotlight. Paul Coverdell worked 
             tirelessly with the leadership on his side of the aisle on 
             some of the toughest issues facing the Senate. He was 
             interested in getting results, not credit. His focus, his 
             determination, and his willingness to bring other Senators 
             together to get things done served the Senate well, served 
             Georgia well, and served our country well. His spirit and 
             energy will be sorely missed in this body.
               Put simply, I liked and respected Paul Coverdell. We 
             will miss him. My thoughts and prayers go to his wife, 
             Nancy, his family and friends, and his staff.

               Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I join all of my 
             colleagues, the staff of the Senate, the people of 
             Georgia, citizens across America and around the world in 
             morning the death of Paul Coverdell.
               A thoroughly decent human being, he worked long and hard 
             for what he thought was right. His career reflected the 
             combination of principle and effective leadership that 
             were characteristic of the way he did business. In his 
             quiet way, he managed to navigate some very difficult 
             waters, keeping his equanimity and dignity intact, while 
             gaining not only his goal, but the respect of all who 
             associated with him.
               Many in the Senate can claim friendships with him that 
             extend to several decades. I met him only after he was 
             elected to the Senate in 1992, but from the first, I was 
             impressed by the same things his friends loved and admired 
             in him--his kindness, his sense of humor, and his work 
             ethic. A skilled legislator, he was often asked by the 
             leadership to help move matters along. He did this in 
             concert with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, always 
             managing to ``disagree without being disagreeable.'' He 
             was a public servant of the highest order.
               His family, friends, staff, constituents, and colleagues 
             certainly know what has been lost for we know what he was 
             and what he did with his life. He will be missed in so 
             many circles, but his influence and his good works will 
             continue.

               Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I want to join with my 
             colleagues in expressing my deep sorrow at the loss of our 
             friend and colleague, Paul Coverdell. During this 
             difficult time, I want to extend my thoughts and prayers 
             to Nancy and all of his family.
               Paul and I both came to Washington, DC, in January of 
             1993. In the years that I've know Paul, I've always been 
             impressed by his thoughtfulness and his work ethic.
               I always had the utmost respect for him because of his 
             quiet demeanor. He did not seek headlines, and he did not 
             seek credit. Whether it was fighting illegal drugs or 
             working on education or tax policy, he simply did his work 
             with a quiet determination, an open heart, and a kind word 
             for anyone who crossed his path.
               My predecessor in the Senate, Warren Magnuson, had a 
             phrase for someone like that--``a workhorse not a show 
             horse.''
               Paul Coverdell was a workhorse in the finest sense.
               Paul earned the respect of everyone here because he 
             treated everyone else with respect and dignity.
               Paul's work here in the U.S. Senate was really just an 
             extension of a lifetime of service. Whether it was serving 
             his country in the U.S. Army, serving the people of 
             Georgia as a State Senator, or helping people around the 
             world through his work as Director of the U.S. Peace 
             Corps, Paul brought his generous spirit and his 
             determination to everything he undertook.
               Mr. President, the people of Georgia are fortunate to 
             have been served by a person of Paul's character and 
             skills.
               Those of us who worked with him here in the U.S. Senate 
             were fortunate to have him as a friend and colleague. His 
             passing is a loss to our Senate, to Georgia and to the 
             Nation. I will miss him as a friend and colleague.

               Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I rise today to join my 
             colleagues in honoring a distinguished public servant and 
             a valued Member of the U.S. Senate, Senator Paul 
             Coverdell, who died Tuesday evening at the Piedmont 
             Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.
               Senator Coverdell was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992 
             and served as the Republican Conference Secretary since 
             December 1996. He was a member of the Senate Finance, 
             Foreign Relations, and Small Business Committees and 
             chaired the Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on 
             Marketing, Inspection and Product Promotion.
               Before entering public life, Senator Coverdell served in 
             the U.S. Army in Okinawa, Taiwan and Korea. He earned a 
             bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of 
             Missouri before returning to Georgia to work in his 
             family's business.
               Paul Coverdell's political career began in 1970 when he 
             was elected to the Georgia State Senate serving as 
             Minority Leader for 14 years. In 1989, he accepted 
             President Bush's appointment as Director of the Peace 
             Corps, where he refined the agency's mission to serve the 
             emerging democracies of Eastern Europe.
               While Senator Coverdell and I rarely agreed on the many 
             issues that came before the Senate for consideration, I 
             greatly respected his hard work and his unfailing courtesy 
             and civility. He was a modest man who valued results more 
             than he valued headlines. Indeed, Paul Coverdell was well-
             respected by every Member of this body, engendering the 
             affection of all those with whom he served.
               Senator Coverdell served the citizens of Georgia and the 
             Nation well and we are all deeply saddened by his untimely 
             death. I would like to take this opportunity to pay 
             tribute to him and to extend my deepest and heartfelt 
             sympathies to his family.

               Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to join some of 
             my fellow Senators in remembering the extraordinary life 
             and service of our friend and colleague, Paul Coverdell.
               It is a somber day in the Senate Chamber, as we deal 
             with this loss. Paul Coverdell served the people of 
             Georgia with distinction for over 30 years. His passing 
             leaves a significant mark on the many lives he has touched 
             over his lifetime. On behalf of myself and my wife 
             Annette, I offer my condolences to Paul's wife Nancy and 
             his family.
               Anyone who dealt with Paul Coverdell over the years came 
             to respect him. He was honest, loyal, and dedicated to 
             public service. It was these characteristics that Paul 
             brought to the table every day in his life. Paul's vision 
             as a legislator and commitment to the principles and 
             values for which he truly believed were demonstrated time 
             after time in this Chamber. His commitment to improving 
             education in the United States sets a high standard for 
             all public officials. His hard work in the Republican 
             leadership and his vision of a prosperous future for all 
             Americans deserves tremendous praise.
               Personally, it was truly my privilege to know and work 
             with Paul over the years. We sat next to each other 
             recently in the Senate, as can be seen.
               He will be remembered as a dedicated American who gave 
             much of his life in service to his Nation. I offer my 
             thoughts and prayers to those close to Paul in this 
             difficult time, especially to his family.

               Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. President, I rise today to deliver 
             some remarks upon the death of our beloved colleague, Paul 
             Coverdell.
               It is no exaggeration to say that the whole Senate is in 
             a state of shock that we no longer have Paul with us. Just 
             last week, Senator Coverdell was among us on the Senate 
             floor debating legislation, visiting with us in the 
             Cloakroom, speaking up in our weekly Republican 
             Conference. And now, only a short period later, he is no 
             longer with us. To my knowledge, Paul never seemed to have 
             had any health problems. He certainly seemed fine last 
             week.
               My last remembrance of him is just how happy he was when 
             we adjourned on Friday afternoon after we passed that 
             landmark legislation repealing the death tax. I guess the 
             fact that Paul is no longer with us reminds us all that we 
             need to keep life in perspective.
               I met Senator Coverdell when I was first campaigning for 
             the Senate 2 or 3 years ago. From that first time I met 
             him, I came away with a very powerful impression that he 
             was a most sincere and decent and friendly person. In all 
             my dealings with him in my year and a half in the Senate, 
             that impression never changed. Paul was always in a good, 
             cheerful mood. He was always positive and upbeat. I never 
             once saw him raise his voice or get angry at anybody. He 
             was unfailingly polite and courteous at all times and to 
             everyone. He was the quintessential southern gentleman and 
             a delight to know.
               In the Senate, we debate issues of great moment to our 
             country: war and peace, the economy, education policy. I 
             guess it is sometimes the little, personal, seemingly 
             inconsequential gestures of friendship that one remembers. 
             I used to sit next to Senator Coverdell every week in our 
             Wednesday Republican luncheons. I got to know Paul that 
             way, not only as a colleague but as a person. Every week 
             Paul would gently rib me for eating my main course before 
             I ate my salad. Week after week he would comment on that. 
             I think finally he just concluded that that was a peculiar 
             habit of midwesterners.
               I will always remember the smile and the twinkle in Paul 
             Coverdell's eyes, and I will not easily forget him or my 
             friendship with him.
               Paul, I am proud to have served with you. I am going to 
             miss you. We are all going to miss you. You enriched this 
             Senate, the State of Georgia, and the whole country by 
             your service. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and 
             your wonderful wife Nancy and your family. May God bless 
             you and keep you.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.

               Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I join my colleague from 
             Illinois in paying tribute to our fallen colleague, 
             Senator Paul Coverdell.
               I have been in the Senate for 4 years and have worked 
             with many colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I agree 
             completely with Senator Fitzgerald: Senator Coverdell 
             brought to this floor a certain dignity and demeanor to 
             which we all aspire. He was a person of good humor. I 
             think it may be difficult for many people who follow the 
             debates in the Senate to believe that a Democrat who 
             believes very strongly in his party and a Republican who 
             believes very strongly can be engaged in a hot debate on 
             the floor of the Senate and then, as soon as the debate is 
             over, meet each other in the corridor or the well or at 
             another time and be friends. That was the case with Paul 
             Coverdell.
               We disagreed on many issues, but I never found him to be 
             lacking a smile and always looking for some common ground 
             where we might come together. I recall the last 
             conversation I had with him several weeks ago, he walked 
             all the way across the floor to the Democratic side of the 
             aisle and came right up to me. I was wondering what this 
             could be.
               He said: ``I need your help.''
               I said: ``What is it, Paul?''
               He said: ``I want to try to secure a gold medal for 
             Ronald and Nancy Reagan; will you help me?''
               I knew he was from Illinois. I said: ``Of course, I 
             will.''
               I signed onto it. That is the kind of person he was. As 
             different as we might be politically, he was always trying 
             to reach out and find some common ground. I think when we 
             get caught up so much in the political debate and the 
             furor here, we forget many times how important it is to 
             have a person such as Paul Coverdell here to remind us 
             time and again that after the debates are finished, we are 
             all basically human beings trying to do our very best in 
             the Senate.
               I agree with my colleague from Illinois: It is hard to 
             imagine that only a few days ago he was standing in the 
             well and smiling and walking around as he always did as a 
             member of the Republican leadership team and then stricken 
             on Sunday, operated on on Monday and passed away. It is a 
             sad day for the Senate.
               I have noted, interestingly enough, today, as many of my 
             colleagues on both sides of the aisle have come to the 
             microphone, some have known Paul Coverdell for a long 
             time. Some have known him in many different roles in life, 
             some for a very short time. Everyone from both sides has a 
             very positive take on what Paul Coverdell meant to each of 
             us and meant to this institution.
               It is a great loss, not only for the Senate but for the 
             State of Georgia and for the Nation, which he served in so 
             many different ways so well.
               I extend my sympathies to his wife Nancy and all his 
             family and friends in this moment of grief. The Senate has 
             lost a fine Senator. I am honored to have called him a 
             friend.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.

               Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I join with my colleagues to 
             pay tribute to Paul Coverdell. I have listened to a lot of 
             tributes today. There have been so many themes, including 
             cheerfulness, optimism, a welcome hand, no rancor, no 
             bitterness. We all know that to be Paul Coverdell. I want 
             to mention one incident which, for me, encapsulates it 
             all. It is going to be the incident that is defining for 
             me. Whenever I think of Paul, I always think of this 
             incident, and I always will.
               This outfit--the Senate--tends to be a little partisan. 
             Over the years, it has become too partisan, almost as two 
             armed camps, one over there and one over here. It is 
             regrettable, but that is something that has occurred and 
             evolved up here in the Senate.
               Not too many years ago, I was in Atlanta, GA, speaking 
             at an event. I neglected, as is a common courtesy, to tell 
             Senator Coverdell I was there. Sam Nunn was a Senator at 
             the time. I did not tell Paul I was having an event in 
             Georgia, his home State. I felt kind of bad about it. But 
             like a lot of us, I kind of pushed it to the side and 
             rationalized that it was not that important.
               Lo and behold, at that same hotel, Paul was speaking 
             about three or four rooms away, and I heard about it. I 
             said to myself: Oh, my gosh, Max, how stupid you are; why 
             didn't you tell him? How guilty I felt. Oh, my gosh, here 
             I am in Paul's home State and he doesn't even know I am 
             here. I am in his State and he is just down the hall. I 
             thought: You blew it, Max.
               When I finished, I was walking out in the hall and Paul 
             happened to be coming up. He bounced up to me and said, 
             ``Hey, Max, how are you? Welcome to Georgia. I hope you're 
             having a good time.''
               That was Paul--positive, upbeat, cheerful, with a smile 
             and a good attitude and a gleam in his eye. That made me 
             feel even smaller and more guilty, but it made me feel 
             even better about Paul. That is the Paul Coverdell I will 
             always remember.
               Mr. President, Wanda and I send our deepest sympathies 
             to Nancy and the family. Life is fickle, unpredictable. 
             There but for the grace of God go any of us. People with 
             the personal qualities of Paul Coverdell are the ones we 
             will treasure here. I know the people of Georgia will 
             treasure the same qualities in Paul Coverdell. He was a 
             great man.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan is 
             recognized.

               Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I join with all of my 
             colleagues today in praising the life and celebrating the 
             life and grieving the loss of Paul Coverdell. He was a 
             friend and someone whom I trusted. I think we all trust 
             each other here because we are family. But I had a special 
             fondness and a special trust for Paul Coverdell. He was a 
             man of tremendous integrity, directness, and modesty.
               There are many instances over our time period together 
             that come to mind. But one in particular is perhaps the 
             most recent one. I had a matter that was of great personal 
             concern to me. It was an issue where he and I differed 
             philosophically but where I needed his help in order to 
             get my position heard. He agreed it should be heard, even 
             though he disagreed with it. I went to him and asked him 
             whether or not he might assist me in that process, and he 
             said, ``Carl, I don't agree with you on this issue, but 
             this is a matter of great importance for this country and 
             your views clearly should be considered by the 
             decisionmaker here. I am going to do everything I can to 
             make sure that in fact those views are considered.''
               That said a lot about this man and about this place. 
             Although we disagreed on an issue, he believed that the 
             principle of having both sides heard was more important 
             than the specifics of the issue. His integrity was 
             indisputable and undoubted. We came to rely on him in so 
             many ways. His background made him particularly able to 
             make a special contribution to this Senate. He had great 
             skills as a legislative craftsman and tactician. He, of 
             course, had a wonderful background in the Peace Corps, and 
             there were so many other ways he was able to contribute as 
             a very special force in the deliberations on this floor.
               Paul Coverdell rose to leadership in a very short period 
             of time, which reflected the deep respect and regard that 
             he had among his Republican colleagues. That special 
             affection and regard was matched on this side of the 
             aisle. The death of this very fine and gentle man is a 
             terrible loss to the people of Georgia. I consider it to 
             be a great loss to the people of Michigan and all of 
             America, and a great personal loss to me as well.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma is 
             recognized.

               Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I appreciate the comments by 
             my friend and colleague from Michigan regarding the death 
             of our friend and colleague, Paul Coverdell.
               Yesterday was a very, very sad day for the Senate. I was 
             at this desk when the Majority Leader announced that Paul 
             Coverdell passed away at 6:10 yesterday. Majority Leader 
             Trent Lott was a very close friend of Paul, as was I and 
             many other Senators. This is a tough, trying time because 
             we lost a very good friend and an outstanding Senator. It 
             is sad to see the vacant chair right behind me that Paul 
             Coverdell sat in. It demonstrates an enormous void his 
             death leaves behind here in our body.
               I had the pleasure of getting to know Paul Coverdell for 
             the last 8 years. He did an outstanding job. Paul 
             Coverdell was the type of Senator who would do any work 
             assigned, and oftentimes, work not assigned. He was the 
             type of Senator who could enlighten the room, the type who 
             could work with all Members and make things happen. He was 
             the type of person who would be willing to take on tough 
             tasks and always say yes, and take them across the finish 
             line. He was the kind of person you would want to have on 
             your team at all times.
               Paul was the kind of person who really added a lot to 
             this institution. It makes me proud to say he was my 
             colleague. He contributed so much in so many ways. His 
             death is an almost unspeakable loss for us, for the State 
             of Georgia, and for the country.
               He showed great leadership on a lot of issues, with a 
             hallmark brand of analysis and execution that identified a 
             challenge for our conference, pulled out all the views 
             among our colleagues, and built consensus and success to 
             the betterment of not just our party, but our country. For 
             example, take primary and secondary education--something 
             overlooked for many years. He focused on that in the last 
             few years, and headed up a task force that cut across 
             committee lines, seniority lines, and philosophical lines, 
             to bring us together. He wanted us to do positive things 
             to improve education across the Nation. He successfully 
             blended our different viewpoints together, and together we 
             painted a vision on education that many Americans support. 
             That vision holds out real hope for change and improvement 
             when it comes to educating our kids for the challenges of 
             the 21st century. Further, many elements of his efforts 
             brought along our colleagues across the aisle.
               Or, take our war on drugs. Senator Coverdell has worked 
             hard with colleagues to address this challenge, here in 
             the United States, and with the House and the 
             administration to carry the fight overseas. In waging 
             those battles, we came to realize that he was intense, he 
             was serious, dedicated, and sincere. He was also 
             successful, and many families today and in the future 
             should be gratified in his success.
               And these are just a few examples of the many areas 
             where Paul placed his tremendous energies. He was so 
             involved in so many different issues, I even teased him 
             last year. I said, ``We are enacting all Coverdell 
             legislation, all the time'' because he had his name and 
             fingerprints all over so many things were doing, because 
             he was so proactive in trying to come up with positive 
             solutions to challenging problems in education, or 
             fighting the war on drugs here and overseas, or spending 
             the country's money wisely, or returning the tax surplus 
             to the people.
               Paul also did not hesitate to join us in standing up on 
             behalf of the Constitution, our system of checks and 
             balances, or keeping the order we stand to defend. From 
             the beginning to the end of his time in the Senate, rarely 
             a day went by when he did not cast a thoughtful eye on the 
             activism and activities of the executive, cognizant of the 
             vision of our Founders who believed in a limited central 
             government.
               When you got to know him, you would discover that he had 
             a real intensity, a keen curiosity to learn, understand, 
             grapple with issues great and small. And he had such a 
             great, congenial working spirit that made all of us 
             better, that built us all up. His personality was 
             infectious, his energy was admirable, his thoughtfulness 
             was considerable, and his friendship was valuable.
               We want to let Paul's wife Nancy know that she is very 
             much in our thoughts and prayers. We are comforted by the 
             fact and have great confidence in the fact that Paul 
             Coverdell now resides in a wonderful mansion, eternally. 
             Our sympathies and prayers go with Nancy, and to the 
             Coverdell family.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama.

               Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from 
             Oklahoma for his comments. We celebrate the wonderful life 
             of Paul Coverdell. I have a heavy heart, and I miss him. 
             He was a great Senator. He contributed to this Nation in 
             extraordinary ways.
               He was a good friend to me, and a good friend to many 
             others.
               Yes, he was modest, self-effacing, encouraging, 
             positive, and unifying--all of those things. But he was a 
             courageous and positive leader for values that this Nation 
             holds dear. He advocated them with such a winsome and 
             effective way. We will miss him. I will miss him.
               I say to the family and to Nancy particularly how sorry 
             we are, and I express my sympathy. Maybe next week I will 
             be better able to express my admiration and feelings for 
             Paul Coverdell. I feel his loss deeply. So many of us do. 
             I wanted to share those thoughts at this time.
               I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.

               Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise this evening, along 
             with my colleagues, as we talk about and remember and 
             celebrate the life of Paul Coverdell. He was born in Des 
             Moines, IA. He was a graduate of the University of 
             Missouri. That is where I went to school. Paul Coverdell 
             was a person who came to the Senate with a history of 
             being a doer. He was a workhorse in this Senate.
               Early on, he demonstrated that he could be relied upon 
             to take on the essential but unspectacular tasks for the 
             good of the Senate and this Nation. He was rewarded for 
             that when he was elected by his fellow Senators to be the 
             Secretary of the Senate Republican Conference. I know 
             something about that because he beat me. I could not have 
             lost to a better man.
               He had his little mannerisms. He could put you in a box, 
             put a cap on you, do a lot of things. But his quiet 
             demeanor and lack of fuss in tackling whatever tasks were 
             assigned to him were characteristic of his effectiveness.
               He served President Bush as Director of the Peace Corps. 
             He was a man of peace. He served as leader of the 
             Republican Party in the Georgia Senate for 15 years, from 
             1974 to 1989, skillfully guiding that body through some 
             difficult but rewarding years.
               His leadership really surfaced when he came to the 
             Senate. We have talked about him as a stalwart on national 
             defense and on taxes, but I think he had his best vision 
             and his best grasp of this business in reforming public 
             education because he always referred to his vision for the 
             next generation. He always thought about the next 
             generation. As a proponent of equal education 
             opportunities, he introduced sweeping education and tax 
             reform bills. The list of his achievements in the Senate 
             is substantial, indeed.
               Paul Coverdell holds a special place in our hearts as we 
             say goodbye to a brother, and a Member of this body, who 
             has shown us the way in the tradition of the Senate. We 
             are all better just for having known him.

                                                Thursday, July 20, 2000
               Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I rise today to pay 
             tribute to Paul Coverdell, our friend and colleague. Paul 
             was an extraordinary human being who really cared. He 
             looked at his opportunity to serve in the Senate as a way 
             to make a difference in the lives of his fellow man.
               I will never forget Paul Coverdell. He was one of the 
             first people who reached out to me when I first came to 
             this body, greeting me with a warm welcome and caring 
             advice. Although he was in leadership and had many demands 
             on his time, he always had time for me and truly listened 
             to what I had to say. He had common sense and a common 
             touch. I have truly enjoyed working with him on several 
             legislative initiatives, particularly education and the 
             Ed-Flex bill we passed last year [The Education 
             Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999, P.L. 106-25].
               Paul had a wonderful knack for being able to work with 
             people and to get things done. He led by example. He 
             understood that to be a leader one had to serve. There was 
             no job so small that he would not take it. His commitment 
             and ability always made you want to be on his team. His 
             enthusiasm was contagious. He made you feel good just 
             being around him.
               My regret is that because of my short tenure in the 
             Senate, I did not get to know Paul or spend as much time 
             with him as many of my colleagues did.
               He gave witness to his Christian faith every day. He 
             will continue to be my role model in the Senate. Paul 
             Coverdell will be missed by all of us, but my faith tells 
             me that he is eternally happy with our Father in Heaven. I 
             pray that thought will give comfort to his wife Nancy and 
             the members of his family.

               Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, as have so many of my 
             colleagues, I speak with a sense of loss and sadness about 
             the passing of our friend, Paul Coverdell. Over the years 
             serving in the Senate, I have seen too often the flowers 
             on a Senator's desk and known, by that unique tradition of 
             our body, the reflection that we have lost somebody in an 
             untimely fashion--no one more untimely than the Senator 
             from Georgia.
               I have had the honor to serve with many Senators during 
             the time the people of Vermont have been kind enough to 
             let me be here. Each of these Senators has brought special 
             qualities. It might be a knack for fiery oration or 
             professorial intelligence. But Paul Coverdell brought a 
             special formula of kindness and quiet persistence.
               I first knew Paul when he was Director of the Peace 
             Corps. I was chairman of the Foreign Operations 
             Subcommittee which handled his budget. I recall times when 
             there would be an issue that would come up of some 
             contention. I remember President Bush calling and saying: 
             ``Pat, sit down with Paul. I assure you you can work it 
             out.''
               We would sit quietly in my office. We would go over the 
             issues, and we would work it out. We would work it out 
             because I knew that Paul Coverdell would keep his word; he 
             knew I would mine. I also knew that neither of us would 
             read about the intricacies of our agreements in the paper 
             the next day. We would keep each other's confidence.
               When he came to the Senate, he was first and foremost a 
             tireless champion for the interests of the people of 
             Georgia. We all remember his relentless advocacy for some 
             of the military bases in his home State and how proud he 
             was to represent the State that hosted the Olympic games 
             in 1996. In that regard he entered the sometimes messy 
             realm of appropriations to bring full Federal support to 
             that gigantic effort.
               In many ways, these efforts were an embodiment of the 
             people of Georgia, possessing a boundless energy, 
             ambition, and generosity.
               What I remember most, though, about Paul Coverdell--and 
             so many of our colleagues have said the same thing--is how 
             he worked on everything with a paradoxically quiet energy. 
             He was not one to seek the cameras and head to the floor 
             to yell about every disagreement. If he had a 
             disagreement, he would call you. He would go and work with 
             you face to face. He was often convincing. I know he 
             changed my mind on issues.
               I think one of the reasons he was so convincing is that 
             he was always openminded and attentive. I do not think 
             there is any case more obvious about that than the 
             Senate's recent consideration of the supplemental 
             appropriation for antidrug assistance in Colombia.
               There were many disagreements on this aid package. But 
             everybody, whether they were on his side or on the 
             opposite side, admired the strength of his conviction and 
             the depth of the knowledge of the region.
               I was privileged to work closely with him on a 
             resolution on a recent presidential election in Peru. 
             Senator Coverdell and I believed strongly that it was 
             important for the United States to send a strong message 
             throughout the hemisphere in support of democracy and to 
             condemn the blatant subversion of democracy by the 
             Fujimori government. Again, it was the strength of Paul's 
             convictions and willingness to stand for the most 
             important principles this country stands for. That is why 
             the resolution was there.
               Our mutual concern for international human rights 
             extended to the effort to establish a global ban of 
             antipersonnel landmines. I was so pleased to work with 
             Paul on this issue. He would always consider my proposals 
             thoughtfully and thoroughly. He brought a very special 
             perspective. For him, banning landmines was about 
             protecting Peace Corps volunteers and the communities they 
             served. He had this unique way of looking at an issue that 
             went way beyond warring parties. He was concerned about 
             innocent civilians.
               Paul took part in these debates and worked behind the 
             scenes with a big-hearted kindness. He was one of the 
             kindest people to grace this floor, and there was a 
             certain peacefulness about him that was always pleasantly 
             contagious. In a sometimes very divisive Senate, that 
             peacefulness was so respected.
               That is why when I look at the flowers, like many of us 
             who have served here a long time, I think we have seen 
             those flowers too often. But it is hard to think of a time 
             when both Republicans and Democrats have felt the pain 
             more than on this occasion. Paul, we will all miss you.
               I yield the floor.

               Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, all of us are saddened by 
             the death in our Senate family. I join Senators on both 
             sides of the aisle in mourning the loss of our colleague 
             and friend, Paul Coverdell, and I extend my deepest 
             condolences to the members of his family.
               Senator Coverdell and I differed on many of the major 
             issues of the day. But it was obvious to all of us who 
             served with him that he was a leader of genuine 
             conviction, deep principle, great ability, and high 
             purpose.
               His commitment to public service was extraordinary. It 
             was always a privilege to work with him.
               I especially admired his dedication to seeking common 
             ground--to exploring every aspect of every issue, and to 
             learn as much as possible about it--to going the extra 
             mile to achieve worthwhile compromise instead of 
             confrontation--and above all to finding practical answers 
             to the many serious challenges we face together in the 
             Senate.
               He was deeply committed to enhancing the quality of life 
             for all Americans. We both shared a strong commitment to 
             improving education in all of the Nation's schools. I am 
             saddened that he will no longer be with us as the Senate 
             turns again in coming days to the important debate on 
             support for elementary and secondary education in schools 
             and communities across the country.
               I also particularly admired Paul Coverdell's leadership 
             role as Director of the Peace Corps in the Bush 
             administration from 1989 to 1991, before he came to the 
             Senate.
               Over the years, the Peace Corps has had special meaning 
             for all of us in the Kennedy family, because it is one of 
             the finest legacies of President Kennedy. I know that my 
             brother would have been proud of Paul Coverdell's 
             commitment to the Peace Corps and its ideals and its 
             service to peoples in need in many different lands.
               In a very real sense, the campaign slogan that Paul 
             Coverdell used so effectively in his successful Senate re-
             election campaign in Georgia 2 years ago sums up his 
             extraordinary career, and tells why he had so much respect 
             and friendship from all of us. That slogan consisted of 
             two simple words--``Coverdell Works.'' And it was true, in 
             every sense of the word. Paul Coverdell served the Senate 
             well, the Nation well, and the people of Georgia well, and 
             we will miss him very much.

               Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, Howell Raines, editorial 
             page editor of the New York Times has written a warm and 
             wonderful tribute to Paul Coverdell, recalling his career 
             in the Georgia State Senate in the 1970s. It is part of 
             his life story that is not widely known here in 
             Washington--certainly not by me--and helps to account for 
             the great affection and respect in which he was held here 
             in the U.S. Senate. Withal this adds a touch to our 
             mourning, we are much indeed indebted to Mr. Raines' 
             memoir.
               I ask unanimous consent that the ``Editorial Notebook'' 
             from this morning's New York Times be printed in full in 
             the Record.
               There being no objection, the material was ordered to be 
             printed in the Record, as follows:

                      [From the New York Times, July 20, 2000]

                            A Quiet Man in a Noisy Trade

                                 (By Howell Raines)

               paul coverdell's leap to the senate marked a shift in 
                                  southern politics

               Senator Paul Coverdell of Georgia was a mild-mannered 
             Republican seasoned in political obscurity. As minority 
             leader of the Georgia State Senate in the 1970's, he was 
             part of a legislative bloc so small and impotent that it 
             was ignored, steamrolled and sometimes openly ridiculed by 
             the Democrats who controlled the legislature as if by 
             birthright. None of us covering the Georgia Capitol in 
             those days would have picked Mr. Coverdell, who died 
             Tuesday at age 61, as a future United States senator. Now, 
             in retrospect, we can see him as part of the second of two 
             transforming waves that swept Georgia politics in the last 
             third of the 20th century.
               The first wave of change was driven by law. The Voting 
             Rights Act of 1965 brought hundreds of black Democrats 
             into office. The second wave of change was demographic, as 
             exemplified by fast-growing Atlanta. Georgia's progressive 
             Democrats had long dreamed of the day when Atlanta would 
             be big enough to outvote the state's rural conservatives. 
             What they had not foreseen was that thousands of the 
             newcomers flooding into the Atlanta suburbs would be out-
             of-state Republicans who rejected both the Democratic 
             power structure and the Goldwater Republicans then in 
             control of the Southern G.O.P.
               They created a ready-made constituency for Mr. 
             Coverdell, a classic mainstream Republican who was 
             fiscally conservative yet moderate on social issues. 
             ``That was what made the Republican Party attractive to 
             these people who came in,'' said Bill Shipp, a veteran 
             political commentator from Atlanta. ``Until Coverdell and 
             Johnny Isakson [another Atlanta moderate] came along, 
             Georgia Republicans were disgruntled segregationist 
             Democrats.''
               Unlike the sprinkling of ultraconservative Republicans 
             elected during the Goldwater boom, Mr. Coverdell was not 
             hostile to black aspirations. Indeed, by the time he left 
             the Georgia Senate in 1989, he had gained enough influence 
             to make his mark as a reliable legislative advocate for 
             Atlanta's black mayors. He was known as a policy wonk and 
             a nice guy, traits that would mark his service as director 
             of the Peace Corps under President George Bush. He worked 
             hard in that position to promote a program that is 
             unpopular with many Republicans because of its 
             identification with President John F. Kennedy.
               A similar earnestness would mark Mr. Coverdell's career 
             in the United States Senate, but he did not get there by 
             wearing a halo or emphasizing his credentials as a 
             moderate. He won his seat from Wyche Fowler, a Democrat 
             popular with liberals, by running to the right, especially 
             on the abortion issue.
               It is, of course, always tricky to define political 
             moderation among Southern Republicans. By any measure, Mr. 
             Coverdell, a big booster of tax cuts and school vouchers, 
             was plenty conservative. Lately he had grown close to 
             Trent Lott, the Senate's tough-guy majority leader. But 
             his primary alliances were with less hard-edged types like 
             President Bush and his son George W. Bush, the Texas 
             governor. He helped plan the coming Republican Convention. 
             In the event of a Republican victory, according to Senator 
             Max Cleland of Georgia, a Democrat, Mr. Coverdell, ``would 
             have played a big role in a Bush administration, in the 
             cabinet or as a special adviser.'' But in a region that 
             still tends to celebrate pols who are loud and flashy, Mr. 
             Coverdell will be remembered for his general decency, his 
             serious interest in good government and his unlikely leap 
             from the back benches of the Georgia Capitol.

               Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today to remember 
             our friend Paul Coverdell. The State of Georgia and the 
             United States have lost a talented and dedicated 
             statesman.
               Senator Coverdell's workmanlike approach to government 
             was a breath of fresh air in today's atmosphere of glamour 
             politics. He did not aspire to be in the spotlight, but he 
             fought tirelessly to spotlight the issues in which he 
             believed. Whether you agreed with his position on those 
             issues or not, you admired his style--his lack of 
             pretense, willingness to complete tedious, but important 
             tasks, and pleasant demeanor during a tough debate.
               His office was one floor above mine in the Russell 
             Building and we often rode the subway together over to the 
             Capitol. His easygoing nature always struck me as 
             particularly Southern. We shared a love for that slow, 
             gracious lifestyle of our home States and enjoyed working 
             together when it served the similar needs of our 
             constituents.
               Paul had a deep appreciation for the office of U.S. 
             Senator having persevered in his quest for a Senate seat 
             in 1992 despite a highly competitive race that featured 
             two runoffs. For the next 8 years, he never took the 
             privilege of serving the people of Georgia or the Nation 
             lightly. We can all learn something from his example.
               Service was an evolving theme in Paul Coverdell's life, 
             beginning with an overseas stint in the U.S. Army, later 
             followed by almost two decades in the Georgia State Senate 
             and a post in President Bush's administration as Director 
             of the U.S. Peace Corps. He was well prepared when he 
             arrived in the Senate Chamber and used his experience to 
             advance an aggressive legislative agenda. It was a 
             pleasure to serve in the U.S. Senate with Paul Coverdell. 
             He fought fairly, was gracious in victory and honorable in 
             defeat.
               My sympathy goes out to his wife, Nancy, and other 
             family members and to the people of Georgia.

               Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to 
             the senior Senator from Georgia, Paul Coverdell, who 
             passed away Tuesday in Atlanta.
               While Senator Coverdell and I came from different 
             political parties and ideologies, we shared several things 
             in common. We both served our country in the U.S. Army, 
             and after our service we both returned home to run 
             successful businesses. With our military and business 
             background we decided to turn our attention to serving the 
             public, and Senator Coverdell had an impressive record of 
             public service.
               Senator Coverdell served in the Georgia State Senate--
             rising to the position of Minority Leader. He then served 
             as Director of the Peace Corps under President Bush, 
             focusing on the critical task of serving the emerging 
             democracies of post-Soviet Eastern Europe. In 1992, he was 
             elected to serve in the U.S. Senate.
               Although we failed to agree on many issues before this 
             body, Senator Coverdell always demonstrated honor and 
             dignity in this Chamber. He argued seriously for the 
             positions he believed in. When he pushed legislation to 
             fight illegal drugs or promote volunteerism, it was 
             obvious that his heart was always in it. And his 
             motivation was sincere and simple--to help the people of 
             Georgia and the Nation.
               I send my deepest sympathies to his wife Nancy, his 
             parents, and the entire Coverdell family. I also extend my 
             sympathy to the people of Georgia.
               We will all miss Senator Paul Coverdell of Georgia.

               Mr. L. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I rise today to express my 
             sympathy to the Coverdell family and my own sorrow at the 
             death of Senator Paul Coverdell. May his family find 
             solace in their memory of Paul's many contributions to a 
             better Georgia, a better United States, and a better 
             world. I followed Paul onto the Foreign Relations 
             Committee and also into his chair of the Western 
             Hemisphere Subcommittee. I will do my best to carry on 
             your good work there, Paul.
               As many people have said, Paul Coverdell was a gifted 
             communicator. To every organization those skills are 
             valuable and especially here in Congress. Perhaps Paul 
             learned those skills at the prestigious Missouri School of 
             Journalism from which he graduated. But I suspect, despite 
             having known him only a short time, that Paul's easy 
             manner and obvious kindness were inherent traits. He was a 
             natural communicator and we mourn his loss.
               Once again, my heartfelt sympathy to Nancy and all of 
             Paul Coverdell's family and friends.
               Rest in peace.

               Ms. COLLINS. Senator Paul Coverdell was a rare and 
             wonderful man--and a spectacular Senator. Anyone who had 
             the good fortune to work with him left more hopeful, more 
             committed, more convinced we could all make a difference.
               Much is being said about his extraordinary ability to 
             get things done; I would like to talk about how he was 
             able to accomplish so much. Senator Coverdell had many 
             talents, but perhaps the secret to his success was high 
             ability to bring people together. In times of friction, 
             fractiousness, and pressure, he was always the one who 
             remained focused and calm in the eye of the legislative 
             storm.
               It was common for him to hold meetings in his office 
             where conservatives and moderates, strategists and 
             ideologues, listened to each other, shared ideas and 
             figured out not just ways of accomplishing diverse goals, 
             but also what those goals really should be. And his energy 
             and willingness to take on the most difficult task with 
             little public recognition or thanks was legendary.
               Senator Coverdell was a man who listened. He listened to 
             Senators and staff and policy experts. He listened to 
             those he agreed with and those he did not--and merged it 
             all into a comprehensive, concise and workable plan. He 
             respected all individuals with an honesty and sincerity 
             that set the tone for working together.
               Most of all, and through it all, Senator Coverdell was 
             kind and gracious in his dealings with everyone. The 
             country, his State, and all of us who have been privileged 
             to know him will miss him terribly. We join in praying for 
             his family as they suffer his loss. We have all lost a 
             very good friend.
                                                  Friday, July 21, 2000

               Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise to join my colleagues 
             in honoring the memory of our dear friend and colleague, 
             Senator Paul Coverdell. My deepest condolences and prayers 
             go out to Nancy, his family, staff, and the people of 
             Georgia.
               Paul Coverdell's career in public service as a State 
             Senator in Georgia, as Director of the U.S. Peace Corps, 
             and as a U.S. Senator stand as an enduring tribute to his 
             fine character, many talents, and boundless energy and 
             commitment for his work. They also serve to remind us how 
             one individual, working quietly and resourcefully, can 
             accomplish so much in an all too brief period of time.
               In his public life, Paul Coverdell was a vigorous and 
             congenial advocate for initiatives and issues he cared 
             deeply about and an effective leader in the Senate and for 
             his party. While I did not have many opportunities to work 
             closely with Senator Coverdell, we share a commitment to 
             quality education for our Nation's young people and 
             appreciation for the importance of agriculture to our 
             respective States' economies. Peanut farmers and sugar 
             growers are frequent allies when commodity issues came 
             before the Senate, and Senator Coverdell was a strong 
             voice for Georgia farmers and his State's agricultural 
             interests. On educational initiatives, Paul Coverdell and 
             I rarely agreed; but he was never disagreeable. I admired 
             his passion and tenacity on education issues, and 
             appreciated the courtesy and humanity that characterized 
             his work here in the Senate.
               Paul Coverdell has left a mark for the better in the 
             lives of millions of people, in America and around the 
             world. He served his country and constituents 
             conscientiously, earning our respect, admiration, and 
             affection. We grieve for his passing from this life. I am 
             reassured that we will find comfort in his splendid legacy 
             of public service and the knowledge that death is a 
             transition to life eternal and he is now with God. As we 
             bid our dear friend and colleague one last fond farewell, 
             I am reminded of the passage from Scriptures, from Matthew 
             25:23:

               His Master said unto him, ``Well done, good and faithful 
             servant; you have been good and faithful over a few 
             things, I will make you ruler over many things. Now enter 
             into the joy of your Master.''

               May God bless Nancy, the Coverdell family and staff.

               Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, it has been a difficult week 
             working in the Senate. All of us have had a heavy heart, 
             missing Paul Coverdell. My office is in the immediate 
             vicinity of his, and I keep thinking he will pop out the 
             door on my way to a vote or back.
               In the Bible, there is a famous story about a man named 
             Paul. God had a special mission for him. Though Paul was 
             not aware of it, God made His presence known when He 
             needed him and called him into service. That Paul had no 
             choice. He answered the call and did as he was asked. God 
             calls us all like that, though some of us never hear it. 
             God called Paul Coverdell like that, too. When Paul heard 
             the call, he listened and he answered.
               First, He called him to work in the Peace Corps, as 
             there was a need and someone had to fill it. During his 
             service there, he made a difference in a lot of lives. God 
             must have been very pleased with him because then He 
             decided to put him in charge of greater things.
               Those greater things led him to serve in the Senate. 
             Again, there was a need and, again, Paul was there to 
             answer the call. He was a remarkable force here, an 
             incredible powerhouse of principles and ideas, and they 
             were all in motion whenever he would speak. He had an 
             infectious enthusiasm that seemed to emanate from every 
             fiber of his being as he made his points. His gestures and 
             his facial expressions always drew the listener in and 
             caught their attention as he spoke with passion about his 
             philosophy and his politics.
               He was a great strategist because he could put himself 
             in someone else's shoes and understand how someone else 
             thought and felt about the issues that came up for debate 
             and discussion. He could see many perspectives, and all at 
             once he had an innate sense of how they would all 
             interplay, how they would connect and collide. That was 
             why he always seemed to have the answers. He knew what his 
             opponents were thinking before they were even thinking it.
               But the biggest reason for his successes in the Senate 
             was his great devotion to the principles of common sense. 
             He knew that the best answer was the one that made the 
             most sense. All of his hard work and determined effort was 
             aimed at one target: finding common ground, working with 
             his colleagues, and creating a consensus that led to a 
             solution to the problem.
               When I arrived in the Senate, I found myself on the last 
             rung of the seniority ladder, No. 100. I did not know how 
             lucky I was. After the room selections were made, I got 
             the office that was left, and it turned out to be a great 
             office in disguise. My staff and I moved in, added a few 
             touches to make it more like home, and then greeted our 
             neighbors. Paul Coverdell was the neighbor, along with his 
             staff. He was right next door, so we got to see him often. 
             He and his staff were always walking by or on their way 
             out, and I would see Paul as he left to go home. He was a 
             regular and a welcome sight to all of us.
               When the bells would ring for us to vote, we seemed to 
             answer that call at the same time. We often came out of 
             our doors at the same time and walked over together. We 
             had a lot of interesting discussions about politics and 
             legislative strategy. I lapped it all up. I was an eager 
             and ready student, and he was a tremendous mentor.
               Our staffs seemed to bond, too. We were all in this 
             together, and the camaraderie that developed among us 
             helped us take on some issues that needed to be addressed. 
             It is a tradition I have adopted from him that I hope to 
             continue through my years of service in the Senate.
               Through the years, I remember the times we spent in 
             difficult meetings with emotions running high and pressure 
             coming down from all sides to get something done. That is 
             when Trent Lott would say: ``Let's let Mikey do it.'' I 
             was always relieved to see that he was talking about Paul. 
             I never knew Trent was making a reference to an old-time 
             television commercial, but I knew he meant Paul and not 
             me, which was a relief because Paul always got the job 
             done.
               Paul Coverdell had a lot of jobs to do in the Senate, 
             and he took them all on eagerly and with enthusiasm 
             because he loved legislating; he loved serving the people 
             of Georgia, the people of this Nation, and his neighbors 
             around the world because he cared so very deeply about 
             each and every person.
               I heard it said that there is no higher calling than 
             public service. It must be true because it caught Paul 
             Coverdell's attention. In all he did in his life, there is 
             no question that he was a remarkable public servant by any 
             standard.
               Unfortunately, he will not get to a lot of the landmarks 
             we cherish around here, like casting 10,000 votes, but 
             every vote he did cast was with the greatest thought, 
             consideration, and reflection, and that is the true mark 
             of a legislator.
               He lived every day with great enthusiasm, energy, focus, 
             concern, and imagination. In fact, I think of him as an 
             ``imagineer.'' That is someone who can see a problem as a 
             challenge and then use a great reservoir of talent, skill, 
             and a little luck to solve it. That is the true mark of a 
             great human being and great friend. Someday when we leave 
             the Senate and return home to begin another adventure in 
             each of our lives, I have no doubt we will take with us at 
             least one or two special memories of Paul that we will 
             cherish for a lifetime.
               As mortals we cannot see the great plan of the Master's 
             hand for the universe, so we cannot understand why He 
             works the way He does. The word ``why'' does not even 
             appear in the Bible, and there is good reason for that. It 
             is not for us to know the why; it is for us to hear the 
             word of our Lord and to answer the call when it comes.
               At 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18, Paul Coverdell heard 
             that call for the last time, and once again he answered 
             it. The only understanding I have is that God must have 
             needed somebody with special talents and abilities, and so 
             He sent for Paul. Now heaven is richer for his having gone 
             home, and we are all richer for having known him and been 
             able to share his life. He will be deeply missed and 
             fondly remembered by us all.
               I yield the floor.

               Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to 
             the Senior Senator from Georgia, Paul Coverdell, who 
             passed away Tuesday in Atlanta.
               Mr. President, while Senator Coverdell and I came from 
             different political parties and ideologies, we shared 
             several things in common. We both served our country in 
             the U.S. Army, and after our service we both returned home 
             to run successful businesses.
               With our military and business background we decided to 
             turn our attention to serving the public, and Senator 
             Coverdell had an impressive record of public service.
               Senator Coverdell served in the Georgia State Senate--
             rising to the position of Minority Leader. He then served 
             as Director of the Peace Corps under President Bush, 
             focusing on the critical task of serving the emerging 
             democracies of post-Soviet Eastern Europe. In 1992, he was 
             elected to serve in the U.S. Senate.
               Although we failed to agree on many issues before this 
             body, Senator Coverdell always demonstrated honor and 
             dignity in this Chamber. He argued seriously for the 
             positions he believed in. When he pushed legislation to 
             fight illegal drugs or promote volunteerism, it was 
             obvious that his heart was always in it. And his 
             motivation was sincere and simple--to help the people of 
             Georgia and the Nation.
               I send my deepest sympathies to his wife Nancy, his 
             parents, and the entire Coverdell family. I also extend my 
             sympathy to the people of Georgia.
               We will all miss Senator Paul Coverdell of Georgia.
               I yield the floor.

               Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I was deeply saddened to 
             hear of Paul Coverdell's untimely passing. Paul was a man 
             of such energy and determination, it is difficult to 
             imagine this body without him. Paul was a skilled 
             legislator and one of the hardest working legislators 
             among us. I had the highest admiration for the way he 
             conducted himself here--how committed he was to the people 
             of his State, and to his many duties here in the Senate.
               We did not agree on a lot of policy matters, but that 
             couldn't be less important as I stand here today, Mr. 
             President. We've all lost a colleague and a friend, who 
             was taken from this earth far too soon. At 61, Paul had 
             served his country in more ways than most Americans can 
             hope to in a lifetime. From his service in the Armed 
             Forces to the Peace Corps to the Foreign Relations 
             Committee, where we served together, Paul had a keen 
             understanding of foreign affairs. He was also a natural 
             leader, despite his soft-spoken personality and his habit 
             of avoiding the limelight. He served as the Minority 
             Leader in the Georgia State Senate from 1974 to 1989, 
             attaining that post just 4 years after he was elected to 
             the State Senate in 1970.
               Paul and I were both first elected to the Senate in 
             1992, Mr. President. We arrived here at the same time, 
             both former State Senators who had the honor of coming 
             here and learning the ways of this Senate. And learn them 
             Paul did. He quickly rose through the ranks to a top 
             leadership post. And along the way he won the respect and 
             admiration of all who knew him. The Nation has lost a 
             skilled leader, and all of us have lost an honorable 
             colleague and friend. I join my colleagues in mourning his 
             passing, and in paying tribute to his memory. To his wife 
             Nancy, his family, his staff and his many friends, I offer 
             my condolences and my deepest sympathies. Mr. President, I 
             yield the floor.

               Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise to share in the 
             memory of one of this body's most esteemed colleagues, 
             Senator Paul Coverdell. His untimely death Tuesday was a 
             shock to us all. My prayers and condolences go to his 
             family at their time of mourning.
               It so happens that Senator Coverdell was born in my home 
             State of Iowa--in Des Moines. That made him an honorary 
             constituent of mine. For that reason, he was always a 
             special colleague to me.
               We in this body knew of his background in the Peace 
             Corps just before he was elected to the Senate. He very 
             quickly began to show his outstanding leadership skills. 
             He built a respect among his colleagues because of his 
             hard work and his dedication to those issues most dear to 
             him--especially education and the war on drugs.
               Senator Coverdell did almost all of his work behind the 
             scenes, work that the public never knew about. But we 
             knew, because we worked with him. His interest was not the 
             limelight. You rarely saw his name in the papers. Instead, 
             it was rolling up his sleeves and working one-on-one with 
             his colleagues in an effective way. No one among us had 
             such energy, enthusiasm for public service, and organizing 
             ability.
               I worked closest with him on international narcotics 
             issues, as chairman of the Senate Caucus on International 
             Narcotics Control. He was chairman of the Foreign 
             Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, 
             Narcotics and Terrorism. We worked very closely together 
             on narcotics matters. We would hold joint hearings on 
             fighting drug cartels in Colombia and other countries. No 
             one felt stronger about stopping the scourge of drugs in 
             this country than he did. He cared deeply about the 
             debilitating effect drugs have had on the future of our 
             country and our youth.
               It was a real privilege to work with Paul Coverdell in 
             the U.S. Senate. He was a statesman, a public servant in 
             the true sense of the word. And he was a good friend. I 
             join my colleagues in expressing how much we will miss his 
             energy, enthusiasm and friendship. His presence will be 
             greatly missed in the Senate. I wish all the best to his 
             family, knowing of their profound grief at their loss.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.

               Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to express my thoughts 
             and views about our good friend and colleague, Paul 
             Coverdell. I commend my colleague from Wyoming for his 
             very thoughtful and appropriate remarks about Paul 
             Coverdell.
               I do not have a long set of prepared remarks about my 
             colleague, but I wanted to take a couple of minutes and 
             express some feelings about this fine man from Georgia 
             whom I got to know back in the Bush administration.
               I was chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western 
             Hemisphere. President Bush nominated Paul Coverdell to be 
             the Director of the Peace Corps. Because I chaired the 
             committee with jurisdiction over the Peace Corps and the 
             fact I was a former Peace Corps volunteer--I think the 
             only one in this body to have served in the Peace Corps--
             Paul and I developed a very quick and close relationship. 
             I helped him through the confirmation process, and over 
             the next number of years, as he served as Director and 
             traveled the world expanding and enriching the Peace Corps 
             as an institution, I developed a deep fondness for Paul 
             Coverdell. I did not know in those days that I would be 
             only a few years away from calling him a colleague.
               In January of 1993, Paul arrived in the Senate, and 
             quickly joined the Foreign Relations Committee, and 
             quickly became, in those days, the ranking Republican on 
             the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee with jurisdiction over 
             the Peace Corps. What more appropriate place for Paul 
             Coverdell, in that he had been the Director of the Peace 
             Corps. He provided tremendous assistance, information, and 
             support for this wonderful institution that was begun by 
             President Kennedy back in the 1960s. It enjoyed remarkable 
             support over the years. Every single administration backed 
             and supported the Peace Corps. Even during difficult 
             economic times in this country, there was a sense that 
             this was a valuable institution. Paul Coverdell made it 
             even more so because of his tenure as Director and then 
             during his stewardship on the Senate Foreign Relations 
             Committee with particular jurisdiction over this area.
               I then became his Ranking Member, as my friends on the 
             Republican side ended up in the majority, and Paul and I 
             worked together. In fact, just recently, we were able to 
             actually increase the funding for the Peace Corps. I do 
             not think we would have won the decision here about 
             whether or not to provide additional support to the Peace 
             Corps and those additional funds would not have been 
             forthcoming, had it not been for Paul Coverdell.
               We also worked together on the narcotics issue. We had a 
             passionate interest in trying to do something to stem the 
             tide of narcotics, the use of drugs in this country, and 
             worked tirelessly on that effort internationally, through 
             the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, to fashion a formula 
             that would reduce the consumption of drugs in this country 
             and reduce the production and the transmission of drugs 
             and the money laundering that went on all over the world.
               In fact, he came up with a very creative idea of trying 
             to involve all of the countries that were involved in this 
             issue, either as sources of production, transition, money 
             laundering, or consumption--as is the case in the United 
             States. I used to tease him a bit because I think I was a 
             more public advocate of the Coverdell idea on narcotics 
             than he was.
               Paul Coverdell was one of the most self-effacing Members 
             I have known in this body. George Marshall used to have a 
             saying: There was no limit to what you could accomplish in 
             Washington, DC, as long as you were willing to give 
             someone else credit for it.
               Paul Coverdell understood that, I think, as well as any 
             Member who has served in this body. He came up with ideas, 
             such as he did, in the area of drugs and narcotics, and 
             then was more interested in the idea being advanced than 
             he was having his name associated with it.
               I wanted to mention those two particular areas: The 
             Peace Corps and the drugs and narcotics effort. There were 
             others he was involved in substantively: Education and the 
             like. These were two areas where we worked most closely 
             together.
               Paul Coverdell was a partisan, a strong Republican, with 
             strong views, strong convictions. But he also was a 
             gentleman, thoroughly a Senate person. I say that because 
             I do not think this institution functions terribly well 
             without both of those elements.
               People who come here with convictions and beliefs, who 
             try to advance the causes that they think will strengthen 
             our country, are in the position to make a contribution to 
             this body and to the United States; but you also have to 
             be a person who understands that you do not win every 
             battle. This is a legislative body, a body where you must 
             convince at least 50 other people of your ideas, and in 
             some cases more than 60. If you just have strong 
             convictions and strong beliefs, and are unable to work 
             with this small body, then those ideas are nothing more 
             than that--ideas.
               Paul Coverdell had a wonderful ability to reach across 
             this aisle--that is only a seat away from me--and build 
             relationships on ideas he cared about. That, in my view, 
             is the essence of what makes this institution work.
               Usually it takes someone a longer period of time to get 
             the rhythms, if you will, the sensibilities of this 
             institution, that are not written in any rule book, that 
             you are not going to find in any procedural volume. You 
             need to know the rules--which he did--and understand the 
             procedures. But the unwritten rules of how this 
             institution functions are something that people take time 
             to acquire. What somewhat amazed me was that Paul 
             Coverdell, in very short order, understood the rhythms of 
             this room, understood the rhythms of this institution, and 
             was able to build relationships and coalitions.
               He could be your adversary one day--and a tough 
             adversary he was; a tough, tough adversary--and, without 
             any exaggeration, on the very next day he could be your 
             strongest ally on an issue. Those are qualities that 
             inherently and historically have made some moments in the 
             Senate their greatest--when leaders have been able to 
             achieve that ability of being strong in their convictions 
             but also have the ability to reach across the aisle and 
             develop those relationships that are essential if you are 
             going to advance the ideas that improve the quality of 
             life in this country.
               I suspect he acquired some of those skills in his years 
             with the Georgia Legislature. It has been said--and I can 
             understand it--when he was the Republican Leader in 
             Georgia, there were not a lot of Republicans in Georgia. 
             And even though we have our disagreements, there is a 
             respect for those who help build something. It is not an 
             exaggeration to say that Paul Coverdell, in no small way, 
             was responsible for building the Republican Party in 
             Georgia. I do not say that with any great glee, but it is 
             a mark of his tenacity, his convictions, his ability to be 
             responsible for building a strong two-party system in that 
             State.
               So from the perspective of this Connecticut Yankee, to 
             the people of Georgia, we thank you for helping this man 
             find a space in the political life of Georgia and for 
             sending him here to the Senate on two occasions.
               I send my deepest sympathies to his wife Nancy, to his 
             friends, to his staff in Georgia and those here in 
             Washington. Paul Coverdell will be missed. He was a fine 
             Member of this institution. He was a good and decent human 
             being. He will be missed deeply by all of us here. So my 
             sympathies are extended to all whose lives he touched so 
             deeply.
                                                  Monday, July 24, 2000

               Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, today, as the Senate recalls 
             the tragic loss 2 years ago of two fine Capitol Police 
             officers, Officer Jacob J. Chestnut and Detective John M. 
             Gibson, our hearts also bear fresh bruises from the loss 
             of a Senator and a former Senator.
               Mr. President, on Saturday I traveled with several other 
             Senators to Atlanta, GA, to attend the funeral of our late 
             Senate colleague, Paul Coverdell. Senator Coverdell's 
             departure from this life was sudden. It came without 
             warning. Paul was only 61 and he could look forward to 
             many fruitful years of service to the Nation and to his 
             people. But it was not to be. The Scriptures tell us:

               As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the 
             field, So he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and 
             it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

               On Wednesday of last week, I journeyed to Rhode Island 
             with several other Senators to pay our last respects to a 
             late departed former colleague, John O. Pastore, and to 
             commiserate with his bereaved family and a great host of 
             friends. We said the last goodbye to a man who had given 
             much to the service of his country and who had retired 
             from this body 26 years ago. A great throng paid homage to 
             the remembrance of one whom they loved and who had served 
             them so well, as was the case with our beloved late 
             colleague, Paul Coverdell. There was a great throng, a 
             large church filled to overflowing.
               Over a long life of more than 80 years I have traveled 
             this same journey many times. It is always the same. We 
             travel the last mile with a departed friend and we come to 
             the end of the way, when we can go no farther. That is as 
             far as we can go. There we must part forever--insofar as 
             this earthly life is concerned. From there, the loved one 
             must go on alone, to ``The undiscovered country,'' as 
             Shakespeare said, ``from whose bourne no traveler 
             returns.''
               So it is, and so it has been since the very beginning of 
             our race, and so it will be in all the years to come. We 
             are here today, and gone tomorrow.

                   The clock of life is wound but once,
                   And no man has the power to know just when the clock 
             will strike,
                   At late or early hour.
                   Now is the only time you have, so live, love, work 
             with a will;
                   Put no faith in tomorrow for the clock may then be 
             still.

               Mr. President, John Pastore lived to the ripe old age of 
             93; for Paul Coverdell, the Grim Reaper beckoned earlier, 
             and the end came at 61. For those of us who remain on this 
             side of the vale of trials and tears, the message from 
             both of these lives is clear: be ready, be ready to go. 
             William Cullen Bryant said it for you and for me:

               All that breathes will share thy destiny. The gay will 
             laugh when thou art gone, the solemn brood of care plod 
             on, and each one as before will chase his favorite 
             phantom; . . .

               As one who has lived in this town of inflated egos for 
             nearly half a century, I can testify that William Cullen 
             Bryant had it right. I have seen the great, the near 
             great, those who thought they were great, those who would 
             never become great; and each incoming wave of life's sea 
             surges forward on the sands of humanity's rocky coast, and 
             then, just as quickly recedes into the vast emptiness of 
             the past. But what cannot be washed away is the love and 
             the memory of man's deeds and service to his fellowman.
               So, each of us will carry within ourselves the memory of 
             Senator Pastore's, Senator Coverdell's, Officer 
             Chestnut's, and Detective Gibson's deeds and service to 
             his fellow man. They have touched all of us, and we have 
             been changed by them, because it was Tennyson who said, 
             ``I am part of all that I have met.'' And so, in this 
             small way, they live on in our hearts and in our 
             dedication to do good with the hours and days that remain 
             to us. The poet John Donne expressed it well, how each 
             man's life--and each man's death--touches ours:

                   No man is an island, entire of itself;
                   Every man is a piece of the continent,
                   A part of the main;
                   If a clod be washed away by the sea,
                   [America] is the less,
                   As well as if a promontory were,
                   As well as if a manor of thy friend's
                   Or of thine own were;
                   Any man's death diminishes me,
                   Because I am involved in mankind;
                   And therefore
                   Never send to know for whom the bell tolls:
                   It tolls for thee.

               Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I rise at this time to talk 
             about our beloved friend, Senator Paul Coverdell of 
             Georgia. I had hoped to be able to make some further 
             comments last week, after it fell my duty to come to the 
             floor and announce his very untimely death, but I just 
             could not do it because I was grieving over the loss of 
             this good friend.
               I guess maybe the week and the services Saturday in 
             Georgia have helped me come to peace with this loss and to 
             say farewell to my good friend from Georgia. But I wanted 
             to speak now because I felt, even this morning, a void for 
             this week; Paul will not be here. He will not be here 
             saying, What can we do next? How can I help? He was 
             willing to work with all of the Republicans and all of the 
             Democrats, going over to the Democratic side of the aisle 
             and seeking out Senator Harry Reid or Senator Torricelli, 
             trying to find some way to make a bipartisan piece of 
             legislation possible. So we will have a void this week.
               But, there will be a void forever in the Senate with the 
             loss of Paul Coverdell because his was an unfinished 
             symphony. A lot more beautiful sounds were going to come 
             from that somewhat uncertain trumpet from Georgia.
               Folks have talked about his flailing hands and his 
             squeaky voice, but that is what really made Senator 
             Coverdell all the more attractive. He was not always as 
             smooth as some of us like to think we might be, but he was 
             always effective. Maybe it was because of the way he 
             presented his speeches and the way he came across in his 
             daily relationships with all of us.
               The Chaplain of the Senate, Lloyd Ogilvie, at the church 
             services in memory of Paul Coverdell on Saturday, referred 
             to him as a peacemaker. And maybe this is a good time of 
             the year to be thinking about the Beatitudes because I 
             think it really did describe Paul. Even though he felt 
             very strongly about the issues he believed in or that he 
             was opposed to, he was always binding up everybody else's 
             wounds. He would find a way to make peace and get results.
               I thought the Chaplain's description of him as a 
             peacemaker was apropos. When I did my Bible study this 
             morning, I came to that particular passage, ``Blessed is 
             the peacemaker.'' Again I thought, that is just one more 
             message about Paul and the great job he did in the Senate.
               I met Paul years ago actually, way back in the 1970s 
             when there was a very fledgling Republican Party in 
             Georgia. We did not have much of a Republican Party at 
             that time in my State, but we were beginning to make 
             progress. Maybe Georgia was even a little bit behind us. I 
             remember going down to Atlanta and then having to go to 
             Albany, GA, to attend events, then back into Atlanta. It 
             was one of those occasions where a number of Congressmen 
             and Senators came in to fly around the State, and then we 
             all came back in for the big dinner. It was logistically 
             hard to orchestrate. Then I finally met the maestro; the 
             maestro was Paul Coverdell.
               Typically, I learned later, it was the way he would 
             work. He had five or six of us come in. We went to five or 
             six different places in the State like spokes on a wheel. 
             We came back. We had dinner. It was a very effective 
             event. Everything worked like clockwork because Paul 
             Coverdell was making it happen.
               In those days, as I recall, he was in the State 
             Legislature, in the State Senate. They had three 
             Republicans. He was the Minority Leader. They had a 
             Minority Whip and they had a Whipee. There were three of 
             them. That is the way he used to describe his powerful 
             role in the Senate, although, as I came to find out a lot 
             later, he was a very effective member of the State Senate, 
             working as always both sides of the aisle, even though he 
             only had three in his party in the State Senate at that 
             time.
               Of course, he went on to work in the Bush administration 
             in the Peace Corps. I was not quite sure what that meant, 
             but I am sure he did a great job at the Peace Corps. I 
             remember then supporting him when he actually ran for the 
             Senate in 1992. I was not that intimately involved in the 
             campaign but knew him to be a good man. I remember making 
             a pitch for him both here and in Georgia.
               I really got to know him when he came to the Senate. 
             Almost immediately he started throwing himself into the 
             fray, whatever was going on. I remember we had the Clinton 
             health care plan. I think he made 147 appearances in one 
             State or another against the government takeover of health 
             care. He felt passionately about it. He took off on the 
             trail with Senator Phil Gramm and Senator John McCain. 
             They had a lot to do with the eventual, and in my opinion, 
             appropriate demise of that legislation. I learned that he 
             would not just talk a good game or would not just give 
             direction; he would put his body on the line. He would go 
             anywhere, anytime to see that the message was delivered.
               Immediately he started saying if we are going to do this 
             in a positive way, if we are going to be fighting this 
             legislation, how are we going to get our message out? He 
             would be persistent about it. He would follow you around 
             and keep wanting to talk about it. I remember he actually 
             instituted meetings, at that time between the Speaker of 
             the House and me, first as whip and then as Majority 
             Leader, in which he would get the two of us together. He 
             would have charts. Here he is from Georgia in probably his 
             fourth year in the Senate, and he is using charts to 
             explain the situation to the Speaker of the House and the 
             Majority Leader. Only we listened because he had thought 
             about it; he was organized. He had some ideas.
               I remember one occasion he said: ``You have to come to 
             Atlanta.''
               I said: ``I don't want to come to Atlanta.''
               He said: ``Just come for lunch; Newt and I want to sit 
             and talk with you.''
               So I flew down. We had lunch. He had charts and he had a 
             video this time. He talked about how we should be planning 
             our strategy. Then we flew back. I thought about that many 
             times, in a way, the temerity of that. But that was Paul. 
             Nobody objected. Nobody took it as a threat. Nobody 
             worried that he was stepping on their turf. And thank 
             goodness, somebody was thinking and planning. That was 
             Paul.
               After that he got involved as a member of the leadership 
             team. I really liked that because I can remember very 
             early on I realized that if there was a task that needed 
             to be performed that nobody else would do, I could call on 
             Paul; he would be glad to do it. I can remember going down 
             the leadership line: Would you have the time to do this? 
             Do you have the staff to do this? It would come down to 
             the third person. He always sat at the other end of the 
             leadership table. I would get to Paul, having had three 
             turndowns, and Paul would say: Sure, I'll do it.
               Very quickly I began to call Paul ``Mikey.'' I like to 
             nickname Senators. Paul actually kind of liked being 
             called Mikey. Mikey came from the television cereal 
             commercial where the two kids are pushing a bowl of cereal 
             back and forth saying: You eat it; no, you eat it. 
             Finally, they push it to the third little boy and say: 
             Give it to Mikey; he'll try anything.
               That was the way Paul was. When all the other great 
             leaders of the Senate were not willing to take the time, 
             not willing to do the dirty, difficult, time-consuming 
             job, Mikey would do it. I remember every time I called him 
             Mikey, he would break out in a big smile. Tricia, my wife, 
             picked it up, too. We liked to talk to Nancy about how 
             sorry we were to have kept him tied up a little extra, 
             too, sometimes in the Senate. But Mikey had his work to 
             do. So it was a very affectionate term I had for him, and 
             it described him so perfectly.
               He was not a funny, ha-ha sort of guy, but he was 
             willing to laugh. He had a sense of humor. He was willing 
             to laugh at himself, which really made him attractive. He 
             was self-effacing. There was no grandeur there. He was, as 
             Clyde Rodbell said in his remarks at the services 
             Saturday: ``An ordinary man with extraordinary . . . 
             talents.'' He was willing to work hard to make up for 
             whatever he lacked in some other way. He surely was loyal. 
             I never had to worry about anything I said or asked Paul 
             to do being used in an inappropriate way against me or 
             against anybody else. He would handle it properly. And he 
             was sensitive. He was always sensitive: Did I do the right 
             thing? Did this Senator react in an uncertain way?
               I remember asking him to come and help us on the floor 
             on issues he cared about. He really cared about education. 
             He wanted education savings accounts. He believed it would 
             help parents with children in school. He believed it would 
             help low-income parents have the ability to save just a 
             little bit of their money, just a little bit to help their 
             children with clothes or computers or tutoring. If we ever 
             find a way to pass that legislation, instead of education 
             savings accounts, it should be the Coverdell savings 
             accounts. That would be an appropriate memorial and 
             monument to Paul Coverdell. He believed in it. It was not 
             a partisan, political idea. It was something he thought 
             would make a difference.
               As for drugs, I remember him following me around in the 
             well heckling me about the need to pay more attention to 
             the drug running in the Gulf of Mexico area across the 
             borders in the Southwest. The Senator from Arizona worked 
             with him on that issue. I remember his commitment to 
             trying to be helpful to the Government in Colombia to 
             fight drug terrorism there. He was passionate about it 
             because he felt it threatened our country, threatened our 
             very sovereignty, and it threatened our children. Once 
             again, as with education, he saw what it was doing or 
             could do to our children. Again, he was involved.
               One of the last discussions I had with him was on the 
             intelligence authorization bill. There is a provision in 
             it which he did not like. He was determined to make his 
             case on that. In his memory, we will make sure his case is 
             made by Senator Kyl, Senator Feinstein, Senator DeWine, 
             perhaps others. He really dug into issues and made a 
             difference.
               I also called on him at times when there really was 
             nobody else who could take the time to do the job.
               He worked with us for a week on the floor on the Labor, 
             HHS, Education appropriations bill. I came in one day and 
             found that we had over 200 amendments pending. Somebody 
             had to take the time to work with both sides to get those 
             amendments reduced, accepted, eliminated, withdrawn, or 
             whatever. To his credit, Senator Specter said: I would 
             like to have Paul help me with this.
               Other leadership members were involved in other issues. 
             I could not be here. Senator Nickles could not be here. 
             Within a short period of time, the 200 became 50. Before 
             the week was out, it was done.
               Senator Reid will tell you that Paul really made the 
             difference. He did not just hang out on this side of the 
             aisle; he was rummaging around on the other side trying to 
             see if we could work through it. I remember at the end of 
             the week he was pale and, obviously, stressed. He came to 
             my office and said: Boy, do I understand a little bit 
             better what your job entails.
               Well, he was able to do it because nobody felt 
             threatened by Paul. He was not getting in my hair, 
             stepping on Senator Nickles' turf, or pushing amendments 
             away. He was working with everybody. Nobody got mad. 
             Nobody got even. It is sort of a unique thing for a 
             Senator to be able to do that.
               So I guess I will be trying to find another ``Mikey.'' 
             But I do not think there is one. And so as I thought about 
             doing this speech, I tried to find some statement, poem, 
             something that would pay a tribute to Senator Coverdell. I 
             came across a passage from a poem, ``The Comfort of 
             Friends,'' by William Penn.
               He said:

                   They that love beyond the world
                   Cannot be separated by it.
                   Death cannot kill what never dies,
                   Nor can spirits ever be divided
                   That love and live in the same divine principle:
                   [Because that is] the root and record of their 
             friendship.

               Mr. President, I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming is 
             recognized.

               Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I thank the Leader for his 
             comments and his very strong feelings about friends, 
             people with whom he has worked.
               I had a little different experience, I guess, with Paul 
             Coverdell in that he was here when I came. So I was not in 
             this business of leadership with him. Indeed, he took time 
             to spend time with those of us who were new and to say how 
             can I help you? How can we work together? This was the 
             kind of man that Paul Coverdell was. Certainly, he was an 
             image that each of us should seek to perpetuate--that of 
             caring, that of really feeling strongly about issues, and 
             then, of course, being willing to do something about it. 
             So I want to share with the Leader my sorrow and sadness 
             in not having Paul Coverdell here with us. I extend our 
             condolences to his family.

               Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I appreciate the opportunity to 
             take a few moments to reflect on some things you said and 
             also on what the Majority Leader said a little while ago.
               After our colleague Paul Coverdell died, I made a very 
             brief statement on the floor. I knew I should speak 
             briefly because it would be difficult to talk very long 
             about Paul without becoming too emotional.
               I think at a time when politics generally and 
             politicians specifically are the subject of a lot of 
             humor--they are denigrated because of cynicism about the 
             political process, and in fact in some cases the 
             denigration of some politicians is probably warranted--it 
             is important for the American people to be reassured that 
             there are some extraordinarily fine public servants who 
             toil very hard on their behalf and who are responsible for 
             whatever good comes out of these institutions--the House 
             and the Senate.
               Paul Coverdell was such a man. All of us who have spoken 
             about him have shared with our colleagues and with the 
             American people the same general notion that it is amazing 
             what you can do if you are willing to let others take the 
             credit for it. That was Paul Coverdell--self-effacing, 
             very hard working, totally trustworthy and honest. 
             Everyone could rely upon him to do the things that had to 
             be done without fear he would in any way attempt to take 
             advantage of any situation. He was as solid as a rock and 
             a very important part of this institution--someone who 
             really helped to make it run, and run in a good way.
               I am sure my constituents in Arizona for the most part 
             are unaware of Senator Coverdell, but they and others all 
             around this country need to know how sorely he will be 
             missed--not only personally but professionally--and how 
             important a contribution he made to this country. There 
             are truly some wonderful public servants, and Paul 
             Coverdell was one of the best.

               Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that 
             the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of 
             S. Res. 341, which is at the desk.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the 
             resolution by title.
               The legislative clerk read as follows:


               A resolution (S. Res. 341) authorizing the printing of 
             certain materials in honor of Paul Coverdell.

               There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to 
             consider the resolution.

               Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that 
             the resolution be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
             be laid upon the table.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
               Without objection, it is so ordered.
               The resolution (S. Res. 341) was agreed to, as follows:

                                     S. Res. 341

               Resolved, That the eulogies and other related materials 
             concerning the Honorable Paul Coverdell, late a Senator 
             from the State of Georgia, be printed as a Senate 
             Document.

               Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I note, again, for all 
             Senators, that this authorizes the printing of certain 
             materials to honor Senator Paul Coverdell. We will 
             designate a specific period of time later on this week so 
             Senators who have not spoken will have an opportunity to 
             do so. Of course, we will then pull together all of the 
             statements that have been made about Senator Coverdell for 
             his widow, Nancy Coverdell.

                                                 Tuesday, July 25, 2000
               Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to add my 
             condolences to those of my colleagues on the passing of 
             our friend and colleague, Senator Paul Coverdell of 
             Georgia.
               Senator Coverdell was a model of proper conduct and 
             decorum becoming of a Senator. He conducted himself in the 
             quiet, deliberative manner that reflected his commitment 
             to a thorough performance of his duties. He was a true 
             leader, willing to do his best for all Americans.
               Most recently, he and I worked together to keep our 
             Nation's promise to provide health care coverage to 
             military retirees, when we introduced legislation together 
             earlier this year. As my colleagues know, Senator 
             Coverdell had extreme pride in this country. It was an 
             honor to work with him on making good to those people who 
             have served their Nation and are now in the years of 
             declining health. It was also an honor to work with 
             Senator Coverdell every day, for he was truly interested 
             in ensuring that our democracy remained strong and pushed 
             forward confidently into the 21st century.
               Mr. President, I wish to extend my condolences to the 
             Coverdell family, to Senator Coverdell's many friends and 
             his staff. The entire Senate family has lost a friend and 
             the Nation has lost a leader. However, we are all enriched 
             by having known such an honorable man. His service and 
             commitment will have a definite and lasting legacy.

                                               Wednesday, July 26, 2000

               Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, all last week I deferred 
             coming to the floor to speak about my friend, Paul 
             Coverdell, on the grounds that it might be easier to do so 
             this week. It is not. It is not, but it is vitally 
             important to memorialize such a friend.
               Every Monday evening or Tuesday morning, Paul Coverdell 
             and I sat at the end of the table during leadership 
             meetings in the Majority Leader's office, with an 
             opportunity to comment on all of the issues that came 
             before that group. Frequently, however, at the end of the 
             table, we would exchange whispered remarks on some of the 
             other people or subject matter, either present or not 
             present. Paul Coverdell had a wonderful sense of humor, 
             there and elsewhere: Dry, gentle, always to the point. It 
             was a delightful pleasure to share those moments, 
             sometimes stressful, sometimes marvelously relaxed, with 
             such a man.
               If you sought advice on a matter of vitally important 
             public policy, Paul Coverdell was one of the first you 
             would seek out. You knew that anything he would discuss 
             with you would be filled with wisdom and common sense, and 
             that stacking your remarks against his would focus and 
             sharpen your own thoughts and your own ideas. It hardly 
             mattered what the subject was--education, taxes, national 
             security, a dozen others; the advice was always good and 
             always relevant.
               If you then sought tactics or advice on how to 
             accomplish a shared goal, Paul Coverdell was a man whom 
             you sought out. Particularly if there were an individual 
             in your own party, or in the other party, whom you might 
             be reluctant, for one reason or another, to approach, you 
             could ask Paul Coverdell to do it for you, and he would. 
             There was no task, there was no detail that was too small 
             for him, none that he thought was beneath him, if it was 
             constructive, if it would help the cause in the long term.
               One way in which you can determine individuals' 
             reactions to other individuals is in a group. At the 
             Republican Conference meeting immediately before the 
             Fourth of July recess, Paul Coverdell, as the Secretary of 
             the Conference, presented us a little plastic note card, 
             the top of which read ``Republican Policy.'' I no longer 
             remember the particular subject, but I do remember that 
             first one or two people said, ``I don't agree with point 
             3.'' Pretty soon, everyone was piling on. Finally, one of 
             our colleagues wrote across the top of his, ``One 
             Republican's Policy,'' and handed it back to Paul 
             Coverdell, who just went back to perfect his message.
               Whom you tease, you generally love. That in many 
             respects was an expression of the love and respect his 
             Republican colleagues had for Paul Coverdell.
               Paul Coverdell made us all proud of our profession, a 
             profession often criticized, in fact a profession rarely 
             praised. When a State sends a Paul Coverdell to the 
             Senate, it is proof positive that our system works. And 
             when the Senate of the United States listens to and 
             respects and follows a Paul Coverdell, that, too, is proof 
             that our system works. When, as was my privilege, you come 
             to know and are befriended by a Paul Coverdell, you are 
             especially privileged and especially honored. I was so 
             privileged. I was so honored.
               I will not know his like again.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio.

               Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I congratulate my colleague 
             from Washington State on very eloquent comments about our 
             dear friend, Paul Coverdell. I had the chance a few days 
             ago to make some more extensive comments than I will 
             tonight about Senator Coverdell. But I just want to add, I 
             had the opportunity, as many Members of the Senate did, to 
             travel to Atlanta this past weekend to participate in that 
             very wonderful service for our dear friend. I do not think 
             it really hit me that he was really gone until I got back 
             this week to Washington and started contemplating this 
             Senate body without Paul Coverdell and all that he meant 
             to each and every one of us. He was our friend. We loved 
             him very much. This body, this institution, is a poorer 
             place because he is gone.
               Each one of us is richer because we were privileged to 
             know this very gentle, this very kind, this very sweet, 
             this very good man.

                                                Thursday, July 27, 2000

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida.

               Mr. MACK. Mr. President, the 10 days since his sudden 
             passing and the outpouring of expression from many 
             different directions have given me the opportunity to 
             reflect on Senator Coverdell's life, the gifts he brought 
             to the Senate, and the impact his life had on people.
               I want to focus my remarks on Paul Coverdell's humility, 
             which I think was his defining quality, his greatest gift, 
             and one which had the greatest impact on the lives of 
             others.
               Many people might say that humility, sometimes defined 
             as freedom from pride or arrogance, is a quality not found 
             often in our society today. No one disputes, however, that 
             Paul Coverdell possessed a deep sense of humility.
               During the past 10 days, Paul Coverdell has been 
             described as: Serious and low key; self-effacing; 
             uncomfortable in the limelight; a humble public servant 
             who became a political giant through selfless dedication 
             and quiet civility; a very gentle and courteous person; a 
             person people went to, felt really comfortable with, and 
             opened up to; a person who really cared for what happened 
             to others; a person many regarded as the Senate's leading 
             mediator; a person of scrupulous integrity and unblemished 
             character; a person with an unsurpassed work ethic and 
             standard of personal ethics and devotion to what he was 
             doing; a person who always kept his word and was someone 
             you could count on--just to mention a few 
             characterizations.
               How many of us would like to be known as individuals who 
             possess these qualities?
               Too often we think success results from aggressive, 
             enterprising, pushy, and contentious behavior. Paul 
             Coverdell's success came from his combination of humility 
             and energy which helped him to become the cornerstone of 
             the Georgia Republican Party. A person whose objective was 
             to make his State party credible and viable in what had 
             been virtually a one-party State; a political mentor to a 
             number of politicians on both sides of the aisle; a person 
             who was said by former Senator Sam Nunn to be ``the person 
             who makes the Senate work;'' and finally, a person of whom 
             Democrats in his State said that his legacy is one of 
             actions and deeds, not words and glory; friendship and 
             trust, not cynicism and betrayal.
               There is no question that the outpouring of sentiment on 
             the subject of Paul's humility, humanity, and his 
             contribution to his State and to his Nation would have 
             overwhelmed him. He would have been embarrassed by all of 
             the adulation and attention.
               Paul was the personification of Proverbs 22:4: ``the 
             reward for humility and fear of the Lord . . . is riches 
             and honor and life.'' Paul Coverdell surely conducted his 
             life in a manner that resulted in great riches and honor 
             of public opinion.
               The Book of Revelation 20:12, states: ``and I saw the 
             dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and 
             books were opened. Also, another book was opened, the book 
             of life. And the dead were judged according to their 
             works, as recorded in the books.''
               Our earthly judgment of Paul Coverdell will surely be 
             confirmed in heaven. Paul's works and his hardworking 
             qualities were legendary.
               I want to take a moment to speak about a passion of 
             Paul's. He often talked of the importance of freedom, 
             challenging each of us to do our part to ensure that the 
             legacy of 1776 endures for generations to come. I picked 
             out a few passages concerning freedom from some of his 
             speeches, and I want to repeat them today.
               From a Veteran's Day speech: ``In the end, all that any 
             of us can do with regard to this great democracy is to do 
             our part . . . during our time.''
               From a speech to an annual meeting of the Georgia Youth 
             Farmers Association:

               You live by the grace of God in the greatest democracy 
             in the history of the entire world. And each of us has our 
             own personal responsibility to help care for it, to love 
             it, and to serve it.

               From a speech to an ecumenical service at Ebenezer 
             Baptist Church in Atlanta:

               Several years ago I was in Bangladesh, the poorest 
             country in the world, on the day they created their 
             democracy. A Bangladeshi said to me, ``I don't know if you 
             or your fellow citizens of your country understand the 
             role you play for democracy everywhere. It is an awesome 
             responsibility and I don't envy you, but I pray, sir, that 
             you and your fellow citizens continue to accept it.

               Finally, from a speech at an Andersonville, GA, Memorial 
             Day ceremony:

               I am sure that each of you, like me, has wondered how we 
             can ever adequately honor these great Americans who made 
             the ultimate sacrifice for the preservation of our Nation 
             and the great Americans who suffered and endured on these 
             hallowed grounds as prisoners of war. We look across these 
             fields and see monuments. We have heard an elegant poem 
             written by a young American. We have tried through movies 
             to somehow express our gratitude. Nothing ever quite seems 
             to meet the challenge. I have finally concluded in my mind 
             and in my heart that the only way to appropriately express 
             our gratitude is through duty and stewardship to this 
             great Nation.

               Paul Coverdell truly expressed his gratitude to his 
             country in the manner in which he lived his life--through 
             his service and stewardship to our Nation.
               Perhaps the ultimate compliment for a politician was 
             accorded Paul Coverdell by one of his constituents, who 
             simply said: He gave politics a good name.
               Paul was an unsung hero, the glue that bound us 
             together, particularly on the Republican side, but he also 
             had an unusually fair presence in the entire body of this 
             Senate. We are blessed and better off because of the 
             impact of Paul's humility.
               I hope I have learned something from him about life. God 
             sent him so many friends--and he recognized us all and 
             embraced us. We are thankful and grateful for his presence 
             in our lives. And the loss of Paul Coverdell has made me 
             realize just how much I am going to miss each of you when 
             I leave the Senate in a few months.
               Mr. President, I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.

               Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, it is very hard to adjust to 
             the sad reality of Paul Coverdell's absence from the 
             Senate. I miss him very much. And the Senate, we have to 
             admit, is not the same without him.
               It was always a genuine pleasure to be in his company. I 
             enjoyed very much going to Georgia with him during his 
             reelection campaign. I also returned with him to learn 
             more about the severe problems his State's agricultural 
             producers were experiencing from the drought. We worked 
             together on these and other issues that were important to 
             our region on the Senate Agriculture Committee.
               He was a very influential force in the Senate for the 
             people of his State. And he was a thoughtful leader on 
             national issues as well.
               While we continue to mourn his passing, we should try to 
             carry on with the same determination and energy he brought 
             to the challenges he faced. His example will be a very 
             valuable legacy. Not only has Georgia benefited from his 
             good efforts to represent its interests, but also through 
             his leadership as Director of the Peace Corps, and on 
             other international issues, where he has made the world a 
             better and safer place for all mankind.

               Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I thank the Majority 
             Leader for setting aside time this morning so many of us 
             could pay tribute to Paul Coverdell. Certainly last week, 
             many of us who were friends with Paul really were not up 
             to giving him a proper tribute because the shock of losing 
             one of our friends was so enormous that we really did not 
             feel that we could get through the kind of tribute that 
             Paul deserves. So I thank the Majority Leader for giving 
             us this time.
               We have now had a chance to collect our thoughts about 
             the sudden death of our colleague and friend, Paul 
             Coverdell of Georgia. One need only look at the breadth of 
             representation at the memorial service in Atlanta to 
             understand the many ways in which Paul's life affected 
             ours.
               At the service, it was hard to miss the sweet but sad 
             irony that, for one last time, Paul Coverdell was the 
             great unifier. The Democratic Governor of Georgia, 
             Governor Barnes, called Paul Coverdell--one of just a 
             handful of Republicans in the State Legislature when 
             Governor Barnes, himself, was elected to the Legislature 
             in 1974--he called Paul his best teacher in politics. 
             Senator Kennedy, our colleague from across the aisle, with 
             whom Senator Coverdell had tangled on many important 
             education issues, sat right next to me in the church to 
             honor Paul Coverdell.
               Senator Coverdell is sorely missed in the Senate and in 
             Georgia.
               He is not missed because he was a great legislator--but 
             he was. His innovative approach to helping families have 
             more flexibility in education spending became the 
             Coverdell education savings account bill.
               We do not feel his loss as badly as we do simply because 
             he was a great Senate Leader--but he was. His leadership 
             could bring disparate policy and political strands 
             together to form a single, strong bond that allowed us to 
             move forward with our priorities.
               Others have said it, but I will repeat for emphasis: 
             Paul Coverdell was as close as any Senator comes to being 
             indispensable to his party.
               He will not be missed most because he was a giant in 
             Georgia politics--but he was. Over the past third of a 
             century, he built, from virtually nothing, the Republican 
             Party of Georgia, starting at a time when, much as in my 
             own home State of Texas, Republicans numbered only a few 
             in the State Legislature.
               Georgia is a better State today--and so is Texas--
             because there is a strong two-party system. Paul Coverdell 
             is the reason why. And the people of Georgia registered 
             their appreciation by making him the first Georgia 
             Republican in over a century to be reelected to the 
             Senate.
               And he will not be missed the most because he was an 
             outstanding administrator and a man of vision as the 
             Director of the Peace Corps--but that is certainly the 
             case.
               Paul Coverdell was the right man for the job in 1989 
             when President Bush appointed him to head the Peace Corps, 
             just as the Berlin Wall came tumbling down.
               In 1989, Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia were 
             emerging from behind the Iron Curtain. Paul Coverdell 
             thought about his agency. It was a creature of the cold 
             war, created to keep the Third World from falling prey to 
             communism by exposing those countries to the energy, 
             promise and ideals of American youth.
               The Peace Corps helped win the cold war, and Paul 
             Coverdell had the vision to know that it could also help 
             win the peace. Although it had been dedicated to helping 
             underdeveloped countries with subsistence agriculture and 
             infrastructure projects, Director Paul Coverdell saw the 
             promise of helping win the cold war peace when he asked: 
             ``Why not in Europe, too?''
               Under his leadership, the Peace Corps began sending 
             volunteers into Eastern Europe and the former Soviet 
             Union, blazing a new trail for this old cold war agency. 
             On June 15, 1990, President George Bush wished farewell to 
             the first such volunteers as they departed for Hungary and 
             Poland.
               Today, those countries are firmly in the sphere of 
             freedom and democracy, and last year joined the North 
             Atlantic Treaty Organization. Paul Coverdell's vision had 
             become a reality.
               When he was Director of the Peace Corps, Senator 
             Coverdell emphasized a particular program that had gone 
             fallow given the many other priorities the agency was 
             facing. This program, part of the Peace Corps' legislative 
             mandate to foster greater global understanding by U.S. 
             citizens, offered fellowship to returning volunteers in 
             exchange for their agreement to work in an underserved 
             American community as they pursued their degree.
               Senator Coverdell placed renewed emphasis on this 
             program as Director of the Peace Corps and has been 
             credited by Peace Corps alumni for his leadership in this 
             area. These fellowships, funded through private-sector 
             financed scholarships or reduced tuition agreements with 
             universities and colleges, have been a great success.
               Senator Coverdell obviously continued his pursuit of 
             excellence in education with many innovative proposals 
             right here in this body. I will be offering legislation 
             that renames the program the Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps 
             Fellowship in memory of his commitment to both the Peace 
             Corps and education.
               A greater legislator, a leader of his party and of his 
             State, a man of peace and vision: These surely describe 
             Paul Coverdell, but they do not explain the depth and 
             breadth of warm outpouring that we have seen since his 
             sudden death last week.
               More than any other reason, Senator Coverdell will be 
             missed because he was a sweet, warm man, utterly without 
             pretension.
               Paul Coverdell: statesman; husband; Senator; leader; but 
             above all, gentleman.
               For all the wonderful tributes our colleagues have 
             offered here in the Senate, and those that were made at 
             Paul's service on Saturday, none surpass in sincerity and 
             simplicity those posted on the Atlanta Journal-
             Constitution's tribute web site by ordinary Georgians.
               A real reflection of Paul's impact is that there are 
             postings from all around the country. But one, in 
             particular, bears quoting. A man from Duluth, GA, quotes 
             from a well-known essay: ``The True Gentleman'' to 
             describe Paul, and it certainly fits:

               The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds 
             from good will . . . whose self-control is equal to all 
             emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of 
             his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity . . .; who 
             is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble 
             another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, 
             or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who 
             speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and 
             sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the 
             rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and 
             who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is 
             sacred and virtue safe.

               How true these words ring of my friend, Paul Coverdell.
               I close with the words of a young boy from Georgia, 
             written early in the last century in his school notebook. 
             When assigned to write a short thought about how he wanted 
             to live his life, the young boy, just 10 years or so at 
             the time, wrote:

             I cannot do much, said the little star, To make the dark 
               world bright.
             My silver beams cannot pierce far into the gloom of night.
             Yet--I am part of God's plan, And I will do the best I 
               can.

               That sounds like Paul, another Georgian whose star 
             burned so bright and who fulfilled God's plan by doing the 
             best he could.
               Those words were written by young Richard Russell, as a 
             fourth grade student. Richard Russell went on to become a 
             great Senator from Georgia, who, like Paul, died in office 
             in 1971. Russell's name graces the building that houses my 
             office, and Paul Coverdell's, too.
               Today, we consider those great men and the reward they 
             have gone on to enjoy. We miss them; we miss Paul 
             Coverdell today, and the Senate is a lonelier, less happy 
             place without him. Godspeed to our friend.

               Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I rise this morning to 
             comment on the extraordinary and wonderful life of my 
             friend and our colleague, Paul Coverdell of Georgia. While 
             my abilities are unequal to this task, I believe I must 
             try, not because my mere comments will add the slightest 
             glimmer of luster to his sterling legacy but because it is 
             important for me and those living to contemplate his 
             exemplary character, ways of working, positive spirit, 
             courage, and enthusiasm.
               The one thing I want to remember most about Paul is that 
             quick, genuine, and, at times, childlike smile he had. It 
             seemed a bit whimsical, sometimes a bit tired, a bit 
             resigned, at first glance; but on closer observation, that 
             smile was always full of understanding, compassion, and 
             insight into the difficulties we face. Paul's smile was 
             never silly or false but frequent, wise, encompassing, and 
             in empathy and comprehension for our frailties, completely 
             knowing our weaknesses and encapsulating the 
             precariousness of our human and political condition. Yes, 
             it was fresh and childlike and frequently given; yet in 
             that smile was great strength. There was a kind of 
             understanding there that was born of experience, study, 
             insight, and concern. Moreover, because it was founded on 
             an honest appreciation of our present condition in this 
             life, its warmth, its humanity never failed to inspire.
               Paul Coverdell was an honest man, an honest broker, an 
             honest leader. Paul Coverdell had the courage to act on 
             that honesty, to speak the truth in a positive way. He 
             always saw the glass half full, not half empty. These 
             qualities have the capacity to inspire, and they have 
             never failed to inspire me. When I was frustrated, 
             doubtful, and concerned, I always looked for a chance to 
             speak with Paul. On occasion, if he sensed I was troubled, 
             he would seek me out. After those conversations I always 
             felt encouraged.
               As I think on it today, he was a greater encourager for 
             me and for others than I realized at the time. His 
             friendship, insight, and advice were invaluable for my 
             start in the Senate 3 years ago. I will deeply miss him.
               On the day following his death, I spoke on this floor 
             and said that I knew we rightly should celebrate his life 
             and not mourn, but I was not able to celebrate at that 
             time because of the hurt of his loss. I am better now, but 
             his death has struck me and others in this body hard.
               Still, Paul Coverdell's life is, indeed, to be 
             celebrated. He loved his country. He understood its 
             greatness and uniqueness and deeply loved it. He loved the 
             Senate. His tireless work on matters great and small was 
             abundant evidence of that fact. Paul enjoyed the debate, 
             and helping develop strategy for the leadership, but his 
             ultimate goal was always to improve his country. That was 
             the constant goal of his service. He loved the Members of 
             the Senate--all of them--even those with whom he disagreed 
             and he was loved in return.
               Paul Coverdell was a very effective Senator. He followed 
             through on his assignments. He passed legislation and he 
             helped many others pass important legislation. In that 
             small frame, he had, as Phil Gramm said, the heart of a 
             lion. Paul was a man of great principle and it was a rich 
             and deeply understood American tradition to which he 
             adhered with vigor. Paul was knowledgeable. He knew a lot 
             about a lot of things. Experiences like the Peace Corps 
             had taught him much. That knowledge made him wise and 
             helpful to all of us in this body.
               Paul, though not at all naive, was certainly optimistic. 
             Even if he knew something bad was about to happen, he 
             looked beyond that bad event and saw possibilities in the 
             future for an even greater good. That was always the case 
             with him. I remember numerous occasions in which he saw 
             beyond temporary setbacks and could visualize a positive 
             future. His optimism helped shape the agenda of the 
             Republican Conference. It was always his method to focus 
             on our successes, and not on the frustrations. Once one 
             listened fairly to his arguments, one could have no choice 
             but to become optimistic also.
               Certainly this Senate has lost a giant. He held a 
             position of great leadership, was projected to continue to 
             rise in leadership and was a tireless supporter of all 
             Members of this body.
               My sympathies, and those of my wife, Mary, are extended 
             to Nancy, to his mother and to other members of the 
             family. They have suffered the greatest loss. The 
             Scripture says our time on this Earth is but as a vapor. 
             Indeed, James 4:13 puts us in our place. It says:

               Come now, you who say, ``Today or tomorrow we will go to 
             such and such town and spend a year there and get gain,'' 
             whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? 
             For you are but a mist that appears for a little time and 
             then vanishes. Instead, you should say, If the Lord wills, 
             we shall live and do this or that, and it is your boast in 
             your arrogance.

               That was not Paul. He was not a person of arrogance. 
             More than any other person in this body that I can know, 
             he was a man of unassuming personality, a man of genuine 
             humility, a person utterly without pretension. I think he 
             showed us a lot.
               I don't know any 150-year-old people. All of us must 
             expect to die. Our challenge is to keep the faith, to 
             maintain our ideals, to adhere to great principles and to 
             live with enthusiasm. Paul Coverdell was a good man and he 
             set a good example for all of us. His death should call us 
             all to intensify our own efforts to fill the void he 
             leaves so that we may serve our country with effectiveness 
             and strengthen the qualities that make up this great 
             Senate.
               I pray God will give us the ability to meet the 
             challenges that are before us, that He will comfort those 
             who are mourning, and that we can continue to maintain the 
             ideals that Paul shared with us for a great and vigorous 
             and effective America.

               Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I come to the floor this 
             morning, following my distinguished colleague and good 
             friend from Alabama, feeling the same inadequacy to 
             express my thoughts and feelings about the life of someone 
             for whom I had a tremendous amount of respect. As Phil 
             Gramm so aptly put it in his eulogy on Saturday, if you 
             knew Paul Coverdell, he was your friend. Paul was a 
             friend.
               I guess in the last week from reading and listening and 
             talking to people about Paul, it is incredible that in 
             this city someone could be so universally understood by 
             everyone. All of us are individuals. We are very complex.
               Some often say in Washington that politicians have many 
             facets and many faces. Paul was Paul. He was like that to 
             me. He was like it to Jeff. He was like it to the 
             Presiding Officer. He was like it to everyone here. 
             Everyone who has gotten up and talked about Paul said the 
             same thing in the final analysis. They talked about his 
             decency, his good nature, his peacemaking, his optimism, 
             his energy, and his enthusiasm.
               I understand we are going to compile all of the things 
             that have been said about Paul. The remarkable thing is 
             the sameness of what everyone says about Paul. It is a 
             remarkable quality in and of itself--that Paul was always 
             Paul. He was always himself. He was never trying to be 
             something for everyone to meet their expectation. He was 
             who he was, as genuine and as pure as you can possibly be. 
             That is a tremendous gift that he had.
               It is so resoundingly amplified by the comments of our 
             colleagues whose eulogies and comments have been out of 
             the same embryo. That may be one of the great legacies and 
             lessons of Paul Coverdell and his life.
               There are a few people who I want to thank. First, I 
             thank Nancy and his mother for the dedication that they 
             gave to Paul in allowing him to provide his service.
               He spent an incredible amount of time working issues, 
             long days and long nights away from Nancy while she was in 
             Georgia. She made a tremendous sacrifice for him and for 
             his career in the Senate. Obviously, the impact she had on 
             Paul's life was profound and positive. The same could be 
             said for his mother. I cannot imagine a mother being more 
             proud of a son than Paul's mother was of him and the 
             contribution he made to Georgia, to the Senate, to this 
             country.
               I thank the people of Georgia for sending the Senate 
             Paul Coverdell. He had some tough races but Georgia stood 
             behind him, supported him, and elected a Republican 
             Senator, twice, from the State of Georgia. Georgia should 
             be very proud of that choice.
               Finally, I thank God for sending Paul, a truly 
             extraordinary person. When I found out on Tuesday Paul 
             very well may not make it, I was sitting in the back 
             talking to Senator Gorton. I was talking about what a 
             tragic loss it would be should Paul die. I looked around 
             at the desks, I looked at Slade, and I said: I don't know 
             where Paul's desk is. He never sat at his desk. He was 
             always running all over the place--down in the well, back 
             in the Cloakroom, running from place to place. He was 
             never at his desk. I thought to myself, where did he sit?
               What a fitting analysis of the role that Paul Coverdell 
             played in this place. He was everywhere, doing everything, 
             never sitting back at his desk worried about himself or 
             what he would say or do but running around making things 
             happen, back in the Cloakroom with that styrofoam Waffle 
             House coffee cup. I don't know where he got all those 
             styrofoam Waffle House cups, but he had one in his hand 
             all the time. There would be two or three placed 
             throughout the Cloakroom by the end of the day. Everyone 
             knew where Paul had been. He was just working all the 
             time, putting every ounce of his energy--and it was an 
             incredible amount of energy--into his work in the Senate.
               I was at the funeral on Saturday. Many things were said 
             about Paul moving on from one life to the next. It 
             reminded me of a quote from a funeral I attended earlier 
             this year for Governor Casey in Scranton, PA. The quote on 
             the back of the book we received when we came into the 
             church could not help but remind me of Paul: ``Death is 
             not extinguishing the light. It is putting out the lamp 
             because the dawn has come.''
               Paul's light here in the Senate burned so bright. He 
             illuminated every conversation. Every room he walked into 
             with his energy, with his positive attitude, with his 
             optimism. That light will be missed. Lights that seem to 
             burn the brightest are doomed not to burn the longest. If 
             we are measuring the wattage or the illumination that has 
             been cast on this Earth, no one cast more light in 61 
             years than Paul ever did. It is a comfort to know that the 
             dawn for Paul has come and that he is experiencing a 
             brighter light than we all know right now. It is a comfort 
             to know he is experiencing that light and is in heaven.
               As a Catholic, I believe in intercessory prayer. Those 
             in heaven can pray to God to help those on Earth. I know 
             Paul is praying for us. I ask for your prayers, Paul, for 
             all of us here, because we will miss you.

               Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute 
             to a noble Southern gentleman, Senator Paul Coverdell. All 
             of us in the Senate were saddened by the sudden loss of 
             such a fine man, and we will sorely miss him. As a 
             relative newcomer to the Senate, I have spent a great deal 
             of my time on the Senate floor observing my colleagues. 
             You can tell a lot about a person by his demeanor, and I 
             first grew to like Paul Coverdell simply by watching him. 
             He wore a cloak of peacefulness around him and he radiated 
             kindness. It was rare to see him without a smile.
               When I began working with him on the Small Watershed 
             Dams Rehabilitation bill, I realized that my first 
             impressions of him had been accurate. He was, indeed, kind 
             and friendly. It was a pleasure to work with him in a 
             bipartisan manner on an issue that is vital to both of our 
             States. As is obvious by his rise within the leadership of 
             the Republican Party, he was extremely loyal to his party. 
             But he never let partisanship interfere with his 
             relationships in the Senate. In short, he was a statesman 
             in every sense of the word.
               To his wife, Nancy, and the rest of his family, I extend 
             my sincere condolences. Public life is not an easy one, 
             and our country's greatest leaders can be identified by 
             the support system that is their family. Thank you, Nancy, 
             for sharing Paul with the rest of us.

               Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, as we today welcome Senator 
             Coverdell's successor, I wanted to talk about the man 
             whose shoes he must fill.
               Last week the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's tribute 
             article to our late friend Paul Coverdell included the 
             following story. Once, at a county fair on a hot summer 
             day, someone asked Paul why he was wearing a coat and tie 
             in such a casual setting. Paul replied that he had noticed 
             that in an emergency, when people are trying to figure out 
             what to do, they always go to the guy with the tie on.
               Well, tie or not, Senator Coverdell was a guy whom we 
             always went to.
               I, like many of us on both sides of the aisle, 
             considered him a friend. His hand and arm gestures will 
             always be remembered as ``get up and go'' signs. I had the 
             privilege of lunching with Paul nearly every Wednesday for 
             the last several years and his presence there was a treat.
               He was a hard worker. He knew where he wanted to go. And 
             he was willing to help those with whom he teamed on 
             issues--issues that were invariably important and 
             meaningful. I checked last night, and there are 103 pieces 
             of legislation listed as sponsored by Senator Coverdell.
               Now, Paul did work on parochial legislation for his 
             State, and he had his share of technical bills, but he 
             also authored many significant and far-reaching national 
             provisions. He worked for the country as well as Georgia, 
             and strove to improve the education, the safety, and the 
             prospects of our children specifically and our citizenry 
             generally.
               He had an IRS reform bill, the Safe and Affordable 
             Schools Act, education IRAs, antidrug legislation . . . 
             and then there are the countless hours spent working on 
             bills for his colleagues and conference. Even his 
             commemorative bills were significant--Reagan Washington 
             National Airport for example, a bill I jumped to co-
             sponsor.
               He had 30 productive years of service to his country--
             Army postings in Asia, Georgia State Senate, Peace Corps 
             Director, and an invaluable Member of the U.S. Senate. I 
             was proud to be his friend and colleague. I will miss my 
             friend from Georgia.
               Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed 
             in the Record the article from the Atlanta Journal-
             Constitution.
               There being no objection, the material was ordered to be 
             printed in the Record, as follows:

               [From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 19, 2000]

                              He Was a Great, Great Man
                      colleagues recall georgian as hard worker

                                   (By Alan Judd)

               Once, when he was chairman of the state Republican 
             Party, Paul Coverdell spent a hot Saturday at a county 
             fair in North Georgia. As always, he was spreading the 
             Republican word. And as usual, despite the casual setting, 
             he was dressed in coat and tie.
               Lee Raudonis, a longtime aide, recalls that when he 
             asked why, Coverdell responded: ``Well, I've noticed that 
             if there's ever any kind of emergency and people are 
             trying to figure out what to do, they always go to the guy 
             with the tie on.''
               For three decades, as a Georgia lawmaker, state party 
             leader, Peace Corps director and U.S. senator, Paul 
             Coverdell was the man people went to.
               As word of his death spread Tuesday, many of those who 
             counted on Coverdell said they couldn't fathom a world in 
             which they couldn't turn to him.
               ``Unbelievable,'' said state Rep. Bob Irvin of Atlanta, 
             the Georgia House minority leader, a friend of Coverdell's 
             since they met at a campaign rally on July 4, 1968. ``He 
             was my oldest and best friend in politics.''
               ``We shall miss him as we would miss our own son,'' 
             former President George Bush, one of Coverdell's closest 
             friends, said in a statement. ``We loved him dearly.''
               Coverdell's death at age 61 came as he reached the 
             pinnacle of a life in politics. Although less than 2 years 
             into his second six-year term, he was the fifth-highest 
             Republican in the Senate's power structure. And he was the 
             Senate liaison for the presumptive Republican presidential 
             nominee, Texas Gov. George W. Bush.
               It was a heady time for Paul Douglas Coverdell, an 
             insurance agent turned politician who moved to Atlanta as 
             a teenager in the early 1950s from his native Des Moines, 
             Iowa.
               After graduating from Northside High School, he attended 
             the University of Missouri, where he received a bachelor's 
             degree in journalism. He spent 2 years in the Army before 
             returning to Atlanta to take over his family's insurance 
             business. Soon, his interests turned to politics.
               In 1970, he was elected to the State Senate from a north 
             Atlanta district. At the time, Republican legislators were 
             rare, so Coverdell formed alliances with like-minded 
             Democrats. By the late 1970s, then-Lt. Gov. Zell Miller 
             had appointed Coverdell to chair the Senate Retirement 
             Committee--a first, said a former Senate colleague, Pierre 
             Howard.
               ``He was one of the hardest-working, most disciplined, 
             most incisive public servants I've ever known,'' said 
             Howard, who later became lieutenant governor. ``There was 
             nobody who surpassed his work ethic and his ethics and his 
             devotion to what he was doing. You might not agree with 
             him on an issue here or there, but you always knew that he 
             was sincere and that he was well-informed and that he was 
             going to work hard to achieve the objective that he had.''
               Since the mid-1970s, his objective was to make the GOP 
             credible and viable in what had long been virtually a one-
             party State.
               ``He really never, ever let go of this stuff,'' said 
             Rep. John Linder (R-Ga.). ``If there was an evening when 
             he was free from 9 to 12, he'd pace around his driveway 
             and think about what would be next.''
               Coverdell and other Republicans--Mack Mattingly, a 
             future U.S. senator, and future House Speaker Newt 
             Gingrich, among them--met regularly at St. Simons Island 
             to establish long-range goals for the party.
               ``That group actually worked to develop what in many 
             ways became the modern Republican Party in Georgia,'' 
             Gingrich said Tuesday night from California. ``We've been 
             a very close team for the last 26 years.''
               Although a staunch Republican, Coverdell eschewed 
             partisanship. It was a quality that served him well, 
             Gingrich said.
               ``Paul had several strengths that combined in an unusual 
             way,'' Gingrich said. ``He was very intelligent. He had a 
             great deal of courage. He was willing to take 
             responsibility. He would work very, very hard. And he 
             always kept his word. That gave you somebody you could 
             count on and work with in a very remarkable way.''
               Beginning in 1978, Coverdell formed a close friendship 
             with another politician, a relationship that would help 
             propel him to a higher political level.
               While vacationing with his wife, Nancy, in 
             Kennebunkport, Maine, Coverdell opened the local telephone 
             book to look up one of the town's best-known residents: 
             George Bush, the former U.S. ambassador to China and the 
             United Nations. He knocked on Bush's door, and the pair 
             quickly became friends.
               When Bush ran for president 2 years later, Coverdell was 
             one of his earliest supporters, serving as his finance 
             chairman in Georgia. Bush lost the Republican nomination 
             to Ronald Reagan. But as vice president, he remained close 
             to Coverdell. The two men were ``not only great political 
             allies, but very close friends,'' said Jean Becker, a 
             spokeswoman for Bush. The Coverdells were frequent guests 
             at the Bush home in Kennebunkport, Becker said. Just last 
             month, they attended Barbara Bush's 75th birthday party 
             there.
               When Bush became president in 1989--inaugurated on 
             Coverdell's 50th birthday--one of his first acts was to 
             appoint Coverdell director of the Peace Corps. In that 
             job, Coverdell was such a workaholic, Raudonis said, that 
             when once asked to list his hobbies, all he could come up 
             with was ``dining out.''
               After an Asian tour, Raudonis said, Coverdell proudly 
             pointed out that he had never checked into a hotel. 
             Instead, if he slept at all, it was on planes between 
             destinations.
               ``Paul was the type who's constantly on the go,'' said 
             Raudonis, who worked for Coverdell for 10 years in Georgia 
             and Washington. ``The idea of having to take 12 hours off 
             to go to a hotel, he couldn't figure out why anybody would 
             do that.''
               After three years, Coverdell left the Peace Corps in 
             1992 to seek what friends say he had long wanted: a U.S. 
             Senate seat.
               In a close race, he unseated Democrat Wyche Fowler. He 
             was re-elected in 1998.
               Although he ascended to a leadership position in the 
             Senate and maintained a remarkably full schedule, 
             Coverdell had found time in recent years to relax a bit, 
             friends say. He developed a passion for gardening, and his 
             recent Christmas cards included a picture of his flowers.
               ``My greatest regret for him is that he didn't have the 
             time that he deserved to enjoy himself more,'' Howard 
             said. ``I feel a real sense of loss. He was a great, great 
             man.''

               Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. President, I rise today to join with my 
             colleagues in mourning the loss of Senator Paul Coverdell 
             of Georgia.
               He was a man whom I respected and admired. All of us 
             here in the Senate feel his absence acutely. Paul 
             Coverdell was a fixture in the Senate. I cannot recall how 
             often I sat at my desk and, looking up at C-SPAN, saw him 
             there leading his party on one difficult issue after 
             another. He did so honorably, tenaciously, and modestly. 
             And, of course, he did so effectively.
               I feel a real void in the Senate Chamber without his 
             presence and feel a sense of surprise when I look up and 
             see someone other than Senator Coverdell at the Republican 
             floor manager's desk.
               Paul Coverdell touched many lives. I am privileged to 
             have known him and count myself lucky to have served in 
             the Senate with him. He was a unique and truly special 
             person, taken from us too young and so suddenly.
               I send to his family, his friends, and his staff my 
             deepest condolences. He was a good man who will be sorely 
             missed. But he will also be remembered by us all often and 
             his spirit will never leave us.

               Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I join my colleagues in 
             expressing the grief felt by all of us at the passing of 
             Senator Paul Coverdell.
               As a fellow southerner, I can tell you that Paul 
             epitomized all that is good and noble about the South. He 
             was principled, but always looked for workable solutions 
             to problems. He was a determined advocate, but always 
             added an air of civility to this Chamber. He was a 
             Republican through and through, but always sought out ways 
             to work with the other side of the Chamber.
               My friend, the Senior Senator from New York, called 
             Senator Coverdell a man of peace. I think that sums up his 
             contribution to this world very eloquently.
               His work, as Director of the Peace Corps during a time 
             of world transition, was extremely important. He brought 
             the Peace Corps the Nations of the Warsaw Pact and the 
             former Soviet Union. This single decision may harvest 
             benefits to this Nation that we will enjoy for many 
             generations.
               Had Senator Coverdell's life work ended there, he would 
             have accomplished much for which he and the Nation could 
             be proud. However, fortunately for the people of Georgia, 
             he continued his life in public service.
               When I came to the Senate in 1997, one of the first 
             bills that I worked on as a Democratic sponsor was with 
             Paul Coverdell. I will always remember the warm reception 
             that he gave me, and the encouragement to go forward with 
             the Coverdell-Landrieu Protecting the Rights of Property 
             Owners Act.
               Since I had just finished a bruising campaign it was 
             such a pleasure to be welcomed in such a warm and 
             bipartisan manner by this southern gentleman.
               Senator Coverdell was also an early and ardent supporter 
             of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act. As many in this 
             Chamber well know, I have pestered and cajoled my 
             colleagues on CARA for 2\1/2\ years. Paul must have seen 
             it coming and was one of the first to sign on.
               For his leadership on this, I owe him a debt of 
             gratitude I cannot repay.
               Senator Coverdell will be missed, in this Chamber, by 
             the people of Louisiana, and by people throughout the 
             country. My deepest condolences to his family.

               Mr. MILLER. Mr. President, to the distinguished Members 
             of the Senate, first let me say how much I appreciate 
             those very generous welcoming remarks.
               I do not rise this morning to tell you more about myself 
             or to introduce myself to you because there will be time 
             enough for that later. I rise instead to add my voice to 
             the remarkable chorus that has echoed forth from this 
             floor to the marble floors under Georgia's Capitol dome, a 
             chorus of praise for Paul Coverdell. The pain and the love 
             that the Majority Leader showed as he made that terrible 
             announcement on the Senate floor touched many hearts in 
             Georgia. The eloquence of Senator Moynihan's tribute still 
             rings in our ears. And the personal tribute from Senator 
             Gramm, a native son of Georgia, I found especially moving. 
             When he spoke of Paul as a man with a thin body, a squeaky 
             voice, but the heart of a lion, heads were nodding and 
             eyes were misting up from the Potomac River to the 
             Chattahoochee River.
               Then this morning, I sat in the gallery and listened to 
             the outpouring of love and praise you had for Senator 
             Coverdell.
               On behalf of the people of Georgia, I thank you. I thank 
             you for your words and your tears and your testimony to 
             one of Georgia's finest sons.
               You who served with Paul knew him well. I served with 
             Paul and knew him well also. I served with him when he was 
             an up-and-coming State Senator and I was the Senate 
             President--Paul, a Republican; I, a Democrat. Yet Paul 
             impressed me with his ability and his integrity and his 
             bipartisan commitment to serving the people first and 
             politics second that I named him as one of the first 
             Republican committee chairmen since Reconstruction in our 
             heavily Democratic State Senate.
               In that job and in that State Senate, Paul flourished. 
             He reached across party lines to build coalitions to 
             reform education, improve our schools, and open up our 
             government to the people.
               Later, as the Director of the Peace Corps, Paul's 
             dignity and decency inspired countless young people to 
             serve their fellow man; and then his service in this 
             Senate, where in less than 8 years he rose to be one of 
             the most influential, respected, and beloved Members of 
             this august body.
               Now, when I think of Paul Coverdell, I am reminded of 
             St. Paul's letter to Timothy. It is as if it were written 
             by Senator Paul rather than St. Paul: I have fought a good 
             fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith.
               Today it is up to us to take up that fight, to continue 
             that course, to keep that faith.
               You are, of course, aware of Paul's tireless work here 
             in this body on behalf of the schoolchildren of this 
             country. Yet his work here was just an extension of his 
             lifelong commitment to education. We served together as 
             trustees on the board of that tiny college, Young Harris 
             College, in the tiny village that is my hometown.
               Paul Coverdell had faith in education, and I intend to 
             keep that faith. In Georgia, Paul was a leader early on of 
             a reform movement that believed that sunlight was the best 
             disinfectant. So working together across party lines, we 
             opened up the Senate Chambers and the smoke-filled rooms 
             and gave government back to our people. Paul Coverdell had 
             a faith in open, honest government, and I will keep that 
             faith.
               In the Peace Corps and in the Senate, Paul was convinced 
             that as the beacon of freedom for all the world, America 
             could not hide her light under a bushel. And so he worked 
             to keep America strong, to keep America engaged in the 
             world, to ensure that she is always an ally to be trusted 
             and an adversary to be feared. Paul Coverdell had 
             limitless faith in America, and I intend to keep that 
             faith.
               In addition to what he accomplished, Paul will always be 
             remembered for how he accomplished it. He was as committed 
             a Republican as I am a dedicated Democrat. Yet he was 
             always looking for ways to get things done across party 
             lines. He did so not by abandoning his principles but by 
             heeding and listening to the proverb: A soft answer 
             turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
               I am a different man from Paul Coverdell. I have rarely 
             been accused of giving soft answers and, in my day, I 
             suppose I have uttered more of my share of grievous words 
             that have stirred up anger. But I also have the commitment 
             to getting things done for my State and our Nation, a 
             commitment to work with anyone, regardless of party, who 
             shares that commitment. Paul Coverdell had a powerful 
             faith in bipartisan progress, and I intend to keep that 
             faith.
               Let me repeat to this Senate the pledge I made to my 
             Governor and to the people of Georgia when I accepted this 
             mission. I will serve no single political party but, 
             rather, 7.5 million Georgians, and every day I serve I 
             will do my best to do so in the same spirit of dignity, 
             integrity, and bipartisan cooperation that were the 
             hallmarks of Paul Coverdell's career.
               Thank you.

                        Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship Program

               Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I ask unanimous 
             consent that the Senate now proceed to the immediate 
             consideration of S. 2998 introduced earlier today by 
             Senator Hutchison and others.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by 
             title.
               The legislative clerk read as follows:

               A bill (S. 2998) to designate a Fellowship Program of 
             the Peace Corps promoting the work of returning Peace 
             Corps volunteers in underserved American communities as 
             the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship Program.

               There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to 
             consider the bill.

               Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I ask unanimous 
             consent that the bill be read the third time and passed, 
             the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that 
             any statements relating to the bill be printed in the 
             Record.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.
               The bill (S. 2998) was read the third time, and passed, 
             as follows:
                                       S. 2998

               Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
             of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
             SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
               This Act may be cited as the ``Paul D. Coverdell Fellows 
             Program Act of 2000''.
             SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
               Congress makes the following findings:
               (1) Paul D. Coverdell was elected to the Georgia State 
             Senate in 1970 and later became Minority Leader of the 
             Georgia State Senate, a post he held for 15 years.
               (2) Paul D. Coverdell served with distinction as the 
             11th Director of the Peace Corps from 1989 to 1991, where 
             he promoted a fellowship program that was composed of 
             returning Peace Corps volunteers who agreed to work in 
             underserved American communities while they pursued 
             educational degrees.
               (3) Paul D. Coverdell served in the United States Senate 
             from the State of Georgia from 1993 until his sudden death 
             on July 17, 2000.
               (4) Senator Paul D. Coverdell was beloved by his 
             colleagues for his civility, bipartisan efforts, and his 
             dedication to public service.
             SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF PAUL D. COVERDELL FELLOWS PROGRAM.
               (a) In General.--Effective on the date of enactment of 
             this Act, the program under section 18 of the Peace Corps 
             Act (22 U.S.C. 2517) referred to before such date as the 
             ``Peace Corps Fellows/USA Program'' is redesignated as the 
             ``Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program''.
               (b) References.--Any reference before the date of 
             enactment of this Act in any law, regulation, order, 
             document, record, or other paper of the United States to 
             the Peace Corps Fellows/USA Program shall, on and after 
             such date, be considered to refer to the Paul D. Coverdell 
             Fellows Program.

                                              Friday, September 8, 2000

               Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to my 
             esteemed colleague, Paul Coverdell. I join with my 
             colleagues in expressing sadness at his passing. He was a 
             tremendous leader in the Senate and an asset for Georgians 
             and the rest of the country. His years of exemplary public 
             service have included the military, the Peace Corps, the 
             Georgia statehouse, and finally the U.S. Senate. Senator 
             Coverdell was an effective leader and demonstrated many 
             times his unifying influence in the Senate.
               On a personal level, he was an unpretentious man who had 
             a quiet sense of humor and good mind for details. He was 
             instrumental in helping me make the transition from the 
             U.S. House to the Senate a couple of years ago, and 
             provided insight and advice in everything from how to set 
             up a Senate office to how to make time for my family. 
             There is not a day that goes by that his influence in my 
             Senate career has not been felt.
               Paul was a friend and a model statesman. He spent a 
             lifetime of service to his country. I will miss him 
             dearly. I extend my prayers to his wife, Nancy, and the 
             rest of his family.

                                           Thursday, September 14, 2000

             Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act 
                                       of 2000

               Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, not too long ago our former 
             colleague, Paul Coverdell, introduced the National 
             Forensic Sciences Improvement Act. It was a bill to 
             further Federal support to State forensic laboratories, 
             those places where DNA evidence is evaluated, where drug 
             evidence is evaluated, where fingerprints, ballistics, and 
             all the other scientific data from carpet fibers, and so 
             forth, are evaluated, and then reported out to the 
             prosecutors around the country so cases can be prosecuted 
             on sound science.
               Today we have a crisis in our criminal justice system. 
             We clearly have a bottleneck, of major proportions, in the 
             laboratory arena. There is simply an exploding amount of 
             work. More and more tests are available. People are 
             demanding more and more tests on each case that comes down 
             the pike. We are way behind.
               In my view, as a person who spent 15 years of my life 
             prosecuting criminal cases, swift, fair justice is 
             critical for any effective criminal justice system. We 
             need not see our cases delayed. We need to create a 
             circumstance in which they can be tried as promptly as 
             possible, considering all justice relevant to the cases.
               I ran for attorney general of Alabama in 1994. I talked 
             in every speech I made, virtually, on the need to improve 
             case processing. The very idea of a robber or a rapist 
             being arrested and released on bail and tried 2 years 
             later is beyond the pale. It cannot be acceptable. It 
             cannot be the rule in America.
               Yet I am told by Dr. Downs of the forensic laboratory in 
             the State of Alabama that they now have delays of as much 
             as 20 months on scientific evidence. We know Virginia last 
             year, before making remarkable improvements, had almost a 
             year--and other States. Another police officer today told 
             us his State was at least a year in getting routine 
             reports done. This is a kind of bottleneck, a stopgap 
             procedure that undermines the ability of the police and 
             prosecutors to do their jobs.
               I was pleased and honored to be able to pick up the Paul 
             Coverdell forensic bill and to reintroduce it as the Paul 
             Coverdell National Forensic Improvement Act of 2000. We 
             have had marvelous bipartisan support on this legislation. 
             Senator Max Cleland from Georgia, Paul's colleague, was an 
             original cosponsor of it. He was at our press conference 
             this morning. Senator Zell Miller, former Governor of 
             Georgia, who has replaced Paul in the Senate, was also at 
             the press conference today, along with Arlen Specter, a 
             former prosecutor, Paul Wellstone, Dick Durbin, and others 
             who participated in this announcement.

                                 Proceedings in the

                              House of Representatives

                                                 Tuesday, July 18, 2000

               BEST WISHES TO SENATOR PAUL COVERDELL DURING A HEALTH 
                                      CHALLENGE

               Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, about a year ago I began to work 
             closely on a number of projects with Senator Paul 
             Coverdell from Georgia. I just want to take some time 
             today to express my appreciation for his great work for 
             the House, the Senate, for America, and extend our best 
             wishes to him and his wife, Nancy, as they deal with the 
             challenge to his health right now.
               Senator Coverdell brings humility to this job, a 
             humility that is rare in public office. He brings 
             dedication, an ability to work hard, a tremendous insight, 
             and certainly those of us in the House benefit more than 
             we know by his hard work in the Senate, his hard work for 
             this process.
               I would like for him and his wife, Nancy, to know that 
             we are thinking about them as he deals with this health 
             challenge, and that we need him back here. We hope for his 
             speedy recovery. We know that if anybody can meet this 
             challenge in an extraordinary way, Paul Coverdell can.

               Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

               Mr. BLUNT. I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.

               Mr. LINDER. I thank the gentleman for taking this time, 
             Mr. Speaker.
               I have known Paul Coverdell since 1972. There was not an 
             important project in politics or policy that went on in 
             Georgia in the last 28 years in which he was not involved, 
             very often very quietly, very much behind the scenes. 
             Lynne and I have been friends with him and Nancy since 
             they were married.
               We want Nancy to know that our prayers are with them. We 
             hope Paul recovers and gets back here. His country needs 
             him.

               Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

               Mr. BLUNT. I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.

               Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
             yielding, and I thank him for his expressions for Paul and 
             Nancy. I, too, have known Paul Coverdell for the past 25 
             years, and no one in our State has contributed more.
               The people of the Sixth District will join me, I am 
             sure, in their prayers and thoughts over the next few days 
             for a speedy recovery for Paul. As the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Linder) so eloquently said, his State needs 
             him, his country needs him, and we need him in the 
             Congress of the United States of America. He has our 
             thoughts and our prayers today as he meets his challenges 
             ahead.

               Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman 
             yield?

               Mr. BLUNT. I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.

               Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman 
             for yielding, and for taking this opportunity to express 
             our concern for Senator Coverdell.
               Like most of us in the Georgia delegation, we have 
             worked with Paul for many years. I worked with him in the 
             eighties when we were both members of the Georgia Senate. 
             He has always been one of those conscientious individuals 
             who dedicated himself to whatever task was before him, and 
             he has carried that same dedication here to the U.S. 
             Senate.
               We wish him a speedy recovery, and our prayers and the 
             prayers of those in our State will be with him and Nancy.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman 
             yield?

               Mr. BLUNT. I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my 
             friend and colleague for yielding.
               Mr. Speaker, I have known Senator Paul Coverdell for 
             many years. We worked together in the city of Atlanta in 
             the Fifth District. He has been very helpful and very 
             supportive over the years.
               Our prayers are with him at this time, with his family, 
             and we wish for Senator Coverdell a speedy recovery. We 
             ask that the divine hands of the Almighty be with him 
             during this hour.

               Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman 
             yield?

               Mr. BLUNT. I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.

               Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the 
             distinguished Chief Deputy Majority Whip for providing 
             this time on the floor today as Paul and his family are 
             coping with a very serious medical illness that has 
             befallen our colleague from Georgia on the other side of 
             this great Capitol Building.
               Paul Coverdell is a man of Georgia. He is a true patriot 
             of this country, and he works tirelessly on behalf of the 
             people of Georgia and the United States of America. But 
             first and foremost, he is a man of God. We ask the Lord's 
             blessing on him and his doctors today as they cope with 
             this very serious illness, and we ask for the prayers of 
             all of our colleagues and all of those many millions of 
             Americans whose very kind and gentle work and lives Paul 
             has touched with his work over the years.

               Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
             New York (Mr. Rangel).

               Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join with my 
             colleagues in praying for a speedy recovery of Senator 
             Coverdell. I have had many differences with the Senator on 
             legislative issues, but I have not met anyone who has been 
             more of a gentleman, more of someone who respects the 
             other view, and someone who really respects the 
             institution of the House and the other body.
               It is times like this that we throw away the labels of 
             Democrat and Republican and realize that God's hand is 
             involved in everything that we do, and at a time like 
             this, only our prayers can be of any assistance to our 
             colleague.

               Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Chambliss).

               Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
             yielding to me.
               I, too, would just like to echo the sentiment of all of 
             my colleagues. Paul Coverdell is a great American. Nobody 
             does more for his country or loves this country more than 
             Paul Coverdell. He is simply a great American and a great 
             individual to work with us.
               Our prayers go out to Paul and Nancy as he goes through 
             this very difficult time. We just look forward to a very 
             speedy recovery for Paul and his return to the U.S. 
             Senate.

               Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Collins).

               Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
             yielding to me. I thank him, too, for bringing this matter 
             and this announcement before the House of Representatives.
               Paul Coverdell is a colleague, but most of all he is a 
             friend, a friend for years to many of us. In fact, Paul 
             Coverdell has been a role model for many of us who 
             followed him and served with him in the different bodies 
             of the Legislature.
               When we received the call on Sunday afternoon that he 
             had been admitted to Piedmont Hospital, our prayers began 
             immediately, because we understood the severeness of his 
             problem.
               I hope and I pray that all of my colleagues would join 
             us, join with the people of Georgia, the people of this 
             Nation in praying for a speedy recovery and a full 
             recovery of Paul Coverdell.

               Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Kingston).

               Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
             yielding to me.
               Mr. Speaker, it is times like this and many other times 
             when one is dealing with Paul Coverdell that one no longer 
             thinks of him as a U.S. Senator. One does not think of him 
             as one of the most influential men in America. One thinks 
             of him just as Paul, Paul and Nancy Coverdell, two friends 
             with whom we have all worked over the years, and whom we 
             have all known and respected.
               One thing about Paul is one may agree or disagree with 
             him, but one always respects his energy level, his 
             knowledge of the issue, and the way he is so focused in 
             attacking things. We are all his friends. He is a friend 
             of the institution, and he is a friend of the governmental 
             process, somebody who respects everyone and has that 
             respect both ways.
               Our prayers are with him, and that is the best that we 
             can all do at this time.

               Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friends for 
             participating today and the indulgence of the House as we 
             talk about a person who is really of great value to the 
             House.
               About a year ago, I was given an assignment that allowed 
             me to work with Senator Coverdell every week. I told the 
             person that gave me that assignment several months ago I 
             would have done that job in retrospect if for no other 
             reason than to work with Paul Coverdell.
               He is truly, as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) 
             said, one of the great gentlemen of this Congress. We need 
             him to get our work done. We wish him well. Our prayers 
             are with him and his family.

                                               Wednesday, July 19, 2000

                         REMEMBERING SENATOR PAUL COVERDELL

               Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday America lost a true 
             friend, and we were all saddened to hear of the tragic 
             news that we had lost a colleague and friend in the U.S. 
             Senate.
               Senator Paul Coverdell was a true leader of the Senate, 
             his beloved State of Georgia and this Nation. As an ardent 
             supporter of freedom and the American dream, the 
             distinguished Senator from Georgia believed that freedom 
             was best preserved and nurtured by a well-educated 
             citizenry.
               As a result, throughout his career, Senator Coverdell 
             fought for education reform, which ensured that every 
             child in America received a quality education in a safe 
             environment.
               Personally, I am honored to have had the recent 
             opportunity to work with the Senator in passing a bill to 
             award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Reagans, a 
             family which he held in high regard.
               Senator Coverdell's tenacity and dedication to that 
             effort, as well as to any project he led, were two of his 
             most honorable attributes.
               My deepest sympathies go to Senator Coverdell's family, 
             colleagues, and his staff during this most difficult time.
               Senator Coverdell and his genuine love for our great 
             Nation will be missed by colleagues and friends alike.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged 
             resolution (H. Res. 558) and ask for its immediate 
             consideration.
               The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                                     H. Res. 558

               Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow 
             of the death of the Honorable Paul Coverdell, a Senator 
             from the State of Georgia.
               Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions 
             to the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of 
             the deceased.
               Resolved, That a committee be appointed on the part of 
             the House to join a committee appointed on the part of the 
             Senate to attend the funeral.
               Resolved, That when the House adjourns today, it adjourn 
             as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased 
             Senator.

               The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). The 
             gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) is recognized for 1 
             hour.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
             time as I may consume.
               It is with profound sadness that I rise today to offer a 
             resolution of condolences on the passing of Senator Paul 
             Coverdell. Paul Coverdell was the senior Senator from the 
             State of Georgia and, more important, he was a dear 
             friend.
               It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to our good 
             friend, our colleague and our brother, Paul Coverdell. 
             Paul's unexpected death is so sad and so hard for us. I 
             have known him for many years, almost 30 years. As young 
             men, we both campaigned for an open congressional seat in 
             1977. Later, we both came here to Washington to represent 
             the people of Georgia.
               Over the years, we shared many rides together back and 
             forth to Washington. We would often see each other here 
             and in Georgia, and we spent a lot of time talking about 
             life and about what is good for the people of Georgia and 
             for the people of our Nation.
               Paul was not just another colleague. He was like family 
             to me and to so many of our colleagues. His passing, his 
             death, hurts. It is painful. It is more than sad. We have 
             not just lost a friend, but we have lost a member of our 
             family.
               Paul Coverdell's intelligence, commitment, ethics and 
             leadership stood out. He was a friendly, peaceful man. He 
             cared for his colleagues, his friends, the people who 
             elected him, and even people he did not know. He was 
             wonderful to work with, to be with, to travel with. He was 
             good to be around. A wonderful man. One of the good guys. 
             He was my friend, Mr. Speaker. He was my brother.
               We occupied different sides of the aisle, and we did not 
             always agree, but always had the utmost respect and 
             admiration for this man. For three decades, as a Georgia 
             lawmaker, Peace Corps Director, U.S. Senator, Paul 
             Coverdell was a man who could be trusted to get the job 
             done. He focused on the war on drugs, worked to improve 
             education, and fought for the farmers and small business 
             people of Georgia. He was always prepared to help out and 
             take on any task that was required.
               But Paul Coverdell never sought out the limelight. He 
             never sought the headline. He would never grandstand. He 
             worked hard behind the scenes without seeking any 
             recognition. In today's political climate, Paul Coverdell 
             was an unusual and extraordinary man who will be forever 
             missed.
               When Paul was Director of the Peace Corps, he would come 
             in to see me from time to time after he had just come back 
             from a trip abroad. He was so enthused about what he saw 
             and what the Peace Corps was doing, whether in Africa, 
             Eastern Europe, Asia, Central America or South America, 
             that his enthusiasm rubbed off on me during those 
             meetings. I looked forward to talking with him and working 
             with him on those concerns. He wanted to help people meet 
             their basic needs--food, water, shelter--and he wanted to 
             stop them from having to struggle. I admired his 
             commitment and his work with the Peace Corps. Paul 
             Coverdell will be remembered not just as a citizen of 
             Georgia, an American, but as a citizen of the world.
               Mr. Speaker, his death is a tremendous loss for the 
             members of the Georgia delegation, for the people of 
             Georgia, and a personal loss for me. We are all very sad, 
             not just the people of Georgia, but all of his colleagues 
             in the Senate and in the House. He will be deeply missed.
               My heart and prayers go to Paul's wife, Nancy, to the 
             other members of the Coverdell family, and his staff here 
             in Washington and in Georgia.
               Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
             gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder), a member of our 
             delegation from the State of Georgia.

               Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
             yielding me this time and for bringing this proposal to 
             the floor.
               Mr. Speaker, I met Paul Coverdell in 1972. He was one of 
             22 or 23 members of the State Senate who were Republicans, 
             out of 56 members, and 3 years later I was one of 19 
             members, I believe it was, out of 180 members in the 
             Georgia House who were Republicans. And Paul never stopped 
             a moment from trying to build a party, to be competitive, 
             not because he thought Republicans were better than 
             Democrats, but he thought more Republicans would make the 
             Democrats better.
               Paul had an unbelievable appetite for work, and those 
             who worked with him understand that he had one failing in 
             that appetite, and that was that he always wanted to have 
             meetings. Whatever he came up with, he called a meeting. I 
             recall helping him in 1977 in the race the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Lewis) referred to, a special election. I 
             said, Paul, how can I help you? He said, we are having a 
             meeting at 5:30. I showed up at his office and we talked 
             strategy for an hour; and then I said, I have to get going 
             and distribute some of this literature. And he said, well, 
             we are going to have another meeting tomorrow at 5:30. I 
             said, No, you are going to have a meeting at 5:30; I am 
             going to be out doing work.
               He did that because he did not want to go off on his own 
             on any issue and he wanted to talk things through. It was 
             not uncommon to hear the phone ring at 11:30 at night, and 
             when I answered it, it would be, ``John? Paul. I have to 
             talk to you about something''; and he would talk for a 
             long time.
               I would play tennis, he would study politics and policy. 
             To him they were exactly the same. Politics and policy 
             were not separate issues. He cared about them both and he 
             cared nothing about attention for his successes. There is 
             a reason why we did not see him on television a lot 
             because he preferred to work very quietly, very much 
             behind the scenes, bringing people together, building 
             coalitions as no one has in my lifetime.
               I woke up this morning and thought there is a huge hole 
             in my life, because Paul has been a large part of it for 
             25 years; and he will be missed. I am sad that most of 
             America will not know how much he is missed because his 
             work was so quiet and so much of it was behind the scenes.
               I thought a little while ago, when I was talking to a 
             reporter about this, that I cannot think of a single 
             former friend of Paul Coverdell's, not a single friend, 
             who ever left his side in anger, because he was such a 
             decent and gentle man. He has people working for him today 
             in volunteer capacities who have been with him since 1970. 
             They are still there because he was such a decent and 
             gentle man, and he included them, gave them opportunities 
             to excel, gave them their head and let them achieve, and 
             then let them get the credit. They are all there, too, to 
             this day. His loyalty to the people around him got that 
             loyalty back from them.
               I am sad beyond words. There is little left that we can 
             do but say to Nancy and his mother and loved ones and 
             staff that we offer ourselves as poor substitutes for 
             their beloved Paul, and urge upon them the words of the 
             Psalmist, who, feeling the pain that we here today feel, 
             was moved to write ``The Lord is close to the 
             brokenhearted, and those who are crushed in spirit, he 
             saves.''

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
             he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop).

               Mr. BISHOP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for yielding me this time. I am deeply 
             saddened today by the loss of our friend and colleague, 
             Paul Coverdell. His passing is not only a great loss for 
             Georgia and our Nation, it is indeed a personal loss for 
             me.
               I first met Senator Coverdell in 1974, when he came to 
             Columbus, GA, where I lived, and he did his best to 
             recruit me to run as a Republican for the State Senate. 
             Senator Coverdell was not successful in that endeavor, but 
             he impressed upon me his commitment to integrity in 
             government and his commitment to our two-party system.
               I eventually ran for the Legislature 2 years later as a 
             Democrat, and I have served with Paul, I guess now for 
             nearly 20 years, both as a member of the General Assembly 
             and as a member of our State's delegation here in 
             Congress. He and I worked together on a number of issues 
             over the years, and he was an extraordinary leader whose 
             flexibility, his ability and commitment, and his integrity 
             were recognized by anyone who knew him and had the 
             opportunity to work with him. He was a thoughtful and 
             soft-spoken man, but he was a tenacious fighter for all of 
             the causes that he believed in.
               Shakespeare wrote, ``All the world's a stage, and all 
             the men and women merely players: They have their exits 
             and their entrances; one man in his time plays many parts. 
             . . .''
               So it was with Paul. He was a soldier, having served in 
             the Army in Korea and the Republic of China. He was a 
             legislator, and emerged as one of the most ardent 
             defenders of our American freedoms and our democracy, as a 
             real true fighter for our two-party system. He was a 
             Senator. He was elected by his colleagues to leadership in 
             the U.S. Senate where he served as adviser, counselor, 
             supporter, confidant for the Republican Party, and he gave 
             an important voice to how our government conducts its 
             business.
               As a humanitarian, Paul dedicated a segment of his life 
             to leading the Peace Corps, an organization that needs no 
             accolades in its efforts to lift the untouchables to 
             places of respectability and to bring life and quality of 
             life to people all across the world.
               That was Paul Coverdell's commitment. He made numerous 
             contributions in the Peace Corps, such as redesigning the 
             agency's mission to serve the emerging democracies in 
             Europe.
               Paul was a family man. He loved Nancy and his family, 
             and he always held them dear. But Paul was also a 
             statesman; and everything that he did, he did with dignity 
             and with respect and with courtesy.
               I have two personal stories or recollections and 
             memories of Paul. I have shared one, and that was his 
             efforts in our conversations as he worked to try to 
             recruit me as a Republican candidate for the State Senate 
             in 1974.
               But even more important than that was the kind of 
             individual that Paul was, the kind of integrity that he 
             had. He was a man who was committed to integrity, who was 
             committed to fairness, and who was committed to that which 
             was right.
               My colleagues may remember that former State Senator 
             Julian Bond had been a member of the Georgia State House 
             of Representatives and had made some statements regarding 
             the Vietnam war which angered his colleagues in the 
             Georgia House. They got together, passed a resolution, and 
             expelled him from membership in the Georgia House. So he 
             could not take his seat.
               Then Representative Bond filed a lawsuit, took it all 
             the way to the Supreme Court; and the Supreme Court had to 
             order the State House to grant him his seat to represent 
             his constituents.
               Shortly thereafter, Julian Bond ran for the State Senate 
             and was elected overwhelmingly and became a member of that 
             august body. But the hostility was so great in the Georgia 
             House because of the resentment for Senator Bond and what 
             he stood for that any piece of legislation that he offered 
             that passed the Senate, even if it passed unanimously, 
             once it got to the House it was doomed to a certain death, 
             a certain death.
               So Paul and Julian were friends. Anything that Julian 
             felt so strongly about that he wanted it to be passed he 
             discussed with his friend, Paul Coverdell. Paul would take 
             Julian's ghost-written legislation and he would offer it 
             under his name; and when it got to the House, it would 
             secure the usual passage.
               Paul did that not because he wanted the limelight, not 
             because he wanted the credit, but because he believed in 
             doing that which was right; and if it was a good piece of 
             legislation, he felt that it did not matter who wrote the 
             bill. What was important was the result.
               Paul Coverdell set an example for all of us in elective 
             office to follow. It is not important that we be concerned 
             about the partisanship as it is that we be concerned about 
             the policy.
               Yes, all the world is a stage and all the men and women 
             merely players. Each has his entrance and his exit. One 
             man in his time may play many parts.
               And so to Nancy and to the Coverdell family, our prayers 
             go to you; and we will wrap our arms around you, and we 
             urge the Almighty to grant you the peace of spirit that 
             only he can grant at a time like this.
               Paul was our friend, Paul was a statesman, and we will 
             miss him very deeply.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
             he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
             Chambliss).

               Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Lewis) very much as the dean of our 
             delegation for bringing this resolution to the floor.
               Normally, we come down here to the well of the House to 
             debate bills; and while we are sometimes loud and in 
             heated debate, we are always having fun down here. This is 
             one of those times where we are not necessarily here 
             having fun, although I cannot help but think about Paul 
             Coverdell and some of the fun times we had together and 
             some of his traits that have been coming back to me over 
             the last couple of days.
               I am reminded particularly about the fact that, I do not 
             care where you saw Paul, he always had that same white 
             shirt and tie on. I have the great pleasure of 
             representing the Okefenokee Swamp. We were down at the 
             Okefenokee a couple years ago, and some of my colleagues 
             were down there, and we were doing a press event. It was 
             as hot as blazes. We were out there in the middle of the 
             swamp, and all of us were dressed in our golf shirts and 
             our khaki pants. Just as the news conference starts, Paul 
             drove up with his white shirt, his suit pants, and his tie 
             on. What a classy guy.
               Two years ago I was doing an event for him, and I 
             remember it was a farm event and we were over in Terrell 
             County. And again, it was in August. August in Georgia, my 
             colleagues, particularly south Georgia, is hot. We were 
             out in the middle of a field looking at some peanuts out 
             there. And again I was in my golf shirt and my khakis, and 
             Paul was out there just as cool as he could be in that 
             white shirt and that tie.
               As we sat under the shade tree that day talking to a 
             group of farmers, he was just so impressive, not just in 
             what he was saying but in the way he looked and in the way 
             he carried himself. That is the Paul Coverdell that I am 
             going to remember.
               Paul and I had a habit of talking to each other about 
             once a week over the last couple years just about things 
             in general. We did not always get a chance to sit down 
             face to face. Sometimes we missed a phone call. But the 
             guy had more political insight, not just partisan 
             political insight, but political insight about things in 
             this country.
               I will always remember the fact that if I called him and 
             talked to him about an agriculture issue, which I did on a 
             regular basis, we talked about whatever it was; but then 
             Paul would say, ``Saxby, let me tell you what we are doing 
             with the Straight A's bill, this education bill that is 
             going to mean so much to the children that your wife 
             teaches and to other children all across this country.''
               And you would be talking to him about a defense issue, 
             again which we do on a regular basis; and we talk about 
             our 130s or our F-22 problem, whatever it was, and Paul 
             would say, ``Well, let me tell you about one other thing 
             that I am working on, this drug issue with the Colombian 
             drug bill that we are working on. Let me tell you what 
             that is going to do for America. Let me tell you what a 
             difference that is going to make to people all across this 
             country.''
               That is the Paul Coverdell that I am going to remember.
               He was a very unique individual, a person who had the 
             ability to take difficult issues, to deal with difficult 
             people with difficult issues and bring common sense and 
             political responsibility to the forefront.
               Paul Coverdell was truly a unique Member of the U.S. 
             Senate. He was a great colleague of all of ours, whether 
             you are Republican or Democrat; and that is evidenced by 
             the fact that this is being done in a bipartisan way. 
             Yesterday, on the floor of this House, it was evidenced in 
             a bipartisan way that there was tremendous respect for 
             Paul Coverdell.
               We will miss him very much. We certainly wish the best 
             for his family. His staff are just great people who my 
             staff has had the pleasure of working with every single 
             day that I have been a Member of this House.
               Paul Coverdell had gotten so political in his thoughts 
             that he probably designed his death to take place on the 
             day of the Georgia primary, which happened to be 
             yesterday. And I am betting you when he got to the pearly 
             gates last night, the first thing he asked St. Peter was 
             for a copy of the Republican election results from 
             yesterday. That is the kind of guy that he was.
               He was a great friend, a great individual. This country 
             will miss Paul Coverdell.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
             she may consume to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. 
             McKinney).

               Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I guess it is not a secret, 
             Paul Coverdell and I were about as different as night and 
             day. But vastly different paths in life led us both to 
             serve in the Georgia Legislature and then on to Congress 
             so that we could work together on behalf of the people of 
             the great State of Georgia. And when it came to the 
             interests of the people of Georgia, we often saw eye to 
             eye.
               I want to send all of my deepest and most heartfelt 
             condolences to the Coverdell family and to all the people 
             who knew and loved Paul Coverdell.
               Immediately after the 1996 election, when I had been 
             redistricted and had a vastly changed district and we were 
             able to pull out a victory in a very close race, Paul 
             Coverdell and I got together and decided that we needed to 
             build bridges with each other so that we could do the work 
             that the people of Georgia sent us both to do.
               Our first project together resulted in about $20 million 
             being protected on the Senate side for my constituents who 
             live in and about the environs of DeKalb Peachtree 
             Airport.
               Paul Coverdell's latest project that we all were working 
             on was a veterans cemetery for our Georgia veterans.
               But more than anything else, I have to say that I am 
             struck by the finality of death and the incomplete way 
             many of us in public life lead our lives. We are so busy, 
             we are rushing here and rushing there and going to 
             meetings and going here and going there and always, 
             always, always in a rush and too busy to appreciate the 
             people around us, too busy to stop and say ``I love you,'' 
             too busy to stop and say ``I thank you'' to the people who 
             make a difference in our lives.
               This past weekend, I was looking at the Coverdell report 
             on television; and now I am standing here today sending 
             condolences to Paul Coverdell's family.
               I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), 
             the dean of our delegation, for providing us this 
             resolution so that we can pay our respects to our senior 
             Senator. I want to thank all of the people who are 
             responsible for all of us being here serving our people of 
             our State.
               I would like to thank my colleagues, who, through 
             difficult times, have stood beside me in particular. And 
             perhaps I have not said thank you appropriately enough, 
             but I want to say thank you today. I want to say thank you 
             to my Georgia delegation members. Because we do not see 
             eye to eye on a lot of issues and we do not even meet as 
             often as we probably should, but I do not think there is a 
             single issue that will benefit the people of our State 
             that we do not come together and work on.
               And then finally, I would like to thank the Coverdell 
             family for sharing their leader with the people of our 
             State and the people of our country for about 30 years of 
             public service.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
             he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal).

               Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman 
             from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for bringing this resolution to 
             the floor.
               This is a sad day for all of us, and I am dearly 
             impressed with the eloquence of my colleagues who have 
             already spoken.
               Paul Coverdell was indeed a good friend of ours. And it 
             is difficult on occasions like this to say anything that 
             lends full value to the life that he shared with all of 
             us. I realize that labels and slogans themselves are often 
             inadequate. But I will be very brief, and I have a few 
             labels that I would like to put on Paul Coverdell.
               The first is that he was a defender of democracy. That 
             may seem to be a very bland statement, but he truly 
             believed in this Republic that we have here as a country.
               He believed that one of the great things that it 
             embodied was the free enterprise system. And he, as a 
             small businessman, grew his business to a successful 
             national enterprise. So he was indeed a defender of 
             democracy.
               And he was a proponent of peace. We have heard the 
             statements about his service as the Director of the U.S. 
             Peace Corps. But in all of his dealings, both politically 
             and personally, he was indeed a man of peace.
               And he was, of course, a patriot with passion. You have 
             heard of his service as a captain in the U.S. Army 
             overseas. But he also brought that same degree of passion 
             and patriotism to his public service, having been 
             recognized by educational institutions and by other public 
             institutions for his service both at the State level and 
             here in Washington. And he was a statesman with stature.
               Like many of my colleagues, we served with Paul at the 
             State legislative level. Paul was in the State Senate when 
             I arrived in 1981, and even though he was in the minority 
             in that body, he was respected, because he displayed the 
             kind of dedication to public service that all of us would 
             like to have.
               I recall that he was on the retirement committee. I want 
             to tell you, folks, when you get assigned to the 
             retirement committee in the Georgia Legislature, you 
             really do not aspire to that position. But he was one of 
             those individuals that everybody, regardless of political 
             party, would go to to ask about those intricate, detailed, 
             often boring and mundane issues relating to retirement, 
             and Paul always knew what the answer was, because he was 
             willing to do his homework. He was willing to work on the 
             things that other people would want to cast aside because 
             there was not enough public attention given to the 
             subject. But Paul knew how important things like that 
             were; and that is, of course, what distinguished him here 
             as well and made him a statesman with stature.
               He was also and lastly a friend without reservation. He 
             was somebody who you could talk with on a personal and 
             intimate basis. You could rely on his judgment. You could 
             trust the fact that he would keep confidences and he would 
             give you the best and most sound advice that he possibly 
             could, both politically and personally.
               Last, I would simply like to say that Paul Coverdell was 
             a quiet man of courage, and he will be deeply missed.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
             he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
             Collins).

               Mr. COLLINS. I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
             Lewis) for yielding me this time.
               Mr. Speaker, Paul Coverdell's passing is a great loss to 
             the United States, to the other Chamber, to Georgia, to 
             his wife, Nancy, and his family. He was a hardworking, 
             thoughtful legislator who possessed the rare gift of 
             leadership and the even rarer gift of being a good man. 
             The news of his death hit me hard, because I saw Paul as 
             more than a colleague. I saw him as a true friend, and 
             more than that as a mentor.
               When I was first elected to the Georgia Senate, he and I 
             took a walk through his neighborhood to talk about the job 
             that I would be facing. That was his style, quiet and 
             purposeful. He was a teacher who was less concerned about 
             who received the credit than he was of getting the job 
             done.
               Mr. Speaker, many others in Georgia's Third 
             Congressional District feel the loss of Paul Coverdell. I 
             spoke with several this morning who worked with Paul to 
             build the Republican Party in Georgia or who served with 
             him in the Georgia Legislature, people like Barbara 
             Scruggs, chairperson of the Third Congressional District 
             Republican Party. She said, ``I've known Paul since the 
             first election he ran. I always admired how hard he worked 
             for us. He was always quiet and unassuming and a great 
             leader of the State of Georgia.''
               Former Congressman Bo Callaway said this morning, ``This 
             is such a shock to have Paul in his prime of life so 
             suddenly taken from us. I really think the people of 
             Georgia and America will never know how much we have lost, 
             for Paul Coverdell was really on the way to becoming one 
             of our great leaders. It will be hard to imagine going on 
             without him.''
               Ted Land, who served in Georgia's Senate with Paul, 
             said, ``Paul Coverdell was a man of highest integrity. I 
             never in my 10 years with Paul ever heard him speak a 
             mean-spirited word about anyone on either side of the 
             aisle. A man of boundless energy, he was totally dedicated 
             to serving his State and his party. The void created by 
             his death will be extremely difficult to fill.''
               Former State Senator Arthur ``Skin'' Edge summed up Paul 
             in one word: patriot. He said that as he heard of the 
             death of Paul last night, the one thing that kept coming 
             back to his mind is that Paul Coverdell is a 21st-century 
             patriot. He stood for the principles that this country was 
             founded on and fought for them all of his life.
               Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Georgia's Third District, we 
             mourn Paul Coverdell's death, and we cherish the memories 
             of his friendship.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
             he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
             Norwood).

               Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Lewis) as dean of our delegation for bringing 
             this resolution today.
               Mr. Speaker, Paul Coverdell was a sterling example of 
             what a U.S. Senator should be all about. He provided the 
             kind of leadership for Georgia, America, and the world 
             that will be sorely missed. Paul Coverdell was unshakeable 
             in his resolve to support the right policies for Georgia 
             and America. Yet in 6 years of serving with him in 
             Congress, I never heard him utter an unkind word toward 
             any opponent. He was a man of reason, of principle, and 
             provided a shining example of civility in action in the 
             arena of public debate. It is unusual to find a man such 
             as that.
               He never to my knowledge backed down on principle; yet 
             he held his ground with dignity and respect for the 
             position of those who disagreed. And he never gave up.
               Since coming to Washington in 1993, Senator Coverdell 
             fought to improve the education of America's children. 
             That fight continues today. But because of his effort, I 
             believe that fight will eventually be won because of his 
             enthusiasm and his sincere belief that we could make it 
             better. When it is, the final product will have the 
             fingerprints of Paul Coverdell on every page.
               Senator Coverdell was likewise a champion of those who 
             served this country in our Armed Forces. When Congress 
             forgot the promises made to our veterans, Paul Coverdell 
             reminded us all of those commitments. His legislation to 
             restore those promises is still pending in both Chambers, 
             and the finest tribute I think we could all pay to this 
             true statesman would be to pass that measure into law 
             before this session ends. Today, I recommit myself to 
             helping make that happen.
               There are far too many issues to mention in which 
             Senator Coverdell played a decisive role. But we need to 
             reflect on Paul Coverdell's public service before he 
             became a Senator, I think, because it reflects a lifetime 
             of public service.
               He began adult life, of course, by serving America in 
             the U.S. Army in Korea and the Republic of China. He 
             served his State in the Georgia Senate for nearly 2 
             decades. He served America and the world as the Director 
             of the Peace Corps, as we have heard, where his leadership 
             in building democracy was vital in reclaiming much of 
             Eastern Europe from the dictatorship of Communism.
               Our hearts go out to Nancy Coverdell and the entire 
             Coverdell family. They should be and are remembered in the 
             prayers of this Nation in their hour of loss. And we 
             should remember the loyal staff of Senator Coverdell. 
             Perhaps the strongest confirmation of the basic decency of 
             a Member of Congress can be found in the affection of 
             those who work with him every day, many times under the 
             most trying circumstances. From the true grief that I 
             personally know his staff to be feeling today, the decency 
             of this great American is affirmed in full measure.
               That slender thread of life by which we were tied to 
             Paul Coverdell is now broken. But the wisdom, the 
             generosity, the civility, the patriotism, and the 
             dedication which he brought to this Congress will never 
             die. The leadership of Paul Coverdell will continue to 
             live in the legislation he has enacted and has sponsored. 
             We can best honor his memory by seeing the mission 
             through, from giving our children a choice in education to 
             restoring the health care of the defenders of America.
               Mr. Speaker, let us pay tribute to a great leader by 
             picking up the fallen banner of Senator Paul Coverdell and 
             carrying it through to victory. I personally feel a great 
             loss for a dear friend; indeed, we all do, a man with whom 
             we have all become very close and have loved, a quiet, 
             gentle giant in the Government of America.
               Today we pray for Paul's soul and pray God will give 
             comfort to Nancy and the Coverdell family.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
             he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barr).

               Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise 
             today in support of the resolution authored by the dean of 
             the Georgia delegation, the distinguished gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Lewis).
               Let me first say to Paul's lovely bride, Nancy, you have 
             the love, the affection, and the prayers of this entire 
             body on both sides of the aisle, on both sides of the 
             Rotunda. We pay tribute today to the hardest working man 
             in the U.S. Senate. Although his venue has changed, the 
             job description has not. Paul Coverdell is now the hardest 
             working man in heaven. I can hear him already, sleeves 
             rolled up, white sleeves, of course, tie impeccable, 
             saying, ``There must be some unfinished work up here in 
             heaven, Lord. Point me in the right direction. I'm ready 
             to work.''
               While Paul Coverdell never spoke from this well, but 
             rather from the well on the other side of the Rotunda in 
             the U.S. Senate, you could often hear his voice here, in 
             front of this American flag that he loved and the country 
             that it represents that he loved so deeply and so 
             passionately. You could hear Paul Coverdell whenever we 
             debated such issues of fundamental importance to the 
             American people as those he had championed and loved: 
             education, national defense, and always the needs, wishes, 
             hopes, and desires of our citizens of his and our beloved 
             State of Georgia. You could hear the passion, the 
             conviction, and the patriotism always of Paul D. 
             Coverdell. Those words, that passion, that commitment will 
             echo out now forever across the ages as part of what 
             former President Ronald Reagan called in his second 
             inaugural address, the American sound. Paul Coverdell is 
             now part of that American sound that President Reagan 
             identified as the sound of love, decency and compassion 
             that has always echoed out across America and through the 
             halls of its leadership and around the world, representing 
             the very best of mankind.
               Paul Coverdell is a friend. Although we briefly found 
             ourselves, he and I, in a competitive race in the primary 
             runoff in 1992, we were friends before that race. Indeed, 
             Paul was my very first political friend when I moved to 
             Georgia in the 1970s.
               I was referred to him by our mutual friend and my former 
             boss at the CIA, George Bush. We remained friends 
             throughout those two races in 1992, and we remained ever 
             closer friends both immediately after and in the years 
             since Paul was elected with honor and dignity to the U.S. 
             Senate in 1992.
               I am reminded today in closing, as a man of God, I know 
             the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) is, too, of Matthew 
             who tells us in chapter 5 in those words that are so 
             familiar to all in the Beatitudes, blessed are the 
             peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.
               Paul Coverdell was a peacemaker. Paul Coverdell is a 
             child of God, now and for the ages. I thank the gentleman 
             from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) and God bless Paul D. Coverdell 
             and his family.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
             he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
             Isakson).

               Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for bringing this resolution to the 
             floor today. Mr. Speaker, I thank each of my colleagues 
             from Georgia for paying tribute today to our dear friend, 
             and I hope everyone in this room and everyone listening 
             recognizes that 11 Georgians, Democrat and Republican 
             alike, sit today under this symbol and in this room and 
             pay tribute to a man who transcends politics and who in 
             our State, as we have heard from each speaker, through 
             example after example, changed lives and made them better.
               Mr. Speaker, rather than repeat everything that has been 
             said, I would just say this to those of us who are not 
             from Georgia; if you have ever flown through Hartsfield 
             International Airport, Paul Coverdell touched your life. 
             If you ever came into Atlanta and rode on its rapid 
             transit, Paul Coverdell touched your life. If you are a 
             Georgia citizen whose life or the life of a loved one was 
             saved because of a seat belt, Paul Coverdell touched your 
             life.
               While so many politicians talk a good game, Paul 
             Coverdell lived one; but, you know, at a time like this 
             when a contemporary of all of ours dies, it puts life into 
             perspective.
               It makes us think for just a minute: what if I die? But 
             for those of you who did not know him, let me just tell 
             you this, Paul did it all. He did it with dignity and with 
             grace. He did it with passion and with understanding, and 
             he did it with not a single evil touch to anything he ever 
             did. He did it for the best of the United States of 
             America and for the people of Georgia.
               In my Sunday school class in Marietta, GA, in the 
             Methodist Church, we have a little book called ``Leaves of 
             Gold,'' and in it there is a poem, and I cannot remember, 
             but twice before that poem has been recalled to me in 
             paying tribute to an individual, but it just seems to fit 
             the life and the legacy and the lasting memory of Paul 
             Coverdell.
               I hope I can get through it, but it goes a little bit 
             like this:

                   I would rather see a good person than hear about one 
             any day.
                   And I would rather have a good person walk with me 
             than merely
                       point the way.
                   For my eyes are better pupils and more willing than 
             my ear,
                   and fine counsel is confusing but examples crystal 
             clear.
                   And the best of all the people are the ones that 
             live their creeds,
                   for to see the good in action is what everybody 
             needs.
                   Oh, I will be very glad to do it if you let me see 
             it done,
                   but your tongue too fast sometimes may run.
                   And the lectures you deliver may be very wise and 
             very true,
                   but I would rather get my lecture by observing what 
             you do.
                   For I may misunderstand you and the high advice you 
             give,
                   But I will never misunderstand the way you act and 
             the way
                       you live.

               Mr. Speaker, I associate myself with all of my 
             colleagues to pay tribute to a man who acted and lived a 
             life exemplary of the finest in public service, the finest 
             in commitment to his wife and to his family and in the 
             finest tradition of public service.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
             he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
             Kingston).

               Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
             yielding me the time.
               Nancy Coverdell has lost a great husband, as has the 
             Coverdell family lost a great member. The United States of 
             America has lost a great Senator. Georgia has lost a great 
             leader and the Republican Party in Georgia has lost the 
             father of our party.
               Paul Coverdell was the Minority Leader in the State 
             Senate. He was the State Republican Party chairman. He was 
             the official Georgia connection to the Bush White House. 
             He was the Director of the Peace Corps. He was the U.S. 
             Senator, and then also in the great Bush-Coverdell legacy, 
             the official contact for the George W. Bush campaign.
               He put our party on the map, and the reason I underscore 
             that is, I believe the State and its citizens are better 
             for it. I believe that having two parties gives our voters 
             every day a choice, and I believe I am a better Republican 
             because of Democrat opposition. I hope that our Democrat 
             counterparts, and I am sure they will agree, would say 
             they are better Democrats because of Republican 
             opposition.
               The State, indeed, is the winner. Paul Coverdell was a 
             great strategist. I remember in 1974 my mother, who is a 
             great newspaper clipper, sent me an article called the 
             ``Gospel According to Paul.'' And it was talking about 
             this young guy running for the State Senate in Atlanta who 
             was doing strange things, like going door to door and 
             having living room coffees and roadside sign wavings. And 
             he was struggling in an uphill battle in a Democrat-
             controlled State to win, but he did win. I believe, as the 
             gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) has already said, 
             there were only three Republican Members in the Senate at 
             the time. I know by the time I got to the State House, 
             there were a whopping nine Senators.
               Paul Coverdell was the Minority Leader. But while he did 
             not have numerical superiority, he did not let that keep 
             him out of the ideas arena. And he was very competitive on 
             ideas. At that time, Governor Joe Frank Harris was 
             introducing a number of DUI laws.
               The gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson) will remember 
             Coverdell passed and sponsored a bill in the Senate that 
             said, you know, it is not just enough to give somebody a 
             heftier DUI penalty, what we have found through research 
             is a lot of these people are addicted to alcohol. We need 
             to put in a component of mandatory assessment to see if 
             they are addicted, and then we cannot just leave them 
             addicted to alcohol, we need to have mandatory or at least 
             optional treatment. This was a solid idea.
               Mr. Speaker, I remember being on the Motor Vehicles 
             Committee as he pushed that. Paul Coverdell was an ideas 
             man. He also had a great world view. As Director of the 
             Peace Corps, he did not just use this, okay, this is my 
             political plum for helping President Bush along the 
             campaign trail. He used it to promote farming in Third 
             World countries, economic growth and development, medical 
             help. Indeed, he saw the formula for world prosperity 
             meant world peace, and it was great and important for the 
             United States of America to be there leading the way.
               Paul Coverdell was a patriot in many ways. I remember 
             when he was running for the U.S. Senate and I had him in 
             my living room for coffee, and at that time all of these 
             people came, and they were asking very lofty intellectual 
             questions about the world situation. Paul was hanging in 
             there with the best of them. In the middle of this, my 
             small daughter, Ann, 4 years old at the time, had left the 
             playground where all of the kids were, came running into 
             the living room, crashed through the circle of adults to 
             the middle of where this dignified U.S. senatorial 
             candidate was speaking, and said, ``Daddy, it was my turn 
             in line to go down the slide and they pushed me down the 
             slide and I fell down and hurt my heinie'' to which the 
             whole audience starting laughing.
               Senator Coverdell was there, acknowledged the little 
             girl and her plight and went on with his speech. And I 
             thought it was so cute because he did not lose control, he 
             kept that Coverdell dignity through the whole thing. And, 
             indeed, he carried that dignity and that gentleman manner 
             with him everywhere he went.
               As the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Chambliss) has 
             already said, he was a great organizer and a communicator. 
             I remember in the 1992 campaign during the runoff one day, 
             he was at Georgia Southern University, all kinds of people 
             there, and he had done a television and a radio interview, 
             and he turned on his watch and he said, Jack, we have to 
             go to this event. I said, Paul, the game has not started. 
             He said, well, we have got a schedule. I said, but, Paul, 
             all of these people are here. He said, well, we really 
             need to get to Savannah and keep our schedule. Indeed, we 
             did leave and go to Savannah.
               I was totally amazed and a little bit irritated by this, 
             and only later did I realize the importance of him in 
             terms of strategy; it meant everything, and that is why he 
             could accomplish all of the things that he did accomplish. 
             In our area, he fought as, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
             Norwood) said, for the veterans, the active soldiers at 
             Fort Stewart, but the veterans in our area.
               Agriculture--we all know in south Georgia good old 
             ``Senator Cloverdale.'' That is what the farmers would 
             always call him. Well, let us just go ask Cloverdale. And 
             they loved Mr. Cloverdale.
               Education--if I go to talk to the teachers about 
             educational savings acts, they like that idea. If I talk 
             to seniors about Social Security and lockbox ideas, they 
             like that idea.
               Paul Coverdell had the uncanny ability, not just to have 
             an opinion on every issue, but have a thought on every 
             issue and a consequential action. He was a man of action.
               His civility, as the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop) 
             knows, he worked with him very closely on passing the C.B. 
             King Courthouse in Albany, Georgia. I remember, the 
             gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) knows, he was a friend 
             of Mr. Bond. When Mr. Bond left the State Senate to run 
             for the congressional seat, which the gentleman was 
             successful in obtaining, Paul Coverdell was one of the men 
             in the Georgia Senate who stood up and gave a great 
             farewell speech for Julian Bond.
               I remember watching that and saying here is a liberal 
             Democrat and the conservative Republican Leader of the 
             State. What is he doing? I said there is a lesson here. 
             Bipartisanship and civility is important, and you should 
             never let politics rule over policy.
               A week ago, he called me at my home on Sunday. We had an 
             issue in our area with the Federal Law Enforcement 
             Training Center, and we kind of got off path. He said, 
             ``Jack, I think we are a little out of sync here. I just 
             want to make sure that you and I are okay on this.''
               It was typical of Coverdell, because I think so many of 
             us, including me, and especially me, would have said, all 
             right, you are way off base, I am right and you are wrong; 
             not Paul, he made it so that it was just so easy to get 
             along.
               He also told me a couple of weeks ago in a private 
             conversation about committing to the team, when you are a 
             Member of Congress, when you are a Member of an issue and 
             you are associated with that issue, commit to your team 
             and be proud to be on that team, even if the vote is an 
             uncomfortable one.
               He talked to me about Nancy. He said, you know, we are 
             doing a little bit with real estate. I have to tell you 
             Nancy is better at real estate than I am. She is real good 
             at it. I will tell you what, you men know. It is a rare 
             man who really, privately, one-on-one takes time to brag 
             about his wife to another man, and that is a sign of a 
             great marriage and a great husband and true love.
               Paul Coverdell was a good Republican, a great 
             strategist, a great ideas man, had a world view, had 
             civility and integrity, a great organizer. He was 
             energetic. He was a great communicator and a loyalist.
               In short, Paul Coverdell was a statesman. Years ago, 
             there was another Paul on this earth, and he tells us in a 
             Scripture that it is better to wear out than rust out. I 
             would not submit to you that Paul Coverdell wore out, but 
             I would also say he certainly did not wear out, and maybe 
             in this institution which he loved so dearly, we could 
             say, and he would agree, the gentleman's time expired. But 
             while the gentleman's time has expired, I also think we 
             could evoke the words of St. Paul, one more time and say, 
             well done, that good and faithful servant.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
             she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. 
             Fowler), formerly from the State of Georgia.

               Mrs. FOWLER. Mr. Speaker, I did grow up in the State of 
             Georgia, and it was with a really heavy heart yesterday 
             when I learned of the loss of Paul Coverdell. Paul and my 
             dad served together in the Georgia State Legislature, and 
             though they were in different parties, they became good 
             friends, and shared many funny stories together as they 
             served.
               When I came to the U.S. Congress 8 years ago, Paul sort 
             of took me under his wing and was such a dear friend to me 
             and a mentor, and I could always go to him for advice and 
             know I could always rely on it. He was such an outstanding 
             man. We have been hearing people talk today about all the 
             wonderful qualities that Paul had, and when I think of 
             Paul, I think of someone who lived life with zest and 
             enthusiasm, who loved his family, who loved his country, 
             who loved serving the people.
               He was the finest example of a public servant that I 
             have ever known, a decent, honorable man, such deep 
             integrity, who loved people so much and loved doing for 
             them. I look back when he was Director of the Peace Corps 
             and all he did to guide and mentor those young people that 
             were serving all around the world.
               So really today, we all have very heavy hearts because 
             we will all miss Paul deeply, miss his friendship, miss 
             his service, miss his strength that he brought to the 
             representation of the State of Georgia in the U.S. Senate 
             but most of all, Paul, we are going to really miss you.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
             he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
             Gilman).

               Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for yielding me this time.
               Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia 
             (Mr. Lewis) for bringing this resolution to the floor at 
             this time. It is with deep regret that I rise to join my 
             colleagues in mourning the loss of the remarkable public 
             servant, Senator Paul Coverdell of Georgia. As chairman of 
             the Senate Foreign Relations Western Hemisphere 
             Subcommittee, Senator Paul Coverdell was dedicated to 
             fostering good relations with our neighbors in the 
             Americas.
               Among his many contributions, Paul actively and ably co-
             chaired our interparliamentary meeting with the Mexican 
             Congress, and I was pleased to have had a personal 
             relationship with Paul in relation to his work on the 
             Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
               Last year, Senator Coverdell was extremely proud to be 
             able to host our Mexican colleagues in Savannah, Georgia. 
             Paul went to great lengths to make all of us feel welcome, 
             including delivering a substantial portion of his opening 
             address in Spanish, and I recall Paul and Nancy guiding 
             Georgia and I through his hometown and pointing out where 
             they lived and pointing out his offices. He had a great 
             deal of pride in his city. It was certainly one of the 
             most productive and pleasant interparliamentary meetings 
             we held in Savannah.
               Fortunately, Paul was able to see the Mexican people 
             secure full democracy for themselves through their recent 
             elections on July 2, something that Paul strongly 
             supported.
               It was my privilege to work with Senator Coverdell on a 
             number of important regional issues. He was dedicated to 
             defining and defending American interests abroad. When it 
             came time to stand up to support our efforts in our fight 
             against illicit drugs, Paul Coverdell never failed the 
             American people. He always took the lead in galvanizing 
             support in the Senate for moving a substantial, meaningful 
             aid package to help our troubled neighborhoods in the 
             Andean region of South America and more recently 
             particularly in Colombia.
               Just last week, President Clinton signed into law a 
             bipartisan emergency supplemental aid package for 
             Colombia, and it was gratifying that Paul was able to see 
             the consummation of his extraordinary efforts to help our 
             neighbors to the south.
               Senator Coverdell was a principled man. He was a leading 
             voice in the Congress, calling for a firm response to the 
             undermining of democratic institutions through the 
             illegitimate elections in Peru; and we should honor 
             Senator Coverdell's leadership by strongly supporting his 
             respect for democracy in Peru.
               My spouse, Georgia, joins with me in extending our 
             deepest condolences to Paul's widow, Nancy. Paul and Nancy 
             were loved by many. We extend our sympathy, too, to the 
             many people in Georgia and elsewhere who admired and 
             followed this remarkable public leader.

               Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
             he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. 
             Dreier).

               Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the dean of the Georgia 
             delegation for yielding me this time.
               Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be here with my colleagues 
             from Georgia and other parts of the country to talk about 
             our friend Paul Coverdell. No one could ask for a better 
             friend than Paul Coverdell. I first met him when he was 
             appointed Director of the Peace Corps in the late 1980s, 
             and at that time the attention in this House and around 
             the world was focused on the emerging democracies of 
             Eastern and Central Europe. In several meetings that we 
             had in my office, Paul Coverdell was talking with such 
             enthusiasm about creative ways in which we could help the 
             people of Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and 
             other countries that were starting to get that first taste 
             of freedom.
               I was so struck with the dedication that this man showed 
             that I made a decision early on that I wanted to do 
             anything that I possibly could to help him. So he took me 
             up on that. He took me up on it when in 1992 he called me 
             and told me that he was going to run for the U.S. Senate. 
             I thought, what a great idea. He asked me to help him, so 
             I did. I will never forget the day that I was flying to 
             Atlanta from what is now, and I see Mr. Barr here, 
             affectionately referred to as Ronald Reagan National 
             Airport; and I was standing in the terminal with a former 
             colleague of ours from the other side of the aisle, and he 
             said, Well, why are you flying to Atlanta?
               I said I am flying down to help Paul Coverdell win his 
             election to the U.S. Senate.
               Well, this former colleague of ours from the other side 
             of the aisle laughed hysterically because he did not 
             believe that Paul had much of a chance to win, and there 
             were a lot of people who did not think Paul had a great 
             chance to win. In fact, I suspected that this former 
             colleague of ours from the other side of the aisle kind of 
             thought that Paul had about as much chance of winning as 
             he did of losing.
               So we saw in Paul Coverdell a tenacity that was very, 
             very impressive. He was dedicated to his work.
               I spent time traveling in Georgia with him, and he had a 
             couple of events. There were a few people who attended a 
             number of those events. I assumed it was because they had 
             announced that I was going to be there. But the fact was 
             that this guy never gave up. He was a real fighter.
               One of the things that we have so often found in these 
             Members who worked with him closely in Georgia for decades 
             know that whenever someone wanted a job to be done, the 
             person to whom they would look was Paul Coverdell because 
             when this guy said that he was going to take on a job and 
             do it, he did it.
               We so often hear the juxtaposition between workhorses 
             and show horses in this place, and we all know that Paul 
             Coverdell epitomized the workhorse. He was a guy who was 
             extremely dedicated.
               I am so happy that the chairman of the Committee on 
             International Relations reminded us of his having hosted 
             the Mexican Interparliamentary Conference along with, I 
             remember, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston) was 
             there with us when we held that meeting. Paul was so proud 
             of the opportunity to host that very important meeting.
               I served with him as a co-chairman of the Republican 
             House-Senate Dinner. Boy, that guy was absolutely 
             relentless when it came to our goal of building a strong 
             Republican Party, and as has been said by our colleagues 
             from the other side of the aisle, he, working for a strong 
             Republican Party, knew that ultimately working in a 
             bipartisan way was the only way that we could actually get 
             things accomplished.
               My thoughts and prayers go to Nancy and other members of 
             the family, and I cannot say what a shocking and 
             devastating loss this is, not only for this great 
             institution of ours but for the Nation as a whole.

               The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). The 
             Chair advises that the time of the gentleman from Georgia 
             (Mr. Lewis) has expired.
               Pursuant to clause 2 of rule XVII, the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Kingston) is recognized for 1 hour on the 
             resolution.

               Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
             consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp).

               Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Kingston) for yielding me this time.
               Mr. Speaker, I believe for the ages Senator Paul 
             Coverdell will be remembered as one of the most 
             thoughtful, diligent, and detail-oriented Members in the 
             history of the U.S. Senate. Who would have ever thought 
             this time last week that we would be here today paying 
             tribute to the memory of Senator Coverdell?
               There are times here where everything seems to stand 
             still, and this is one of those days where we come 
             together at the water's edge, as people, as God's 
             children, no differences, to pay the proper tribute to a 
             truly great public servant. A lot of political people skim 
             the surface, stay on the surface from fear of the details, 
             from fear of the slip of the tongue, from fear of 
             incompetency on very complicated matters of the day, but 
             not Senator Coverdell.
               My experience with him was a fearless master of details 
             and complexity, never worrying about how far deep he would 
             swim into issues, about whether he could comprehend them 
             or always carry a host of things going on at the same 
             time. Unbelievable, really, in his capacity to carry all 
             of the different issues with him and stay that intricately 
             involved. It really bodes well for public service in 
             America that people like Paul would dedicate his life to 
             others through public service.
               As a Tennessean who was born in Georgia when my dad was 
             on active duty at Fort Benning, my dad always said that it 
             cost $12 for me to be born at Fort Benning, and he still 
             wonders if he got his money's worth. Those are my Georgia 
             roots, and I am a southerner. Georgia mourns the loss 
             today of a truly great U.S. Senator, but the South has 
             lost one of its greatest leaders as well.
               I come as a southerner today to say, Nancy, we are 
             sorry; to the Georgia delegation, we are sorry that they 
             have lost their friend and lifetime companion in the 
             flesh.
               Last October I was coming to the Chattanooga Airport to 
             leave right after Payne Stewart had died tragically at the 
             height of his career, and you think about Paul at 61 years 
             old, he is really politically at the height of his career 
             and he is gone in the flesh, right at the height of his 
             ability to effectively carry out the responsibilities as a 
             U.S. Senator.
               I said to R.V. Brown, a pastor who I know who I ran into 
             at the airport, ``Reverend R.V. Brown, is that not 
             unbelievable that Payne Stewart just vanished like that in 
             the flesh?''
               He said, and it was a great comfort to me, and I hope it 
             is great comfort to Nancy and others who mourn the loss of 
             Paul Coverdell, ``sometimes the Lord picks the ripest
             fruit to have the greatest impact on everyone around that 
             individual.''
               I believe that the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, the 
             State of Georgia, the South, the United States of America, 
             mankind at large can come closer together and truly 
             appreciate each other more because of this moment when we 
             forever and ever memorialize a fine person and a great 
             public servant, Senator Paul Coverdell. Goodbye, sir.

               Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
             Tennessee (Mr. Wamp), the chairman of the Morning Prayer 
             Breakfast each Thursday, for his remarks.
               Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
             gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the deputy whip.

               Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Kingston) for yielding the floor to me.
               Mr. Speaker, just yesterday some of us took the floor in 
             an unanticipated moment to wish the very best and to 
             extend our thoughts and our prayers to Senator Coverdell, 
             his wife, Nancy, and to their family, as they struggled 
             with this unanticipated challenge. Today, just a few hours 
             beyond, almost exactly 24 hours beyond, the time that we 
             were so hopeful in those last moments of Paul Coverdell's 
             life that he would continue to be with us, beyond the time 
             when we thought that if anybody could come back from any 
             challenge it would be Paul Coverdell, beyond the time when 
             we thought that if anybody else could do this, could be 
             back in a year, he could be back in a few months, we are 
             here today dealing with the loss of a person who has been 
             so important in this building to both the House and the 
             Senate and so important to the country.
               I was moved by the observation that our friend, the 
             gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp), just made about how 
             the Lord may take someone at such an inopportune time in 
             their life to challenge the rest of us to meet a new 
             standard in our life, a new standard with each other, a 
             new standard of public service, a new standard of being 
             able to reach out, as Paul was famous for to others, and 
             say, gee, you have got a lot to do here, can I help you? 
             At the same time, we know that Paul, when you would think 
             about it, surely had more to do than the person he was 
             offering to reach out and help, but his predisposition in 
             life was to help other people.
               I did not know Paul Coverdell when I came to Congress 
             3\1/2\ years ago. In fact, I did not really know him 
             except to speak to him in the hallways of the House and 
             the Senate where he was always friendly to me until about 
             a year and a half ago when he and I were both asked to be 
             on the exploratory committee for Governor Bush. That was a 
             10-person committee. Our jobs were to represent the 
             Governor with the House and the Senate in that year and a 
             half. There was not a week that we did not talk on the 
             phone, and many weeks that we saw each other, just to 
             compare notes, just to talk about what was happening.
               Even in that relationship, he would often say, well, you 
             have 200 people over there that you are talking to and 
             dealing with and I only have about 55 over here. Can I 
             help you do anything to make your job in the House easier? 
             I usually observed that probably it was easier to deal 
             with a couple of hundred House Members than 55 people from 
             the other body. He would always smile.
               Mr. Speaker, I told somebody not too long ago that there 
             were many good reasons to do that particular job, as the 
             liaison for the Bush committee, but I would have done it 
             knowing what I knew then, and this was 2 or 3 months ago 
             with no anticipation of this moment, certainly. I would 
             have done it all just to have the chance to work with Paul 
             Coverdell. He was the kind of person that all of us who 
             got a chance to work with him I am sure were looking 
             forward to a couple more decades of that relationship, not 
             thinking that each time we saw him might be the last time 
             we saw him; but thinking, now, I wonder what it is that we 
             can next do that allows us to work together, because it 
             was such a joy and a privilege to work together with him.
               I told someone earlier today that one of the things that 
             one really noticed when one dealt with our friends on the 
             other side of the Capitol was the interesting oil that 
             Paul Coverdell added to the process just to make things 
             work that otherwise you did not quite know during a 
             meeting how they might have worked if Senator Coverdell 
             had not been there. Of course now we are challenged to 
             know how they would work, but we do know the example he 
             set of making things work, the example he set of being 
             willing to reach out to other people, the example he set 
             of always trying his best to appear to be the most humble 
             guy in the room, the person who would be the most likely 
             to take the most difficult assignment, the person who 
             would never show any sense that there was any job that 
             needed to be done that was below or beneath him as an 
             individual. It is a standard that is hard to achieve, 
             frankly, in politics and government, and even hard to 
             achieve in this building; but it is one that he 
             established so well that he made serving others and doing 
             the most menial job seem like that, somehow, that was the 
             most important thing to do.
               Mr. Speaker, we will miss him in this building. We will 
             miss him in our relationships between this House and our 
             friends on the other side of the Capitol. We will miss his 
             willingness to work, his capacity, his insight. But as the 
             gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp) observed earlier, 
             maybe there is a challenge here. There is a purpose in 
             most things in life; and if we search for the purpose of 
             this, one of the purposes might be to emulate some of the 
             things that are so easy to say about Paul Coverdell.
               Mr. Speaker, it is written somewhere, we will miss him 
             tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.

               Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
             Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
             to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Goss), the chairman of 
             the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

               Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate very much the 
             distinguished gentleman from Georgia, the honorable John 
             Lewis, the dean of the delegation, and the gentleman from 
             Georgia (Mr. Kingston) and the other members of the 
             Georgia delegation, affording us this time to speak about 
             Senator Paul Coverdell. The Rules of the House do not 
             permit us to refer to the other body or Members of the 
             other body, and we seldom do speak about them. This is 
             exceptional, because Paul Coverdell was really an 
             exceptional person. I think he did touch our lives. 
             Certainly those of us who live in Florida who have to fly 
             through Atlanta understand very well the meaning of having 
             the Atlanta airport there.
               What I wanted to talk a little bit about today is the 
             loss to Nancy and his family, to the State of Georgia, and 
             to our country. I think it is an incalculable loss, and it 
             is obviously very painful if we have listened to the 
             speakers who have gone before.
               We are going to miss Paul Coverdell deeply, and we are 
             going to miss him for a very long time to come, not only 
             as a person, but for the skills he brought to the art and 
             science of crafting legislation and people persuasion here 
             in these hallowed halls of the U.S. Congress.
               To me, he had several distinctive hallmarks. They were 
             honor and decency, things that count for a lot here. And 
             effectiveness and accomplishment, of course, the way we 
             are measured. Those of us who were privileged to work with 
             him knew of this literally unrelenting energy. He was a 
             man who could tire out the most hard working of us. He 
             certainly had the intellect to challenge us as well. We 
             all admired his ability to find commonsense solutions that 
             seemed to work for all sides in a given debate. Those are 
             wonderful people skills. As the gentleman from Georgia 
             (Mr. Bishop) said in his testimony on the floor, that 
             unquestioning integrity was also another Paul Coverdell 
             trademark. That is very high praise.
               I well recall his commitment to fighting the war on 
             drugs, just one of the many things he did here, and to his 
             finding a way to get the money to pay for fighting the war 
             on drugs, which is the harder part. His contribution to 
             that was characteristically second to none; and more 
             important, he was successful. And that success is now 
             being employed on the front lines in Colombia and in other 
             meaningful ways, and that will affect America as well and 
             those who are concerned about the scourge of drugs on our 
             youth and on our quality of life in this country.
               So, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say for my wife and 
             myself and others in the neighboring State of Florida, we 
             send our condolences, our keen sympathy, and our love to 
             Nancy and the people of Georgia. Paul Coverdell was a man 
             who gave so much. He was taken too soon.

               Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
             condolences to the family and staff of Senator Paul 
             Coverdell.
               I admired and appreciated Senator Coverdell's commitment 
             to stopping the flow of illegal drugs across our borders 
             and his tireless efforts to expand educational opportunity 
             in America. Senator Coverdell demonstrated the 
             effectiveness of quiet, but persistent, leadership. He has 
             been hailed as a workhorse and, indeed, his dedication to 
             public service is an example to every official at every 
             level of government who works for the public good.
               My former chief of staff, Ziad Ojakli, is the chief of 
             staff in the Senator's leadership office. On behalf of all 
             of us who are friends of Z and have worked with him over 
             the years, I wish to convey our deepest sympathy to the 
             family, friends and staff of Senator Paul Coverdell. They 
             are in our prayers.

               Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
             my time.
               Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues in the Georgia 
             delegation, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Norwood, Mr. Isakson, Ms. 
             McKinney, Mr. Linder, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Barr, Mr. Chambliss, 
             Mr. Deal and Mr. Collins, I move the previous question on 
             the resolution.
               The previous question was ordered.
               The resolution was agree to.
               A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

               Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 
             558, I move that the House do now adjourn in memory of the 
             late Honorable Paul Coverdell.
               The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 10 o'clock and 
             31 minutes p.m.), pursuant to House Resolution 558, the 
             House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, July 20, 2000, 
             at 10 a.m., in memory of the late Honorable Paul Coverdell 
             of Georgia.
                              A Service of Thanksgiving

                                   for the Life of

                               PAUL DOUGLAS COVERDELL

             January 20, 1939-July 18, 2000







             Peachtree Road United Methodist Church

             Atlanta, Georgia

             Saturday, July 22, 2000

             1:00 p.m.
             Program

             PRELUDES:

             A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
                                                        Vaclav Nehlybel
             Song of Peace
                                                    Vincent Perischetti

             OPENING SENTENCES

                             (The congregation standing)

             I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;
             he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall
                 he live;
             and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.

             I know that my Redeemer lives,
             and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth;
             and though this body be destroyed, yet shall I see God;
             Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold,
             and not as a stranger.

             For none of us lives to himself,
             and no man dies to himself.
             For if we live, we live unto the Lord;
             And if we die, we die unto the Lord.
             Whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

             Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord;
             even so says the Spirit, for they rest from their labors.

             We come to worship, to affirm our assurance of eternal 
             life, and to express our conviction that because Christ 
             lives, Paul Coverdell lives also!

             Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

             Congregation: And with your spirit.

             Celebrant: Let us pray.

             Almighty God, our Father, from whom we come, and unto whom 
             our spirits return: You have been our dwelling place in 
             all generations. You are our refuge and strength, a very 
             present help in trouble. Grant us Your blessing in this 
             hour, and enable us so to put our trust in You that our 
             spirits may grow calm and our hearts be comforted. Lift 
             our eyes beyond the shadows of earth, and help us to see 
             the light of eternity. So may we find grace and strength 
             for this and every time of need; through Jesus Christ our 
             Lord. Amen.

               HYMN:

               God of Our Fathers
                                                          National Hymn
               God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
               Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
               Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
               Our grateful songs before thy throne arise.

               Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
               In this free land by thee our lot is cast;
               Be thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay,
               Thy word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

               From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,
               By Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
               Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
               Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

               Refresh Thy people in their toilsome way,
               Lead us from night to never ending day;
               Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
               And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.

                              (The congregation seated)

                                                          Isaiah 61:1-3
               The spirit of the Lord God is
                     upon me,
               because the Lord has
                     anointed me;
               He has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
                     to bind up the brokenhearted,
               to proclaim liberty to the captives,
                     and release to the prisoners
               to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
                     and the day of vengeance of our God;
                     to comfort all who mourn;
               to provide for those who mourn in Zion
                     to give them a garland instead of ashes,
               the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
                     the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
               They will be called oaks of righteousness
                     the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

             Celebrant: The Word of the Lord.

             Congregation: Thanks be to God.

             ANTHEM:

             Amazing Grace
                                                       arr. Robert Shaw
                                                         Matthew 5:1-10

             When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up the mountain, and 
             after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then He 
             began to speak, and taught them saying:

             ``Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the 
             kingdom of heaven.

             ``Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

             ``Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

             ``Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for 
             righteousness, for they will be filled.

             ``Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

             ``Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called 
             children of God.

             ``Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' 
             sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.''

             Celebrant: The Word of the Lord.

             Congregation: Thanks be to God.

             RECOLLECTION:

                              TRIBUTE BY CLYDE RODBELL

               Please be patient with me as I struggle to deal with 
             this extremely difficult task. I have three handkerchiefs. 
             That may not be enough.
               Millions of words have been or will be written and 
             spoken about this remarkable man. My few hundred are just 
             a feeble attempt to pay homage (in my own way) to someone 
             whom I loved very much. Fortunately I was able to tell him 
             so before he died.
               There is great irony in my being up here today. I always 
             thought that Paul would deliver my eulogy.
               Many years ago someone used the phrase, ``You're only 
             here for a visit.'' There's a great deal of truth in that 
             statement. But, Paul, your visit was just too damn short.
               I want to share with you a few of my highly personal, 
             but probably fragmented, thoughts of Paul Coverdell as a 
             faithful servant of the people, as a man with wonderful 
             human qualities and as my dear friend.
               Fred Cooper sent me article that appeared on the 
             editorial page of the Wall Street Journal dated Thursday, 
             July 20th. I borrow these brief but eloquent words. The 
             title is ``Mr. Inside.''

               The most important U.S. Senator no one knew died 
             Wednesday of a stroke at age 61. Georgia Republican Paul 
             Coverdell managed to prosper by being everything most of 
             his colleagues are not. He was hard working, self-
             effacing, nontelegenic, nonrich, serious about policy, a 
             conciliator and a listener. Our condolences to his 
             family.*
               *Reproduced with permission of The Wall Street Journal.

               How can I find the words to express to you how deeply I 
             respected this man, small in stature, but a giant in 
             attributes. Among those was his indomitable spirit. From 
             time to time he very privately shared his grave concerns 
             for his adored country and his frustration in dealing with 
             many of the difficulties in Washington. He likened it to 
             trying to herd a large group of cats. At the end of such a 
             recent conversation he quietly apologized and said: ``I 
             feel much better. I did not mean to be a whiner.'' My 
             retort was: ``Paul, you are never a whiner, but are always 
             a winner.'' I think he liked that. We then hugged and 
             parted for the night.
               This highly intelligent man understood the political 
             process and he knew how to skillfully make it work. He had 
             marvelous leadership abilities and there are many in this 
             room who willingly and respectfully followed (often 
             blindly) his direction. I saw Paul as a man of clear 
             vision. He could take very complex societal problems and 
             even make me understand them. Incorruptible (to a fault). 
             Three or four years ago when Nancy needed two central air 
             conditioning units for their home, I told her that it 
             would be my pleasure to sell them at our cost. Paul 
             objected. I said OK, you stubborn son-of-a-gun, I'll sell 
             them to you at a dealer's price and I'll take our profit 
             and give it to a charity of your choice. Mr. 
             Incorruptible, Mr. Compromiser, agreed to that. Another 
             aside, Paul and Nancy, Robin and I were having dinner a 
             few weeks ago when a friend at a nearby table very 
             innocently sent over a bottle of wine. Without saying a 
             word the Senator abruptly left our table, located our 
             waiter and insisted that the wine be returned. When I 
             realized what was happening I asked Paul to explain his 
             actions. He replied, that a stranger had sent him a bottle 
             of wine, which he would not accept. I said, ``Paul, he 
             didn't send it to you, he sent it to me.'' Senator 
             Careful, with that cute perplexing, impish Coverdell smile 
             peers at me over those spectacles and said: ``Oh.''
               Humble, never pretentious. He never got caught up in the 
             celebrity power stuff. Never sought the spotlight. Did not 
             have a big ego that needed to be massaged. No self-
             promoter. No personal power grabber. He did his work and 
             his reward was the accomplishment of reaching the high 
             goals he set for himself and a job well done. In many ways 
             he was simply an ordinary man with extraordinary qualities 
             and huge talents that allowed him to reach out, touch and 
             influence people from all walks of life in unusual ways. 
             Folks liked him and trusted him. In my opinion, the U.S. 
             Senate was the ideal platform for him to ply his trade.
               The other day a small group of family and friends was 
             discussing the funeral arrangements. Nancy suggested that 
             her preference would be to keep the ceremony short. She 
             further observed that Paul did not like to attend 
             funerals. My reaction was, ``I'll bet he is really ticked 
             off to be at this one.''
               Observation. Nancy, I know you carefully selected the 
             music today that you believe Paul would most enjoy. But I 
             don't see Margie Lott's campaign song on the program. 
             Obviously an oversight.
               Now about Nancy. Over the years, we observed thousands 
             of marriages. But the Coverdells were more than a solid 
             relationship. They were truly a unit. Deep rooted and 
             indivisible. She, like Paul, is a very private person. 
             Bright, incisive and quick to give Paul a wicked look when 
             she disagreed with his position. She's upfront, loyal, has 
             a keen wit and is an amazing friend. She possesses 
             enormous, but quiet inner strengths which our Nation has 
             witnessed over the past week. Nancy, Robin and I stand in 
             awe of how you have handled your tragic loss. You are one 
             great lady! The epitome of grace under fire. I know you'll 
             be comforted to know that Paul is up there with 
             ``Whoofer.''
               Mack Mattingly called me yesterday and made me aware of 
             the following quotation from Ronald Reagan on March 8, 
             1985: ``The challenge of statesmanship is to have the 
             vision to dream of a better, safer world and the courage, 
             persistence and patience to turn that dream into a 
             reality.'' That truly sums up Paul Coverdell's life.
               So long good buddy. I mourn your departure. Rest well.
               I'm sure going to miss you.

                         TRIBUTE BY THE HONORABLE PHIL GRAMM

               Today we mourn, and we celebrate.
               We mourn the passing of our dear and faithful friend, 
             Paul Coverdell. We mourn because our lives and the life of 
             our Nation are diminished by his death.
               But while we mourn his death, we celebrate his life.
               Loving Paul and having been loved by him has enriched 
             our lives in ways that even death can never erase.
               While we are here to say goodbye, we will not soon be 
             forgetting that squeaky voice, the disheveled hair, those 
             flailing arms. And neither will we forget his lion heart, 
             his iron will, his unblemished character and his endearing 
             ways.
               Will Rogers never met a man he did not like. Paul 
             Coverdell never met a man who did not like him.
               Sweet. Selfless. Loving, Loyal. Courageous. And, 
             incredibly for a U.S. Senator, humble. Paul was all of 
             those things and more. If you knew Paul Coverdell, he was 
             one of your best friends.
               No matter how highly you thought of Paul, he always 
             proved to be more than you thought.
               He was the kind of man your momma always challenged you 
             to be, but you did not believe it was possible, until you 
             met Paul.
               Surely Shakespeare's Mark Antony was speaking of Paul 
             when he said, ``His life was gentle, and the elements so 
             mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the 
             world, This was a man.''
               I'd like to close with a prayer.
               Lord, in our sorrow over Paul's untimely death, let us 
             remember not how he died, but how he lived.
               In our grief over what we have lost at his passing, help 
             us to remember what we gained from his coming.
               While we do not expect to see his likes again, we thank 
             you, Lord, for giving Paul to us and to America.
               We feel, Lord, that he takes a part of us with him as he 
             passes. But he leaves with us a part of himself. And we 
             thank you, Lord, for giving us the better of the bargain.

                         TRIBUTE BY THE HONORABLE ROY BARNES

               I first met Paul Coverdell in January of 1975 when I was 
             elected to the State Senate. I was 26, had a bushy head of 
             hair, and thought that I had all of the answers to the 
             problems of Georgia. I soon learned that most of my 
             solutions had been tried before, and failed. Paul, who had 
             been elected 4 years earlier, became my teacher on the ins 
             and outs of the Senate. That may sound strange, that one 
             of only a few Republicans would become the teacher of the 
             youngest Democrat, but that was Paul. He was as strong a 
             Republican as I ever met, yet he never let party get in 
             the way of the personal relationships that transcend 
             party. He was steadfast in his positions, but kind in his 
             friendships. He could disagree without being disagreeable.
               I have thought over the last few days since Paul's 
             death, what separates him from the meanness that exists in 
             the politics of today? The answer, I believe, is simple. 
             You could trust Paul Coverdell. I think this was also the 
             attraction of the people of Georgia to Paul. Trust and 
             confidence was the currency, the coin of the realm, with 
             Paul. We became friends and exchanged secrets as friends 
             often do, but I never worried that Paul would disclose 
             anything I told him. He talked to me about running for the 
             U.S. Senate, and I discussed with him that I was 
             struggling over whether to run again for Governor, after I 
             had been defeated. I know this sounds strange now that I 
             recall it, that people of different parties would discuss 
             their personal strengths and weaknesses, but it shows the 
             trust that you could place in Paul and never doubt the 
             keeping of the secret. Oh, how we need more of that! I 
             would take away the acrimony and nastiness that we today 
             call politics.
               Paul had one goal--to accomplish the best for the people 
             of Georgia regardless of who got the credit. A few weeks 
             ago Paul and I had breakfast as we had done on a regular 
             basis for 20 years. I had created during the last 
             legislative session a rural economic development program 
             called One Georgia. I had also received some stinging 
             criticism for it from some of the editorial writers. Paul 
             brought to the breakfast a folder of information to 
             support my program, and he told me I was right and to 
             ignore the criticism. He told me he would be glad to speak 
             out in my support if I needed him to do so. That was 
             Paul--just get the job done, forget about who gets the 
             credit.
               What then is Paul Coverdell's legacy? I suggest to you 
             it is actions and deeds, and not words and glory. It is 
             service, not self-promotion. It is friendship and trust, 
             not cynicism and betrayal. Paul exemplifies a great man. 
             As Longfellow observed about great men who have fallen:

                   Lives of great men all remind us
                   We can make our lives sublime,
                   And departing, leave behind us
                   Footprints on the sands of time.

                   Footprints, that perhaps another,
                   Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
                   A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
                   Seeing, shall take heart again.

               Goodbye, my friend. See you in a little while.

                               TRIBUTE BY FRED COOPER

               Mr. Cooper read the eulogy for Paul Coverdell written by 
             George Bush, as follows:

                  In June some close friends came to Kennebunkport 
                for Barbara's surprise birthday party. A friend 
                asked, ``Who are those two over there--the quiet guy 
                with the glasses and the beautiful woman.'' It was 
                Paul Coverdell from Georgia, a leader in the U.S. 
                Senate, a close friend for many years, and his wife 
                Nancy. I should have told my friend more about Paul. 
                That he loved politics. That he was good at it. That 
                he was a clear example of politics as a noble 
                calling. That quiet can be good.
                  Paul didn't whine from the sidelines. He helped 
                build an opposition party in Georgia when there was 
                none. He lacked flamboyance, but no one ever served 
                more effectively in the Georgia senate or in the 
                U.S. Senate. When in his wise and earnest manner he 
                spoke, people listened. He made a lot of fast 
                friends. He cared about people: ask those who worked 
                under him when he was Peace Corps director. Through 
                good times and bad, he was at my side--advising and 
                strengthening me by his love and friendship. Paul 
                was doing the same for our eldest son, helping him 
                navigate the tricky waters of the Senate, quietly 
                advising him on whom he could depend. He left behind 
                a lasting legacy that if you treat people with 
                unfailing kindness, you earn respect. We Bushes 
                loved him.
                          --George Bush, former President of the United 
                States*

            * 2000--Time Inc. All rights reserved.

             HYMN:

             O Beautiful for Spacious Skies
                                                                Materna
                             (The congregation standing)

             O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
             For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!
             America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
             And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining 
             sea.

             O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,
             Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more 
             than life!
             America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
             Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.

             O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years
             Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!
             America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
             And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining 
             sea.

                              (The congregation seated)

             A MESSAGE OF PEACE

             THE PASTORAL PRAYER

             THE BLESSING:

               The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep 
             your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, 
             and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of 
             God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be 
             among you and remain with you forever. Amen.

             HYMN:

             The Battle Hymn of the Republic
                                                        Julia Ward Howe

             POSTLUDE:

             Praise the Lord
             with Drums and Cymbals
                                                     Sigfrid Karg-Elert

                                 OFFICIATING CLERGY

                                  Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie

                           Chaplain, United States Senate

                                HONORARY PALLBEARERS

                                    Charles Allen

                                     Fred Cooper

                                   Jarvin Levison

                            The Honorable Mack Mattingly

                                     John Parker

                                    Clyde Rodbell

                                  Frank Strickland

                                    Kenny Wagner

                             BRASS ENSEMBLE IN RESIDENCE

                                 Atlanta Brassworks

                                ORGANIST/CHOIR MASTER

                                  Scott H. Atchison

                                 ASSOCIATE ORGANIST

                                  Michael L. Shake

                                        CHOIR

                                   Schola Cantorum

                                       SOLOIST

                             Commander Robert Baird, USN

                       Peachtree Road United Methodist Church



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