[Senate Document 108-20]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]







108th Congress               SENATE DOCUMENT            S.Doc 108-20 
--------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 

               TRIBUTES TO HON. JOHN B. BREAUX




                                   John B. Breaux

                      U.S. SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA

                                TRIBUTES

                           IN THE CONGRESS OF

                           THE UNITED STATES

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             [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.''

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