[Senate Document 108-23]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Doc. 108-23
TRIBUTES TO HON. JOHN EDWARDS
John Edwards
U.S. SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA
TRIBUTES
IN THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES
John Edwards
Tributes
Delivered in Congress
John Edwards
United States Senator
1999-2005
a
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.....................
15
Boxer, Barbara, of California..................
5
Burns, Conrad R., of Montana...................
4
Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota..................
3
Daschle, Thomas A., of South Dakota............
17
Dayton, Mark, of Minnesota.....................
6
Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut...........
10
Domenici, Pete V., of New Mexico...............
13
Frist, Bill, of Tennessee......................
4
Harkin, Tom, of Iowa...........................
7
Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
14
Inhofe, James M., of Oklahoma..................
10
Lautenberg, Frank, of New Jersey...............
9
Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont..................
15
McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky..................
18
Nelson, Bill, of Florida.......................
6
Reid, Harry, of Nevada.........................
15
Sarbanes, Paul S., of Maryland.................
18
Shelby, Richard C., of Alabama.................
4
Stabenow, Deborah Ann, of Michigan.............
13
Biography
Sworn into office on January 6, 1999, Senator John
Edwards emerged as a champion for issues affecting the
daily lives of regular people in North Carolina and the
Nation.
Senator Edwards was a chief sponsor of the Bipartisan
Patient Protection Act, strong and far-reaching patient
protection legislation that passed the Senate in 2001.
Senator Edwards's bipartisan accomplishments also
include a major investment in America's public schools,
strong antiterrorism measures, sweeping campaign finance
reform and legislation to fight corporate corruption.
The News & Observer of Raleigh described Senator Edwards
as ``smart, disciplined, [and] hard-working with a down-
home manner.'' The Wall Street Journal called him ``a
Senator who impresses colleagues in behind-doors
deliberations.'' The Washington Post said Senator Edwards
has ``the ability to think on his feet . . . master
complex issues and . . . communicate in plain language to
ordinary people.''
Senator Edwards served on four committees: Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions; Intelligence; Judiciary;
and Small Business.
As part of his commitment to North Carolina, Senator
Edwards has been to all 100 counties in the State, from
Murphy (where he went to a college) to Manteo (where he
honored Andy Griffith). Every week that the Senate was in
session, he hosted Tar Heel Thursday, townhall style
meetings open to all North Carolinians visiting
Washington.
Born in 1953, Senator Edwards grew up in Robbins, a
small town in the Piedmont. His father, Wallace, worked in
textile mills for 36 years. His mother, Bobbie, had a
number of jobs including working at the post office.
A product of North Carolina public schools, Senator
Edwards was the first person in his family to go to
college. He worked his way through North Carolina State
University and graduated with an honors degree in textiles
in 1974. He earned a law degree with honors in 1977 from
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
He met his wife, Elizabeth, when both were law school
students at Chapel Hill. They married in 1977, and have
had four children. Their first child, Wade, died in 1996.
Their eldest daughter, Catharine, is a 2004 graduate of
Princeton University. The Edwards household also includes
a 6-year-old daughter, Emma Claire, and a 4-year-old son,
Jack.
Farewell
Friday, November 19, 2004
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. President, life has a great way of
handing us moments that are bittersweet. I am sad today to
rise for the final time to represent the State of North
Carolina as their Senator, but I am also filled with a
great deal of joy because I will be heading home to the
place and the people and the family I love so much. I also
want to thank everyone who is listening and all Members of
the Senate and the staff who have been so extraordinary
about my wife Elizabeth for their prayers and their
support.
Elizabeth and I and our family draw so much strength
from all of you. We are comforted by your words and your
prayers.
We are grateful to the more than 50,000 people who have
sent e-mails and letters to Elizabeth. As Elizabeth's
brother said when he was asked about it, he would not want
to be cancer inside of Elizabeth's body, and I agree with
that.
She is the love of my life and a woman of great
strength. I am sure she will be successful in this fight.
Both of us hope and pray that by talking about it in the
way that Elizabeth has, and with the grace and courage
that she has shown, it will help other women who are faced
with the same kind of struggle so they can avoid the same
kind of struggle.
Sometimes when hardship comes, one feels alone, but
thanks to all of you and our family in the Senate, we know
that we are not alone. We are blessed to have the love,
affection, and support of our friends and our family, our
great staff in Washington, DC, in the Senate office and
back in North Carolina and our Senate offices there, and
also the staff in the Senate.
Those who serve on the floor of the Senate who have been
wonderful friends and so much help and support for all of
us, we thank all of them. To Marty and to Lula, whom
Elizabeth and I adore, who have been wonderful friends to
us and have advised us and shown us our way around here,
we appreciate both of them. To the people in the Cloakroom
who have helped us and taken care of us for the last 6
years, and to the men and women--and I hope they will hear
my voice--who take us up and down the elevators, whom we
see as we go in and out of these office buildings and the
Capitol, who serve all of us and who are wonderful,
extraordinary people, I have to say, since I have come
back from the campaign trail, to a person they have spoken
their support and affection for Elizabeth and for our
family and what we are going through. I just want them all
to know how much they mean not only to us but to all of us
who serve in the Senate.
And, of course, to all the men and women I have had the
privilege to serve with here in the Senate. To those who
think the men and women who serve in this institution do
not work hard, I wish they could spend 1 day here and see
how hard it is and how devoted everyone who serves in the
Senate is, and how much they want to do good things for
the country--whatever our disagreements are. We have many
and they are strong. The truth is, everyone here serves
because they love their country and they want to do good
things for their country.
All of you, you keep us strong. You keep us going. You
remind us, in good times and in bad, when we work
together, everything is still possible here in America. It
is the North Carolina way. That is the way I like to look
at it. I have never loved my home State or my country more
than I do today. We have had some triumphs, we have had
some tragedies over the last 6 years. But one thing is
clear: I will never stop representing the people of North
Carolina, the values they represent and the values that I
grew up with there and the values I believe in. The truth
is, it is who I am.
It is what I learned in Robbins, NC, growing up,
watching my father and the men and women who worked
alongside him in the mill for all those years. It is what
I learned from going to church, from going to our schools,
and from going to all 100 counties in North Carolina,
which I am proud to have done, and listening to the people
of North Carolina. It is what I learned when I shook the
hands of the people who came on Tarheel Thursday, which we
had when we were here in the Senate. I will never forget
you.
I will never forget the first struggle we had in the
wake of Hurricane Floyd, hard-working people like Bobby
Carraway. He owned a restaurant in Kinston near the Neuse
River. It sat under 3 feet of water for days. He lost
everything. He and so many like him didn't want a
government handout, they wanted a hand up and a chance to
do what they were capable of doing and a chance to go back
to work, which is all he and his family had ever known
their entire lives. What we did then for so many, and this
year, too, in the western part of our State, which has
been hit by hurricanes and flooding, is we worked
together, we picked ourselves up, we dusted away the
disappointment, and we got back to work to make North
Carolina stronger.
I will also never forget the men and women who worked at
Pillowtex. They did everything right. They took care of
their families. They went to work every day, some of them
for days and years, some of them for decades. They still
couldn't stop their jobs from moving overseas.
I met one woman whose question I hear over and over--I
heard it over and over again as I traveled around the
country. She looked at me and said: What am I supposed to
do now? Have I not done what is right in America? I worked
hard, I raised my family, I was responsible. Now my job is
gone and what am I supposed to do?
Together we fought to help her pay for health care and
get training for a new job but, most important, we fought
to keep North Carolina jobs in North Carolina where we
need them so badly. We stood up against tax breaks that
shipped our jobs overseas. We fought for fair trade that
gave our workers and businesses a chance to compete, and
represented the values we believe in.
I will also never forget Dr. Clay Ballantine. He works
at Mission St. Joseph's Hospital in Asheville, NC. Every
day he sees kids and adults and seniors who come in with
respiratory problems, problems with asthma. He told his
story as we fought the battle to protect the quality of
our air for our children and for our seniors.
I will never forget the farmers and the men and women
who live in our small towns, our rural areas where I grew
up. That is who I am. The truth is, you are the heart and
soul of North Carolina. When our farmers were struggling,
especially our tobacco farmers, I am proud in the end we
were able to do something to help them, because they
deserve it. They have done so much for their towns and
their communities and for my State. They deserve
something, finally, to be done to help them and support
them. All of us together were able to do that.
It also matters to good, hard-working people like Blythe
and Gwendolyn Casey. They have had a family farm for
decades. They did their part and they never dreamed they
would be close to retiring, mired in debt, debt they can
never recover from. Together we helped them and we
maintained family farms across our State of North
Carolina.
I will never forget the mothers and the fathers, the
husbands and the wives, the brothers and the sisters who
wanted nothing but to make sure their loved one got the
care they needed in their darkest hour. Together with
Senator John McCain and Senator Kennedy, my friends and my
colleagues, two men for whom I have enormous respect and
affection, we went to work on something that matters--
making sure you and your doctors could make your own
health care decisions, especially when they were important
to you and your family. It wasn't easy. There were
lobbyists all over this place from every drug company,
HMO, and big insurance company. They prowled these halls,
but we did it and we got the Patients' Bill of Rights
passed in the Senate. I have absolute faith that the
Senate will do it again and the President will sign the
Patients' Bill of Rights into law for all Americans.
I will also never forget the brave soldiers I met in
Afghanistan on a dark night. They are so proud--they were
so proud and still are--of serving their country, going
after terrorists and Osama bin Laden. I will never forget
the thousands of men and women from Fort Bragg, Camp
Lejeune, Cherry Point, Seymour Johnson, and Pope Air Force
bases, who were serving this country abroad and who were
serving the country at home, and whose families were there
to support them. I represented them and represented their
families and it was an extraordinary honor for me to be
able to represent them.
It is simple for me. If you take care of us, if you
serve our country to protect the freedoms and ideals we
cherish, we should be there for you. Your country should
be there for you. That means health care and housing, it
means relief on your student loans, and help covering your
child care cost when your spouse has to go to work.
The men and women who wear the uniform of the United
States of America are who we think of and pray for when we
look at our flag. The Stars and Stripes wave for them. The
word ``hero'' was made for them. They are the best and the
bravest, and we will always stand with you when you are
standing in harm's way. This is what we have fought for
together. It is something of which we should all be proud.
We built on North Carolina's model to improve our
schools, to strengthen standards, to expand afterschool,
and to pay teachers more. We fought to strengthen security
at our ports and our borders, chemical and nuclear plants,
and to give our police and firefighters the support they
needed to keep this country safe. We fought to make
Washington live within its budget, to make sure Washington
did what most families in America do every single day, to
live within their means, and to restore fiscal
responsibility. And we fought to reward work--not just
wealth, work--and to ensure that the American dream stays
alive and available to every single American, no matter
where they live or who their family is or what the color
of their skin. This is the America we believe in. This is
the America we fought for.
All my life I have fought for those who do not have a
voice. I did it before I came to the Senate. I have done
it here in the Senate. I will do it for the rest of my
life. It is what my life has been about: Fighting for
people who need someone to fight for them.
I thank Senator Byrd for all of his guidance and for
showing me the ropes during the time I have been here in
the Senate.
I want to take a moment and say a word about Senator
Reid, who has also been a great leader here in the Senate
and who I want to wish Godspeed in the important work in
front of him.
Again, my thanks to our leader, Senator Daschle, for the
work he has done and the leadership he has shown and the
grace and strength and courage he has shown in leading in
very difficult times, as others have said. He is a good
and decent man and we all look up to him and respect him.
I thank Senator McCain and Senator Kennedy for including
me in working on the Patients' Bill of Rights, two great
leaders in this Senate, two great leaders for the country,
two Americans that Americans do and should look up to and
respect.
I thank my friend, my seatmate, Senator Evan Bayh, for
all the times we have spent together, working here on the
floor of the Senate, running together. He and his wife and
his family are great friends of ours. His friendship means
the world to me.
I also 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.
I also want to say a word about my friend Senator Kerry.
I embarked a few months ago on a journey with Senator
Kerry, a fight, as we traveled across the country and
fought for the things in which we believe. We shared our
hopes for this country together. We worked hard to make
America stronger. I developed a very strong, close,
personal friendship with John Kerry during that time. John
Kerry is a good man and he is a good American. I got the
chance to see him when others didn't, when there were no
cameras around, when there were no crowds. This is a man
of strength and conviction and courage. He loves his
children. He has a beautiful family, by the way. He and
his wife Teresa and their kids became very close with my
family and our children.
We feel an enormous affection for them and enormous
connection with them because we were engaged in what we
thought was a very important cause. It still is a very
important cause.
But the reality is that John Kerry is somebody who has
loved this country his entire life. He stood up and fought
for this country his entire life. I am proud to have been
able to spend the last few months fighting alongside him
as he traveled throughout the country and the work that he
did not just in this campaign but for all the years he
served in this Senate before this campaign, and the years
he will serve from here on are important. Every day he
walks onto the floor of this Senate, the American people
will be better for it.
He is my friend. He is my colleague. I trust him.
I believe, of course, that he would have made a great
President, and I believe he has great work to do for this
country in the days and years to come. It is an honor for
me to be able to serve with him in this term.
I also want to thank my staff. I ask unanimous consent
to have their names printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
Tracy L. Allen; Laurie G. Armstrong; William O. Austin;
Alexis Bar; Victoria Bassetti; Jared J. Bataillon; William
Beane; Austina L. Bennett; Crystal M. Bennett; David G.
Berard; Sonceria Ann Berry; Joshua L. Brekenfeld; Michael
D. Briggs; Erica Buehrens; Derek H. Chollet; Marilyn J.
Dixon; Charles R. Dorrier; Paul D. Dryden; Robert W.
Elliott.
Justin E. Fairfax; Colette Forrest; Alice D. Garland;
Katherine L. Garland; Laura Godwin; Robert Gordon; Steven
K. Gryskiewicz; Wanda Haith; Peter Harbage Emma Harris;
Kate G. Heath; Robert Hines; Lisa Hyman; Morgan Jackson;
Stephanie Jones; Mildred J. Joyner; Jeremy Kyle Kinner;
Jeffrey I. Kovick; James R. Kvaal; Miles M. Lackey.
Jeffrey Lane; Louise D. Learson; Lawrence (Andy) Magill;
Maureen Mahon; Sharyn J. Malone; Kenneth F. Mansfield;
Kathryn J. Marks; John J. Maron; Cory S. Menees; Heather
L. Messera; Sophie Milam; Blair B. Milligan; Joyce
Mitchell; Carlos A. Monje; Kevin A. Monroe; Robert Morgan;
Matthew L. Nelson; Elizabeth E. Nicholas; Ashley I.
O'Bryant; Sacha M. Ostern.
Joseph W. Parry-Hill; Lauren Partner; Elizabeth Pegram;
Philip J. Peisch; Sarah L. Pendergraft; Anthony Petty;
Aaron S. Pickrell; Lesley Pittman; Sally Bussey Plyler;
Mary Margaret Propes; Hunter L. Pruette; Jacqueline F.
Ray; Karen A. Robb; David E. Roberts; Judith M. Rossabi;
David A. Russell; Craig J. Saperstein; Heidi Schneble.
David G. Sewell; David L. Sherlin; Joseph L. Smalls;
Julianna Smoot; Joshua H. Stein; Michael Sullivan;
Jonathan Sumrell; Adrian Talbott; Noelle Shelby Talley;
Bradford T. Thompson; Cindy E. Townes; Brooke I. Turner;
Ann S. Vaughn; Jannice T. Verne; Rebecca Walldorff; Jewell
E. Wilson; Jessica F. Wintringham; Andrew A. Young; Lisa
E. Zeidner.
Mr. President, we couldn't do the work we do here
without the support and help of all those who work so hard
with us every single day. You show up every day. You show
up every day, in my case as I saw it, with a simple
question: What can I do to make my country better? And you
did. Those of you who worked with me, I know that you did;
I saw it. I saw the hard work you did, and you will
continue to do it because you believe public service is an
important and noble calling. I thank you personally. I
thank you on behalf of the people of North Carolina and
the people of this country. I have seen the hard work you
have done, and it is important.
This fight goes on.
I will be home in a place I love, North Carolina, the
place that made me love America to begin with. I am going
to have God's gift--more time to hear the screen door slam
when my young kids run through the house after school. I
still have a couple of young kids, Emma Claire, who is 6,
and Jack, who is 4. I will be able to spend more time with
my older daughter Kate, who graduated from college and was
out on the campaign trail. I am very proud of her. I will
have more time to spend with my own parents and my family
and more time to be there for the woman I love and have
loved for a long time now, my wife Elizabeth.
It is bittersweet knowing what we have accomplished. And
it is also bittersweet knowing what is left to be done.
There is so much work left to be done in this country.
And in the end, I always think of North Carolina's own
Thomas Wolfe. He said:
I believe that we are lost here in America, but I
believe we shall be found. And this belief, which mounts
now to the catharsis of knowledge and conviction, is for
me--and I think for all of us--not only our own hope but,
America's everlasting, living dream.
Our job is making sure that no one--no one--is lost in
America; that that dream is everlasting. And together we
will continue to make it stronger and more alive for all
who grace our lives.
TRIBUTES
TO
JOHN EDWARDS
Proceedings in the Senate
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, today I want to pay tribute
to Senator John Edwards and acknowledge his dedication to
fighting for the middle class.
Senator Edwards, the son of a mill worker, was the first
in his family to go to college. He then went on to law
school where he met his wife, Elizabeth. Following his
graduation from law school, he earned a reputation as one
of the best trial attorneys in the country, taking on the
causes of those who had suffered serious tragedies as a
result of the negligence or malfeasance of others.
Elected in 1998, Senator Edwards has served just one
term in the Senate, but he made a mark in a number of
areas. First and foremost, he was a lead advocate for a
patients' bill of rights. From his background helping
families that had suffered injuries at the hands of our
health care system, Senator Edwards brought a passionate
understanding of the need to hold health insurance
companies accountable when their decisions led to serious
injuries or death. More important, he championed changes
in rules that would prevent these adverse outcomes in the
first place. His dedication to this cause paid off in
2001, when the Senate finally passed the Patients' Bill of
Rights.
Senator Edwards also made a big contribution on
education policy. He was an early voice in favor of
education reform, and worked to provide additional
resources to help local schools achieve higher standards.
As a co-chair of the Senate Rural Education Caucus, I saw
first-hand his work to support funding to meet rural
school needs like the Rural Education Achievement Program
and to make certain that the unique challenges for rural
schools in complying with the No Child Left Behind Act are
recognized.
Senator Edwards also, of course, distinguished himself
in running for President and serving as the Democratic
nominee to be Vice President. His concern about our
country fracturing into ``Two Americas''--one wealthy and
privileged, the other increasingly left behind--resonated
with millions of Americans.
Senator Edwards is leaving this body. But I am confident
he will not turn his back on public service and look
forward to his continued contribution to our Nation's
political debate. Working with the Senator from North
Carolina has been a joy, and we wish him and his wife a
happy and healthy future.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Mr. BURNS. * * * 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 or their service to
their country. We welcome them as we say goodbye to old
friends, old relationships that will never be forgotten.
Mr. SHELBY. I first met John Edwards 6 years ago when he
came to the Senate. He is a very accomplished lawyer, a
very engaging person. He was the Democratic nominee, as we
all know, for Vice President of the United States. John
Edwards is a young man, a man with a lot of talent, and I
am sure we will hear from him in some respect, political
or otherwise, in the future as life goes on.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, John Edwards came to the
Senate just 6 years ago. Yet he has won us all over as
friends for his sunny disposition, his positive attitude,
his intelligence, and his hard work.
John can make anyone smile. He forms a personal bond
with nearly everyone he meets. No doubt this quality comes
from the fact that he always remembers his roots.
The first member of his family to go to college, John
grew up the son of two textile workers, moving from town
to town.
This upbringing shaped John Edwards. It instilled in him
a burning desire to improve the world and a strong
commitment to populist values.
He became a lawyer. And with ardent trial advocacy, hard
work, and genuine concern for others, he scored astounding
success.
A terrible tragedy--the death of a child--marked a
deciding point in his life. He did not let it destroy him.
Never forgetting the terrible pain, John turned tragedy
into triumph.
He set out to change America for the better. A political
unknown, he faced long odds, but he overcame them.
In the halls of the Senate, John has won new laws to
protect patients, increased funding for public schools,
and improvements to our banking system.
He and Elizabeth, Catherine, Emma Claire, and Jack have
been delightful additions to our Senate family.
And our prayers are with them as they strive to overcome
the difficulty of Elizabeth's recent diagnosis of breast
cancer.
John Edwards has already played a vital role in American
public life. And whatever he chooses to do next, we wish
him and Elizabeth and their entire family all the best for
a bright future.
Friday, November 19, 2004
Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I would like to make some
comments about our friends who are departing the Senate.
I thank Senator Edwards for spending some time in this
Chamber. When you came in, we were faced with some tough
legal issues. We turned to you and you stepped up to the
plate. I appreciate that. I thought you did us proud--I am
not only speaking as a Democrat, I am speaking as an
American--on the campaign trail with the passion for
people. You are so articulate and you brought the economic
issues home to everyone. I think everyone is better for
it.
You are right about Senator Kerry. I think he would have
made a great President. I think history will look at his
campaign and be kind to him because John Kerry had dignity
in his campaign. He stuck to the issues. The debates were
fantastic. I believe it served our President well. He had
to step up to the plate as well on many of the issues.
Thank you very much.
Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, I want to associate myself
with the remarks of the Senator from California and her
regards and respect to the other retiring Members,
particularly Senator Edwards who has just spoken and has
distinguished himself so impressively over the last year
and a half in the service of our country by seeking the
Vice Presidency.
I am proud of my State of Minnesota. They cast by a
majority over 100,000 votes for Senator Edwards and
Senator Kerry, reflecting the wisdom of voters in the
tremendous excitement of Senator Edwards and Senator
Kerry. But Senator Edwards, in my personal experience,
generated tremendous courage and enthusiasm in St. Paul,
MN, on Labor Day and on the Iron Range in Minnesota. He
has a very bright future in whatever future endeavors.
I join my colleagues in expressing to his wife Elizabeth
our prayers for a speedy recovery. I think that will be
the result.
I thank the Senator for his outstanding service and as
leader of our party and our country.
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.
I wish to make a speech about each one of these Senators
who has become a dear friend, in some cases, over the
years, such as Fritz and Peatsy Hollings, who took special
interest in me as I came to the Senate and made sure I got
on his Commerce Committee, which has been just an
extraordinary experience with him as chairman, as well as
with the present chairman, John McCain. * * *
I wish to say a special word about John Edwards, for he
came to the Senate in a seat that was already held by an
incumbent Senator, and they said it could not be done.
They said a Democrat could not win in North Carolina. Of
course, John did and took the national stage by storm.
I spent several days with him over the course of the
past several months in the campaign. I can tell you it was
a wonderful inspiration to see the amount of energy,
focus, discipline, and intelligence he brought not only as
a Senator but as a candidate for Vice President of this
great country.
And then, of course, we all know the story of how on the
very day that John had to concede the election, along with
our colleague, the Senator from Massachusetts, his wife
told him that she had breast cancer. I want Elizabeth and
John to know that our prayers are with them and that we
are all sharing a great deal of optimism about her
complete recovery.
I had the wonderful privilege of observing their three
loving children on the campaign trail--their daughter
Kate, and then, of course, the two young ones, Jack and
Emma Claire, as they would bounce with such boundless
enthusiasm on that campaign plane. * * *
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. HARKIN. Mr. President, in these final working days
of the 108th Congress, as so many speakers before me have
said, we are saying farewell to a number of our retiring
colleagues. I intend to speak about a couple of them this
evening and will have more to say about some of the others
tomorrow. * * *
Mr. President, I would also like to express my respect
to and admiration for the retiring senior Senator from
North Carolina, Senator John Edwards, who also spoke
earlier. We will miss his unique, skillful, and persuasive
voice in the debates here on the Senate floor. Time and
again we have seen his knack for taking complex arguments
and making them accessible and persuasive to ordinary
people. Time and again his skills have carried the day.
I fully understand the advice uttered by one of my
Republican colleagues one time, when he said, ``Never
yield the floor to John Edwards.''
Over the last year and a half, people in my State of
Iowa have gotten to know John and his wonderful wife
Elizabeth very well. As I have often said, John Edwards
was the only person to run for national office as a Vice
Presidential candidate who visited each one of Iowa's 99
counties. He has been all over our State, in our schools,
in our coffee shops, and in our living rooms. In fact, we
have often said in Iowa if it weren't for that southern
accent, you would think John was born and raised in Iowa.
I can say that we on the Democratic side, we Democrats
in Iowa and all over the country, are proud of his race to
secure the nomination of our party, which he did not get,
which went to another of our colleagues, Senator John
Kerry. But we were proud of how John Edwards sought that
nomination. And we are doubly proud of his conduct as our
nominee for Vice President of the United States.
He always comes across as just folks, which is what you
would expect from a person raised in very modest
circumstances, the first in his family to go to college.
That humble background was an enormous strength for John
Edwards. It is a strength we saw on that campaign trail
that allowed him to understand people and to communicate
powerfully with ordinary people. People responded in kind.
All over this country, people just plainly liked John
Edwards. They trusted him because he spoke to them in a
language they understood.
But if Iowans and other Americans see just plain folks
in John Edwards on the campaign trail, Senators here have
been privileged to see a different side of him, hard at
work in this Senate. He has only been here one term. He
surely made his mark. He made his mark first by
challenging an incumbent Senator, and took on the Jesse
Helms machine in North Carolina, and he beat it. That is
no small feat in North Carolina.
He made his mark here as lead co-sponsor of the
Patients' Bill of Rights, along with Senators Kennedy and
McCain. He managed the bill on the floor. He was the lead
negotiator in hammering out a bipartisan consensus on the
bill.
He made his mark by sponsoring and passionately
advocating for a bill to speed up the approval of generic
drugs.
As I said in my State of Iowa, John Edwards made his
mark and won people's hearts with his big smile, his
friendly manner, and his boundless optimism.
He won our respect with a campaign that was always
positive. Even under provocation, even when stakes were
the highest in the final weeks of the campaign leading up
to the caucuses, John never wavered from his positive
message of hope and opportunity for ordinary Americans.
We are proud of our colleague Senator Edwards, and we
know we will not hear the last of him as he leaves this
body.
We say farewell to Senator John Edwards. I know and I
hope and I trust we will hear more from him in the future.
We wish him the very best. Of course, we all hope--and our
prayers are with him and with Elizabeth--for a full
recovery for his wonderful wife Elizabeth. We will miss
them both here. But our friendship endures, and I know
that Senator Edwards, Elizabeth, and his family will be
heavily involved in the course of our political life and
our Democratic Party in the future.
I thank the Chair and yield the floor.
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. * *
*
The senior Senator from North Carolina, John Edwards,
has streaked across the political firmament like a
shooting star. Six years ago, he was a trial lawyer who
won a Senate seat in his first try at elected office and 2
weeks ago he was very nearly elected Vice President.
John Edwards, like Tom Daschle, was the first person in
his family to graduate from college. His father worked in
the textile mills. His mother held several jobs, working
in a post office, running a furniture refinishing
business. After he graduated from the University of North
Carolina Law School, he put his formidable legal skill to
work for ordinary people as a trial attorney. He was good
at it. In 1997, he won the largest personal injury verdict
in North Carolina history, $25 million, for a 9-year-old
girl injured by a swimming pool drain the manufacturer
knew was faulty.
John proved if there is injury or damage, take it to a
jury of your peers. Let them make the judgment regarding
careless operation of a piece of machinery or automobile.
The damage is incalculable in terms of a monetary value.
So John Edwards did what he ought to do. He protected
those who had recourse for terrible damages that they
incurred.
John knew what it was like for that little girl's
parents I just talked about because he and his wife lost
their 16-year-old son. His name was Wade. He died in a car
accident.
When he got to the Senate, John continued to fight for
working-class Americans, and despite being a freshman
Member, he was a principal author of a patients' bill of
rights bill, which passed the Senate in June 2001.
He also fought hard for his constituents, securing more
than $250 million in disaster funds following Hurricane
Floyd in September 1999.
I don't know what the future holds for John. One looks
at that face, and sees such a young man. He is only 51
years old, and to me that is like a child. But somehow or
other I do not think we have seen the last of him.
Of course, his first task is to help his wife Elizabeth
get through her bout with breast cancer. We send our
prayers to both of them, for her quick and complete
recovery. He and Elizabeth have the good wishes and
prayers of each and every one of us here in the Senate. *
* *
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.
I have had a chance to talk a little bit about some of
these people who are retiring, and at some length about
Senator Nickles, and I certainly appreciate the Senator's
remarks about him.
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. * * *
John Edwards, as well, is leaving the Senate. What a
remarkable 6 years. Short in some ways but rather
significant considering what he was able to accomplish. He
brought enthusiasm, optimism, and eloquence that won him
voters and supporters in his first effort to seek election
in the State of North Carolina. He was a powerful voice
for the Democratic Party throughout the Democratic
primaries. He was a powerful voice for our party this past
year as a Vice Presidential candidate. That is a rather
remarkable set of accomplishments in 6 short years.
He distinguished himself, of course, by exceeding
expectations in many cases. He rose from a background of
modest means. As we have heard said, he became the first
in his family to go on to higher education, then law
school, becoming one of the most successful attorneys in
America, not only in his home State of North Carolina.
He won difficult cases motivated by trying to see to it
that people who had little means to protect themselves
would have an advocate when he represented them in a court
of law.
Here in this body he took a leading role on the
Patients' Bill of Rights. He brought a compelling and
compassionate message to America. He talked about two
Americas: the America of those who have, and those who
lack the good things in life, who lack the essentials and
basics. John spoke of the real moral values shared by
mainstream America. He is a young man whose voice will be
heard, I will predict, in the coming months and years.
He spoke of our moral obligation to honor hard work, to
lift Americans out of poverty, expand health care, break
down racial and economic barriers, to enact fair tax
policies to make sure that all Americans pay their fair
share. He spoke honestly and directly about some of the
widening gaps in our society. America listened, paid
attention, and rewarded him their respect.
I certainly believe he would have been an asset to his
country had he stayed in the Senate. I am sorry he is not
going to be here. He made the decision when he sought the
Presidency to leave the Senate. I believe John Edwards
would have made a tremendously fine Senator in the years
ahead had he stayed here. He has decided to take another
path. I am confident, as I said a moment ago, he will find
a way to continue to be heard.
I also want to take a moment to express my best wishes
and those of my wife Jackie to his wife Elizabeth. America
knows and deeply appreciates Elizabeth. As we all heard a
few weeks ago, the family now faces a very different kind
of fight. I am certain I speak for everyone in this body,
across the country, regardless of their political views
and how they voted on election day, when they heard that
Elizabeth Edwards had breast cancer, every single person
in this country prayed to the dear Lord that Elizabeth
Edwards will be rid of this dreadful disease, and that she
and her young children will have years and years of good
health ahead.
I am confident that will be the case knowing what a
fighter she is and what a fighter her husband is.
We all wish them and their family nothing but the best
during this difficult time. * * *
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.
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. * * *
And finally, Mr. President, the Senate is also losing a
champion for America's working families with the
retirement of Senator John Edwards. Senator Edwards is the
embodiment of the American dream.
Raised in a small town in North Carolina by hard-working
parents--his father was a textile mill worker for 36
years--Senator Edwards learned the real American values of
getting a good education, of hard work, fairness and
playing by the rules.
He was the first member of his family to go to college.
And after graduating from law school, he fought for the
values his parents taught him and by working for justice
on behalf of those who couldn't fight for themselves--
working families and their children who were seriously
injured by irresponsible corporate actions.
I was proud to work with Senator Edwards on the
Patients' Bill of Rights where he brought that same
passion to help working families by ensuring that doctors
and not HMOs make our medical decisions.
I know Senator Edwards will continue to fight for
working families and be a national leader on these
important issues.
I also want to wish his wife Elizabeth the best at this
difficult time. She is a strong, amazing woman and a
fighter like her husband, and the entire Edwards family is
in my thoughts and prayers.
I am proud to have served with these great Senators and
I know that they will be remembered long after the tribute
speeches are given and the farewell parties end, because
of their leadership, their compassion, and their hard work
on behalf of all Americans.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to take this
opportunity to honor our departing colleagues who are
leaving the Senate. Almost each new Congress a different
group of 100 men and women come 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. * * *
Finally, I would like to acknowledge my retiring
colleague from North Carolina, Senator John Edwards.
Senator Edwards was the first in his family to attend
college, working his way through North Carolina State
University and later earning his law degree from the
University of North Carolina. Afterward, John Edwards
established himself as a distinguished and successful
lawyer. These accomplishments alone are quite striking and
aptly demonstrate the intelligence and determination of
Senator Edwards.
During his time in the Senate, Senator Edwards served on
four committees: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions;
the Judiciary; the Small Business, and Entrepreneurship;
and the Select Intelligence. He continually championed for
issues affecting the daily lives of regular people in
North Carolina and the Nation.
I am sure Senator Edwards will find success in any
endeavor he now chooses to undertake, and I join with my
colleagues in wishing him the best.
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, I rise to say goodbye
to several of my dear friends and colleagues with whom I
have had the pleasure to work in the Senate. * * *
Madam President, we must also say farewell to a freshman
Senator who is now a household name in the United States.
No one who has met John Edwards can fail to like and
respect him.
Senator Edwards rose from humble beginnings to come
close to being elected Vice President of the United
States. The first member of his family to gain a college
education, he went on to earn a law degree from the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He built a
hugely successful law practice before he entered public
service.
Senator Edwards was a chief sponsor of the bipartisan
Patient Protection Act, strong and far-reaching patient
protection legislation that passed the Senate in 2001. He
has a long career ahead of him and will do well on
whatever path he takes.
Finally, I want to let Senator Edwards know that he and
his wife Elizabeth are in my prayers every day.
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. I ask everyone to pull out this week's People
magazine, if they have one--if not, get a copy of it--
because that tells the story of John and Elizabeth
Edwards. The story is directed toward Elizabeth because
she has now been stricken with breast cancer, but it tells
in some detail about this wonderful family.
He was the Vice Presidential candidate and is someone
who has tremendous ability. I am a trial lawyer. He is a
trial lawyer. He has made such a distinct impression on
the country with his oratorical skills. We know why he was
a great trial lawyer.
People magazine is so filled with information and
inspiration. The last sentence in that People magazine
article talks about Elizabeth Edwards. She knew she had
breast cancer in the last week of the campaign. She did
not tell anybody, but she tells in this People magazine
article that was so well written that somewhere at a place
she stopped, they were having a cancer survivor program,
and one of them asked her: Are you a cancer survivor? She
did not answer but, of course, thought to herself, as the
article says: We'll see.
We will see. We certainly hope for the Edwards family,
which has already had a lot of personal problems due to
the death of their 16-year-old son, we really do hope--all
of us, all Americans hope for Elizabeth Edwards, this
wonderful woman, to recover.
I will miss John Edwards in the Senate. He only served
here 6 years, but he certainly left his mark as a great
Senator from the State of North Carolina. North Carolina
is going to benefit, however, from the defeat of the
Kerry-Edwards ticket because he is returning to North
Carolina.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the
service of Senator John Edwards of North Carolina.
Because of his time on the campaign trail, Senator
Edwards's biography is well known to most Americans. He is
the son of a mill worker and was the first in his family
to attend college. Before coming to the Senate, John
fought for victims' rights against insurance companies for
more than 20 years in North Carolina. He enjoyed great
success in that career, but seeking to do more for the
people of his State, he decided to run for the Senate in
1998. John ran against, and defeated, an incumbent
Senator, Senator Faircloth. Immediately upon arriving in
the Senate, Senator Edwards began to make an impact.
Only a few days after Senator Edwards was sworn in, I
asked him to help depose witnesses in the impeachment
trial of President Clinton. I wanted to make sure we had
the best, and I thought he was. It was John's career
experience that made him an ideal choice to assist in the
depositions, and he had recent experience working in the
trenches. In that pressure filled situation John won the
respect of all of his colleagues, both on this side of the
aisle and the other.
From his seat on the Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions Committee, Senator Edwards advocated for lowering
the cost of prescription drugs for all Americans by
improving access to generic medications. In 2001, he
authored the Patients' Bill of Rights which would have
guaranteed that people in HMOs and other insurance plans
get the health care they pay for. Unfortunately, this was
passed in the Senate but blocked by the White House. In
addition to serving on the HELP Committee, Senator Edwards
served on the Intelligence, Small Business, and Judiciary
Committees.
As a member of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Edwards
worked closely with me on a number of legislative efforts.
He was a co-sponsor of the Innocence Protection Act, the
National Amber Alert Network, and a strong voice on
judicial nominations. Senator Edwards has stood up to
efforts by this President to pack the courts with people
whose records do not demonstrate that they will be fair
judges to all who come before them, rich or poor,
Democrats or Republicans, or any race or background.
In September 2003, Senator Edwards announced that he was
running for President. John ran a great campaign, raising
issues important to the American people. He frequently
referred to the division of America into two halves, that
of the haves and that of the have-nots. John focused on
the struggles of the middle class and many of the same
issues that he was a leader on during his time in the
Senate. Throughout the campaign, John was a positive voice
for our party, and he was an excellent choice as a running
mate for John Kerry.
In an interview, John once said that he had an ideal
image of what a U.S. Senator should be. He said that ``I
think about a fiery advocate, someone who works
passionately for his constituents.'' For the past 6 years,
John has been exactly that. Be it health or education
reform, supporting farmers or North Carolina's economic
interests, John Edwards has been an incredible leader and
advocate for his State. I will miss John's friendship here
in the Senate. I know that he has a wonderful wife and
three beautiful children, and that whatever steps he takes
next that he will be just fine as long as he has their
support.
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. * * *
We also say goodbye to John Edwards.
I think it is probably no coincidence that John Edwards
holds Sam Ervin's old seat in the Senate. Like Sam Ervin,
John has a brilliant legal mind and a deep love of
justice.
In 2001, the first bill Democrats brought to the floor
after we retook the majority was the Patients' Bill of
Rights. I couldn't believe my luck: My first bill as
majority leader--the Patients' Bill of Rights and I was
able to tap as floor leaders Ted Kennedy and John Edwards.
It was like looking down the bench and seeing Babe Ruth
and Willie Mays. You just knew the Patients' Bill of
Rights was finally going to pass the Senate. And it did--
in large part because of John Edwards's remarkable skill
and deep personal commitment.
I think one of the great lines in American literature is
the line near the end of ``Death of a Salesman'' where
Willie Loman's wife Linda says her husband wasn't famous
or powerful, but he was a good man to whom respect must be
paid. That same conviction is what has motivated John
Edwards's whole life: The belief that there is dignity and
worth in every person, including people who work hard
every day in mills, and factories, and farms.
In his race for the Democratic Presidential nomination
with John Kerry as our party's Vice Presidential nominee,
John Edwards brought a sense of hope and optimism to
millions and millions of Americans.
John and Elizabeth Edwards both won places in our hearts
immediately, and our hearts and prayers are with them and
their wonderful children today as Elizabeth continues her
recovery from breast cancer. We look forward to spending
many more happy years with them. We also look forward to
the good work we know they will do for our Nation in the
years ahead. * * *
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.
Monday, December 20, 2004
Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, in 1998, John Edwards was
elected to the U.S. Senate from his home State of North
Carolina to fill the seat once held by Senator Sam Ervin.
He had never before run for, or served in, public office.
From the time he received his law degree in 1977 until he
entered the Senate, he was an attorney in private
practice. For two decades John represented in court North
Carolinians who had been grievously injured or disabled
and had no one to speak up for them. He quickly made the
transition from the courtroom to the Senate Chamber,
however, because in both he has been guided by the same
unwavering principle: putting to work his formidable
talents and energy, along with his training, on behalf of
``the people I grew up with.''
John Edwards grew up in Robbins, NC. Robbins was a mill
town. John's father spent nearly four decades working in
textile mills; his mother worked in a number of jobs as
well. As David Broder once put it, his parents and their
friends and co-workers were people who ``earn their bread
by the sweat of their brow.''
John was the first person in his family to go to
college. For the millions of Americans who were the first
in the family to receive a college education--and I count
myself among them--this has very special meaning. He
worked his way through school in 3 years, finding summer
jobs in the mills. He went on to study law at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, one of the
Nation's ranking law schools, and there he met, and soon
married, a fellow student, Elizabeth Anania. In his book,
Four Trials, which was published just this year, John pays
tribute to the men and women who have played some part in
his life, but none is more moving than his richly deserved
tribute to Elizabeth: ``I have spent many years trying to
live up to what she believed I could be, and I am the
better for it.''
In the 108th Congress, John served on the Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; the Judiciary
Committee; the Small Business Committee; and the
Intelligence Committee--and also for a while on the
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, where we
first had an opportunity to work together. These are
formidable, wide-ranging jurisdictions. In every
assignment he undertook, John fought for policies, as he
has put it, that ``reward work--not just wealth, work--and
(to) ensure that the American dream stays alive and
available to every single American, no matter where they
live or who their family is or what the color of their
skin.''
Together with the senior Senator from Massachusetts and
the senior Senator from Arizona, John Edwards led the
successful effort in the Senate to pass landmark patients'
rights legislation, only to see the bill falter in the
face of implacable opposition from the White House. John
has been a forceful advocate for the thousands of North
Carolinians, and indeed Americans, who ``did everything
right,'' but were still powerless to prevent their jobs
from being swept overseas.
When the 109th Congress convenes in January, John
Edwards will no longer represent his beloved State of
North Carolina in the U.S. Senate. He will be home in the
State he loves--``the place that made me love America to
begin with''--with the family he loves so dearly. Whether
in the Nation's Capital or in North Carolina, however, we
know that John will continue to do what he has always done
so well, fighting ``for those who do not have a voice, to
make sure that ``no one--no one--is lost in America, that
that dream is everlasting.'' He will be sorely missed in
this Chamber.