[Senate Document 109-27]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



From the Senate Documents Online via GPO Access
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From the Senate Documents Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]



                                   S. Doc. 109-27
 
                    TRIBUTES TO HON. CONRAD R. BURNS




                                           
                          Conrad R. Burns

                       U.S. SENATOR FROM MONTANA

                                TRIBUTES

                           IN THE CONGRESS OF

                           THE UNITED STATES



                                           


                                           

             

                          Conrad R. Burns


                            Tributes

                     Delivered in Congress

                         Conrad R. Burns
                    United States Senator
                           1989-2007





                U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
                     WASHINGTON : 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
                    Allen, George, of Virginia.....................
                                                                      5
                    Bunning, Jim, of Kentucky......................
                                                                     18
                    Byrd, Robert C., of West Virginia..............
                                                                      7
                    Clinton, Hillary Rodham, of New York...........
                                                                     12
                    Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota..................
                                                                     11
                    DeWine, Mike, of Ohio..........................
                                                                     13
                    Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut...........
                                                                     13
                    Dole, Elizabeth, of North Carolina.............
                                                                     20
                    Durbin, Richard, of Illinois...................
                                                                      6
                    Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming...................
                                                                     15
                    Frist, William H., of Tennessee................
                                                                     19
                    Hagel, Chuck, of Nebraska......................
                                                                      3
                    Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
                                                                     14
                    Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
                                                                     18
                    Kyl, Jon, of Arizona...........................
                                                                     12
                    Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana................
                                                                     12
                    Mikulski, Barbara A., of Maryland..............
                                                                     13
                    Nelson, Bill, of Florida.......................
                                                                      5
                    Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
                                                                      4
                    Salazar, Ken, of Colorado......................
                                                                      6
                    Stevens, Ted, of Alaska........................
                                                                     19
                    Warner, John, of Virginia......................
                                                                      9
                                      Biography

               Conrad Burns was born on a farm near Gallatin, MO, on 
             January 25, 1935, to Russell and Mary Frances (Knight) 
             Burns. Graduating from Gallatin High School in 1952, 
             Senator Burns enrolled in the College of Agriculture at 
             the University of Missouri. Senator Burns enlisted in the 
             U.S. Marine Corps 2 years later, serving through 1957. 
             During his term of service, Senator Burns was posted 
             throughout East Asia.
               Following his military service Burns began working for 
             TWA and Ozark Airlines until 1962, when he became a field 
             representative for Polled Hereford World magazine in 
             Billings, MT. Named the first manager of the Northern 
             International Livestock Expo in 1968, Burns began his 
             career in radio and television broadcasting, reporting on 
             agricultural market news and establishing his reputation 
             as the voice of Montana agriculture.
               In 1975, Burns founded 4 radio stations known as the 
             Northern Ag Network, which grew to serve 31 radio and 
             television stations across Montana and Wyoming when he 
             sold it in 1986.
               Senator Burns began his career in politics when he was 
             elected to the Yellowstone County Commission, serving for 
             2 years before deciding to run for the U.S. Senate.
               Conrad Burns became only the second Republican Senator 
             in Montana's history, defeating incumbent John Melcher in 
             1988, and was the longest serving Republican Senator in 
             Montana history.
               On the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Burns 
             was able to bring in over $2 billion in Federal funds to 
             the State since he took office. He has been a champion of 
             a fiscally conservative government and a strong voice for 
             lower taxes to create new businesses and more jobs. He 
             expanded Montana's job base by establishing more balanced 
             trade with Canada and brought better education and health 
             care to Montanans by encouraging hi-tech investment in the 
             State. He pursued new markets for agricultural producers 
             while securing millions of dollars in grants for research 
             and marketing improvements.
               As chairman of the Senate Interior Appropriations 
             Subcommittee in the 109th Congress, Senator Burns had 
             jurisdiction over all the country's Federal lands and the 
             National Park Service. His love of the outdoors brought 
             him back to Montana several times each month and made him 
             a guardian of the State's vast natural resources. As a 
             result of his work in the Senate, over 70 rural Montana 
             communities have adopted enforceable drinking water 
             protection programs and funding became available to 
             safeguard acres of Montana through the Land and Water 
             Conservation Fund.
               On the national level, Senator Burns criticized 
             America's dependency upon foreign oil supplies, calling on 
             Congress to ban imports from Iraq and increase domestic 
             production and research in fuel cell technology. He also 
             cosponsored a Senate bill to voluntarily arm airline 
             pilots to protect against future terrorist attacks.
               In 1997, Senator Burns became Chairman of the 
             Communications Subcommittee, one of the major regulatory 
             posts in Congress. He has been praised as ``one of the 
             fathers of the modern Internet,'' standing for 
             deregulation, the roll-out of broadband in rural areas, 
             and new Internet and mobile phone technologies. He 
             authored section 706 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act 
             and in 1999 unveiled the ``Digital Dozen'' proposal of 
             telecom legislation. During the 107th Congress, Senator 
             Burns pushed his ``Tech 7'' agenda, which aimed to bring 
             greater security to the Internet, and during the 108th 
             Congress, Senator Burns unveiled his ``NexGenTen'' Tech 
             Agenda. At the start of the 109th Congress, Senator Burns 
             took helm as Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee and 
             rolled out his ``e-Eleven,'' Tech Agenda, 11 top priority 
             items to strengthen security and usher reform for 21st 
             century communication.
               In 1967 Conrad Burns married his wife Phyllis. Their 
             daughter Keely was born in 1971, and 5 years later, in 
             1976, their son Garrett was born.
                               Farewell to the Senate
                             Wednesday, December 6, 2006

               Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I appreciate the words of my 
             friend from Florida [Mr. Nelson] as I rise today and say 
             my farewell to this body. I do it with some sadness, but I 
             do it with great pride. I do it with a great appreciation 
             for the Senate and for the people who serve here.
               It has always been one of my personal honors and always 
             a privilege to serve the State of Montana and the country 
             for the last 18 years, and with such distinguished and 
             honorable men and women.
               We have seen a lot of changes. I want to answer my good 
             friend from Florida before he leaves the floor: We have 
             seen some changes come over the body, and I would suggest 
             that we turn off that eye that surrounds this body, turn 
             it off and turn the Senate back into the debating body it 
             was once known for, with collegiality, because the best I 
             have ever seen the Senate operate is in executive session. 
             When you turn off the television and we get to the 
             issues--and we have some marvelous people, dedicated, on 
             both sides of an issue, who can argue the issue--some of 
             us who may not be as disciplined in that particular issue 
             as others could learn and vote more intelligently. I 
             suggest that, but I doubt that will ever happen, being 
             that it is already out in the public today. I thank the 
             Senator for his observation. We need to get back to the 
             great debates that were held on the floor of the Senate 
             many years ago.
               It was back on January 3, 1989, when I was sworn in the 
             Senate. It was a proud day in my life and, of course, for 
             my wife and our family. I got to thinking during that day 
             that only in America could something like this happen. I 
             was fortunate and, of course, we had both my wife's 
             family, who are Nebraska folks, and my family, who are 
             Missouri folks, in attendance that day. They are just 
             folks, but they are emblematic of those people who were 
             born of the land and in the heart of America--ranchers and 
             farmers.
               It was on the prairies of Missouri where I was born and 
             raised on a little old bitty farm of 160 acres--what I 
             call ``2 rocks and 1 dirt''--not a very good farm. But I 
             have fond memories of that place. I give thanks every day 
             that I was born to that family and in that old house that 
             still stands on that 160 acres. Of course, in my younger 
             years I gained most of my philosophy in life. I was born 
             of folks who weren't very wealthy, as you would define 
             wealthy. They were a product of the Great Depression and 
             the terrible droughts of the 1930s. They survived by hard 
             work and great pride. The values they passed on to most of 
             us in my generation were the love of this country first, 
             community pride and loyalty to that community, and honesty 
             to the core. Russell and Mary Francis were married 59 
             years on that day when I was sworn in. And I will tell 
             you, when they witnessed proudly their son sworn into the 
             most prestigious body in the world, only in America can 
             that happen. It is truly the miracle of our country. It 
             was also a proud day for all of our family.
               I will say right now that we could not do well in this 
             body without the true support of a wife and family because 
             it is from that source that we draw our strength and, yes, 
             our wisdom, as long as they are by our side. Phyllis, of 
             course, and Keely and Garrett were all here. What 
             blessings God has bestowed upon me personally. One was 
             missing and that was Kate. God called her home back in 
             1985, but she remains in our memories and hearts forever. 
             Again, one cannot do this job without the support and 
             sacrifice of our family.
               We have seen a lot of positive things happen in Montana. 
             Montana has just begun to grow in new directions. Montana 
             is a resource State, with timber, mining, oil, and 
             agriculture. But we have new opportunities now, and they 
             have opened. I am proud to say that it was me and my 
             office that led the way on most of those changes. It is 
             said that it is not bragging if you have done it. I was 
             fortunate enough to attract a staff that shared the same 
             vision of change, and change we did. Montana is not short 
             of visionaries. It was my privilege to know them, work 
             with them, and to move our State forward.
               There is one thing about Montanans: They are not afraid 
             to dream. As you know, dreams never die; dreamers do. Our 
             colleges and universities now are national leaders in 
             research and development, agriculture, engineering, and 
             communications. We have telemedicine and distance learning 
             where none existed before. We have seen a real leap 
             forward in our infrastructure and transportation and rural 
             utilities. We have watched an elevated vocational 
             educational system grow. Tribal colleges on our seven 
             reservations are growing and now offer opportunities that 
             have never been available to our Native Americans in the 
             history of our State. More Montanans are working today and 
             own their homes than at any other time in the history of 
             our State.
               I had the honor of serving with three Presidents, and 
             one could say four, as it was in the closing days of 
             President Reagan's term. They are all honorable men and 
             dedicated to this Nation. I know what it is like to be in 
             the minority, and I know what it is like to be in the 
             majority. One great statement was made: ``The majority is 
             more funner.''
               I have enjoyed my work with some of the best men and 
             women in the Senate who represented both sides of the 
             aisle, from different regions of our country and diverse 
             cultures. I will miss them. But we have welded some 
             friendships that will last forever. The same could be said 
             of nations to which we have traveled and met national and 
             international leaders on all continents.
               During my tenure here, we have witnessed the crash of 
             the Berlin Wall, freedom in the market base come to the 
             Eastern bloc in Europe, and the electricity that was in 
             the House of Representatives when a newly elected 
             President of Poland made his historical speech in a joint 
             session. I will tell you what: It brought joy, tears, and 
             pride to all of us in that Chamber.
               Like every Member of Congress, I wept when two of our 
             Capitol policemen died on that summer day protecting this 
             Capitol and us who live and work here. Still, our hearts 
             go out to their families. They will never be forgotten.
               I leave with many memories. I ask the Senate to return 
             to the deliberative and collegial body it was designed to 
             be. I know it has that ability because I have seen it 
             firsthand. But the challenges ahead are tremendous for 
             this Government. I can only list about six of them: 
             taxation, regulation, energy, health care, education, and 
             litigation. We must face those challenges if we are to 
             live in this free entrepreneurial and economic country. I 
             suggest that we don't just dwell on the national interests 
             first and all others separately.
               Members of this body are just average men and women, but 
             they have the capabilities of rising to any occasion of 
             crisis. They are just average, but they also have a higher 
             degree of dedication to our country. I never 
             underestimated any Member of the Senate, and I regard them 
             as quiet heroes in a time of peace and in a time of 
             turmoil and even in the most stressful time in the process 
             of developing legislation that sets policy for our land.
               I shall miss all of you. It has been my great privilege 
             to serve with you. As I leave, I say God bless you all.
               I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.


                                           

                                      TRIBUTES

                                         TO

                                   CONRAD R. BURNS
                              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 Conrad Burns. The best thing we can say about 
             Senator Burns is he married a girl from Nebraska. His wife 
             Phyllis is from North Platte. Senator Burns represents 
             some of the best the West has to offer. He will be the 
             longest serving Republican Senator in Montana history. His 
             background is varied: distinguished entrepreneur, 
             broadcaster, and that which he is most proud of, a U.S. 
             marine.
               I have had the honor of working with Senator Burns on a 
             number of bills and occasions, many related to agriculture 
             and the cattle industry. For Senator Burns's service to 
             our country, we thank him. We will miss him. ...
               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 ...
               My friend, Conrad Burns, who is retiring, was a marine, 
             an auctioneer, had his own radio program and TV program in 
             Montana. He would sometimes pick up hitchhikers on his way 
             in to work in the Senate--a pretty good surprise for a 
             government employee to be picked up by a U.S. Senator. ...
               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. ALLEN. Mr. President, as the time for my departure 
             from the Senate draws near, on behalf of the greatest 
             blessing in my life, my wife Susan, and on behalf of 
             myself, I thank all of my colleagues for their many 
             courtesies and friendships that have been forged during 
             the past 6 years. I offer a few concluding reflections 
             about our time here together, as well as about the future 
             of our Republic. ...

               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 Conrad Burns and I have served 
             on the Appropriations Committee and are friends from the 
             Senate gym where we get together every morning and find a 
             few things to laugh about. ...
               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.

               Mr. BYRD. ... Mr. President, the great State of Montana 
             is Big Sky Country. It is the land of open space, grizzly 
             bears, gray wolves, and ponderosa pines. It is a land of 
             vast grasslands and the magnificent Glacier and 
             Yellowstone National Parks. It is the land of Senator 
             Conrad Burns who will be leaving us at the end of this 
             session of Congress.
               His service in this Chamber was the capstone of a 
             fascinating, multifaceted career. A marine veteran, 
             Senator Burns had worked for two different major airlines, 
             and had worked as a firefighter, a livestock fieldman, 
             commissioner of Yellowstone County, and an auctioneer.
               He had also served as a radio announcer, a farm 
             broadcaster on the Northern Agricultural Farm Network. A 
             member of my staff grew up in Great Falls, MT. She 
             remembers, as a child, waking up very early on cold, 
             Montana mornings, going out to feed the horses, and coming 
             in to hear Senator Burns giving his ``ag'' report on 
             television, telling the people of Montana the price of 
             pork bellies, hard red winter wheat, and other 
             commodities.
               With his boots, wide belt buckles, and folksy 
             mannerisms, few people would have expected that this 
             Montana cowboy would become one of the Senate's leading 
             experts in high-tech telecommunications.
               During his service on the Committee on Commerce, 
             Science, and Transportation, Senator Burns embraced and 
             fostered new communications technologies. He chaired the 
             first interactive hearing on Capitol Hill and cofounded 
             the Congressional Internet Caucus. As chairman of the 
             Communications Subcommittee, he helped bring the Nation's 
             communications laws into the digital age as he helped 
             broaden the use of the Internet. Indeed, he has been 
             praised as ``one of the fathers of the modern Internet.''
               To the relief of, perhaps, millions of American Internet 
             users, Senator Burns tangled with mass marketers to help 
             secure enactment of antispam legislation.
               With his interests in telecommunications, he enhanced 
             911 services throughout the country and worked with 
             Senator Clinton in sponsoring legislation to upgrade 
             technology on cell phones.
               On the Senate Appropriations Committee, he chaired the 
             Interior Subcommittee, and this is where I came to know 
             and appreciate him. As a Westerner, Senator Burns brought 
             an important perspective, as well as a wealth of 
             experience and knowledge to the diverse and difficult 
             issues that came up in the Interior Appropriations bill 
             that were important to his State, and to his region of the 
             country.
               In 2001 and 2002, when I chaired the committee, it was a 
             pleasure to have Senator Burns serving as ranking member 
             of the Interior Subcommittee and to work with him and his 
             able staff. His dedication to duty, his willingness to 
             work in bipartisan fashion, and his always gracious manner 
             made my work infinitely easier. It was simply a pleasure 
             to work with and to serve with Senator Burns on this 
             subcommittee.
               I must now say goodbye to my good friend and colleague. 
             I wish Senator Burns and his dear wife Phyllis happiness 
             and success as they now prepare for the next phase of 
             their lives.
               In honor of and appreciation for the Senate's Montana 
             cowboy, who was at one time in his career an auctioneer, I 
             offer the following verse:

                           The Touch of the Master's Hand
             'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
             Thought it was scarcely worth his while
             To waste much time on the old violin,
             But held it up with a smile.
             ``What am I bidden, good folks,'' he cried,
             ``Who will start bidding for me?
             A dollar, a dollar''--then, ``Two!'' ``Only two?
             Two dollars, and who'll make it three?
             Three dollars once; three dollars, twice;
             Going for three--'' But no,
             From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
             Came forward and picked up the bow;
             Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
             And tightening the loose strings,
             He played a melody pure and sweet
             As a caroling angel sings.

             The music ceased, and the auctioneer
             With a voice that was quiet and low,
             Said, ``What am I bidden for the old violin?''
             And he held it up with the bow.
             ``A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
             Two thousand! And who'll make it three?

             Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice;
             And going, and gone!'' said he.
             The people cheered, but some of them cried
             ``We do not quite understand
             What changed its worth?'' Swift came the reply:
             ``The touch of the master's hand.''

             And many a man with life out of tune,
             And battered and scarred with sin,
             Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
             Much like the old violin.
             A ``mess of pottage,'' a glass of wine;
             A game--and he travels on.
             He's ``going'' once, and ``going'' twice,
             He's ``going'' and almost ``gone.''
             But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
             Never can quite understand
             The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought
             By the touch of the Master's hand.
                                        --Myra Brooks Welch          
                                             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. ...
               I would also like to pay tribute to nine other U.S. 
             Senators who will retire from the Senate in the coming 
             days. ...
               Now, I would like to take a few moments to salute our 
             majority leader, Senator Frist, as well as Senators 
             Chafee, Burns, Santorum, DeWine, Jeffords, Talent, and 
             Dayton. Each and every one of these U.S. Senators has 
             served his State and his country with great distinction.
               Without a doubt, I could speak at-length in honor of 
             each of these outstanding individuals. In light of time 
             constraints, however, and the fact that so many of my 
             colleagues wish to similarly pay tribute, I shall endeavor 
             to keep my remarks brief. ...
               Now, Mr. President, I wish to say a few words about 
             Conrad Burns. Senator Conrad Burns has an impressive 
             record of public service, beginning with his service in 
             the U.S. Marine Corps from 1955 to 1957. Conrad has served 
             the great State of Montana with distinction in the U.S. 
             Senate since 1989.
               I will never forget when his first campaign came along, 
             I was asked to go out and campaign with him. I 
             acknowledged I would do it. I didn't know him, so I went 
             on out to Montana. I had been in Montana in earlier years. 
             I had been actually an employee of the U.S. Park Service 
             and had been a firefighter out in Montana in 1943 and then 
             again in 1947, I think it was.
               Most recently, in August I toured Malmstrom Air Force 
             Base with Senator Burns. On this tour, I saw firsthand the 
             love and pride that Senator Burns has for the people of 
             his State. As a senior member of the Senate Defense 
             Appropriations Subcommittee, he has worked tirelessly for 
             the men and women in the Armed Forces.
               And old Conrad--he embodies all of those great qualities 
             of Montana. Talk about independence, he has it, and 
             robustness, and a thirst for life and laughter. It was a 
             sheer joy to campaign with Conrad Burns because wherever 
             he went, he would walk into a room and he would tell a 
             story, talk to his people.
               He loves every square foot of that State. And I shall 
             miss him. I shall dearly miss Conrad Burns. We have to 
             have a few characters around here who do our duties and 
             accept our daily bread, and he is one. And you could go to 
             the bank on what he told you. He was never at a loss for 
             telling a story to cheer up a colleague. Whenever he felt 
             that colleague was a bit down, Conrad would cheer that 
             colleague up. He and his lovely wife and family will go on 
             to other challenges. ...
               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.

               Mr. CONRAD. ... Mr. President, I rise today to 
             acknowledge my colleague from Montana, Senator Conrad 
             Burns, who will be leaving this body after serving 
             Montanans for the past 18 years.
               Since our States border one another, Senator Burns and I 
             have had the opportunity to work together on issues 
             important to our region and the Nation. Senator Burns has 
             been a strong advocate for the interests of his State.
               In 2002, Senator Burns and I joined forces to create the 
             Bipartisan Task Force on Tribal Colleges and Universities. 
             One of the goals we set for the task force was to secure 
             adequate resources on the Federal level to support and 
             grow these valuable institutions. Senator Burns, as 
             chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, was 
             a strong advocate in helping the task force achieve this 
             goal. Under his leadership, the tribal colleges received 
             some of the largest increases in Federal funding since 
             their inception. This support has opened the door of 
             opportunity for thousands of American Indians.
               During this past year, we have also worked together on 
             agricultural disaster assistance legislation. Because both 
             of our States have a strong agricultural sector in our 
             economy, this issue is very important to our constituents. 
             The support he has given to agricultural disaster 
             legislation in both the Senate Appropriations Committee 
             and the full Senate has been important to our efforts, and 
             I appreciate his strong support.
               Senator Burns was also a valuable member of the ICBM 
             coalition. During these past years, he and I have worked 
             together to make sure our Nation has a strong military 
             deterrent to emerging world threats.
               Since he arrived in Washington as a Senator only 2 years 
             after I did, we have watched the debates and policy 
             discussions in this body together for almost two decades 
             now. During that time we have seen economic ups and downs, 
             a major change in international power structure, and the 
             new challenges we face after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
               Again, Mr. President, I have appreciated the opportunity 
             to work with Senator Burns and wish him well as he leaves 
             the Senate.

               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, Senator Conrad Burns has represented his 
             State of Montana for three terms. He has been a stalwart 
             on behalf of his constituents and his philosophy of 
             government. We thank him for his public service. ...
               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. ...
                Conrad Burns is a fellow westerner with whom I have 
             shared much and always enjoyed the humor that Conrad 
             brought to this body. ...
                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. ...

               Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I want to say something 
             about my departing colleagues on the other side of the 
             aisle. ...
               And to the departing Senator from Montana, who has a 
             voice about the same decibel level of my own, I wish him 
             well. Again, on the Committee on Commerce and on the 
             Committee on Appropriations we worked very well, 
             particularly on those issues that were important to 
             science and technology, new ideas, new thinking, but old-
             fashioned values.
               A lot is said about changing the tone, but when we hit 
             the right tone we also hit some pretty high notes. I thank 
             my colleagues and wish them well and Godspeed until we 
             meet again.

               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. ...
               I would also like to bid farewell to outgoing Senator 
             Conrad Burns of Montana. Conrad Burns is the longest 
             serving Senator in the history of his State, and he has 
             long been known for his plainspoken and blunt style. 
             Conrad Burns served as a marine in Japan and Korea, and 
             back home he made a name for himself as a livestock 
             specialist, auctioneer, and radio agricultural reporter. 
             He proved himself a canny businessman, as 1 radio program 
             grew into a network of 31 radio stations and 6 television 
             stations.
               A passion for local politics led him to win a seat on 
             the Yellowstone County Commission. When he first ran for 
             the Senate in 1988, Mr. Burns was still a relative 
             political novice; but he was known throughout the State of 
             Montana for his successful business ventures, and he won 
             election over an incumbent. Senator Burns was reelected in 
             1994 and 2000.
               Over 18 years in this body, Senator Burns built up a 
             record as an influential committee member, sitting on 
             Appropriations and chairing a Subcommittee on 
             Communications, as well as another on the Interior, with 
             jurisdiction over the entire National Parks Service. 
             Senator Burns has taken pride in securing resources for 
             his State, as well as in opening up the promise of 
             advanced telecommunications for all. He worked with 
             Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon to pass the CAN-SPAM Act, 
             which combats unsolicited e-mail. Senator Burns has also 
             worked for Internet deregulation and broadband access in 
             rural areas, earning him praise as ``one of the fathers of 
             the modern Internet.'' That is quite an achievement for a 
             onetime cattle auctioneer.
               Now Senator Burns is returning to his home State of 
             Montana, and I hope he and his wife Phyllis have many 
             years of happiness there. ...

               Mr. HATCH. ... Mr. President, I want to pay special 
             tribute to my good friend and colleague from Montana, 
             Senator Conrad Burns, known by his staff, Montanans, and 
             myself as just Conrad. It is hard for me to imagine a more 
             down-to-earth Member of Congress than Conrad. His 
             straight-shooting analysis of the issues and his humorous 
             outlook on life made life around the Senate more 
             enjoyable.
               Utahns in particular owe a debt of gratitude to Senator 
             Burns. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations 
             Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies, Senator 
             Burns worked with our delegation to meet many of Utah's 
             needs.
               First and foremost, he oversaw a dramatic increase in 
             funding for the Payments-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILT) Program, 
             which provides funding for schools, roads, and public 
             safety services in rural communities in Utah where the tax 
             base is limited due to the predominance of tax-exempt 
             Federal land.
               Chairman Burns also helped me to pass legislation which 
             expedites research and development projects on Bureau of 
             Land Management, BLM, land. Senator Burns also helped 
             provide funding for Sandy City, UT, to upgrade its 
             drinking and storm water infrastructure. With this 
             funding, Sandy City will now be able to prevent flooding 
             which has threatened the homes of many citizens in the 
             past.
               Over the years, Conrad has been extremely helpful to 
             many Utah communities. He helped provide funding to 
             protect the Range Creek Rainbow Glass Ranch for 
             conservation purposes, to improve drinking water for the 
             citizens of Centerfield, Mayfield, Park City, and Eagle 
             Mountain, UT, to provide for the Sand Hollow Recreation 
             Area, and to increase the reach of the Bonneville 
             Shoreline Trail.
               Conrad has also helped Utah and our country continue 
             down the path of energy independence and accelerate Utah 
             oil and gas production by helping to fund the Utah Oil and 
             Gas Leasing Internet Pilot Program.
               Allow me to share just one example of how Senator Conrad 
             Burns is, and always will be, a man of the people. The 
             highway system around the Washington, DC, area provides 
             for express lanes for vehicles carrying passengers. A 
             regular feature of the Washington commute is lines of 
             passengers hoping to be picked up by drivers who are 
             driving their way. Much of the population of the high 
             occupancy vehicle express lanes is made up of single 
             drivers who have picked up these passengers, thus allowing 
             them to use the express lanes. For years, my friend 
             Senator Burns would pick up these riders in his less than 
             glamorous van. They would have great conversations 
             together along the way, and in most cases, the passengers 
             would not have the slightest idea that they had been 
             picked up and were now chatting with a U.S. Senator. And 
             knowing the junior Senator from Montana, I am sure that's 
             just the way he wanted it.
               Senator Conrad Burns has been a great friend to the 
             people of Utah and a great friend to me. I will miss his 
             presence here in the Senate, and I wish him the greatest 
             of success in his future endeavors. ...

               Mr. ENZI. ... Mr. President, the 109th Congress will 
             soon be drawing to a close. As it does, we will be casting 
             our final votes on the issues we will take up this year, 
             and saying goodbye to several of our colleagues who will 
             not be with us for the start of the 110th session of 
             Congress. I know I will miss them all for the creativity, 
             imagination, and firm resolve they have brought to the 
             consideration of the issues we have worked so hard to 
             address for the past 2 years.
               One of our colleagues I know I will miss in particular 
             is Conrad Burns. Throughout my service in the Senate he 
             has been a remarkable friend, and the kind of person you 
             would want on your side if a battle on the Senate floor 
             was about to take place. For 18 years he has been a 
             remarkable Senator and a strong and effective 
             representative of the people of Montana. It just won't be 
             the same around here without him.
               Conrad Burns is a true westerner--through and through--
             and very proud of his western roots. He has always been 
             strongly committed and absolutely loyal to the United 
             States and to his home State of Montana. He showed his 
             commitment to each at an early age. First, his love of his 
             country showed itself when he decided to leave home and 
             join the Marines. Then, when his tour of service was 
             completed, he returned to Montana and began a career that 
             was going so well his employer wanted to transfer him to 
             another State where he thought Conrad would be more 
             effective. That is when Conrad's love for his home State 
             of Montana showed itself and he quit a promising career 
             rather than leave the State he loved so well.
               Instead, Conrad set up the Northern Ag Network, which 
             grew from 4 radio stations to 29 radio stations and 6 
             television stations. Then, as things were going so well 
             with that project, he began looking for a new challenge. 
             He found it when he ran for Yellowstone county 
             commissioner and won. It was the start of a great 
             political career for him and the more the people of 
             Montana got to know Conrad Burns, the more they liked him.
               Conrad then decided to run for the Senate and ever since 
             he came to Washington, Conrad has compiled quite a 
             remarkable record of service. He has made great decisions 
             for our country as he has watched out for the best 
             interests of the people of Montana. He has made a 
             difference on the local, State and national level. Here in 
             Washington, he has championed some amazing projects and 
             issues and there is a lot of legislation that bears his 
             mark for his having worked on it or supported it through 
             the years.
               As we have watched Conrad roll up his sleeves and get to 
             work on any of a number of issues, he has always impressed 
             us with his understanding of complex issues and their 
             short-term and long-term implications for our society such 
             as the Internet and the development of modern 
             technologies. In fact, I don't think anyone knows more 
             about broadband and communication issues than he does. He 
             is probably the greatest expert in the Senate on those 
             matters and I know I will continue to seek his advice and 
             counsel about them when these or related issues come to 
             the floor in the months to come.
               That is an impressive start, but it is not all you will 
             find when you examine Conrad's record of service. Conrad 
             has also been a hero to small businesses across the 
             country. He understands their importance and he is fully 
             aware that our Nation's small businesses are the backbone 
             of every State's economy and our national economy as well.
               People around the country have come to know Conrad as he 
             exercised his strong and effective leadership on the 
             Appropriations Committee. He was always very careful with 
             the people's money to ensure it was effectively spent.
               For my part, I will always remember Conrad as one of my 
             greatest mentors in the Senate. Thanks to him, I learned a 
             great deal about the hearings process and how it works. I 
             learned the importance of putting a hearing together that 
             would generate good ideas to solve difficult problems. 
             That enabled us to address the concerns of the ranchers of 
             Wyoming, Montana and the West and take a closer look at 
             the destruction caused by the fires in our States. As we 
             examined those issues during our hearings in Montana, I 
             got a chance to see how he handled the gavel and exercised 
             his leadership as chairman. That experience helped me to 
             plan and hold my own hearings and ensure a maximum amount 
             of participation and discussion.
               Conrad has also been a good friend over the years we 
             have served together in the Senate. We have fished and 
             golfed together. We have worked together on issues of 
             concern to Wyoming, Montana and the West and we have voted 
             together. We have gone to quite a few sporting events 
             together usually to watch the Wyoming and Montana teams 
             play each other. I seem to recall that Wyoming usually got 
             the better of those encounters. I think Conrad may recall 
             those games differently, but I am pretty sure the Wyoming 
             teams always finished ahead of the others.
               Our families have enjoyed each other as well. Our wives 
             are best friends in the western sense--not the Washington, 
             DC sense. Our kids grew up together and they have remained 
             close--even through those times when they were miles 
             apart.
               Most important to me, Conrad has been my friend through 
             thick and thin--the good and bad--the wins and losses--and 
             the highs and lows of political life. Time changes so many 
             things in our lives, but one thing it never changes is a 
             friendship. Thankfully, those only grow deeper and 
             stronger with time.
               As we say goodbye to Conrad Burns, I know I will still 
             be seeing him, hearing from him and spending time with him 
             now and again. Change is temporary, friendships are 
             permanent, and I know my family and I are looking forward 
             to continuing to share our lives with Conrad and his 
             family. We can't ever let change ``change'' that.

               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.
               Senator Conrad Burns and I have had a great working and 
             personal relationship over the last 8 years. He and his 
             wife Phyllis have become dear friends of my wife Mary and 
             me. I have enjoyed our time spent together both personally 
             and professionally. Conrad and I watched a baseball game 
             with our grandsons a couple of years ago in Montana. 
             Conrad and Phyllis also joined Mary and me at the Kentucky 
             Derby. I wish Conrad and his family all the best as they 
             start a new chapter in their lives. ...
               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 Conrad Burns 
             has had a long and distinguished career in the Senate as 
             Montana's longest serving Republican Senator.
               Since 1988, Senator Burns has represented his 
             constituents with honor in the Senate. He has made sure 
             that Montana's unique, rural economy is sustained through 
             his support of balanced trade, high-tech investments, and 
             small business.
               Since serving as chairman of the Communications 
             Subcommittee in 1997, he has continually fought for the 
             rollout of broadband in rural areas and pushed for new 
             Internet and mobile phone technologies to help Montanans 
             participate in our global economy.
               Senator Burns's love for the outdoors has made him a 
             steward of our country's natural resources. As chairman of 
             the Senate's Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, I have 
             watched him work tirelessly to protect and provide for our 
             National parks and forests. Our natural resources are 
             being protected thanks to the work of Senator Burns. I 
             know he is looking forward to returning to Montana and the 
             great outdoors.
               He has been an ardent supporter of making Government 
             more fiscally responsible and lowering our taxes, and he 
             was often an ally on issues.
               His leadership and strong conviction to do what is right 
             will be sorely missed. ...
             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, it is with great sadness 
             that I say farewell to a great friend and Senator, Conrad 
             Burns of Montana. His loss will be felt in Montana and 
             here in the Senate. Conrad is a man of the West and worked 
             hard to make sure those values were represented in the 
             Senate.
               Senator Burns, a marine with a background in radio and 
             television and as an auctioneer, came to the Senate in 
             1988. He, his wonderful wife Phyllis, and their family 
             have become close friends with Catherine and me and to 
             Alaska. In fact, Conrad's daughter, Dr. Keely Burns, spent 
             time in Alaska after medical school working as a resident. 
             Conrad is a great auctioneer and fine fisherman who often 
             joined me in Alaska.
               Conrad served with me on the Commerce, Science, and 
             Transportation Committee as well as the Committee on 
             Appropriations. During his time on those committees he 
             accomplished a great deal for Montana, the West, and our 
             Nation.
               Conrad worked to ensure more than 70 rural Montana 
             communities have enforceable safe drinking water programs 
             and protected the Big Sky through the Land and Water 
             Conservation Fund. He authored section 706 of the 
             Telecommunications Act of 1996, a provision which ensures 
             advanced telecommunications are accessible in our schools 
             and classrooms. And as chairman of the Interior 
             Appropriations Subcommittee, he helped to secure funding 
             for the Bureau of Land Management to expedite land 
             conveyances in Alaska, which my State has pushed for since 
             statehood. He worked hard to bring infrastructure and high 
             tech to rural Montana. He worked to create E9-1-1 
             legislation for the Nation.
               Conrad Burns is a hard worker, but he has an easygoing 
             way about him. Many Senators and staff know that he used 
             to pick up carpoolers on his way to work. Few probably 
             know about his protecting penguins in Antarctica. During a 
             trip to our research station, there was a group of us 
             watching penguins shuffling nervously near the water's 
             edge. Conrad got the group together to pose for a photo, 
             when suddenly all of the penguins jumped between us and 
             the edge of the water. Conrad just smiled and took the 
             photo, never mentioning the large killer whale that was 
             circling behind the Senators.
               Conrad's humor is legendary and he can often spring it 
             on you when you least expect it. As President pro tempore, 
             I opened the Senate on my 80th birthday, dreading any 
             birthday greetings I might receive. The first Member 
             seeking recognition after the prayer was Conrad. Sure 
             enough, Conrad launched into a long speech about a great 
             American icon, a fighter, a scrappy character. I got more 
             and more uncomfortable in the chair, but Conrad knew 
             something I didn't--Mickey Mouse and I share a birthday. 
             Conrad knew I would think all this high-minded talk was 
             about me, but instead he was praising America's most 
             lovable cartoon character. That's Conrad Burns. A man who 
             loves to laugh, loves people, and loves his home State of 
             Montana.
               We will miss the good Senator from Montana. ...
                                                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. ...
               For the past 18 years, Montanans were extremely 
             fortunate to be represented by Conrad Burns. There is no 
             question that Conrad delivered time and again for the 
             people of his State.
               As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, 
             Conrad secured more than $2 billion in Federal funds for 
             Montana. And as chairman of the Senate Appropriations 
             Subcommittee on Interior, he was a tireless advocate of 
             programs that benefit all Montanans, such as protecting 
             drinking water and defending his State's wilderness and 
             wildlife. Conrad also fought hard for Malmstrom Air Force 
             Base and Montana's military presence during the base 
             realignment and closure process in 2005.
               As chairman of the Communications Subcommittee of the 
             Commerce Committee, Conrad fought for deregulation and new 
             Internet and mobile phone technologies. And he worked to 
             ensure that rural Montana communities have access to the 
             technologies that will keep them competitive in today's 
             global marketplace.
               Throughout his time in the Senate, Conrad was a strong 
             proponent of Government accountability, fiscal 
             responsibility and lower taxes. He worked diligently to 
             decrease America's dependence on foreign oil. And he was 
             an early backer of the Medicare prescription drug benefit 
             that is now helping millions of seniors afford their 
             medicines.
               Conrad's legacy will live on, across Montana, and in the 
             halls of the Senate, long after he has shut the door to 
             his office. He leaves behind an extraordinary record of 
             service to the people of his State. My warmest wishes to 
             my friend Conrad Burns, his wife Phyllis, and their 
             family. ...
               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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