[Senate Document 108-20]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
108th Congress SENATE DOCUMENT S.Doc 108-20
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TRIBUTES TO HON. JOHN B. BREAUX
John B. Breaux
U.S. SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA
TRIBUTES
IN THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TONGRESS.#15
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] 97204.001
John B. Breaux
Tributes
Delivered in Congress
John B. Breaux
United States Congressman
1972-1987
United States Senator
1987-2005
Compiled under the direction
of the
Joint Committee on Printing
Trent Lott, Chairman
CONTENTS
Biography.............................................
v
Farewell..............................................
vii
Proceedings in the Senate:
Tributes by Senators:
Allen, George, of Virginia.....................
16
Bond, Christopher S., of Missouri..............
6
Boxer, Barbara, of California..................
8
Burns, Conrad R., of Montana...................
5
Byrd, Robert C., of West Virginia..............
3
Cochran, Thad, of Mississippi..................
14
Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota..................
12
Daschle, Thomas A., of South Dakota............
22
Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut...........
10
Domenici, Pete V., of New Mexico...............
14
Durbin, Richard J., of Illinois................
6
Edwards, John, of North Carolina...............
8
Frist, Bill, of Tennessee......................
7
Harkin, Tom, of Iowa...........................
18
Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
15
Inhofe, James M., of Oklahoma..................
10
Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana................
24
Lautenberg, Frank, of New Jersey...............
9
Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont..................
20
McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky..................
23
Nelson, Bill, of Florida.......................
8
Reid, Harry, of Nevada.........................
16
Sarbanes, Paul S., of Maryland.................
27
Santorum, Rick, of Pennsylvania................
17
Shelby, Richard C., of Alabama.................
7
Snowe, Olympia J., of Maine....................
21
Stabenow, Deborah Ann, of Michigan.............
14
Biography
Senator John Breaux, a leader in national politics,
served as an effective and aggressive advocate for the
State of Louisiana. Born in Crowley, LA, Senator Breaux
was elected to the House of Representatives in 1972 at the
age of 28, becoming the youngest Member in the U.S.
Congress. Senator Breaux represented the Seventh District
of Louisiana for 14 years before being elected to fill
Senator Russell Long's seat in 1986.
In 1998, Senator Breaux was overwhelmingly reelected to
a third term in the U.S. Senate, maintaining his title as
Louisiana's senior Senator and receiving an endorsement
from every major newspaper in the State. Louisiana's
largest newspaper, (New Orleans) Times-Picayune, called
Senator Breaux ``a mainstream Southern Democrat who has
the skill to fashion legislative coalitions that draw
extremes toward a bipartisan middle.''
Senator Breaux was widely recognized as a leader in the
Senate. In 1993, his Democratic colleagues elected him to
serve as chief deputy whip, a position he held for three
congressional terms.
A senior member of the Finance Committee, Senator
Breaux served as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on
Social Security and Family Policy. He served on two other
Finance subcommittees: Health Care, and Taxation and IRS
Oversight.
From his position on the Finance Committee, Senator
Breaux played critical roles in several recent legislative
debates. He was instrumental in helping forge the
compromises that led to passage of the welfare reform and
health insurance reform bills in 1996. He was also a
leader in the efforts to reduce the capital gains tax, and
proposed significant tax relief for college education
expenses.
As the leader of the Centrist Coalition of Senate
Democrats and Republicans, Senator Breaux sought
bipartisan agreements in a number of areas, including the
balanced budget, welfare reform and health care reform.
Senator Breaux's mainstream approach to government
earned him praise from conservatives, liberals and
moderates across Louisiana. As the (Shreveport) Times
observed in a March 1997 editorial: ``Instead of indulging
in the partisan, divisive ideological politics that has
characterized recent years, Breaux has sought to build
bridges between Democrats and Republicans and is widely
respected on both sides of the aisle. Breaux speaks for
America and Louisiana, not for an ideology, and his
constituents know it.''
Senator Breaux was the Chairman of the Special
Committee on Aging. He used this position to highlight the
importance of protecting and strengthening Social
Security, Medicare, and other programs essential to the
health and well-being of older Americans. In 1998, he was
selected by the White House and House and Senate leaders
to chair the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future
of Medicare. Also in 1998, Senator Breaux co-chaired the
National Commission on Retirement Policy, which produced
legislation to help reform Social Security.
As a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, Senator Breaux took a leadership role on a
wide variety of issues, including telecommunications,
consumer protection, fisheries, shipping, tourism and
aviation.
Senator Breaux was a leader on critical issues facing
Louisiana. He strongly supported Louisiana's agriculture,
oil and gas, and tourism industries. In 1993, Senator
Breaux played a crucial role in the defeat of the
unpopular BTU tax--a proposal that would have harmed
Louisiana industry and cost jobs nationwide.
Senator Breaux balanced a strong economic agenda with
environmental action. In 1990, he authored landmark
legislation resulting in more than $50 million annually to
preserve America's wetlands. And he took a leading role in
revising the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution, while
protecting State industries.
Senator Breaux was at the forefront of the effort to
return the national Democratic Party to the center of
American politics. He was a founder and past chair of the
Democratic Leadership Council, succeeding Bill Clinton in
1991.
Senator Breaux and his wife, the former Lois Daigle of
Lafayette, have four children, John, Jr., Bill, Beth and
Julia. He also has three grandchildren, Anna Kate
Shepherdson, Campbell McKay Shepherdson and Charles
Jefferson Shepherdson V. Senator Breaux is a graduate of
the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the
University of Louisiana at Lafayette) and the Louisiana
State University School of Law in Baton Rouge.
Farewell
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President and colleagues, the last time
anyone does anything in their career or in their life, I
think it is a time for a certain degree of sadness and a
certain degree of nostalgic remembrance of the times past.
This evening will probably be my last opportunity to
address this body as a Member, as a Member of the Senate,
representing my great and wonderful State of Louisiana.
While some would say, well, it has to be a very
difficult time to speak for the last time on the floor of
the Senate, looking back at all the great memories, I look
back with nothing but great pleasure over the many years I
have spent in the Senate as well as in the House of
Representatives.
I have been very honored to serve and be elected seven
times to the other body, serving 14 years as a Member of
the House, representing southwest Louisiana--it was a
great and wonderful time--and then moving on to the Senate
18 years ago, representing the entire State of Louisiana.
So when you look back over those years, I think a lot of
people would say: Well, it is your last speech, and it
must be a very nostalgic time, and you really are sad. I
am not. I am pleased. I am happy. I am overwhelmed with
the opportunity that was presented to me for those 32
years in the Congress to serve the people of Louisiana in
one capacity or another, both in the House, as well as in
this Chamber.
Thirty-five years ago, I, with my wife, came to
Washington for the very first time as a young staff
person, legislative assistant, having just gotten out of
law school. I worked in the Seventh Congressional District
office for then-Congressman Edwin Edwards. It was a great
learning period for me.
Shortly after serving as a staff person, a vacancy was
created, and I ran for that vacancy as a young 28-year-old
member of the Bar Association in my State. I ran for
Congress and had a slogan I remember back then, when I was
28, when I was running for Congress for the first time. My
slogan was: ``Experience makes the difference.''
Most of the people I was running against were old enough
to be my grandfather or grandparent, certainly old enough
to be my parent. Yet I had the audacity to print the
slogan on a bumper sticker that ``Experience makes the
difference.''
Of course, it aggravated the heck out of all the people
I was running against because they said: How dare someone
28 years old talk about experience making the difference;
He has none.
Well, I was the only person running who ever worked in a
congressional office in Washington. I was the only person
who had ever run a congressional office in the district.
And I was the only lawyer who was running. I told the
people in that first race that we were electing someone to
go to Washington and make laws, and I was the only lawyer
running. Therefore, they should vote for me.
That went over fairly well for a period of time until
all of my opponents realized 98 percent of the people were
not lawyers, and about 100 percent of them hated lawyers.
As soon as they started articulating that different
viewpoint on the function of lawyers, I started going down
in the polls, and thank goodness the election was only a
few weeks later.
To make a long story short, we were elected back in 1972
and came to Washington. I came with my wife Lois and two
very small children, John, Jr., and Bill Breaux. I
remember we had to rent a U-Haul truck to come to
Washington. I had never had an opportunity to be up here.
We came up, and I will always remember this: When we left
Louisiana, my two sons did not want to go. My youngest
son, the night before we left, when he was saying his
prayers, said: Goodbye, God. We are moving to Washington.
My oldest son, who was about 4 or 5 at the time, ran
away to a neighbor's house and crawled under the house. In
Louisiana, the houses are built off the ground. He ran
under the house and would not come out. And we had my mom
Katie, my dad Ezra, my father-in-law Lloyd, and my mother-
in-law Doris who were all there watching us get into the
U-Haul to go to Washington, and I had to crawl under the
house and literally drag John, Jr., out from under the
house and make him get into the U-Haul truck so we could
move to Washington. I finally got him here.
We came to Washington. I will always remember we came
here on a Saturday. I wanted to go to see the Capitol
because I knew it was going to be such an impressive
place. I remember that night the Marine Corps Band was
playing, as they do in the springtime. They have concerts.
They used to do that on the front steps. And they were
having a concert. I thought they were playing the concert
for me.
We were so delighted as a family to be able to see our
first impressions of the U.S. Capitol, with the playing of
the band on a wonderful evening. It was a great memory
then, and it is still a great memory 35 years later.
In those days when I was in the House, we had an
arrangement, if you will. In those days when I arrived
here, Carl Albert was Speaker of the House. And then Tip
O'Neill became the Democratic leader and Speaker of the
House, and Bob Michel was the Republican leader. And Tip
O'Neill and Bob Michel probably differed as much as any
two people you could possibly know in terms of philosophy
in how government should work. Tip O'Neill was an FDR
liberal Democrat from Massachusetts, and Bob Michel was
from Peoria, IL, a middle America Republican. They did not
agree on how government should work necessarily from a
philosophical standpoint, but they knew how to make
government work.
They spoke more in 1 day back then than some of the
leaders later on spoke in a year because the House changed
to a position where now many times leaders do not speak to
each other. I would suggest that government was not any
worse off when you had a Tip O'Neill and a Bob Michel
traveling together, playing golf together, drinking in the
evening and having a cocktail together, playing golf
together, betting on sporting events together, which I
know they did because they had a relationship that allowed
them to find out, What do we have to do to accomplish what
we both realize is best for this country? They were able
to do that in a way that I thought was incredibly
effective.
Hale Boggs swore me in to the House of Representatives,
a truly great majority leader. I learned a great deal from
him and had a great deal of respect for everything he
taught me and taught so many.
That was back then. My two sons, who were crawling and
saying their prayers before bed, are both 38 years of age.
My oldest daughter, Beth, is 34 and is married to a
wonderful person named Jeff Shepherdson; and now we have
three beautiful grandchildren, Anna Kate, Campbell, and
C.J. Shepherdson, age 2. Also, my youngest daughter,
Julie, is now 28.
So after you have been here a while, you wake up 1 day
and say where has all the time gone and how fast it went.
I think about that often, but I also think about all of
the wonderful things I have been privileged to witness,
watch, and participate in, in those 32 years in Congress.
It has been a real privilege and pleasure. I have had the
honor of serving with three great Senators, including
Russell Long, when he was the senior Senator from
Louisiana and I was a House Member. I remember coming over
to see Russell when I first got into the House of
Representatives. I wanted to come and pay my respects. I
had been in Congress about a week. So I came over to the
Senate and walked up in the Senate office building to see
Russell Long. I remember getting on the elevator and it
went up to the second floor. The door opened and Senator
Jim Eastland from Mississippi got on. He looked at me--and
I was on the Members elevator, which shows you the
audacity I had even then. He looked at me and said, ``Hey,
boy, what are you doing here?'' I said, ``I am a
Congressman and I am going to see Russell Long.'' He said,
``You're not a Congressman.'' I said, ``Yes, sir, I am.''
He looked at me and walked off the elevator. Those
memories are so wonderful to look back on, and it is
interesting to see how things have developed.
I learned a great deal from Russell Long. He taught me
how to work with people. He could get more done in the
evening over a bottle of bourbon than we can get done by
having months and months of hearings and hours of debate
because he knew how to bring people together. He had an
incredibly great personality and sense of history of where
he came from. And he learned from his father who also
served in this body.
I also served with Bennett Johnston, a great person who
could work both sides of the aisle. He became chairman of
the Energy Committee and senior member of the
Appropriations Committee. Bennett was outstanding. It was
interesting because we never had a cross word politically.
A lot of Members, I think, have natural competition
between Members of the same State, particularly if they
are in different parties. I have had the fortune to serve
only with members of the Democratic Party in the Senate.
Bennett and I had a wonderful working relationship. He
would take the lead on some things, and I would try to
take the lead on others. It was a wonderful relationship.
In the last several years, it has been Mary Landrieu,
who I have seen develop into one of the greatest
politicians and greatest leaders of our State. She comes
from a great tradition, a long tradition of outstanding
public servants in the State of Louisiana, particularly in
the city of New Orleans. She learned from the masters, and
the masters were her parents, brothers and sisters. They
were all involved and they do a wonderful job in
representing our State in so many different capacities.
So I have had a wonderful opportunity to serve with
people from my State who have been friends and outstanding
colleagues, along with all of the other folks that we have
had the opportunity to serve with. I have looked at
meeting people in Congress not just as colleagues who were
elected to public office, but I looked at each one of them
as a potential friend. I learned a long time ago that you
have to understand where people come from to appreciate
what they are all about. I think many times we take a
position automatically that we don't like someone because
of where they are from or what party they are in, without
delving into their backgrounds, why they say what they
say, and who helps develop those ideas.
I remember when I was in the House, I served on the
Public Works Committee with Bella Abzug, who many thought
was the most liberal person in the Congress. I remember
Bella Abzug telling me, you know, where I come from, in my
congressional district, they think I am too conservative.
She had the type of district that encouraged her and
helped her and pushed her to represent the people as they
wanted to be represented in the Congress of the United
States. So if you understand where people come from and
understand their background and who they represent, I
think it helps you understand how people of different
positions can be friends, because they are truly trying to
represent their States the best they can. It is not just
because of their politics but because of where they are
from.
Let me say one other thing that I think we need to pay
attention to in this body, the Senate. That is, we should
not let outside forces dictate to us how we treat each
other and how we work together. Many times, when Democrats
have a caucus lunch on Tuesday right outside this Chamber,
Republicans are having theirs separate from us at the same
time. Many times, we hear people call in from the outside
who are in public relations, PR men and women and
pollsters, who spend an inordinate amount of time telling
us how we can take actions that will show how the other
side is wrong and we are right. Right across the hall, the
Republicans are hearing some of the same type of public
relation firms arguing to them how they can posture
themselves to be able to blame the Democrats for failure.
Back in the old days, we used to do all this together.
People would stand up and give their position, and the
other side would give theirs and find out we are trying to
accomplish the same thing, coming at it from slightly
different venues and in a slightly different direction. I
always feel that if you only listen to yourself, you are
only going to hear an echo and you are never going to
disagree. That is why it is so important to hear the other
side, listen to what the other side has to say, understand
what they say. You don't have to agree with them, but I
think you are a better person if you understand and your
position becomes stronger if you know what the other side
is going to argue. It makes your position better and
stronger.
But you also must realize that neither party has a
monopoly on the truth. Both sides have good ideas. The
real answer to this body and the House, and for
democracies everywhere, is trying to take the best of what
both sides can offer and blend them in a package that
simply makes government work for all of us. People back
home are not so much concerned about who wins and loses as
they are about whether we are getting the job done.
Congress does not have to be like a Super Bowl. In the
Super Bowl, you have to have one team that is going to win
and one that will lose. If there is a tie, they have a
playoff and go into overtime until one team wins and one
team loses. There is nothing wrong with the Congress
trying to find ways to reach agreement and blending the
best from both sides and coming up with something so that
everybody wins. Then we can argue and fight over which
team won. That way, I can go back to Louisiana and tell
them look what I did, and somebody from Texas or Illinois
can go back to their State and say look what I did. And
that is fine, because we can argue about success and not
debate over failure and whose fault it was. The American
people would be better served if the debate here could be
a debate about how we accomplish something as opposed to
why we didn't get anything done.
I leave with a great deal of appreciation for everybody
who helped me, including my staff, many of whom are in the
gallery. They helped me every day over and above the call
of duty. I also thank the people on the floor with me,
including Diana Bostic and so many of the friends we have
worked with, like Lula, who was with Senator Long before,
and all of the other people. This has been a joint
venture, to say the least. I leave with a great deal of
optimism.
I am not leaving because I am unhappy or because I am
mad. I have enjoyed every single minute of it. I have to
admit that some minutes I have enjoyed more than others,
but by and large it has been a great and wonderful
experience. I give nothing but the very best to my
colleagues and wish them nothing but the very best in the
future.
Thank you, Mr. President.
TRIBUTES
TO
JOHN B. BREAUX
Proceedings in the Senate
Monday, October 11, 2004
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, when the 109th Congress
convenes in January 2005, this Chamber and our Nation
will, unfortunately, be without the services of Senator
John B. Breaux.
This will truly be a loss to the Senate and to our
Nation. With the retirement of Senator Breaux, we lose a
man of exceptional political experience. This son of an
oilfield worker and a dressmaker began his political
career as a staff aide to Congressman, and later Governor,
Edwin Edwards.
Mr. Breaux was elected to the U.S. House of
Representatives seven times, the first when he was just 28
years of age, making him the youngest Member of the U.S.
Congress at the time. He served in the House for 14 years
where he, among other things, was a principal architect of
the 1983 reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act.
In 1986 he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and has
served three terms in this Chamber. Now, after 32 years of
congressional experience, Senator Breaux is leaving us.
With the retirement of Senator Breaux, we lose one of
those Senators who is always ready and willing to reach
across the aisle to find common ground, to achieve the
workable compromise. He has constantly demonstrated the
ability to reach beyond partisan and ideological
differences, without abandoning his basic principles.
Politics is said to be the art of compromise, and this was
an art that Senator Breaux constantly practiced. On issue
after issue, including health care, energy production, tax
cuts, and welfare, he demonstrated his ability to broker
bipartisan deals, his penchant for dealmaking, and his
talent for fashioning legislative coalitions. With his
efforts to break Senate stalemates on Medicare, Social
Security, education, health care for the uninsured, and
other issues, he earned a well-deserved reputation as a
behind-the-scenes mediator. Senator Breaux exemplified the
wisdom of not allowing the perfect to be the enemy of the
good.
Even when I disagreed with him, which I have, I still
admired his efforts to find that workable solution. Even
when he was unsuccessful, which was rare, I still
respected his skill and the cause he was advocating. With
wit, determination, and patience he is always in pursuit
of a constructive course of action, and that won him many
admirers, including me.
Because of his efforts and his considerable skills, he
chaired the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future
of Medicare and he co-chaired the National Commission on
Retirement Policy. He also served as chairman of the
Special Committee on Aging and as chairman of the Surface
Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee. He is
currently the senior member of the Finance Committee.
Recognizing and appreciating his leadership abilities,
in 1993 his Democratic colleagues elected him chief deputy
whip, and in this position Senator Breaux has served this
Chamber, my party, and our country effectively and
successfully for more than a decade.
With the retirement of Senator Breaux, the Senate will
also be losing a fine musician. Every year at Mardi Gras,
Senator Breaux entertains the multitudes by playing a
washboard. As a musical instrument, a washboard is not a
fiddle, but I am sure it sounds good, as good as a
washboard can, I guess.
With the retirement of Senator Breaux, we will be losing
a Senator known for his disarming humor. During the
anthrax problem of October 2001, he boasted that the fish
in his office would survive because ``they are not weak
northeast fish . . . . They are strong Louisiana fish.'' I
think that was supposed to be funny. If it was supposed to
be a fact, I will put up a good West Virginia mountain
rainbow trout any day against his Cajun aquatic bottom
feeders.
Most important, with the retirement of Senator Breaux,
we will be losing a good man. A man who was always there
to help. A man whose word is his bond. A man who has
constantly demonstrated his loyalty to this Chamber and to
his country. A man who came up the ``hard way,'' without
anything being handed to him, but through hard work,
dedication to duty and to his State and our country,
fashioned a remarkable and successful career.
I wish Senator Breaux and his wife Lois the best as they
enter the next phase of their lives and careers.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Mr. BURNS. * * * Don Nickles will leave this Senate in
this year, having arrived in 1980 with President Ronald
Reagan. The real voice of conservatism, a fiscal
conservative, who stood in this Senate and fought wasteful
spending and did it with grace, did it with knowledge, a
leader among all.
There again, he being 8 years ahead of me, he was a
mentor and someone I could look to, study and learn from.
In 1987 or 1986, Tom Daschle came to the Senate. A
neighbor from South Dakota from Aberdeen, SD, we both
learned a little bit here. He was much more successful
than I, reaching into leadership of his party. We had a
lot of common friends in South Dakota. I will be sorry to
see Tom Daschle leave the Senate. But he has left big
tracks here. There are fond memories on issues that we
agreed on and issues that we did not agree, but we did not
do it being disagreeable.
Bob Graham from Florida I learned was in the Angus
business and he leaves this year.
John Breaux from Louisiana. I worked with him on the
Commerce Committee regarding energy issues. His wisdom
will be missed.
I am afraid I took much more from these men than I could
ever return to them.
I served only one term with John Edwards and Peter
Fitzgerald. They, too, will be missed in the Senate. Their
contribution was huge. * * *
As to all of these men, I want to say you do form
relationships here, and there is a certain bond that
attracts us all, as we learn that even though you may be
on the same side of the aisle or the opposite side of the
aisle, one could always agree or disagree without being
disagreeable. That is what makes the Senate a special
place.
We will miss all of these men, but I am looking forward
to those who take their place as, there again, new
relationships will be developed, a new bond dealing with
the old challenges of a free society, with those who love
the Constitution and love this country who were prepared
to die for it and would if asked to do so today. No one
doubts the depth of their patriotism nor their service to
their country. We welcome them as we say goodbye to old
friends, old relationships that will never be forgotten.
Mr. BOND. Mr. President, it has been a pleasure to work
with the Senator from Louisiana. We have appreciated his
leadership on many issues not only important to Louisiana
but to our energy future and important to navigation in
the heartland, which is something that is vitally
important for all of us.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I am fortunate enough to have
been here to hear my colleague from Louisiana give his
farewell speech. It was my good fortune to have served
with him both in the House and in the Senate. He is one of
the favorites of both sides of the aisle. It is an amazing
tribute to John and his political career that he does have
so many friends in the Senate. From the liberal wing to
the conservative wing, Republicans, Democrats, North,
South, East and West, you like John Breaux. You like him
because he is a genuine person and also because he comes
from a State that is a lot of fun and he is a lot of fun.
Some of my best memories of John are his hard work here
and then his hard play at home.
When he would invite us to New Orleans for a Democratic
leadership conference and other meetings and show us his
major city in his home State, it was always a treat.
Then occasionally he would export a little bit of
Louisiana to Washington and to the site of the Democratic
convention, and it was always a sellout event. People
wanted to be there. John never let them down. I saw him at
the Los Angeles convention where he gave a little party--
and I use that term advisedly. It was not little at all,
it was a big party. He was dressed in a costume for Mardi
Gras that would have put Elvis Presley to shame. It was an
amazing array of gold and sequins, the likes of which I
have never seen. He looked so much at home in that outfit.
I said to him: How do the people back in Louisiana take
to that kind of dress?
He said: You know, they would throw me out of office if
I didn't do these things. They expect that of me.
I also went down to New Orleans with him and saw him in
a musical performance with a zydeco band. He has musical
talent most people don't know about.
I tell you these things because people who follow the
Senate, hear the speeches, look at positions on issues and
look at the party labels, forget that behind each and
every one of us is a real life story.
I love the story of your family coming to Washington,
John. It is a beautiful story of packing up the kids and
your first impression. Every one of us has that story to
tell. There are new Senators coming and saving up those
stories in their own minds for the day they stand behind
that desk to say what it means to be one of the few
Americans given a chance to serve in this great Chamber.
We are going to miss John Breaux and all that he brought
to the Senate and all he brought to this Nation. He has
been a problem-solver. He has tried to reach across the
aisle over and over to create bipartisan coalitions.
Sometimes I was with him; sometimes I was not. It did not
make any difference because it was a good-faith effort on
John Breaux's part to serve his State and this Nation.
He has had a great career in the House and the Senate.
His departure will leave a gap in terms of quality that
many of us will work hard to fill. John, I am honored I
could serve with you and that I could hear your parting
remarks this evening. I wish you and your family the very
best.
Mr. SHELBY. John Breaux was just on the floor a few
minutes ago. I first met John Breaux when I came to the
House of Representatives in 1978. He had preceded me,
although he is a little younger. He was a young man in the
House of Representatives. He was very involved and was one
of the first people I met there.
He tried to work with both sides, the Democrats and
Republicans. He has been involved in the forging of a lot
of compromises--meaningful ones--over the years. He has
represented his State of Louisiana both as a Congressman
and as a Senator well, I believe, for many years. John, we
wish you and your wife Lois the best. We know you are not
going to go very far, but you have a lot of friends in the
Senate on both sides of the aisle, and you know that.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, the people of Louisiana first
sent John Breaux to serve in this Capitol in 1972. He was
only 28 years old. For the next 32 years, he would serve
as one of the most respected and admired public servants--
from both sides of the aisle--anywhere in American
Government.
John Breaux has been a superb U.S. Senator. He is not
inextricably wedded to one ideology or one party's line.
He is thoughtful. He is independent. He is deliberative.
He is experienced. He always wants to do the right thing
for Louisiana and for America.
What I admire most about John is his consensus-building
skills. He never gives up on bringing people together. In
fact, he has helped bring this body together on landmark
pieces of legislation over the past two decades--from
welfare reform to health insurance reform to balancing the
budget.
I have enjoyed working with John to reform Medicare. We
proposed the first Breaux-Frist reforms in 1999. And we
followed up with Breaux-Frist II in 2001. And we toiled
together on the Bipartisan Commission on the Future of
Medicare, which John so ably chaired. Breaux-Frist laid
the foundation for bipartisan work to come and,
ultimately, the most comprehensive and meaningful
improvements to Medicare since the program's creation.
John's departure is bittersweet for me--as I am sure it
is for every Member of this body. We will miss him as a
leader we all love and all can work with. But he still has
many of his best years ahead--which he will no doubt enjoy
spending with Lois and their wonderful and growing family.
Friday, November 19, 2004
Mr. EDWARDS. I thank my fellow Senate retirees, Senator
Breaux and Senator Hollings. One thing I guarantee you:
Our accents will be missed here on the floor of the
Senate. Hopefully, there will be others who will be able
to speak the way we speak.
Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I would like to make some
comments about our friends who are departing the
Senate. * * *
Senator Breaux was always out there trying to pull us
together. * * *
Thank you very much.
Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, while the Senate
is holding in abeyance for the final omnibus
appropriations bill that the House is getting ready to
file sometime tonight, I want to take the opportunity to
pay tribute to our retiring Senators: Tom Daschle, Fritz
Hollings, Don Nickles, John Breaux, Ben Nighthorse
Campbell, John Edwards, Peter Fitzgerald, Zell Miller, and
Bob Graham. * * *
John Breaux, the very mention of his name brings a
twinkle to your eye as you recall the wonderful good times
and the great sense of humor that John Breaux has. He is
the most popular politician in the State of Louisiana. He
is going to be sorely missed as the dealmaker of the
Senate. * * *
So for all of these names I have mentioned, in the great
poem ``Ulysses,'' he says, ``I am a part of all that I
have met,'' and I am a part of all these great Senators. I
am much richer for it and for having been their friend.
Mr. LAUTENBERG. I talked before about Tom Daschle. I
also will discuss the rest of our colleagues who are
leaving the Senate.
When the 109th Congress convenes in January, nine of our
current colleagues will not be here. I take a few moments
to pay tribute to them. Collectively, our colleagues have
served in the Senate for 144 years. We will miss them. * *
*
Another dear friend from the South, John Breaux, senior
Senator from Louisiana, is probably the Senate's
consummate dealmaker. I don't think anyone in this Chamber
has ever worked harder to bring the two parties together
on taxes, on health care, and especially our two biggest
entitlement programs, Social Security and Medicare.
He is the logical choice to chair the National
Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare and the
co-chair of the National Commission on Retirement Policy.
He has always been an effective champion for Louisiana's
oil and gas, agriculture, and tourism industries, which is
why his constituents have sent him to Washington with 60,
70, or even 80 percent of the vote. He was only 28 when he
first won a seat in the House in 1972. With 14 years in
the House and 18 years in the Senate, he spent more than
half of his entire life as a Member of Congress doing the
public's mission.
We will miss his Cajun humor, his legislative savvy, and
his tireless dedication of bringing Republicans and
Democrats together for the good of all America. * * *
I close my remarks by noting that these men have made
remarkable contributions to our society, and all Americans
should be grateful. I would tell those who are retiring, I
retired 4 years ago, and I did not like it. So here I am.
Perhaps there is hope for any of them who want to rejoin.
If you want to come back, I am here to tell you it can be
done. Just make sure that you get to keep your seniority.
Mr. President, I yield the floor and thank my colleagues
for their indulgence while I made my remarks.
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, let me say--this is probably
the first and only time I have ever said this--I have been
listening carefully to my friend from New Jersey, and I
agree with everything he said.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I know the hour is getting late
and others want to be heard, but I briefly want to express
some thoughts about our colleagues who are leaving this
wonderful body. Today we have heard some very compelling
speeches, particularly the one given by my good friend,
Tom Daschle of South Dakota, our Democratic leader.
I was pleased to see so many of our colleagues remain on
the floor to listen to the departing Democratic leader.
The words he expressed about his State, his staff, his
colleagues, his feelings about the country, and the
future, are instructive. I know it can sound repetitive
when people hear us talk about our colleagues this way,
but I think it is important for the public to note that
while they might hear only about the bickering, the part
that you do not often see is the deep respect, affection,
and caring that goes on among the Members of this body.
This affection comes despite the differences that exist in
red States and blue States, or being strongly conservative
or strongly liberal.
There is this weaving of a common denominator through
each and every one of us, particularly after years of
common service in this remarkable institution we call the
Senate. There is a deep and abiding respect for those who
have come here, those who have served here, those who have
tried to make a difference for our country.
It may seem like it is inside discussion, but I hope the
public understands how deeply felt these comments are
about colleagues who will no longer have the pleasure of
spending each and every day in this Chamber, but whose
friendship and collegiality will continue in the years
ahead as we encounter each other in different walks of
life. * * *
Our colleague, John Breaux of Louisiana, follows a great
tradition of some remarkable people who served that State
in this body. For 35 years, John has been, first a staff
member, then a House Member for 14 years, and for the past
18 years a Member of the Senate. John Breaux was elected
to the Senate to fill the seat of the late Russell Long,
considered one of the most capable and effective men ever
to serve in this body. In fact, my father, who served with
Russell Long, as I did for some time, saw Russell Long as
a great and dear friend.
I am proud to call John Breaux a friend as well. Without
a doubt, Senator Breaux has ably filled the imposing shoes
of Russell Long during his service here.
John Breaux has won great respect on both sides of the
aisle for his ability to reach across party lines and
bring Senators together. He is a legislator's legislator.
We don't often celebrate legislators. People often run to
serve in this body by promising to be independent, to be
their own person, to not compromise. It is an appealing
political argument. But all of us who serve here know that
our ability to get anything done requires our ability to
compromise with one another.
We are 100 co-equals serving in this great legislative
body. The only way anything ever happens is if people are
willing to compromise and work together. John Breaux
understood that from the day he arrived here and never
failed to seek out the means to achieve those goals during
his 18 years of service.
He is a wonderful example of what Senators need to do if
they are going to be successful. If I could offer any
words of advice to the incoming class of Senators who will
be arriving on January 4, it is to follow the model set by
John Breaux. I don't care what your politics are, if you
want to succeed, if you want to help your State, if you
want to make a difference for your country, then find out
ways to work with people across the political aisle. If
you do not, you may enjoy your service here but you will
accomplish very little.
John Breaux accomplished great things because he
understood the importance of reaching out to people,
people with whom he disagreed but he would constantly seek
them out if there were some common ground about which they
could agree. As a result, his accomplishments were
significant. Many times the accomplishments don't bear his
name. You might not find John Breaux's name on the bill,
but ask anybody who was around when the bill became law,
and they will tell you it happened because John Breaux
brought people together.
I will miss him. This body will. He had some wonderful
accomplishments here which made a huge difference, and I
wish him and his family the best in the years to come. * *
*
I apologize for taking this extra time. It is important
that the public hear Members talk about each other, even
those who disagreed on matters, that they understand why
this institution works more than 230 years after the
Founders created it.
I, as a Senator from Connecticut, take unique pride in
the Senate because it was Roger Sherman and Oliver
Ellsworth, both of Connecticut, who offered at the
Constitutional Convention the idea of the Senate
representing small and large States. Arguing over a
unicameral system, Sherman and Ellsworth said, how about
having a second body with equal representation, regardless
of the size or the population of the State. As a result,
this institution was created. It has been a great place
that has served our Nation for so long and I am confident
it will in the future.
We have been blessed by the participation of those who
are leaving. All of us wish each and every one of them the
very best in the years to come.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, the State of Louisiana has
grown accustomed to sending its Senators to Washington and
keeping them there for a long time. By the standards of
his illustrious State colleagues like Allen Ellender,
Russell Long, and Bennett Johnston, some might think
Senator Breaux is making an early exit after only three
terms. However, add in the 14 years that he represented
his State's Seventh Congressional District in the House of
Representatives and that comes to 32 years of
congressional service for the people of Louisiana.
During a period when it has become increasingly
difficult to work across party lines, I admire Senator
Breaux's determination to continue pursuing bipartisan
efforts. He has a genuine respect for the senatorial
traditions that can still help this body reach consensus,
even on difficult issues.
Since I became a member of the Finance Committee in
1993, the gentleman seated to my left has been John
Breaux. I know first-hand his commitment to the Social
Security and Medicare Programs and how deeply he cares
about their long-term stability. He also made effective
use of his position as chairman and ranking member of the
Special Committee on Aging to highlight the importance of
these programs to seniors both today and in the years to
come.
Just over a decade ago, Senator Breaux was one of a
handful of moderates who came together to seek a
bipartisan approach to health care reform. When the budget
process stalemated a few years later, Senator Breaux went
to our late colleague, Senator John Chafee, to develop a
centrist approach to fiscal discipline. As a founding
member of what came to be called the Chafee-Breaux group,
I saw how Senator Breaux worked to expand participation
and come up with compromises on the key sticking points of
tax and entitlement policies. In 1996, we put forward an
alternative budget that got 46 votes despite the active
opposition of both the Democratic and Republican
leadership. This effort directly laid the groundwork for
the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, which put us on the track to
balance the moral budget in fiscal year 1998 for the first
time since fiscal year 1969.
Senator Breaux put the same energy into Medicare reform.
He refused to be discouraged by the slings and arrows of
partisans on both sides who complained that his approach
did not sufficiently adhere to either side's vision of
ideological purity. His tireless efforts paid off last
year when Congress adopted the most far-reaching changes
to Medicare since its inception. Due in large part to the
efforts of Senator Breaux, Medicare for the first time
will provide prescription drug coverage to our seniors.
I also had the privilege of working closely with Senator
Breaux on the Finance Committee to protect the interests
of our highly efficient sugar industry. As co-chair of the
Senate Sweetener Caucus, Senator Breaux was a zealous
advocate for the Louisiana sugarcane industry. We joined
together to fight misguided provisions of the NAFTA that
would have threatened the U.S. sugar industry and
succeeded in getting the Clinton administration to
renegotiate this part of the agreement. More recently,
Senator Breaux has taken a lead role in opposing the Bush
administration's efforts to trade away the future of our
sugar industry in ongoing trade negotiations with Central
America, Australia, and other countries.
Senator Breaux already has one lasting legacy firmly in
place as one of the creators of the Wallop-Breaux Aquatic
Resources Trust Fund. This far-sighted and innovative idea
resulted in a funding mechanism for programs to promote
recreational boating safety and sport fish restoration by
using proceeds from the excise taxes on motorboat fuel and
fishing equipment, along with duties on related imported
goods. The beneficiaries are the more than 70 million
recreational boaters and sport fishing enthusiasts across
the country.
I doubt that Senator Breaux will be out of the public
policy business for long. Someone with his experience and
ideas will be a valuable asset wherever he decides to go
after leaving the Senate. We will miss him as a colleague,
but I would not be surprised to see our friend John Breaux
back here often.
Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, it is hard to believe that
my good friend from Louisiana, John Breaux, is retiring
from the Senate. We served in the other body together when
we were very young, and we have been friends ever since,
even though he almost always beat me on the tennis court.
John Breaux always took his responsibilities in the
House and in the Senate very seriously but he was always
humble and courteous to his colleagues. His pleasant
manner, his quick wit, and his diligence were great assets
which he has used over the years to fashion an impressive
legislative record.
His service in the Senate has been truly outstanding. I
will miss him greatly. I wish for him and his wife, Lois,
much happiness and satisfaction in the years ahead.
Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to
some of my colleagues who will be leaving the Senate at
the end of this session. * * *
The Senate will be saying goodbye to another great
centrist, Senator John Breaux. Senator Breaux has a well-
earned reputation on the Hill of being able to bring both
sides together and forge bipartisan compromises.
In a time of blue States and red States, Senator Breaux
has been a leader in bringing Americans together in the
mainstream middle, instead of dividing Americans with the
ideological extremism.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to take this
opportunity to honor our departing colleagues who are
leaving the Senate. In almost each new Congress a
different group of 100 men and women comes together from
different backgrounds and political philosophies,
representing different interests and constituencies, but
through all our differences, we develop respect and
admiration for each other. Many times we step across the
aisle and work together on legislation, and oftentimes
genuine friendships are created. As I pay tribute to these
departing Senators, whether they have been here one term
or seven, they are a remarkable group and we thank them
for their honorable service.
John Breaux is retiring after serving three terms in the
Senate. I would like to take this time to acknowledge a
friend, colleague, and dedicated public servant.
Senator Breaux was elected to the House of
Representatives in 1972 at the age of 28, and at that time
he was the youngest Member of Congress. After serving 14
years in the House, the people of Louisiana elected John
Breaux to the Senate in 1986.
I have had the pleasure of working closely with Senator
Breaux on many energy matters over the years. During this
time, I have admired his ability to find common ground
between those who hold disparate views. His uncanny
ability to bring industry leaders, policymakers, and
administration leaders together is unique, and I will
always appreciate his candor in resolving energy policy
differences. John was always someone I could reach across
the aisle to work with on the budget resolutions.
It is well known that Senator Breaux is passionate about
improving health care for all Americans. He worked
tirelessly on welfare and health care issues, and took an
active interest in the elderly as a member of the Finance
Committee and a leader of the Special Committee on Aging.
Just last year he played an integral part in drafting the
Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003.
This historic legislation will provide relief to the
millions of people struggling to pay for prescription
drugs and he should be honored for his dedication to this
bill.
Senator Breaux's work has touched the lives of a great
many Americans, and his talents and unrivaled sense of
humor will be sorely missed in the Senate. Just as
important, he has been a great advocate for his home State
of Louisiana, and his State has been lucky to have his
service for so many years.
In the course of working together for so many years, I
have developed genuine respect for Senator Breaux. I thank
him for years of distinguished service, and wish him the
very best in all his future undertakings. I will miss
Senator John Breaux.
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, I rise to say goodbye
to several of my colleagues, dear friends and colleagues
with whom I have had the pleasure to work in the Senate.
Madam President, Senator John Breaux is a voice of
moderation and bipartisanship. He helped pass landmark
welfare reform under a previous administration, and has
consistently been able to work with Members of the other
side of the aisle whether his party has been in the
majority or minority.
His commonsense approach to energy legislation and many
other issues will certainly be missed. He helped defeat
the BTU tax which was so injurious to the energy industry
in both my State of Texas and his State of Louisiana.
Senator Breaux was the youngest Member of the House of
Representatives when he was elected, at age 28, in 1972.
He served in the House for 14 years before being elected
to fill the legendary Senator Russell Long seat in 1986.
You would think Washington would change someone after all
that time, but John is still a Cajun through and through
and sees the world with a sense of humor that keeps
everything in perspective.
I will miss John Breaux. He was often an ally on
transportation, energy, and telecommunications issues.
Even when we were on opposite sides in a debate, he
brought wisdom, experience, and a willingness to work in a
bipartisan fashion to the Senate.
And no, John, Louisiana cannot annex Texas.
Madam President, I will miss all of my colleagues. As we
take the opportunity to go forward in a new Congress, we
will make new friends, but we will never forget the old
ones.
Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I want to share my views, as
did Senator Hutchison and others, about our colleagues who
are leaving for new adventures in life.
I wish all the best to Senator Hollings. We will miss
his booming voice. We will miss Senator Edwards, Senator
Graham of Florida, and Senator Daschle. We will also miss
John Breaux, a man we know will enjoy life with his good
common sense and sense of humor. He is a good friend.
Mr. REID. John Breaux and I came to the Senate together.
We served in the House together. He comes from a State
that, of course, is famous for unpredictable politics, and
John has done every bit of his work to make sure that
tradition is upheld.
When he was running for the Senate, as only John Breaux
could do, his opponent raised a question, and his
opponent, who was somebody who also had served in the
House of Representatives, said John Breaux can be bought.
They would rush out to John Breaux and would say: Your
opponent said you could be bought. How do you respond to
that? John Breaux said: Well, I can be leased but I can't
be bought. Who else, other than John Breaux, could get
away with something like that?
He is a great person, a person of integrity, a person
who came to the House of Representatives way back in 1972.
He served in the Congress for 32 years. There is no one
who is better at making a deal than John Breaux. I say
this in the most positive way. Legislation is the art of
compromise, consensus building, and John Breaux understood
that to a T. We need more people such as John Breaux with
the ability to reach across the aisle.
We will miss John Breaux, Mr. Problem Solver. I
appreciate his and Lois's friendship over these years. I
will miss him very much.
Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute
to departing Senators for their service and devotion to
the U.S. Senate. They are not only my colleagues but my
friends.
The reality of elections for the Senate is that every 2
years we experience change--current Members depart and new
Members are welcomed. At every transition I am reminded by
the reality that life is more than just politics. I am
certain the departing Senators are experiencing a
tremendous feeling of sorrow, yet anticipation of things
to come, as they leave their friends, colleagues, and this
great nurturing institution.
Though we may fight hard during campaigns, we return to
the Senate after the election to realize that we are not
just losing Senators--we are losing friends. There is a
bond--a collegiality and friendship in the Senate that
crosses party lines. We face long hard battles on the
campaign trail and sometimes things can get ugly. But
after all is said and done, after election day, we must
all come back to Washington and work together to do what
is best for our country.
I will certainly miss my colleagues with whom I have
worked for several years. I have had the honor to serve on
the Finance Committee with four of my distinguished
retiring colleagues, including Senator John Breaux and
Senator Don Nickles. Both of these men were instrumental
in leading the fight to reform Medicare.
Senator John Breaux and I have worked side by side on
Social Security issues. He is a good friend and he has
always been willing to compromise. He is the master of a
very noble craft--that of bringing people together from
both sides of the aisle.
Our departing Senators have been lights of inspiration
and men who went above the call of duty to serve our
country in their congressional capacities. They each have
their own unique political perspective that has served the
Senate well. Although my philosophies may differ from some
Senators, we do not disagree on the greatness of America.
We can all agree that we live in the greatest nation in
the world, and we all believe that without democracy,
life, liberty, and justice cannot flourish.
My departing colleagues are great men and great
Americans. They have contributed immensely to our
country--making their States and our country significantly
better than when they first set foot on the Senate floor.
We are all going to miss their presence and wisdom here
in the Senate. Their departures will surely leave a hole
in expertise and leadership that will be hard to fill. I
wish them health and happiness in their future endeavors--
wherever the road may take them. May God continue to bless
them and their families.
Come January, as we face another transition, I welcome
the new Members and look forward to forging new
relationships as we continue to work toward making
Americans safer, healthier, and more financially secure.
Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, there are not many things on
which all Senators agree. But on one thing, there is
universal, bipartisan agreement in this body: We are going
to miss Senator John Breaux when he retires at the end of
the 108th Congress.
Make no mistake, John Breaux is a tremendously
accomplished Senator, with scores of legislative
achievements and accomplishments. He is a Senator's
Senator. But when I think of John Breaux, I think first
and foremost of his character, his unique way with people,
and his wonderful good nature.
You can disagree with John, but you can never dislike
him. He has a knack for taking disagreements and disputes,
and turning them into deals to move people forward. This
is a priceless talent--a special skill--and I have never
met another politician who could match John Breaux's gifts
in this regard.
For John, politics is not something you do with clenched
teeth. Politics is a joy. Politics is fun. They used to
call Hubert Humphrey the ``happy warrior.'' And that is
very much the spirit that John Breaux has always brought
to his work in the Senate. However, John would rather not
make war on other Senators; he would rather cut a
constructive deal that gets things done for ordinary
people.
Of course, these personal qualities have allowed John
Breaux to be an amazingly effective Senator for his State
of Louisiana. When John comes to you, when he tells you he
needs help on a measure critical to his State, it is
mighty hard to say no. Frankly, many times I have had a
preconceived notion against the oil and gas industries,
and I have opposed what they are trying to do on this or
that bill. But John Breaux would come to see you, he talks
it through, and next thing you know, you find yourself
supporting him. He is just so effective in that kind of
one-on-one persuasion. And, time and again, Louisiana has
been the big winner.
Another hallmark of John Breaux in the Senate has been
his commonsense centrism. John is a man of strong
principles, but he is not rigid and he certainly is not an
ideolog. The questions John asks are, ``What is
practical?'' ``What is going to work in the real world?''
``What can we bring people together on, in order to make a
positive difference?''
Typical of Senator Breaux was his proposal a couple
years ago to address the problem of 54 million Americans
without health insurance. He called for universal health
care. But he kept it practical. He proposed that all
Americans have access to a basic, government-defined
insurance package similar to what Members of Congress and
our staffs get from the Federal Employees Health Benefit
Plan. And he proposed tax credits to make premiums more
affordable for middle- and lower-income citizens.
Perhaps it is symbolic that John Breaux is leaving the
Senate at this time. As we saw this week in the conference
on the FSC bill, the spirit of compromise and the art of
constructive accommodation seem to be dying in the
Senate--and even more so in the House. Increasingly, the
attitude around here is ``my way or the highway.'' And
that is not the Senate that I have loved over the years.
That is not healthy for our democracy.
The shame is that John Breaux is leaving at exactly the
time when we need his talents more than ever. In fact, we
need a dozen John Breauxs around here to heal this body,
to show people how to rise above partisanship in the best
interests of the country.
So I will miss John's presence in the Senate. We will
all miss him. But John Breaux is the youngest 60-year-old
person I have ever met. And you can bet that he has many
challenges and opportunities still ahead of him. John and
Lois have been, and will continue to be, wonderful
friends. And I wish them all the best.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the State of Louisiana has a
proud history of sending remarkable public figures to
serve in the Senate. Louisiana has elected leaders that
have been influential in guiding the direction of our
country. Our colleague John Breaux is a man from this same
mold. For more than 30 years the senior Senator from
Louisiana has represented his State in Washington, with 18
years as a Member of this body, and 14 years of service in
the House of Representatives. In that time, he has always
been willing to reach across the aisle to bring our
colleagues together, and his leadership has produced a
list of impressive legislative accomplishments.
As chairman and then as ranking member of the Special
Committee on Aging, Senator Breaux has fought tirelessly
for the rights of older Americans, working to reform and
protect both Social Security and Medicare. The senior
Senator from Louisiana has also provided strong leadership
within the Senate during his 8-year tenure as deputy chief
whip. His repeated election to this position speaks to the
respect that our colleagues have for Senator Breaux's
ability to routinely bring together Members with differing
opinions to build a consensus.
One of Senator Breaux's lasting legacies will be the
leading role he has taken with regard to environmental
conservation. In 1990, the Senator authored the Coastal
Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act, which
provides for the restoration of the vital coastal wetlands
of Louisiana and has since become known as the Breaux Act.
This legislation was passed during his first term in the
Senate and has since been renewed. More recently, Senator
Breaux has supported legislation that would help protect
coastal regions from the impact of offshore oil and gas
exploration.
In our many years of service together, Senator Breaux
and I have had the opportunity to work closely on a wide
range of issues. We both have been actively involved in
telecommunications legislation, and collaborated on
legislation that authorized reform of the telephone
industry. I am particularly appreciative of Senator
Breaux's unwavering support for legislation opposing the
use of antipersonnel landmines, an issue of great
significance to me personally and to the safety of
millions of people around the world.
I am proud of the body of legislation that Senator
Breaux and I advanced together throughout our shared time
in the Senate. I commend Senator Breaux for his dedication
to being a watchdog for American seniors, for his legacy
of environmental protection in Louisiana, and for his
record of public service on behalf of his fellow
Louisianans. The Senate and the people of Louisiana are
losing a dedicated public servant and exceptional leader.
I congratulate the Senator on a remarkable congressional
career and wish him continued success in his future
endeavors.
On a personal level, John and Lois Breaux are good
friends. Marcelle and I share the joy of telling
grandchildren stories--and even of borrowing Mardi Gras
costumes. I quickly realized in wearing one that you
needed the special Cajun flavor of Louisiana to carry it
off. John can do that one day at a Mardi Gras party and
the next day handle on the floor the most complex issue
facing the Finance Committee. He is a Senator's Senator.
Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to honor my
friend and incomparable colleague in both the House and
Senate for 26 years, Senator John Breaux. The senior
Senator from Louisiana leaves this institution stronger
for having lent his voice and his leadership to these
Chambers. Senator Breaux's commitment to bipartisan
statesmanship has enriched the Senate, improved the lives
of Louisiana families and resulted in landmark
accomplishments for the American people.
Churchill said that ``A pessimist sees the difficulty in
every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in
every difficulty.'' By that definition, none can doubt
which camp Senator Breaux falls in. He is the Senate's
most irrepressible optimist. He steps into the breach, not
merely in words, but in countless efforts over his tenure
in both the House and Senate to make the process work for
the people it is intended to serve. Where some see
hopeless gridlock, Senator Breaux always sees a glimmer of
hope and acts on it. Never settling for complacency, he
uses his trademark tenacity and energy to move the
deliberative process forward. His is a record of
achievement over acrimony.
I personally was privileged to work closely with Senator
Breaux for more than two decades. He and I have always
shared a vision of politics and public life as positive
and constructive endeavors. And we have a long history
together, dating back to our days serving in the House of
Representatives, of reaching across the aisle to reach
consensus and produce results.
In fact, we worked together on such fundamental issues
as the Federal budget when Senator Breaux was a member of
a moderate, southern Democrat group called the Boll
Weevils, and I a member of the northeast Republican Gypsy
Moths. Some still wonder why both our groups carried the
names of ravenous insects.
But it was fortuitous that Senator Breaux and I had this
record of cooperation because it seemed only natural when
we later teamed up as co-chairs of the Senate Centrist
Coalition, which Senator Breaux founded along with the
late Senator John Chafee in 1995 during the government
shutdown.
So there is no question that I will miss him--we will
all miss him--because we need more leaders such as Senator
John Breaux in Congress. He has proven that we can
cultivate common ground even out of sometimes barren
partisan landscape. And his ability to forge compromises
has made possible many signature accomplishments of both
Democrat and Republican administrations. Senator Breaux
views public service as an opportunity to get things done
for the people he serves, to make a difference in their
lives--whether it was reforming welfare to help families
move from public assistance to self-sufficiency,
strengthening and saving Medicare and Social Security,
preserving wetlands like the Louisiana Bayou, or providing
tax relief to stimulate job creation.
What has made Senator Breaux so effective is not only
his legislative acumen, but also his personal bonds with
colleagues. The Senator has brought people together with
his self-effacing wit, his candid approach, and his
eagerness to reach out to colleagues on both sides of the
aisle. So it is not surprising that he departs the Senate
with the respect, trust and affection of Senators across
the political spectrum.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have served
alongside Senator Breaux, and I wish him, his wife Lois,
and their entire family all the best in their future
endeavors.
Mr. DASCHLE. Today I would like to say a few words about
eight Senators with whom I have served these last historic
6 years, all of whom will be leaving when this Congress
ends.
Senator Nickles, Senator Campbell, Senator Fitzgerald,
and Senator Miller, it has been a privilege to work with
each of you. You have each sacrificed much to serve our
Nation and I am sure you will continue to serve America
well in the years to come.
Six Democratic Senators are leaving at the end of this
Congress. Among them is our friend, the senior Senator
from Louisiana.
I was joking with another friend recently that the good
thing about John Breaux retiring is that maybe now he will
finally be able to loosen up a little.
John's ability to make us laugh even in tough times is a
gift we have all treasured. Another gift of John's is his
ability to find workable compromises on even the most
difficult issues. He really is a master of the art of the
compromise.
A couple of years ago, I read a newspaper article in
which John talked about what he might do if he ever left
the Senate. He pointed out that Huey Long had actually
served as Louisiana's Senator and Governor at the same
time. I thought when I heard that that maybe John would
never leave the Senate; he would just diversify.
Regrettably, he is leaving now.
I know that serving as Ambassador to France has always
been high on John's list of post-Senate dream jobs. I
understand that a few years back, John asked President
Clinton, ``Do you think I could handle France?'' to which
President Clinton replied, ``The question is whether
France could handle you.''
Whatever John Breaux decides to do next, I have no doubt
that he will continue to find ways to serve the people of
Louisiana and America. And I know he will have a heck of a
good time in the process. John and Lois are special
members of our Senate family, and we wish them all the
best in the future. * * *
I have to be honest, Mr. President, it was not my wish
to depart with these fine Senators. But it has been my
honor and a joy to serve with them, and one that I will
remember all the days of my life.
Mr. McCONNELL. We cannot conclude the 108th Congress
without a sense of sadness. There are many--in fact there
are too many--great Senators who are leaving this
institution. I have already had an opportunity to express
my goodbyes to Senator Nickles, Senator Campbell, and
Senator Fitzgerald.
I also wish a happy and healthy future to our colleagues
across the aisle, Senator Daschle, Senator Breaux, Senator
Hollings, Senator Bob Graham, Senator John Edwards, and
Senator Zell Miller. Each of these men has made a lasting
contribution to this marvelous institution.
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, we are in the midst of a
very important discussion, of course, as we are
considering what to do. As the leadership meets to
consider what we should do that hopefully will either move
this process forward or come up with some other
resolution, I thought I might take a moment to speak about
our colleague, Senator Breaux, and his retirement.
This would probably be a good time to talk about the
senior Senator from Louisiana and to pay tribute to him
because he would be one of the Senators most certainly who
could help us figure out this situation. He has been
helping us figure out situations like this for 32 years
with a lot of success and, I might say, with a lot of
respect from all the Members in this body, both on the
Republican side and the Democratic side.
It might be appropriate for me to speak a few moments
about the great contribution this man has made to this
body.
Senator Breaux came to the House when he was 28 years
old, and after four children and now three grandchildren,
he leaves us after serving well and admirably for 32
years.
When he came to Congress 32 years ago at the age of 28,
he was the youngest Member of Congress to be serving at
that time. He has served with 7 Presidents and 16
Congresses. He served with President Nixon, President
Ford, President Carter, President Reagan, President Bush,
President Clinton, and now currently with President Bush.
He served through 16 Congresses for 32 years in times of
war and peace, through recessions and irrational
exuberance. He has served as a husband, as a father, as a
grandfather, and he served our State with great grace,
great steadiness, and great leadership through it all.
It might not come as a surprise to my colleagues as we
consider at this time what we are going to do to look at
this picture of John Breaux that will give us all a laugh.
I do not know whether he was playing Li'l Abner or a
farmer, but this is on his Web site and he displays it
proudly. It shows a sense of humor, even as a young man.
He has been called brash and good looking and confident,
and he still is that today. He is not only a storyteller,
but a great dealmaker. He has a rollicking sense of humor.
He is admirable. He is hard-working, amiable, smart, a
bridge builder, a strategic thinker, and someone who has
our deepest respect. He has been, and continues to be, a
team player.
I found this picture of John Breaux with his uniform on,
which is the way he pretty much came to work every day,
with his hat on, a baseball cap, maybe just in a suit, but
ready to get the work of the Senate done and get the work
of Congress done.
There is probably not a major piece of legislation
passed by this Senate that did not have John Breaux's
assistance. He was the teammaker, always ready to bat or
pitch or catch or sit on the sidelines or referee because
he basically did it all.
He was also considered a strategic thinker and a great
leader for our country. He, as many of us, gets the
opportunity to not only speak on this floor but to be on
major television and radio programs speaking about the
great issues of the day. And he most certainly has put his
mark on many pieces of legislation.
As a member of the Finance Committee, as a member of the
Commerce Committee, and as a member of the Fisheries
Committee in the House during the time he served there, I
can say there is probably not a major piece of legislation
that has not felt the good mark of Senator Breaux: always
there with a compromise, always there with a suggestion,
always there with a little prodding. We and the people of
our Nation can be grateful for his wisdom and his input at
those critical times.
Whether it was the Medicare overhaul, laying the
groundwork for a stronger Social Security system, or
whether it was legislation related to agriculture, to
sugar or rice, the commodities in Louisiana that are so
important, John was always there.
I want to say a word about a very important bill--and we
will show John playing tennis because this demonstrates
that not only is he a great athlete and team player, but
he is a great tennis player. What I like about this
picture is he always kept his eye on the ball. Despite all
of the great work that Senator Breaux did in this Senate
on so many pieces of legislation, helping all States, he
always kept his eye on the ball--the State of Louisiana.
There are 4.5 million people who live in our State--
wealthy people, poor people, people who live far out in
the woods in the country and people who live in the great
urban centers of New Orleans and our capital city of Baton
Rouge and our other cities. Not only did he keep his eye
on the ball in Louisiana, he kept his heart with us.
I can tell you he has left a great mark on our State.
There is an act we are proud of that we now call the
Breaux Act. It is referred to as Wallop-Breaux, but at
home we call it the Breaux Act because John, in his
typical quiet, responsible fashion, crafted a very special
tax arrangement that is ongoing--and we will not talk too
much about the details, John, on the floor--but there was
a very special arrangement made years ago with members of
the Finance Committee that has helped us finance and send
money to the State of Louisiana that has literally laid
the groundwork to save our coastline.
It is not just Louisiana's coastline; it is America's
wetlands. Two-thirds of the Nation is drained by it. Forty
percent of the fisheries are in the Gulf of Mexico. The
greatest shipping channel in all of North America comes
through that Mississippi Delta.
Because John kept his eye on the ball--and although he
did all this great work for the Nation, he always loved
Louisiana the most, always put his State first--we are now
able to build a great environmental legacy to save this
coastline. We already lost land the size of the State of
Rhode Island, but because of John's work, because of his
great strengths and great sense of humor, great respect,
and great intelligence, he was able to lay that
groundwork.
Whether it was advocating for senior citizens in our
State when they did not have an advocate, or showing up at
senior centers early in the morning and late at night,
whether it was advocating for children through education
or whether it was advocating for sugar, he did it all.
Maybe this picture says it the best. On the front page
of one of our Nation's leading magazines, here is Senator
Breaux sitting at the table holding all the cards and most
of the chips, which is the most important thing about this
picture, with the elephant on one side and the donkey on
the other, and John Breaux in the middle. At times, we
need men and women in the middle. We need people who can
listen to both sides and try to figure it out.
Tonight, that is what we are trying to do on the Senate
floor, just trying to figure out this situation. It is a
serious situation, and I do not at all mean to be light
about it, but figuring it out is what we do as leaders,
making our government work.
While I do not gamble too much myself, I can most surely
appreciate--and there are plenty of people in Louisiana
who do gamble. So we are proud of this picture and proud
of John, but deals need to be made on principle and for
the people. The people need the government to always give
them a fair deal, a good deal, and a square deal, and that
is what John did.
So, John, on behalf of so many people in Louisiana and
around the Nation, let me say that you are going to be
missed because you will not be a Member, of course, of the
Senate, but we know that we can call you. We know that we
can reach you. We know that you will always be advocating
for us in Louisiana and for our Nation.
Let me also mention what has not been said on the floor
and what was not said in my remarks. Besides having his
name on many bills, the phone conversations and quiet
consultations that he held with Presidents and with senior
Members of this body, his wisdom was found and went
through those conversations and into legislation that
became part of the work of this body and the Congress.
So, John, for all of your not only legislative work but
for your good counsel to us, to Presidents, to leaders of
nations, to leaders in industry, we thank you for that and
may you look forward to many happy years with Lois. I know
that your father Ezra, and I know that your mother, God
rest her soul, would be proud. I know that your father
Ezra has watched you all these years and continues to be
very proud of you. From Crowley, LA, from a young man who
ran when he was 28 years old on the theme of experience
matters, and was brash enough at 28, having never served a
moment to say that experience matters, let me say,
experience does matter, and we are proud to have had a
Senator with the kind of experience and legacy of my
senior Senator from Louisiana, John Breaux.
Monday, December 20, 2004
Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, with the adjournment of the
108th Congress, Senator John Breaux is retiring. With his
departure Louisiana loses a vigorous and effective
advocate, the Nation loses a dedicated and skillful
legislator, and the Members of this body, on both sides of
the aisle, lose a trusted and respected colleague and a
dear friend.
John Breaux has spent 35 years serving the people of
Louisiana in one capacity or another. In 1969, as a recent
law school graduate, he came to Washington for the first
time to become a legislative assistant to the
Representative from Louisiana's Seventh Congressional
District. When the seat became open 3 years later, John
ran for Congress himself, and won. He was then 25 years
old. From 1973 until 1977, we served together in the House
of Representatives. John continued serving the House for
another 5 terms, before being elected to the first of
three terms in the Senate, in 1986.
The decision to come to Washington was a very major
decision for the Breaux family, so much so that one child
prayed: ``Goodbye God. We are moving to Washington.'' For
the people of Louisiana and the Nation, it has proved to
be a most fortunate decision.
John Breaux's accomplishments over 18 years in the U.S.
Senate are legion. He has served on the Finance Committee;
the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; and
the Rules Committee. He has chaired the Special Committee
on Aging. For 8 years he served his Senate Democratic
colleagues as chief deputy whip. He has left his mark on
virtually every piece of legislation that passed through
the committees on which he has served. He has been a
tireless advocate for older Americans, and a proponent of
universal health care.
Above and beyond any specific issue, John Breaux has
sought to make government work. He has won the respect and
affection of his colleagues--and, time and again, their
attention--with what Charlie Cook, in ``The Cook Report,''
described as ``his moderation, personality, manner and
legislative style.'' In commenting on John's decision to
retire, The Shreveport Times called him ``a Louisiana
natural resource'' and ``the bridge-builder in an era of
burning bridges.''