[Senate Document 109-26]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]







 

                    TRIBUTES TO HON. GEORGE ALLEN




                                           

                              George Allen

                       U.S. SENATOR FROM VIRGINIA

                                TRIBUTES

                           IN THE CONGRESS OF

                           THE UNITED STATES



                                           


                                           


             

                               George Allen


                                 Tributes

                          Delivered in Congress

                               George Allen

                        United States Congressman

                                  1991-1993

                          United States Senator

                                 2001-2007


                                       


                                           


                            Compiled under the direction

                                       of the

                             Joint Committee on Printing




                                      CONTENTS



             Biography.............................................
                                                                      v
             Farewell to the Senate................................
                                                                    vii
             Proceedings in the Senate:
                Tributes by Senators:
                    Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee.................
                                                                      4
                    Bunning, Jim, of Kentucky......................
                                                                     15
                    Clinton, Hillary Rodham, of New York...........
                                                                     11
                    DeWine, Mike, of Ohio..........................
                                                                     12
                    Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut...........
                                                                     12
                    Dole, Elizabeth, of North Carolina.............
                                                                     18
                    Durbin, Richard, of Illinois...................
                                                                      6
                    Frist, William H., of Tennessee................
                                                                     17
                    Hagel, Chuck, of Nebraska......................
                                                                      3
                    Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
                                                                     13
                    Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
                                                                     16
                    Kyl, Jon, of Arizona...........................
                                                                     12
                    Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana................
                                                                     11
                    Martinez, Mel, of Florida......................
                                                                     15
                    Nelson, Bill, of Florida.......................
                                                                      5
                    Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
                                                                      4
                    Salazar, Ken, of Colorado......................
                                                                      6
                    Stevens, Ted, of Alaska........................
                                                                     17
                    Warner, John, of Virginia......................
                                                                      7
                                      Biography

               Senator George Allen worked tirelessly in the U.S. 
             Senate to make Virginia and America a better place to 
             live, learn, work, and raise a family. A self-described 
             ``common sense Jeffersonian Conservative,'' Senator Allen 
             trusts free people and free enterprise.
               Senator Allen set clear priorities during his term in 
             the U.S. Senate. He strengthened and supported America's 
             national defense and homeland security, increased the 
             competitiveness of Virginia and the United States for 
             investment and quality, good-paying jobs, advocated and 
             embraced policies to make America a leader in the 
             advancement of technology, and reduced the tax burden on 
             families and small business owners.
               As a member of the influential Commerce, Science and 
             Transportation Committee, as well as the Small Business 
             and Entrepreneurship Committee, Senator Allen made the 
             creation of quality, good paying jobs in the Commonwealth 
             his focus. Because of his experience and work with the 
             tremendous high-tech presence in Virginia, Senator Allen 
             was appointed in 2001 to serve as chairman of the Senate 
             High Tech Task Force where he continued to advocate 
             policies to make America a leader in innovation from 
             nanotechnology to broadband to the education of future 
             engineers and scientists. In 2004, the Senate passed 
             Allen's Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act, legislation 
             which extends the ban on multiple and discriminatory 
             taxation on the Internet until October 31, 2007. The bill 
             specifically bans three types of taxes that unfairly 
             single out the Internet, including regressive taxes on 
             Internet access, multiple taxation (for example, by two or 
             more States) of a product or service bought over the 
             Internet, and discriminatory taxes that treat Internet 
             purchases differently from other types of sales.
               Senator Allen also worked hard to secure America from 
             foreign threats. Given the global security challenges of a 
             post 9/11 world, Senator Allen brought his knowledge of 
             Virginia's defense industry and key military assets to 
             bear as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations 
             Committee--the Senate committee charged with the 
             consideration of treaties and the declaration of war.
               Senator Allen also served as the chairman of the Foreign 
             Relations Committee's Subcommittee on European Affairs. As 
             a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, the Senator 
             consistently stood strong with the brave men and women who 
             served in our Armed Forces as they fought to protect our 
             freedoms around the world. Senator Allen introduced a bill 
             in Congress in 2005 to do more for the families of 
             soldiers killed in service of their country by raising the 
             death benefit for ``next of kin'' from $12,000 to 
             $100,000.
               In 2005, Senator Allen was also appointed to serve on 
             the Energy and Natural Resources Committee where he worked 
             to reduce America's over-dependence on foreign oil and 
             shape a national energy plan that strikes a careful 
             balance between our environmental and energy security 
             needs for families and communities in Virginia and all of 
             America.
               Prior to his election to the Senate, Senator Allen 
             served as the 67th Governor of Virginia from 1994 to 1998. 
             As Governor, he won wide recognition for educational 
             improvements such as the implementation of rigorous 
             academic standards and accountability. Several other 
             hallmarks of Senator Allen's tenure as Governor include 
             the overhaul of an outdated juvenile justice system, work-
             oriented welfare reform, and the abolition of parole for 
             felons. Senator Allen is also widely credited with 
             bringing a record $14 billion of private sector investment 
             along with hundreds of thousands of jobs to Virginia 
             through the expansion and relocation of technology and 
             manufacturing companies.
               Bringing the same innovative, constructive leadership to 
             Washington, Senator Allen was unanimously elected a member 
             of the Senate Republican leadership as Chairman of the 
             National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2002. In the 
             2004 election, under Senator Allen's leadership, 
             Republicans picked up four seats in the U.S. Senate.
               Senator Allen holds a B.A. in history with distinction 
             as well as a law degree from the University of Virginia. 
             He and his wife, Susan, reside near Mt. Vernon in Fairfax 
             County with their three children: Tyler, Forrest, and 
             Brooke.
                               Farewell to the Senate
                             Thursday, December 7, 2006

               Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, as the time for my departure 
             from the Senate draws near, on behalf of the greatest 
             blessings in my life, my wife Susan, and my children, 
             Tyler, Forrest, and Brooke, I wish to thank my colleagues 
             for their many courtesies and friendships forged during 
             these past 6 years. I offer a few concluding reflections 
             on our time here together, and the future of our Republic.
               Our foremost senior statesman in Virginia, one who 
             served with particular distinction in this body--Harry 
             Byrd, Jr.--has observed that, with the exception of the 
             Presidencies of Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt, no 
             time in our Nation's history has been witness to more 
             problems and challenges of great magnitude than these past 
             6 years.
               When I arrived here in January 2001, America was at 
             peace--or so we thought. And then on the bright, blue sky 
             morning of September 11, the skies suddenly darkened with 
             clouds of smoke from the Pentagon, and the horrific 
             collapse of the World Trade Center Towers. And our world 
             changed forever.
               When I arrived in this body, accompanying a change of 
             Presidential administrations, our challenges were mostly 
             economic--or so we thought. Our prosperity was already 
             slipping, but most forecasts were for a mild downturn in 
             the economy. That changed on September 11 as well.
               A cascade of other great challenges soon followed in 
             rapid succession--issues foreign and domestic, challenges 
             locally and nationally, threats manmade and disasters 
             decreed by nature.
               Through all of these unprecedented storms, it was our 
             responsibility to make careful, prayerful decisions for 
             the safety, security and prosperity of the people of our 
             country.
               I am particularly grateful to the people of the 
             Commonwealth of Virginia for the opportunity to serve 
             here--to give voice to their values and to fight for their 
             future in this, the world's most distinguished body.
               We all understand and respect the will of the people--
             the owners of the government--in our representative 
             democracy that brings us here and that may, at some point, 
             take us away.
               Sometimes winds, political and otherwise, can blow the 
             leaves off branches and break branches off trees. But a 
             deep-rooted tree will stand and grow again in the next 
             season.
               And, if Providence accords it the right climate and 
             nourishment, that tree will bear fruit for generations to 
             come, and give life to other trees.
               I have been honored, first as Governor and now as 
             Senator, to be a part of important initiatives that have 
             borne fruit for the people of Virginia and America.
               As Governor, we worked across party lines to accomplish 
             the honest change that Virginians had desired and 
             deserved. We abolished the deceitful, lenient parole laws, 
             brought truth to sentencing, brought violent criminals to 
             justice, and reformed our juvenile justice laws.
               Today, the crime rate is down, and thousands of good 
             people are not victims of crime, have not lost loved ones, 
             have not had their lives shattered, because we stood 
             strong for truth and justice, and our reforms bore fruit.
               We also brought high academic standards, accountability, 
             and new resources to Virginia's education system. We 
             stopped skyrocketing college tuition rates.
               Our education reform initiatives quickly became models 
             for other States, and even for this body in enacting 
             education reform legislation for the Nation.
               These reforms, too, are bearing fruit today. Virginia 
             students are learning more and performing markedly better 
             on both State and national tests. Our schools are no 
             longer engaging in social promotion.
               And with investments in higher education from the 
             coalfields with Appalachian School of Law and School of 
             Pharmacy, to the Institute in Danville, to southwest 
             Virginia and Roanoke HEC's, to the Engineering School of 
             VCU, to new leading-edge research at Virginia Tech, George 
             Mason, Hampton and other universities we are equipping 
             young men and women to succeed in the ever more 
             competitive global marketplace.
               And we replaced dependency with dignity by reforming 
             Virginia's welfare laws. Now, 11 years later, our welfare 
             rolls are still less than half of what they were when I 
             became Governor. Not only has that saved the taxpayers of 
             Virginia hundreds of millions of dollars--the far more 
             important impact is seen in the eyes of children who watch 
             with admiration and respect as their parents go off to 
             productive, rewarding jobs rather than sit at home, 
             collecting a check.
               Nothing was more rewarding for me as Governor than to 
             help ignite Virginia's economic renaissance. We sent a 
             message to the world that Virginia was ``open for 
             business''--we lowered taxes, reduced regulations, 
             implemented prompt permitting, and recruited high-
             technology companies like IBM and Toshiba, Micron and 
             Infineon--now Qimonda--Oracle's east coast campus, and 
             secured billions of dollars in investment in semiconductor 
             fabrication plants for world-class companies.
               Before we recruited those companies 10 years ago, there 
             were no computer memory chips manufactured in Virginia. 
             Today, computer memory chips have replaced cigarettes as 
             Virginia's No. 1 manufactured export. We're not just the 
             ``Old Dominion'' anymore; now we're the ``Silicon 
             Dominion!''
               When I came to the Senate, my goal was to use this 
             perspective and experience to continue and build on this 
             work. I wanted to bring to our national policies the same 
             emphasis on education and innovation--the same emphasis on 
             economic opportunity--the same emphasis on protecting the 
             safety and security of law-abiding people--the same time-
             tested values--that had guided my governorship.
               I have been able to do that, and I am grateful to many 
             of you for working in partnership with me on so many 
             issues that are vitally important for the lives and safety 
             and prosperity of our citizens.
               Our time together has been full of challenge. But 
             despite the broken branches and shattered limbs and lives 
             of 9/11, America has stood strong like a live oak. We have 
             relied on our roots as a freedom-loving Nation. Out of 
             these stormy times has grown a new national sense of 
             urgency, resolve and mission. And this new spirit is 
             bearing fruit today, and will for many years to come.
               Yes, the people of America have grown impatient with the 
             pace of this progress. It is not easy during prolonged 
             periods of national trial to sustain an attitude of 
             optimism and a sense of purpose. Our foes know this about 
             democracies, and they seek to exploit it. But they will 
             not succeed.
               We Americans, of so many faiths and so many backgrounds, 
             share this spirit above all else: We believe in the 
             positive impact that each of us can achieve during our 
             time here on Earth. But our opponents have no such belief. 
             They fear human freedom, and glorify the extinguishing of 
             human life more than the fruitful living of it. They will 
             not succeed in this great struggle because they are only 
             destroyers, and the world belongs to those who create.
               The God who gave us life, and who presides over the 
             affairs of all nature and all nations, endowed mankind 
             with a powerful spirit of creation, regeneration, and 
             renewal.
               The attackers of 9/11 thought they would kill our 
             spirit, but they only rekindled it. And, despite one of 
             the most unsettled and challenging times in our Nation's 
             history, look at what we have to show for it.
               Our economy is displaying unprecedented strength. 
             Unemployment is the lowest it has been in decades. Home 
             values are significantly higher than just a few years ago, 
             and the stock market is at a record high level. The tax 
             burden on our people is at a 20-year low, while Federal 
             tax revenues are at all-time highs, and inflation is under 
             control.
               There has not been a single terrorist attack on American 
             soil since 9/11, and numerous major plots have been 
             foiled. The al-Qaida leadership has been decimated, and 
             instead of meeting the enemy here at home, we have taken 
             the fight to them in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq and 
             in locales that will never be known. Even with the world 
             at war against a lethal enemy of radical terrorist 
             organizations, Americans are safer today than on 9/11.
               We must respectfully work with other countries in 
             intercepting finances, creatively collaborating in 
             counterterrorism efforts to thwart and defeat terrorist 
             activity throughout the world.
               This war on terror has many fronts. And all of us are 
             deeply concerned about the lack of progress of the war on 
             the Iraqi front. Although our principles and strategic 
             goals have not changed, mistakes have been made and 
             progress has been too slow. We cannot continue to do the 
             same things and expect different results; we must adapt 
             our operations and change our tactics to meet the evolving 
             terrorist threat. And the Iraqi people and their leaders 
             must take control of their destiny.
               Let us never forget, however, that our American troops 
             are liberators who have freed a people from a brutal 
             dictator and regime. In so doing, they and their families 
             have made great sacrifices not only for the freedom of 
             Iraqis, but for the security of Americans. They, more than 
             anyone, understand the consequences of failure in Iraq are 
             far too high. Leaving Iraq as a safe haven for terrorists 
             to launch new attacks will put America in mortal danger. 
             Our troops should come home as soon as possible, but they 
             should come home in victory--not defeat.
               This global war on terror is still a work in progress, 
             and much of the work is difficult. But I will leave here 
             in the coming days with satisfaction that so many of the 
             crucial steps we took to meet the challenges of the post-
             9/11 world have worked, and worked well.
               The PATRIOT Act and other new and technologically 
             sophisticated counter-terrorism measures designed to 
             protect our homeland are working, and working well.
               Our courageous men and women in uniform, an all-
             volunteer military that is the most powerful fighting 
             force in the history of the world, is hard at work for us, 
             and working well.
               We have also worked well on the domestic front. And I 
             take great personal satisfaction from progress achieved on 
             some major initiatives designed to make this a land of 
             opportunity for all--measures that will help secure a 
             future of expanding opportunity for our children by making 
             America the world capital of innovation.
               One area of focus for me has been preserving the 
             Internet as a tax-free individualized opportunity zone. 
             The Internet is the greatest invention since the Gutenberg 
             Press for the dissemination of information and ideas, and 
             one of America's greatest innovations for economic growth 
             and jobs.
               So far the Federal Government has taken the right 
             approach when it comes to the Internet--by basically 
             leaving it alone.
               The American private sector is the best steward of the 
             Internet. We just need to leave it alone and let it 
             prosper as an engine for economic progress--and with your 
             help, that is what we have done. But the need for action 
             will return next year, and I hope you will extend Internet 
             tax freedom so that avaricious State and local tax 
             commissars are blocked from imposing an average 18-percent 
             tax on monthly Internet access bills.
               We also made major progress in a realm few Americans 
             understand, but one that will transform their lives--
             nanotechnology. Teaming up with my hard-working friend 
             across the aisle, Senator Wyden, we sponsored and you 
             approved legislation launching the National Nanotechnology 
             Initiative. This is the single largest federally funded, 
             multiagency scientific research initiative since the space 
             program in the 1960s, and the revolutionary technology it 
             yields may well rival the space program in its impact on 
             our society and economy.
               You have heard me say many times on this floor that the 
             key to innovation is education, and that we need to 
             educate more scientists and engineers because they are the 
             ones who will design and develop the groundbreaking and 
             life-changing inventions, innovations, and intellectual 
             property of the future.
               But today America is not tapping its full potential in 
             math, science, research and innovation. Only 15 percent of 
             those graduating from our engineering schools today are 
             women; only about 6 percent are African-Americans, and 
             about 6 percent are Latinos. That is simply not enough, 
             especially when we are competing with countries that have 
             literally six or seven times our population.
               That is why I have worked with Senators in both parties, 
             Senators Alexander, Ensign, Bingaman, and others, as well 
             as the independent-minded Senator Lieberman--for the 
             National Innovation and PACE Acts, which will invest in 
             wide-ranging scientific education and research, induce 
             capable students with scholarships, provide incentives for 
             teachers and researchers, and take other steps to keep 
             America on the leading edge of science and technology.
               That is why I have been the lead Republican co-sponsor 
             of the Partnership Access to Laboratory Science Act with 
             Senator Menendez, which will provide science education and 
             laboratory grants for students in rural and low-income 
             schools.
               And that is why I have led the charge for legislation to 
             help remedy the opportunity divide at America's minority-
             serving institutions--the HBCUs, Hispanic-serving 
             institutions, and tribal colleges. I am grateful for the 
             Senate's support for this initiative and hope it will very 
             soon become a reality.
               All these initiatives I respectfully urge you all to 
             pass and stay with them until they become law. For my 
             part, I will continue to advocate for these incentives and 
             this major national commitment to make sure that the 
             United States is indeed the world capital of innovation.
               Investing in education and innovation is vital for our 
             global competitiveness, and so is achieving energy 
             independence. In fact, not only is energy independence an 
             economic necessity; it's also a national security 
             imperative. Our dependence on Middle Eastern oil limits 
             our foreign policy options for addressing terrorism, 
             tyranny and related geopolitical issues.
               We have made some important strides in accelerating the 
             exploration and development of American energy supplies, 
             including American oil, natural gas, clean coal and 
             nuclear power. And we have made notable progress in 
             hastening the research, development and deployment of 
             economically viable alternative and renewable sources of 
             energy. But here we must all agree that there is far more 
             to be done.
               The bottom line is we need more energy explored, 
             produced, and grown in America, so that hundreds of 
             billions of energy dollars stay in America and are 
             reinvested in America's economy for American jobs, 
             American competitiveness, and American national security, 
             instead of having to worry about the whims of some 
             dictator in the Middle East, or some other hostile part of 
             the world.
               There are so many ways that what we have done here 
             during the last 6 years has made a positive impact on the 
             opportunities facing citizens all across our country.
               In Virginia, whether it is the major port expansion at 
             Craney Island, or funding for the Advanced and Applied 
             Polymer Processing Institute in Danville, or the effort to 
             assure that new development opportunities at Fort Belvoir 
             are matched by adequate transportation facilities; whether 
             it is educational research funding, or new resources for 
             roads and mass transit, or grants to make our communities 
             safer, in hundreds of ways we have been able to have a 
             major, positive impact on people's lives all across the 
             Commonwealth of Virginia.
               We have also broken down barriers to opportunity. My 
             very first speech on the Senate floor was on behalf of 
             Roger Gregory's appointment as a Federal judge on the 
             esteemed Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that sits in 
             Richmond.
               Judge Gregory had been nominated at the end of President 
             Clinton's term, but he did not get a vote, and to become a 
             judge he had to be re-nominated by President Bush. So my 
             first speech was to call on my Senate colleagues to rise 
             above partisanship, rise above process, judge Roger 
             Gregory as a person, and give him the fairness of a vote.
               You did so, and as a result, Judge Gregory is serving 
             with distinction on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, 
             the first African American to serve on that esteemed 
             appellate court.
               For the good of our country, the Judiciary, and this 
             Senate, I urge you--regardless of the party in power here 
             and at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue--to end the 
             obstructionist practices that deny judicial nominees, or 
             other nominees, the fairness of an up or down vote, and 
             that deny the American people the accountability that the 
             advice-and-consent process should afford.
               Miguel Estrada was a victim of this unfair 
             obstructionism, although a majority of Senators supported 
             his confirmation. Let John Bolton be the last victim of 
             these unfair, obstructionist practices.
               Our Constitution provides a better way; let's follow it.
               Finally, during these times of war, we are all keenly 
             aware of the sacrifice made by the men and women serving 
             in our Armed Forces and their families. Virginia is home 
             to more people serving in uniform than all but a handful 
             of States, and so when a loved one is lost, we feel the 
             pain very directly, very personally. A grateful Nation 
             must support the families of those who have fallen in 
             defense of our liberty. That is why I introduced a bill in 
             the first hours of the first days of this 109th Session to 
             increase the military death benefit from the paltry amount 
             of $12,420 to $100,000. I thank you for passing it, and I 
             thank the President for signing it.
               At each step of the way, on this measure and so many 
             others, I have never worked alone. Always at my side, as a 
             partner--but even more as a gracious mentor, wise counsel, 
             constant encourager, occasional corrector, and unwavering 
             friend--has been our State's senior Senator, John Warner.
               He has been the epitome of the Virginia gentleman, the 
             model of an honest, hard-working Senator, and most of all, 
             a true and loyal friend. I will leave here enriched 
             immeasurably by this latest and best chapter in our 
             partnership of several decades.
               My friends and colleagues, as I prepare to take my 
             leave, I am humbled and so grateful for the tremendous 
             honor and privilege that has been accorded to me by the 
             people of Virginia. I am also full of gratitude for the 
             opportunity to serve with you and for the many courtesies 
             you have extended to Susan and me along the way.
               I leave with many new and enduring friendships, with 
             some valuable lessons learned, with unrestrained optimism 
             about the potential of America, about our Nation's future, 
             and with pride in our accomplishments together.
               My friends, don't let these challenging times along our 
             national journey divert your focus from what truly 
             matters.
               The tree of American liberty is as strong as ever. Our 
             roots run deep to a wellspring of values as old as our 
             Republic, indeed much older still.
               Four hundred years after our Nation's beginning at 
             Jamestown, we are still in the springtime of our life as a 
             Nation. Still planting seeds and bearing fruit. Still 
             growing and creating. Still inspiring and innovating. 
             Still providing light and hope for people around the world 
             seeking to escape the chains of tyranny, and embrace the 
             blessings of liberty.
               Indeed, the sun is still rising on a bright American 
             morning!
               And if we will keep the faith, no matter the challenges 
             or choices, generations to come will remember and think 
             well of us, for this: We never gave up. We never backed 
             down, and, we always stood strong for freedom.
?

                                           

                                      TRIBUTES

                                         TO

                                    GEORGE ALLEN
                              Proceedings in the Senate
                                              Tuesday, December 5, 2006
               Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President . . . As we recognize, it is a 
             distinct privilege and high honor to serve our country in 
             any capacity, and certainly none higher than in uniform. 
             But it is especially important that we recognize those who 
             have given years of their lives, sacrificing their 
             families, their own time, to help make a better world for 
             all of us. I know of no capacity in which we serve our 
             country that has given those who have had this rare 
             opportunity to serve in the Senate anything more noble 
             than trying to shape a better world from this Senate.
               These individuals who will leave the Senate, some on 
             their own terms, some on the terms of the election, but, 
             nonetheless, in their own specific way have contributed a 
             great deal to this country.
               I take a few minutes to recognize each. . . .
               Senator George Allen. We will miss footballs. Many of my 
             colleagues received footballs. He was a quarterback for 
             the Cavaliers at the University of Virginia and he could 
             throw almost as well as even a Nebraska quarterback.
               Senator Allen, for a very young man, has a very 
             distinguished record of public service, serving as the 
             Governor of the great State of Virginia, serving in the 
             House of Representatives, serving in the U.S. Senate. I 
             served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with 
             Senator Allen for many years, and I will miss his ability 
             to say it clearly and plainly. And his leadership position 
             within the Republican majority, which he served so ably, 
             will be missed. . . .
               Mr. President, in conclusion, it is not easy to put 
             one's self on the firing line and offer one's self as a 
             candidate for any office. It takes a certain amount of 
             courage and, I suspect, a little dose of insanity. But 
             nonetheless individuals who believe deeply enough to 
             commit themselves to a cause greater than their own self-
             interests need to be recognized. Having nothing to do with 
             me or you or any one individual, but it is the essence of 
             our country, it is the very fabric of our democracy that 
             makes it all work and probably gives rise to, more than 
             any one reason, why we have been such a successful nation 
             for over 200 years--because people from all walks of life, 
             in every community, in every State, offer themselves for 
             office. Whether it is a mayor, a Governor, city 
             councilman, county official, a sheriff, these individuals 
             deserve recognition.
               We all make mistakes. That is who we are. But in the 
             end, it is not unlike what Teddy Roosevelt once referred 
             to in his magnificent quote about the man in the arena. 
             And it is the man and the woman in the arena who change 
             our lives. It makes a better world that shapes history, 
             that defines our destiny. And for these individuals who 
             will no longer have that opportunity to serve our country 
             in the Senate, we wish them well, we thank them, and we 
             tell them we are proud of them and their families and wish 
             them Godspeed.
               Mr. President, I thank you for the time and yield the 
             floor.
                                            Wednesday, December 6, 2006
               Mr. REED. Mr. President, this is an opportunity to 
             recognize the service of several of our colleagues who are 
             departing from the Senate. To Senator Jeffords, Senator 
             Frist, Senator DeWine, Senator Talent, Senator Santorum, 
             Senator Burns, and Senator Allen, let me express my 
             appreciation for their service to their States and their 
             service to the Nation and wish them well. . . .
               To all my colleagues who served and conclude their 
             service, let me once again express deep appreciation for 
             their friendship and for their service to the Nation.
               I yield the floor.

               Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, we are coming to the end 
             of the session and 10 of our colleagues are retiring. I 
             want to say a word about them . . .
               Or George Allen. I remember vividly the first time I met 
             him, I campaigned for him in Virginia. He was 40 points 
             behind. I went back to Tennessee and I said, I believe he 
             will win, he is such a good candidate. We haven't heard 
             the last of him in public life. . . .
               When the most recent class of Senators was sworn into 
             office nearly 2 years ago, in the gallery were three 
             women. One was the grandmother of Barack Obama. She was 
             from Kenya. One was the mother of Senator Salazar, a 10th 
             generation American. One was the mother of Mel Martinez, 
             the new Republican National Committee chairman, who, with 
             her husband, put her son on an airplane when he was 14 
             years old and sent him from Cuba to the United States, not 
             knowing if she would ever see him again.
               In a way, each one of us who is here is an accident. 
             None of us knew we would be here. Each of us is privileged 
             to serve, and one of the greatest privileges is to serve 
             with our colleagues. We will miss them and we are grateful 
             for their service.
               I yield the floor.

               Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I see others who 
             wish to speak, and I will make a couple of brief comments.
               In the comments of the Senator from Virginia [Mr. 
             Allen], his final couple of comments recalled for me a 
             statement made in the closing of the Constitutional 
             Convention in Philadelphia, when on the back of the chair 
             of the presiding officer was a sunburst. Someone opined in 
             that Constitutional Convention: Dr. Franklin, is that a 
             rising sun or is it a setting sun? And Franklin ventured 
             to say that with the birth of the new Nation, with the 
             creation of the new Constitution, that he thought it was a 
             rising sun.
               Indeed, it is that hope of which the Senator from 
             Virginia has just spoken that motivates this Senator from 
             Florida to get up and go to work every day, and to look at 
             this Nation's challenges, not as a Democratic problem or a 
             Republican problem, but as an American problem, that needs 
             to be solved in an American way instead of a partisan way.
               We have had far too much partisanship over the last 
             several years across this land, and, indeed, in this 
             Chamber itself. And of the Senators who are leaving this 
             Chamber, I think they represent the very best of America, 
             and on occasion have risen in a bipartisan way. It has 
             been this Senator's great privilege to work with these 
             Senators: Allen of Virginia, Burns of Montana, Chafee of 
             Rhode Island, Dayton of Minnesota, DeWine of Ohio, Frist 
             of Tennessee, Jeffords of Vermont, Santorum of 
             Pennsylvania, Sarbanes of Maryland, Talent of Missouri.
               As the Good Book in Ecclesiastes says: There is a time 
             to be born and a time to die. There is a time to get up, 
             and a time to go to bed. There is a time for a beginning, 
             and there is a time of ending.
               For these Senators who are leaving, it is clearly not an 
             ending. It is an ending of this chapter in their lives, 
             but this Senator from Florida wanted to come and express 
             his appreciation for their public service, to admonish 
             those where admonishment is needed when this Chamber, 
             indeed, this Government, has gotten too partisan, but to 
             express this Senator's appreciation for the quiet moments 
             of friendship and reflection and respect in working 
             together, which is the glue that makes this Government 
             run.
               Whether you call it bipartisanship, whether you call it 
             friendship, whether you call it mutual respect, whatever 
             you call it, the way you govern a nation as large and as 
             complicated and as diverse as our Nation is--as the Good 
             Book says: Come, let us reason together--that is what this 
             Senator tries to be about. And that is what this Senator 
             will try to continue to do in the new dawn of a new 
             Congress. So I wanted to come and express my appreciation 
             for those Senators who will not be here, for the great 
             public service they have rendered.
               Mr. President, I am truly grateful for their personal 
             friendship and for their public service.
               I yield the floor.

               Mr. DURBIN. . . . Senator George Allen of Virginia and I 
             have worked on a few measures together, including some 
             help for veterans who returned from the war in Iraq with 
             traumatic brain injury. . . .
               I wish all of my colleagues who are retiring well as 
             they begin the next chapters of their careers.

               Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise today to bid farewell 
             to several of my friends here in Washington. Too often we 
             get caught up here in the back-and-forth of politics and 
             lose sight of the contributions of those with whom we work 
             every day. It is only at moments such as these, at the end 
             of a cycle, that we have a moment to reflect on the 
             contributions of our colleagues. And while we may not 
             always see eye to eye, this Senate is losing several 
             admirable contributors who have made many sacrifices to 
             serve our democracy. . . .
               A number of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle 
             will be departing in January, as well. There is our 
             colleague from Virginia, Senator Allen, who wears, in my 
             opinion, the second best pair of boots in the Senate. 
             There is Senator Santorum of Pennsylvania, whose passion 
             is admirable and whose energy is always enviable. Also 
             leaving us is my colleague in the centrist Gang of 14 that 
             helped bring this Senate back from the abyss; Senator 
             DeWine of Ohio, who will head back to the Buckeye State 
             with my respect and admiration; and my friend Senator 
             Talent from Missouri, with whom I spent many hours in the 
             Agriculture Committee working to level the playing field 
             for America's farmers and ranchers. We will miss Senator 
             Chafee of Rhode Island's independence and his clear voice 
             for fiscal discipline in Washington. And we will miss 
             Senator Burns of Montana, who shares my passion for rural 
             America and who is headed home to Big Sky Country, back to 
             the Rockies that I know we both miss so much. . . .
               America, when held to its finest ideals, is more than a 
             place on the globe or a work in progress. It is the 
             inspiration to those around the world and here at home to 
             seek out excellence within themselves and their beliefs. 
             It has been a pleasure to work alongside each of these 
             gentlemen, who have helped me as I have found my way, 
             sometimes literally, through the halls of the Senate, in 
             the pursuit of these greater ideals that we all share: 
             security, prosperity, and an America that we leave better 
             than when we arrived. These ideals will resonate here long 
             after we all are gone and another generation stands in our 
             place making the decisions of its day.
                                             Thursday, December 7, 2006
               Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I have had the privilege of 
             being here for the 28th year beginning shortly. I 
             calculated not long ago that I have served with 261 
             individuals. I am not about to try and review all of the 
             many magnificent friendships I am privileged to have 
             through these years. Indeed, if one looks at the rewards, 
             of which there are many serving in this historic 
             institution, the Senate, it is the personal bonds, the 
             friendships that we so firmly cement and that will last a 
             lifetime as a consequence of our duties of serving the 
             United States of America and in our respective States.
               We are called ``United States'' Senators. I often 
             believe it is the first obligation, our Nation, the 
             Republic for which it stands.
               For my colleague now of 6 years, George Allen, this will 
             be his last service as a Senator as this brief session 
             closes. I have said it before, I will say it again and 
             again, I rank him at the very top of the 261 Senators I 
             have been privileged to serve with these many years.
               In fact, I have looked back at the history of Virginia 
             and would like to note for the record that my colleague, 
             George Allen, is one of only five Virginians to have 
             served in the Virginia General Assembly, as Governor, as a 
             Member of the House of Representatives; and as a U.S. 
             Senator--the first in more than 150 years of our State's 
             history.
               Together, we have shared a long history of serving the 
             people of Virginia--I as a Senator and he as a Member of 
             the Virginia House of Delegates, House of Representatives, 
             Governor, and U.S. Senator. I remember participating in 
             his first campaign and all the successive campaigns. 
             George Allen served the Commonwealth of Virginia in public 
             office for 25 years. How well I know. I campaigned for him 
             when he ran for the State legislature, then for the 
             Congress, then for Governor, and he won those elections 
             handily. Then he ran for the Senate. It was a tough race. 
             Tough because he was up against a very able opponent, a 
             man whom I admire, a man with whom I have served with in 
             this Chamber. But the voters of Virginia--and therein 
             rests the final decision--sent George Allen to the Senate 
             where I believe he has served with great distinction.
               I have been privileged to share the warmth and vigor of 
             this magnificent man with his lovely wife Susan and their 
             children, Tyler, Forest, and Brooke. What a privilege, a 
             joy for me to see them as they have grown nourished by the 
             love of two strong parents.
               In 1981 he was elected to the Virginia House of 
             Delegates to the seat once held by his philosophical 
             inspiration, Thomas Jefferson. Throughout his career in 
             public office, George Allen has consistently been guided 
             by that same inspiration of smaller government and 
             individual freedom. He has also been driven by the 
             thoughts of two other leaders important to him; Ronald 
             Reagan who said ``If not us who, if not now when?'' and 
             his father who always told him ``The future is now.''
               Throughout his career in public service George has 
             worked as an advocate of economic development, recruiting 
             companies to Virginia and espousing policies to create 
             jobs. As Governor, he oversaw the creation of 312,000 new 
             jobs in Virginia by making the Commonwealth a better place 
             to do business. He reformed the parole system to keep 
             repeat offenders off our streets and out of our 
             neighborhoods. His welfare reform set the stage for the 
             Congress to act to help people get back on their feet and 
             get back to work. He implemented the Standards of Learning 
             in our schools to make sure all of our children receive 
             the same quality education.
               I remember well our first effort together when he came 
             to the Senate in 2001. As is often the case here in the 
             Senate, there had been some problems confirming a Federal 
             judge who was ultimately recess appointed in late 2000. We 
             came together and worked with the President to bring his 
             nomination back to the Senate and as a result, Judge Roger 
             Gregory was confirmed by the Senate to become the first 
             African American seated on the Fourth Circuit of the U.S. 
             Court of Appeals.
               We were working partners. We shared everything--our 
             staffs work together, our wives work together--and we 
             crisscrossed this State from one end to the other over 
             those 6 years. When either George Allen or I felt, for 
             whatever reason, we could not keep an appointment 
             somewhere in the State, one would fill in for the other.
               We were quite parallel in our thinking, the philosophy, 
             the things so important to Virginians, and I think to most 
             Americans, first and foremost the preservations of our 
             freedoms, a strong national defense, a right to work, to 
             hold a job and to compete fairly, to hold that job and to 
             advance, to have a system of health care that did not 
             serve only those more affluent than others but would serve 
             any individual who suffered from pain or the need for 
             medical attention.
               We have joined together in countless efforts for 
             Virginia's communities; helping to fund museums, youth 
             centers, innumerable infrastructure projects, and research 
             at our colleges and universities. We also worked together 
             on the Teacher Tax Relief Act. I am very hopeful if we 
             pass this tax package, there will be a provision that 
             George and I worked on together for many years, to be 
             extended in statute; and that is, the Teacher Tax Relief 
             Act. I will never forget. I was down visiting a small 
             school. And as is so often the case, you are rushed 
             through, and the teachers and the principal want you to 
             meet as many students as you possibly can. It is always 
             quite interesting to do that.
               I remember I was rushed into one class, and I think they 
             were first graders. They were all sitting on the floor, 
             and the principal said: You have a few minutes. So I 
             started talking away, and I asked the first graders: Is 
             there a question you might have? And this absolutely 
             magnificent little girl, who sat there riveted to every 
             word I spoke, looked up and said: Yes. My question is, how 
             much longer must we sit here until the Senator comes? 
             Well, you don't forget those things. And I had difficulty 
             answering the question, I was so taken aback. I felt I was 
             universally recognized, but it is not the case in the 
             first grade.
               Then I was in another classroom, and for some reason I--
             I went through basic engineering school, and I have always 
             been interested in pencils and writing instruments--and I 
             saw a pencil, a rather fancy one, and I picked it up, and 
             the teacher saw that I liked it, and she said: Take it. 
             Keep it. I said: Oh, no, I don't take any gifts or 
             anything. You know, we have rigid rules in the Senate, and 
             nobody is going to bribe me with a pencil. And she said: 
             Oh, please, please, please. It is not school property. I 
             said: Oh? She said: Yes. Senator, you must understand that 
             as teachers--and this is prevalent not only in Virginia 
             but it is prevalent all across the land, particularly 
             among teachers in the elementary grades--we have to take 
             part of our own salary to buy what we deem are the 
             essential tools that are needed to educate our students.
               Well, I just could not believe this, because teachers 
             are not among the more well paid. So George Allen and I 
             fought for years to get the Teacher Tax Relief Act signed 
             into law. It is on the books, and we need to extend it, 
             and I am optimistic that will be done. But it simply says, 
             if you can establish that you took your own salary and you 
             bought school supplies which were necessary for teaching 
             and the profession you are in, you get a $250 above the 
             line deduction--a small amount of money, but a great sense 
             of satisfaction.
               George has been a strong member of the Commerce and 
             Foreign Relations Committees seeking to make our Nation a 
             better place for business, ultimately creating more 
             economic opportunity for all Americans.
               We joined together after the tragic events of September 
             11, 2001, to try to help the people of Northern Virginia 
             and indeed all America respond and recover.
               We worked on behalf of the men and women of the Armed 
             Forces. How proud we are in the Commonwealth of Virginia 
             of the extensive number of bases and institutions of the 
             U.S. military which we are privileged to have. There is no 
             greater responsibility of the Congress of the United 
             States than its specific obligation under the 
             Constitution. As my great teacher and mentor, Senator 
             Byrd, so often has told me, that is to provide for the 
             care and the welfare, and to raise the armies and maintain 
             the navies that this Nation requires. George Allen has 
             been a partner with me as we have done those things for 
             these many years.
               In life we go through a series of stages. We are raised 
             and nurtured by our parents, receive an education, raise a 
             family of our own, and serve in various careers. George 
             Allen and his family have been public servants to the 
             people of Virginia and America for the past 25 years. The 
             people have been fortunate to have such a dedicated 
             Delegate, Congressman, Governor, and U.S. Senator. I am 
             proud to have served with this man and to call him my 
             friend all these years. Therefore, I bid him a fond 
             farewell from this institution. But I look forward to 
             working with him as he goes on and accepts challenges 
             perhaps even greater than the ones he had in the years 
             that he so loved serving in this Chamber.
               The people of Virginia spoke, and George Allen, with 
             great courage, took that decision and quickly said: I 
             understand. He accepted it and has gone on about his 
             business. . . .
               In conclusion, over the years I have served with each of 
             these 10 Senators, each has not only been a trusted 
             colleague, each has also been my friend. I will miss 
             serving with each of them in the Senate but know that each 
             will continue in public service in some capacity. I wish 
             each and every one of them well in the years ahead.
               Mr. President, I see a number of colleagues here anxious 
             to speak, and I have taken generously of the time the 
             Presiding Officer has allowed me to speak.
               I yield the floor.

               Mrs. CLINTON. . . . Finally, I also wish the very best 
             to my Republican colleagues who will leave the Senate at 
             the conclusion of this Congress. The Senate, at its best, 
             is a body that promotes bipartisanship, deliberation, and 
             cooperation, and the dedication to shared values. It has 
             been a privilege to work with my departing colleagues on 
             the other side of the aisle.
                                               Friday, December 8, 2006
               Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I have a few more minutes 
             before the 10:30 vote, and I take this time to say a few 
             words about some of my colleagues who are retiring. We had 
             a good bit of time yesterday devoted to their tremendous 
             contributions, and as each of us, the 100 of us, do know 
             each other pretty well, I have come to the floor to say a 
             few things about several of the colleagues I have had the 
             distinct pleasure of working with very closely. . . .
               Mr. President, finally, I want to recognize the Senator 
             from Virginia, George Allen, for his service as Senator 
             and as Governor of his State. We have worked together on a 
             range of issues on the Energy and Small Business 
             Committees as well as on the historic antilynching bill.
               To all of our retiring Members, I say thank you. Thank 
             you for your efforts on behalf of my State when you were 
             needed and thank you for your service to America.

               Mr. KYL.  Mr.  President,  I  also  will  say  a  word  
             about a couple of my colleagues who are leaving, and I 
             will be brief. . . .
               George Allen, a great colleague with whom I also served 
             one term in the House of Representatives, and whose 
             philosophy of ``freedom first'' is certainly one that I 
             share. I know we are going to miss George and his sage 
             counsel in the years to come. . . .
               I know we all move on at some time and that none of us 
             is irreplaceable. But by the same token, these colleagues 
             of ours who will be leaving will be missed and they will 
             be remembered for their great service to the Senate, to 
             their States, and to the United States of America.
               I yield the floor.

               Mr. DeWINE. . . . Mr. President, I want to wish the best 
             to all of my fellow Senators who were defeated this fall 
             or who are retiring this year--Senators Frist, Santorum, 
             Talent, Burns, Allen, Chafee, Dayton, and Jeffords. They 
             are all good people and all good friends. I wish them 
             well. . . .

               Mr. DODD. . . . Mr. President, today I pay tribute to my 
             departing colleagues who have, for a time, lent their 
             talents, their convictions, and their hard work to this 
             distinguished body. I may have had my disagreements with 
             them, but the end of a term is a time for seeing 
             colleagues not simply as politicians, but as partners who 
             have ``toiled, and wrought, and thought with me.'' Each, 
             in his own way, was distinctive; and each, in his own way, 
             will be sorely missed. . . .
               Next, I would like to bid farewell to Virginia's George 
             Allen. As we all know, Senator Allen is the son of the 
             great football coach, George H. Allen. As a boy and young 
             man, Senator Allen lived all over America, wherever his 
             father's career took the family. But in the end, Senator 
             Allen fell in love with the State of Virginia, especially 
             its wealth of history. Describing his first law practice, 
             he said:

               I was going to go into a partnership with someone in 
             Charlottesville in an old building built in 1814. Mr. 
             Jefferson played the fiddle there, allegedly . . . I lived 
             in it while renovating. I started my law practice and then 
             bought a log house out in the country, in the woods. 
             Charlottesville is where I wanted to take my stand.

               In 1982, George Allen won election to the Virginia House 
             of Delegates--and Thomas Jefferson's old seat. In 1991, he 
             was elected to a term in the House of Representatives, and 
             2 years later, became Governor of Virginia, a post in 
             which he distinguished himself as an energetic executive. 
             As Governor, George Allen fought violent crime, reformed 
             his State's welfare system, and signed the standards of 
             learning education reform bill, which helped inspire No 
             Child Left Behind. In 2000, he was elected to the Senate, 
             where he served on committees including Commerce and 
             Foreign Relations.
               In the Senate, George Allen made a name for himself on 
             technology issues, keeping the Internet free of taxation, 
             securing nanotechnology funding, and providing high-tech 
             grants to historically black colleges. It's also been a 
             pleasure to work with Senator Allen for several years on 
             our own legislation to enhance America's competitiveness 
             in the field of aviation by investing in aeronautics 
             research and a new generation of aerospace scientists. In 
             addition to his technology interests, Senator Allen was 
             also a strong advocate of balanced budgets.
               George Allen is leaving the Senate, but we will remember 
             him for his affable demeanor and love of history. He was 
             fond of quoting Thomas Jefferson's 1801 Inaugural Address: 
             ``The sum of good government is a wise and frugal 
             government  which  shall  restrain  men  from  injuring  
             one  another but  otherwise  leave  them  free  to  
             regulate  their  own  pursuits of industry.'' George Allen 
             did his best to live and work by those principles, and as 
             he returns to private life, I wish happiness to him, his 
             wife Susan, and their three children. . . .

               Mr. HATCH. . . . Mr. President, I rise today to honor 
             the Senate career of my distinguished colleague from the 
             State of Virginia, the Honorable George Allen. The 
             contributions he has made to Congress and this country are 
             significant, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for all 
             that he has given.
               George has spent most of his career in public service. A 
             few years after earning his law degree, he served as a 
             delegate in the Virginia Assembly before becoming a 
             Congressman in 1991. He made a successful run for Governor 
             of Virginia and presided over 4 years of strong economic 
             growth and steady job creation. In 2001, he joined the 
             U.S. Senate, and I have been honored to call him my 
             colleague for the past 6 years.
               George has been a tireless advocate for a smaller, more 
             efficient Government throughout his career. He helped lead 
             the way to enactment of the President's tax cut package in 
             2001 and 2003 and has been an articulate defender of the 
             progrowth tax policies that we have pursued over the past 
             6 years, including the reduction in capital gains and 
             dividend taxes, the repeal of the death tax, and the 
             reduction in the tax burden of our Nation's small 
             businesses, where so many of our jobs are created. These 
             were lessons he learned well from his days as a Governor.
               He has done more than just pay lip service to the 
             importance of keeping taxes low: He has fought the good 
             fight as well. He introduced and worked hard to ensure the 
             passage of the Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act, 
             legislation that prohibited taxes on Internet access or 
             taxation from multiple jurisdictions on goods bought over 
             the Internet.
               Over the last few years, George has achieved an almost 
             legendary status with the technology community in this 
             country. In 2001, George was appointed to serve as 
             chairman of the Senate High Tech Task Force where he 
             advocated for policies to make America a leader in 
             innovation from nanotechnology to broadband to the 
             education of future engineers and scientists. So much of 
             the technology agenda being advanced in this country today 
             spawned from the efforts of George as the High Tech Task 
             Force chairman. If you were to meet with the top 
             executives of any technology company with a significant 
             presence in the United States, they would tell you what a 
             wonderful advocate George Allen has been for their company 
             and their industry. I have heard it time and again from 
             hundreds of executives.
                George also has served our party well. His success as 
             head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee 
             during the 2004 election cycle is a result of the 
             Senator's bedrock faith in his beliefs and his ability to 
             articulate that which he holds true.
               So many times, politicians come to Washington with 
             strongly held convictions and a desire to do good and 
             instead take the more expedient path to reelection and 
             power. When it comes to George Allen's career, no one can 
             say he ever abandoned his belief in the virtues of a small 
             government and lower taxes. These are the very beliefs I 
             hold true as well, and I was glad to have him on my side.
               At its heart, politics is a battle over ideas. Our 
             distinguished Senator from Virginia earned the respect of 
             us all for the pitched battles he fought to advance the 
             cause of freedom and economic growth for the United States 
             and the world.
               Personally, I have admired George Allen for a long time. 
             In my opinion, his demeanor, his knowledge, and his drive 
             are all exemplary and worthy of emulation. Every 
             interaction I have had with George over the years has done 
             nothing but bolster my original opinion of him. He reminds 
             me more of Ronald Reagan than any national politician I 
             have met. That is a high compliment for a great statesman. 
             I would like to take this time to thank my friend, George 
             Allen, and to wish him, Susan, and the rest of the Allen 
             family the very best as he leaves this great institution 
             to take on new challenges.

               Mr. MARTINEZ. . . . Mr. President, today I recognize the 
             service of Senator George Allen. The citizens of the 
             Commonwealth of Virginia and the American people are 
             losing a great patriot in the U.S. Senate. Senator Allen 
             will be leaving the Senate after 6 years of service to his 
             home State constituents and to this country.
               He has been an important member of the Republican Party 
             and the Senate, always striving to better America's 
             defense and homeland security. He has worked to ensure 
             good-paying jobs for the people of Virginia, and to 
             guarantee that every person in Virginia receives a quality 
             education. It is disappointing that a strong leader like 
             Senator Allen is leaving the Senate; he will be missed. 
             Senator Allen was one of the people who helped convince me 
             to run for the U.S. Senate, and without his support and 
             his guidance, I might not be here today.
               I wish my colleague from Virginia and his family all the 
             best, and thank them for the service that they have given 
             to our country. Thank you, Senator Allen. . . .

               Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I would like to pay tribute 
             to the Republican Members of the Senate who will not be 
             returning in the 110th Congress. Senators George Allen; 
             Conrad Burns; Lincoln Chafee; Mike DeWine; Dr. Bill Frist; 
             Rick Santorum; and Jim Talent have served their 
             constituents with honor and distinction during their 
             tenure here in the U.S. Senate. All care very deeply for 
             this great Nation and I hope they will have continued 
             success in their future endeavors. . . .
               Majority leader Bill Frist has run the Senate through 
             difficult and trying times and he has done it well. 
             Senator Mike DeWine, my neighbor to the north, has 
             represented the Buckeye State with great distinction and 
             has committed over 30 years of his life to public service. 
             Senator George Allen represented the Commonwealth of 
             Virginia in the U.S. Senate for 6 years, and he worked 
             closely with me to make America safer by helping usher 
             through important legislation to arm cargo pilots. Senator 
             Jim Talent has had a great career in Congress and wrote 
             the blueprint to the welfare reform bill of 1996. And 
             Senator Lincoln Chafee has continued the proud legacy set 
             forth by his father and my friend, Senator John Chafee.
               Mr. President, I would like to again commend all of our 
             departing Republican Senators. I am proud of what they 
             accomplished here in the U.S. Senate. They will all be 
             missed, and I wish all of them the very best.

               Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, Senator Allen has spent 
             many years working for Virginia.
               He came to the Senate in 2000 after a strong record of 
             accomplishments as his State's Governor.
               As Virginia's Senator, he has worked diligently to 
             protect our freedoms, preserve conservative values, and 
             help America remain the land of opportunity.
               He was a strong supporter of the tax reforms of 2001 and 
             2003 that have resulted in the economic upswing our 
             economy is currently enjoying.
               His work on the Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act has 
             helped keep access to the Internet tax free.
               He also worked to increase military benefits, including 
             legislation to increase the death benefits for families of 
             fallen troops from $12,000 to $100,000.
               I have also worked with Senator Allen on the PACE Act. 
             Senator Allen understands that we must provide our 
             children with the education necessary for the jobs of 
             tomorrow. His work with the National Nanotechnology 
             Initiative will also help our country compete globally as 
             other countries continue to emerge. Senator Allen 
             understands that America must remain home to the best and 
             brightest.
               I will miss working with him in this Chamber, and I will 
             miss his friendship and support on the issues that matter 
             most to America. . . .
             UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--TRIBUTES TO RETIRING SENATORS
               Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the tributes to 
             retiring Senators be printed as a Senate document and that 
             Senators be permitted to submit tributes until December 
             27, 2006.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.
                                           Wednesday, December 27, 2006
               Mr. STEVENS. . . . Mr. President, Senator George Allen 
             has served the Commonwealth of Virginia with honor and 
             integrity. George is a principled person, following 
             bedrock beliefs gained growing up in a strong family.
               These principles have led George to promote and defend 
             freedom in this country and around the world. His 
             legislative accomplishments are aligned with this 
             philosophy.
               Senator Allen's major accomplishments include the 
             Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act, the 21st Century 
             Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, increased 
             benefits for the families of fallen troops, funding to 
             upgrade telecommunications infrastructure for minority-
             serving institutions, and greater protections for 
             intellectual property.
               In all of this, Senator Allen has not forgotten who his 
             real boss is: the American people. He has always, and will 
             continue, to put the interests of this country above his 
             own. That is a true mark of a leader, and all Virginians 
             can be proud to have been represented by a man with 
             Senator Allen's character.
               As many of his constituents, colleagues, and friends 
             know, Senator Allen closed much of his correspondence with 
             the words ``keep winning.'' Just like his dad, a Hall of 
             Fame coach who reached great heights and suffered tough 
             losses on the gridiron, we know George won't let this 
             setback define him. We all expect him to ``keep winning'' 
             for Virginia.
               Catherine and I wish him and Susan the very best. We 
             know we will hear more about this dedicated public servant 
             in the future. . . .
                                                Monday, January 8, 2007
               Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, it is an honor indeed to pay 
             tribute to a number of fine individuals who I am fortunate 
             to call not just my colleagues, but also dear friends: 
             Senators Bill Frist, George Allen, Conrad Burns, Lincoln 
             Chafee, Mike DeWine, Rick Santorum and Jim Talent. . . .
               It has also been a privilege to serve alongside my good 
             friend and colleague, Senator George Allen. In the Senate, 
             George built on an already remarkable record of service to 
             the people of Virginia, where he served as a member of the 
             House of Delegates, a Member of the U.S. House of 
             Representatives and as one of the most respected and 
             successful Governors in the history of the Commonwealth.
               As a Senator, George continued his common sense, 
             ``Jeffersonian'' style of conservative leadership. He 
             proved time and again that he is a tremendous ally of 
             Virginia's defense communities and military families. In 
             2005, George was a strong proponent of helping families of 
             fallen soldiers by raising the death gratuity for next-of-
             kin from $12,000 to $100,000. And as a member of the 
             Commerce Committee, George Allen was the Senate leader in 
             working to maintain America's competitive advantage in 
             technology and innovation. George founded the Senate 
             Competitiveness Caucus to promote an agenda that ensures 
             that the United States continues to create high-paying 
             jobs and produce the very best engineers and scientists in 
             the world.
               One of George's best attributes as a Senator was that he 
             did more than just talk the talk--George delivered real 
             results. He advocated for increased funding for math and 
             science education, in particular at historically black 
             colleges and other minority institutions. He has been a 
             leader in the Senate on improving health savings accounts 
             by increasing the amount individuals can contribute each 
             year to their HSAs, thus allowing them to save more money 
             for current and future health care needs. George also 
             secured more than $3.5 million in Federal funding for 
             cutting-edge nanotechnology research and development. And 
             he led the fight to ban Internet access taxes and make the 
             Internet tax moratorium permanent, as he understands that 
             saddling consumers with high taxes will stifle innovation 
             and expand the digital divide.
               Throughout his career, George Allen has served the 
             people of Virginia with courage and distinction, and he 
             has provided a wonderful example for public servants who 
             follow in his footsteps. I wish all the best to George, 
             his dear wife Susan, and their three children. . . .
               As these men--Bill Frist, George Allen, Conrad Burns, 
             Lincoln Chafee, Mike DeWine, Rick Santorum and Jim 
             Talent--conclude their service in the U.S. Senate, let me 
             say that I am so proud to have worked with individuals of 
             such character, strength, and intellect. Our Nation is 
             grateful for their many contributions. And as they each 
             will undoubtedly continue to contribute to our country's 
             greatness, their leadership and vision will be missed here 
             in the U.S. Senate.

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