[Senate Document 109-28]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



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

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


                                    S. Doc. 109-28

 
                   TRIBUTES TO HON. LINCOLN D. CHAFEE




                                           

                           Lincoln D. Chafee

                     U.S. SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND

                                TRIBUTES

                           IN THE CONGRESS OF

                           THE UNITED STATES



                                           


                                           

             
             

                        Lincoln D. Chafee


                             Tributes

                       Delivered in Congress



                          Lincoln D. Chafee

                         United States Senator

                             1999-2007
                                           


                                           


                U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
                      WASHINGTON : 2007



                   Compiled under the direction

                            of the

                  Joint Committee on Printing
                                        
                          CONTENTS
             Biography.............................................
                                                                      v
             Proceedings in the Senate:
                Tributes by Senators:
                    Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee.................
                                                                      5
                    Allen, George, of Virginia.....................
                                                                      6
                    Bunning, Jim, of Kentucky......................
                                                                     22
                    Byrd, Robert C., of West Virginia..............
                                                                      8
                    Clinton, Hillary Rodham, of New York...........
                                                                     15
                    Collins, Susan M., of Maine....................
                                                                     23
                    Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota..................
                                                                     14
                    DeWine, Mike, of Ohio..........................
                                                                     16
                    Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut...........
                                                                     17
                    Dole, Elizabeth, of North Carolina.............
                                                                     24
                    Durbin, Richard, of Illinois...................
                                                                      7
                    Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin.............
                                                                     10
                    Frist, William H., of Tennessee................
                                                                     23
                    Hagel, Chuck, of Nebraska......................
                                                                      3
                    Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
                                                                     18
                    Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
                                                                     22
                    Kyl, Jon, of Arizona...........................
                                                                     16
                    Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana................
                                                                     15
                    Levin, Carl, of Michigan.......................
                                                                     19
                    Mikulski, Barbara A., of Maryland..............
                                                                     16
                    Nelson, Bill, of Florida.......................
                                                                      6
                    Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
                                                                      4
                    Salazar, Ken, of Colorado......................
                                                                   3, 7
                    Snowe, Olympia J., of Maine....................
                                                                     20
                    Stevens, Ted, of Alaska........................
                                                                     23
                    Warner, John, of Virginia......................
                                                                     11
                                      Biography

               Senator Lincoln Chafee represented Rhode Island with 
             dignity, integrity, and compassion and was an unwavering 
             advocate for Rhode Island's interests in the U.S. Senate. 
             He believes firmly in the bedrock Republican principles of 
             personal freedom, individual responsibility, fiscal 
             discipline, and a common sense approach to foreign policy. 
             Senator Chafee emerged as a leader on environmental issues 
             and foreign policy, and has promoted sensible economic and 
             energy policies. Senator Chafee fought to raise air 
             quality standards, strengthen our homeland security, and 
             ensure that Rhode Island got its fair share of Federal 
             funding. With 20 years of experience in Rhode Island 
             politics and a reputation for taking on the tough issues, 
             Lincoln Chafee demonstrated that great work is 
             accomplished when our leaders have the courage to govern 
             from the center.
               Born in Providence, RI, on March 26, 1953, Lincoln 
             Chafee attended Warwick Public Schools and Phillips 
             Andover Academy. He earned a degree in classics from Brown 
             University in 1975. While there, he was captain of the 
             wrestling team and received the Francis M. Driscoll Award 
             for leadership, scholarship, and athletics.
               Senator Chafee credits his independence, his traditional 
             Republican beliefs, and his focus on getting results to 
             the lessons he was taught by his parents, the late Senator 
             John H. Chafee and his mother Virginia. Growing up in the 
             Ocean State, he learned from his fellow Rhode Islanders 
             values such as honesty, hard work, and respect for people 
             of all backgrounds.
               He established a reputation as the most electorally 
             successful leader in the State GOP. After working as a 
             blacksmith at harness race tracks in the United States and 
             Canada and in manufacturing management, Chafee entered 
             politics in 1985 as a delegate to the Rhode Island 
             Constitutional Convention. A year later he was elected to 
             the first of two successive terms on the Warwick City 
             Council.
               In November 1992, Lincoln Chafee became the first 
             Republican elected mayor of Warwick in 32 years. As mayor, 
             he was praised for his fair-minded and sensible approach 
             to government. Believing that the best solutions come from 
             listening to all sides of an issue, Chafee worked with 
             colleagues in both parties to promote open space 
             development, raise the city's bond rating, and improve 
             Warwick's schools. Voters embraced his prudent fiscal 
             management, emphasis on environmental protection, and 
             positive vision, re-electing him to the post in 1994, 
             1996, and 1998. Chafee was appointed by Governor Lincoln 
             Almond in November 1999 to fill the unexpired Senate term 
             of his late father. In November 2000, he was 
             overwhelmingly elected to the U.S. Senate.
               A fierce deficit hawk and traditional Republican, 
             Senator Chafee led the fight to promote responsible 
             government spending, while supporting the end to the 
             marriage tax penalty and an increase in the per child tax 
             credit. In addition to easing tax burdens, he promoted 
             business growth in Rhode Island and throughout the Nation. 
             Because of his work in championing economic development 
             and job growth, the United States Chamber of Commerce 
             awarded him the ``Spirit of Enterprise'' award. Lincoln 
             Chafee's efforts to promote fiscal responsibility through 
             a pay-as-you-go approach to the Federal budget and to cut 
             unnecessary government spending have brought him further 
             praise. His plan to secure our economic future is simple--
             any tax cut or increase in government spending must be 
             accompanied by an equal spending cut or revenue increase. 
             This will put a stop to the dangerous deficit spending 
             that will only increase the tax burden on future 
             generations. For his work, the bipartisan Concord 
             Coalition named Chafee the most fiscally conservative 
             Member of the Senate.
               From his key seat on the Senate Committee on Environment 
             and Public Works, Chafee secured more than $1 billion in 
             Federal funding for Rhode Island to significantly enhance 
             its transportation network, improve the safety of its 
             roadways for commuters, and bring good paying construction 
             jobs to the State. These transportation funds allowed for 
             the construction of projects such as the Warwick Station 
             and the Apponaug Bypass, enabling long-delayed 
             improvements to the Warren and Pawtucket Bridges, and 
             providing vital funding to tear down the former Jamestown 
             Bridge.
               As a member of the Environment and Public Works 
             Committee and as chairman of the Subcommittee on Fish, 
             Wildlife and Water, Senator Chafee demonstrated that 
             environmental protection is compatible with economic 
             growth. He fought to strengthen air and water quality 
             standards and to make polluters pay to clean up their 
             industrial waste rather than relying on taxpayer funds. 
             Senator Chafee's ``Small Business Liability Relief and 
             Brownfields Revitalization Act,'' was a unique program 
             that combined business development with environmental 
             advocacy. Locally this legislation provided more than $6 
             million to clean up and redevelop contaminated land at the 
             former Louttit Laundry site in Providence's West End, at 
             Johnson and Wales' Harborside Campus, and at other sites. 
             Senator Chafee received numerous honors for his dedication 
             to environmental causes including the Environmental 
             Business Council of New England's Environmental Leadership 
             Award, the National Brownfield Association Leadership 
             Award, and the National Wetlands Inventory Congressional 
             Conservation Award.
               Senator Chafee was committed to laying the groundwork so 
             that our legacy to our children will be one of prosperity 
             and promise. As Senator, Chafee led the way to expand 
             access to health care and to encourage research on the 
             causes of and cures for diseases such as cancer and heart 
             disease. He voted again and again to increase funding for 
             the National Institute of Health's research into cures for 
             diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and has 
             funded local projects at Brown University, the University 
             of Rhode Island, and other institutions. For his work on 
             behalf of health care and medical research, the Rhode 
             Island Breast Cancer Coalition honored Senator Chafee for 
             his leadership; he has also received the ``Leading Light 
             of Long Term Care'' award for working to preserve quality 
             nursing home care.
               Senator Chafee applied the same forward-looking approach 
             to his work in crafting our Nation's foreign policy. 
             Respected for his broad and sensible views on foreign 
             affairs, Chafee worked tirelessly to promote a rational 
             and judicious approach to international relations as a 
             member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and as 
             chairman of the Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South 
             Asian Affairs. He was a firm voice on issues ranging from 
             the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; to the need for 
             humanitarian intervention in Liberia; to reaffirming 
             America's commitment to the Road Map for Peace between 
             Israel and Palestine. He remained equally committed to 
             ensuring that our national defense remained strong. As a 
             member of the Committee on Homeland Security and 
             Government Affairs, the Senator was instrumental in 
             securing funding to strengthen and protect Rhode Island's 
             cities, towns, and ports.
               A devoted conservationist, Senator Chafee enjoys all 
             outdoor activity. He is particularly fond of skiing, 
             spending time with his family, and trail riding on his 
             horse Trapper. The Senator and his wife Stephanie are the 
             proud parents of three children--Louisa, Caleb and Thea.


                                           

                                      TRIBUTES

                                         TO

                                  LINCOLN D. CHAFEE
                              Proceedings in the Senate
                                              Monday, November 13, 2006
               Mr. SALAZAR. ... I will say this as well. In the days 
             ahead, we will hear many things about some of our 
             colleagues, some of whom are newcomers to our institution, 
             the U.S. Senate, and some of them who are leaving. For me, 
             it is a sad day that Senator Chafee and Senator DeWine, 
             who were members of the Gang of 14, will not be around to 
             be a part of that future bipartisan coalition that we are 
             going to have to have in the Senate. But I hope, on the 
             side of both the Democrats and the Republicans, that there 
             is a great number of Members of the Senate on both sides 
             of the aisle who will come together to address those 
             significant issues that face us as a country. ...
                                              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 Linc Chafee. Senator Chafee comes from a long 
             line of public servants from the State of Rhode Island. 
             The name ``Chafee'' is a famous name in this institution. 
             His father John Chafee was one of the great Senators in 
             this Senate in the 20th century. Linc picked up where his 
             father left off.
               I had the opportunity to serve with Senator Chafee on 
             the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. We sat next to 
             each other for many years. He had a keen ability to cut 
             through the fog, the nonsense, the superficial, the 
             obsequious, and get to the real issues. We will miss that 
             ability. We will miss that laser. I am sorry to see 
             Senator Chafee leave. He will continue to serve his 
             country in many areas as he has done before his service in 
             the Senate. ...
               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. I particularly 
             want to comment, though, on three colleagues with whom I 
             have had the privilege of working very closely. ...
               Let me also recognize my colleague from Rhode Island, 
             Senator Lincoln Chafee. Senator Chafee is an individual 
             both with character and sincere devotion to our State and 
             Nation, an honest, decent man who is always respectful, 
             thoughtful, and fair-minded. He is someone with whom we 
             are all proud to have served. He is someone in this House 
             respected for his integrity and for his determination.
               He came to the Senate upon the passing of his father, 
             Senator John H. Chafee, and picked up that tradition of 
             service from his father. He was a great model to emulate, 
             and Senator Lincoln Chafee has done that. Like his father, 
             he has concerned himself with issues of the environment 
             through service on the Environment and Public Works 
             Committee. He sought to improve our Nation's water and air 
             quality standards. His pivotal work to provide for the 
             cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields is a commitment 
             and accomplishment that I think will be recognized for 
             many years to come.
               He has also tried to preserve our State of Rhode 
             Island's industrial, natural, and cultural history, and he 
             has done it persistently. Let me applaud him for his 
             dedicated service and wish him and his family well in the 
             days ahead. ...
               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 Senator Linc Chafee, also retiring, was a wrestler in 
             college. He spent several years in the United States and 
             Canada as a professional blacksmith before he got into 
             politics. ...
               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 Lincoln Chafee, a quiet voice of 
             moderation from the State of Rhode Island, followed in the 
             footsteps of his great father, John Chafee, with whom I 
             was honored to serve. Senator Lincoln Chafee time and 
             again would stand independently and express his views and 
             his conscience. He was the only Republican of the 23 
             Senators who voted against the Iraqi war resolution. ...
               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, in his Pulitzer Prize winning 
             book, ``Profiles in Courage,'' Senator John F. Kennedy 
             extolled the virtues of political courage. ``Surely, in 
             the United States of America, where brother once fought 
             brother,'' Senator Kennedy wrote, ``we do not judge a 
             man's bravery under fire by examining the banner under 
             which he fought.''
               For 7 years I have watched and admired the courage of 
             Senator Lincoln Chafee, who sits on the other side of the 
             aisle, and who will be leaving us at the end of the 109th 
             Congress.
               I have watched and admired his firm stands against his 
             own political party, the Senate leadership, and the 
             Presidential administration as he followed the dictates of 
             his conscience. ``A man does what he must,'' wrote Senator 
             Kennedy, ``in spite of personal consequences, in spite of 
             obstacles and dangers and pressures--and that is the basis 
             of all human morality.'' This was the basis of Senator 
             Chafee's tenure in the Senate.
               Senator Chafee was appointed to the Senate in 1999 upon 
             the death of his father, the beloved and respected Senator 
             John Chafee. He immediately proved himself to be, to use 
             an old cliche, a ``chip off the old block.'' Senator 
             Lincoln Chafee proved himself to be a Senator of immense 
             integrity, great dignity, and high principle. And, like 
             his father, he proved himself a Senator of incredible 
             courage.
               He was the first Senate Republican to oppose the Bush 
             tax cuts in 2001.
               He was a Senator who helped preserve the Senate as the 
             institution that was planned and handed down to us by the 
             Framers of our Constitution, and all the great lawmakers 
             who served in this Chamber before us. Senator Chafee was 
             one of the seven Republicans who composed the so-called 
             Gang of 14 that was ready to block the majority leader's 
             use of the ``nuclear option'' that would have destroyed 
             the U.S. Senate as a unique and sacred institution by 
             curtailing the ability of the minority to filibuster.
               I, of course, will always remember, admire, and 
             appreciate Senator Chafee as the only Senate Republican to 
             vote against the Iraqi war resolution. He was one of the 
             immortal 23 Members of this Chamber who stood against 
             popular opinion, stood up to the President of the United 
             States, and threw himself against the forces of war in 
             voting against the resolution to launch an unprecedented 
             military assault on Iraq. If only there had been more 
             Senators like him, we would not find ourselves in a bloody 
             quagmire in Iraq.
               In voting against the war resolution, Senator Chafee was 
             determined not to hand over to President Bush, or any 
             President, the power to declare war. That power, according 
             to our Constitution, belongs to the Congress. With his 
             firm belief in our constitutional doctrines of the 
             separation of powers and checks and balances, Senator 
             Chafee opposed many of the worst provisions of President 
             Bush's efforts to create an all powerful Department of 
             Homeland Security. He opposed, for example, the 
             administration's plan to reduce the civil service 
             protections and dissolve the collective bargaining rights 
             of Federal employees in the newly created agency.
               Although he will soon be leaving Congress, there is a 
             bright side. Senator Chafee will now have more time to 
             spend with his wife Stephanie and their three children and 
             to ride his horse Trapper. I wish all of them happiness 
             and success in their future endeavors, and many happy 
             hours in the saddle. ...

               Mr. FEINGOLD. ... Mr. President, today I wish to thank 
             Lincoln Chafee for his 7 years of service in the Senate 
             and to recognize the many contributions he has made during 
             his time in this body. Senator Chafee is a soft-spoken 
             man, but he has not been afraid to take courageous stands, 
             even when that meant standing alone in his own party. From 
             the moment he arrived in the Senate, it was clear that 
             Senator Chafee would not only honor his father's 
             outstanding legacy but that he would become a respected 
             leader in his own right.
               Working with him on so many issues over the last several 
             years, I have come to know Senator Chafee well and to 
             appreciate just how dedicated he is to serving the people 
             of Rhode Island and the people of this great Nation.
               I don't know anyone in this body more committed to 
             fiscal responsibility than Lincoln Chafee. He is 
             absolutely as tough as they come on that issue, and he was 
             tireless about holding Congress's feet to the fire. On 
             pay-as-you-go legislation, on the congressional pay raise, 
             and on so many issues, Senator Chafee demanded that 
             Congress take fiscal responsibility seriously when it 
             counted and not simply pay lip service to the issue when 
             it is convenient. It has been a pleasure to work with him 
             on this issue, and I am grateful for his efforts.
               Senator Chafee has been a strong supporter of campaign 
             finance reform and of environmental protection and 
             conservation, and I appreciate his work on those critical 
             issues. Before I close, I also want to recognize Senator 
             Chafee's vote against the war in Iraq, which is one of the 
             most courageous votes I have seen cast during my time here 
             in the Senate. That was a hard vote for many Members of 
             this body, but to be the only Member of his party to 
             oppose the war must have been especially difficult. But, 
             as always, Senator Chafee did what he thought was right, 
             and we have seen just how right he was to vote against 
             this war, which has been so harmful to our national 
             security.
               With every vote he has cast and every position he has 
             taken, Senator Chafee has conducted himself with the 
             utmost integrity and earned his colleagues' utmost 
             respect. While he and I certainly haven't agreed on every 
             issue, I always appreciate his thoughtful approach to our 
             work here and his strong commitment to the highest ideals 
             in public service. I know that the work he has done here 
             has made a lasting mark on our Nation for many years to 
             come. I will miss serving with him in the Senate, and I 
             wish him all the best. ...
                                             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, I will speak a few words about our colleague 
             Lincoln Chafee. I have known the Chafee family for many 
             years, and count the late John Chafee and his wife 
             Virginia as my dearest friends.
               The year was 1969, this country was engulfed in a war in 
             Vietnam, and I was privileged to be asked to serve as 
             Under Secretary of the Navy. I was told that the Secretary 
             of the Navy, who would be my boss one step up, would be a 
             man named John Chafee, former Governor of the State of 
             Rhode Island.
               I will never forget. We both served in the Marines, at 
             different times. He was a captain and I was a captain in 
             the Marine Corps Reserve, and we met on a cold day in 
             February outside the Pentagon, shook hands, and walked 
             upstairs. And there we were greeted by the Commandant of 
             the Marine Corps and the Chief of Naval Operations.
               Chafee turned to me, and he said: You know, the Navy and 
             the Marine Corps constitute almost a million uniformed men 
             and women. It was that large in the height of the war in 
             Vietnam. And he said: Here we are, a couple of lowly 
             captains, and now it is our responsibility. Let's square 
             our jaws and stick out our chins, get this job done, and 
             provide the leadership that these men and women of the 
             Armed Forces so richly deserve.
               John Chafee was an absolute teacher and mentor of mine 
             in every way during those years we worked together in the 
             Department of Defense. He would take his trip to Vietnam. 
             I would stay back and man the store. He would return, and 
             I would take my trip. We had problems throughout the 
             world. It was in the middle of the cold war with the 
             Soviet Union. John Chafee was a magnificent man. He had 
             been Governor of the State of Rhode Island three times, 
             and he was a magnificent leader of the men and women of 
             the Armed Forces.
               He decided that he was going to move on and consider 
             running for the Senate, and resigned, and I succeeded him 
             then as Secretary. But I never lost the feeling that he 
             was right there, should I need him to help carry out my 
             duties. And then, as luck and good fortune would have it, 
             he came to the Senate, and not too many years thereafter I 
             came to the Senate and once again joined him.
               I will never forget my first day in the Senate he came 
             up to me and said: Do you remember I was Secretary and you 
             were Under Secretary? I said: Yes, sir. He said: Well, 
             that's the way it's going to be here for a while. You 
             listen to what I say and what I do, and I will give you 
             some advice as we go along.
               That was the kind of man he was. I never heard him speak 
             a harsh word about any other colleague. But he achieved 
             his special niche in this institution through his absolute 
             love for the environment as well as the men and women of 
             the Armed Forces. Those were the two things on which he 
             worked. And as luck would have it, his son came to join 
             us, and he has so many of those magnificent attributes of 
             his father and his mother. An absolutely magnificent human 
             being, his mother, and all his family, as a matter of 
             fact.
               It is my honor to share with my colleagues some of the 
             important accomplishments of Lincoln Chafee during his 7 
             years as a Member of this body, and to personally express 
             my appreciation for his service to our country.
               Senator Linc Chafee came to the Senate from local 
             government serving on the city council and later as mayor 
             of Warwick. I believe it is this experience of leading a 
             major city that solidified his commitment to fiscal 
             responsibility. In his service in the Senate he was 
             steadfast in his belief to restore controls on the Federal 
             budget and to promote responsible Government spending.
               We were privileged to serve together on the Committee on 
             Environment and Public Works where he quickly became a 
             skilled legislator. He successfully authored legislation 
             to stimulate the redevelopment of brownfield areas 
             previously contaminated by hazardous waste, that plague 
             our urban areas. This law is already producing results in 
             improving neighborhoods and bringing new industries back 
             to urban areas.
               Senator Chafee was also a leading voice in fostering 
             bipartisanship in the Senate, and was an active member of 
             our informal group of Senators known as the Gang of 14. We 
             were a group of seven Republicans and seven Democrats, but 
             we had no formal standing in the Senate. We would meet 
             regularly to share our thoughts on judicial nominees 
             pending on the Senate calendar to ensure that the Senate 
             could continue its responsibilities under article II, 
             section 2, of the U.S. Constitution--the advice and 
             consent clause. Senator Chafee was an integral part of 
             this effort which allowed candid and respectful 
             discussions of the qualifications of individuals to serve 
             in the Federal judiciary and prevented the continued use 
             of party-led filibusters on judicial nominees except in 
             extraordinary circumstances.
               Linc Chafee will be remembered in this institution for 
             his independence. We all fight to try to maintain that 
             independence. We are respectful of our party leadership. 
             We are respectful of our party affiliations. We know the 
             demands of our State. But there are times when we feel we 
             must act and make decisions that reflect our own innermost 
             feelings of independence, and Lincoln Chafee will be 
             remembered for that.
               As Senator Chafee prepares to depart the Senate, I thank 
             him for his meaningful contributions to the Senate, and 
             wish him, his wife Stephanie, and his children, Louisa, 
             Caleb and Thea, ``fair winds and following seas.'' ...
               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 would like to pay 
             tribute to Senator Lincoln Chafee. Senator Chafee has 
             served the people of Rhode Island well. He has 
             distinguished himself in a number of important policy 
             areas, including strengthening environmental protections 
             and strengthening our national security.
               I most appreciated his efforts to promote fiscal 
             responsibility. Senator Chafee has been steadfastly 
             committed to sound government budget policies. While he 
             supported easing tax burdens for families by ending the 
             marriage tax penalty and increasing the child tax credit, 
             he had the courage to oppose irresponsible, budget-busting 
             measures that, while politically popular, have resulted in 
             huge fiscal deficits and an unsustainable increase in the 
             Federal debt.
               Senator Chafee has also been an unwavering supporter of 
             reinstating pay-as-you-go constraints on the Federal 
             budget first implemented by President Bush's father in 
             1990. Under those rules, any tax cut or increase in 
             Government spending must be accompanied by an equal 
             spending cut or revenue increase.
               I also appreciated Senator Chafee's commitment to 
             bipartisanship. He understands that reaching across the 
             aisle and working together more often than not results in 
             better decisions and better, longer lasting policy 
             solutions. His efforts were not always appreciated by 
             those in charge over the last couple of years. But those 
             of us who worked closely with him know his commitment is 
             genuine and his word is good.
               I was pleased to welcome Senator Chafee to the Senate in 
             1999 when he was appointed to fill the seat of his late 
             father. I had the pleasure of working often with John 
             Chafee. We were both members of the Senate Finance 
             Committee. I was not surprised to find that the son, like 
             his father, was tough but fair-minded and a man of strong 
             principle.
               Senator Chafee brought a unique set of skills to the 
             Senate. A native Rhode Islander, he earned a B.A. in 
             classics from Brown University and was captain of the 
             wrestling team. Instead of following immediately in his 
             father's footsteps, however, he initially worked as a 
             blacksmith at harness racetracks in the United States and 
             Canada and later in manufacturing management. These 
             experiences gave him a great deal of respect for working 
             people and helped him build a strong sense of independence 
             and plain old common sense.
               It is also clear that Senator Chafee never forgets his 
             other important job. As a father of three school-aged 
             children, he often reminds his colleagues to consider the 
             impact of our decisions on the next generation. Whether he 
             is working to preserve fragile wetlands in his beloved 
             home State, helping strengthen our homeland security, or 
             preventing massive debts from accruing, he talks often 
             about our responsibility to our children.
               Senator Chafee has served the State of Rhode Island with 
             integrity and compassion. He will be missed. ...

               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 Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island 
             has been an independent voice for his State and the issues 
             he believes in, regardless of partisan consideration. He 
             will be missed by all of us. ...
               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. ...
                Finally, Lincoln Chafee. Although I mentioned 
             Republicans in this list, I certainly don't want to 
             forget, of course, Paul Sarbanes, who will be leaving at 
             the end of this year, and others in the House of 
             Representatives with whom I served as well. 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. ... I appreciate all the help Finance 
             Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has given me--a dear 
             friend--especially when it came to passing my bills to 
             improve the foster care and adoption system. I have worked 
             with many Members of the Senate on this very important 
             issue, foster care and adoption, including Senators Jay 
             Rockefeller, Mary Landrieu, Larry Craig, Daniel Patrick 
             Moynihan, John Chafee, Jesse Helms, Bill Roth, Jim 
             Jeffords, Dan Coats. They all shared a passion for foster 
             care children. They all shared a passion for the adoption 
             issue. ...
               Last year, I was extremely proud to be one of 14 
             bipartisan Members of this great body who decided to work 
             together to break what had become a gridlock in the Senate 
             over judicial nominations. In the grand tradition of the 
             Senate, individuals from both political parties came 
             together that time to solve a problem which threatened not 
             only the judicial nomination process but was threatening 
             to shut the Senate down completely. I want to thank my 
             friends with whom I was proud to stand in that effort: 
             John McCain, John Warner, Lindsey Graham, Olympia Snowe, 
             Susan Collins, Lincoln Chafee, Joe Lieberman, Senator 
             Byrd, Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, Daniel Inouye, Mark 
             Pryor, and Ken Salazar. They got it done. ...
               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.
               To my colleague from Rhode Island, I thank the Senator. 
             In all actions it has been a tone of civility. We have 
             always sought common ground. I express my gratitude for 
             the Senator's service to Rhode Island. ...
               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. ...
               Next, I would like to send my best wishes to Senator 
             Lincoln Chafee. Senator Chafee and I have a fair bit in 
             common: we are both lifelong New Englanders, and we both 
             had Senators for fathers. After completing his 
             undergraduate studies at Brown University, and while many 
             of his colleagues were busy studying law or political 
             science, Lincoln Chafee studied horseshoeing. I imagine he 
             is the only modern Senator to have worked as a 
             professional farrier for 7 years. And while Senator Chafee 
             eventually took up the family business and went into 
             politics, he has always retained the humility and good 
             humor that so often come to those who spend time working 
             with their hands.
               Senator Chafee was a popular mayor of Warwick, RI, and 
             on the death of his father, Senator John Chafee, was 
             appointed to fill out the remainder of the term. He was 
             elected in his own right in 2000, and has served a total 
             of 7 years in the upper House, cementing a reputation as 
             an independent thinker and one of his State's most popular 
             politicians.
               I especially enjoyed serving alongside Senator Chafee on 
             the Foreign Relations Committee. He was a welcome travel 
             partner. On trips to Latin America, it was always 
             reassuring to have a familiar New England accent at my 
             side. On a more serious note, I have come to respect 
             Senator Chafee's courage and principle, especially on the 
             matter of John Bolton's nomination as U.N. Ambassador. 
             Senator Chafee spoke out in favor of competent diplomatic 
             representation at the United Nations. Because of his 
             efforts, we are closer to the day when our representative 
             at the world body will work to win respect from the world, 
             not alienation.
               On that issue and many others, Senator Chafee was never 
             afraid to put his beliefs ahead of party pressure. He has 
             voted to support stem cell research and a responsible exit 
             strategy in Iraq; and his strong environmental record, 
             including opposition to oil drilling in the Alaska 
             National Wildlife Reserve, has earned him the endorsement 
             of prominent conservationist groups.
               We will miss his independent mind and his true Yankee 
             spirit. I wish all the best to Senator Chafee and his 
             wife, Stephanie. ...

               Mr. HATCH. ... Mr. President, I am grateful for the 
             opportunity to take a few moments to recognize the service 
             and devotion to the U.S. Senate by my colleague and 
             friend, Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island.
               A true Rhode Islander, Lincoln Chafee was born in 
             Providence, attended a Warwick public school, and earned a 
             degree from Brown University, where he captained the 
             wrestling team. As an avid horse enthusiast, he attended 
             the horseshoeing school at Montana State University and 
             worked as a blacksmith at harness racetracks in the United 
             States and Canada, but only a handful of years slipped by 
             before he returned to his home in Rhode Island.
               Lincoln then entered politics in 1985 as a delegate to 
             the Rhode Island Constitutional Convention. A year later 
             he was elected to the first of two successive terms on the 
             Warwick City Council. In November 1992, Lincoln became the 
             first Republican elected mayor of Warwick in 32 years--
             and, with his positive vision, he so won over the hearts 
             and minds of voters that he was reelected for another 
             three terms in a reliably Democratic city. He held the 
             mayoral post until appointed by Governor Lincoln Almond in 
             November 1999 to fill the unexpired Senate term of his 
             late father, John Chafee. In November 2000, he was 
             overwhelmingly elected to the U.S. Senate.
               As I, Lincoln has a great interest in policy that 
             affects the health of our Nation's people, and I am proud 
             to have had the honor of working with him on a number of 
             initiatives that made Americans healthier.
               I admire Lincoln for taking a stand on stem cell 
             research. He has supported important legislation and 
             joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in calling on 
             President Bush to expand the Federal policy on embryonic 
             stem cell research. Senator Chafee and I share similar 
             views on this issue: he is opposed to any cloning with the 
             intention of creating a human life but strongly supports 
             legislation that would allow stem cell researchers to use 
             excess embryos which were created for in vitro 
             fertilization purposes and would otherwise be discarded. I 
             respect and appreciate his courage to stand up for his 
             convictions in the face of such a controversial issue.
               Lincoln has been a champion for breast cancer research 
             since his arrival in the Senate in 1999. I am pleased to 
             be an original cosponsor of his Breast Cancer and 
             Environmental Research Act, which would make Federal 
             grants available for the development and operation of 
             eight national centers that would conduct research on how 
             environmental factors may contribute to the causes of 
             breast cancer. In recognition of his outstanding 
             leadership in this arena, Lincoln has been honored by the 
             National Breast Cancer Coalition and also presented with 
             the Avon Foundation Pink Ribbon Crusader Award.
               Senator Chafee has been a leader in the fight to 
             reauthorize and maintain adequate funding for the State 
             Children's Health Insurance Program--also called CHIP. I 
             worked very closely with his father to write that law in 
             1997. I recognize that Lincoln is also dedicated to the 
             goal of this program, which is to provide health insurance 
             to low-income, uninsured children, and I thank him for his 
             diligent efforts. We have worked tirelessly to ensure that 
             funding continues to make the program available for these 
             children.
               Senator Lincoln Chafee is a great man, a loyal Rhode 
             Islander, and a great American. I thank and commend him 
             for all his selfless work. His contributions have made his 
             State and the whole country significantly better than 
             before his arrival in Washington. We will all miss his 
             presence here in the U.S. Senate, but I doubt we have seen 
             the last of Lincoln Chafee in the way of public service. I 
             wish him and his family health, happiness, and the best of 
             luck in all future endeavors. ...

               Mr. LEVIN. ... Mr. President, as this session of 
             Congress comes to a close, I want to take a moment to pay 
             tribute to my friend Lincoln Chafee.
               Following in the footsteps of his late father, John, 
             Senator Chafee has been a voice of moderation and civility 
             in the Senate. In a time of increasing partisanship, 
             Senator Chafee has been a bridge between the parties and 
             to an earlier era of less divisive politics. He votes his 
             conviction and his conscience, not just a party line.
               Senator Chafee's legacy will be defined by his 
             leadership on environmental protection and fiscal 
             responsibility. On both, he has had a forward-looking 
             approach, grounded in common sense, for which our 
             grandchildren will be grateful.
               Senator Chafee has been a true champion for 
             conservation, fighting for clean air, clean water, and a 
             healthier environment. He has been willing to stand up to 
             the administration when he believes it is wrong, including 
             opposing the administration's energy bill, its weak 
             regulations on mercury, and drilling in the Arctic 
             National Wildlife Refuge. For the past several years, 
             Senator Chafee has led an effort with Senator Jeffords and 
             me to fully fund the EPA Brownfields Program, which would 
             accelerate the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield 
             sites, protecting human health, and creating jobs. Senator 
             Chafee is a member of the Senate's Smart Growth Task 
             Force, which promotes growth and development that protects 
             the environment and preserves critical habitats.
               Lincoln Chafee has also been a strong voice for fiscal 
             discipline. He has repeatedly opposed reckless tax cuts 
             and supported pay-as-you-go budget rules to bring the 
             budget back into balance. The bipartisan Concord Coalition 
             has recognized him for his fiscal responsibility.
               Lincoln Chafee has also been an important voice on 
             foreign affairs. He took a courageous stand in 2002 as the 
             lone Republican to vote against the Iraq war 
             authorization, and he has served well as the chairman of 
             the Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs Subcommittee of 
             the Foreign Relations Committee.
               I want to close by noting that Lincoln Chafee remains 
             widely respected and admired in Rhode Island, as well as 
             among his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the 
             Senate. His father would have been very proud of how well 
             Lincoln Chafee has served the people of Rhode Island.
               I thank him for his service to our country and wish him 
             and his wife Stephanie all the best. ...

               Ms. SNOWE. ... Mr. President, I rise today to pay 
             tribute to my great friend, Senator Lincoln Chafee, a 
             public servant who exemplifies the idea that superior 
             governance depends on people of good will working for the 
             common good--together. He epitomizes the New England 
             pragmatism in government that sees not weakness but 
             strength in reaching across the aisle to build consensus 
             and make the system work for those it was formed to serve.
               When I consider Senator Chafee's tenure, I cannot help 
             but think how he has so successfully forged his own 
             pathway and legacy of exceptional service in the U.S. 
             Senate, while honoring the formidable contributions of his 
             extraordinary father, John Chafee. Senator Chafee has 
             brought levelheaded leadership on myriad issues critical 
             to our progress as a people, always with vigilant and 
             careful attention to his beloved Ocean State of Rhode 
             Island.
               He has been a stalwart colleague and friend in our 
             mutual cause to revitalize and advance the political 
             center, in our concerted effort to answer the challenges 
             facing our Nation by producing not rancor but results, not 
             acrimony but accord. His loss not only diminishes the 
             Senate but is also a loss for the country because we need 
             more voices seeking to craft compromise and consensus to 
             forge solutions, not fewer.
               Linc Chafee was not only a political neighbor of mine in 
             the center of the political spectrum--where most Americans 
             consider themselves--but he has been a next-door neighbor 
             in my hallway in the Russell Senate Building, a corridor 
             also appropriately occupied by my good friend Senator Mike 
             DeWine, who also epitomized the finest ideals of public 
             service. So I will profoundly miss seeing them not only in 
             the Senate but also simply walking down the hall outside 
             my office. They were a constant reminder of what is best 
             and most noble about public office.
               Linc and I worked hand-in-glove on issues of fiscal 
             restraint and accountability by calling for and advocating 
             the implementation of the pay-as-you-go approach to the 
             Federal budget. And I believe it is instructive that he is 
             rightly considered a champion of the environment, even as 
             he championed economic growth. But that is Linc--for him, 
             issues that may seem mutually exclusive to those with 
             intractable dogmas could coexist naturally in his vision 
             of a world not so easily or appropriately cast in hues of 
             black and white. Indeed, Senator Chafee's fight to 
             strengthen air and water quality standards continues to 
             resonate, a battle he has waged with innovation and 
             resolve by combining business development with 
             environmental advocacy.
               Unflagging in his dedication to the precepts of personal 
             responsibility and freedom, fiscal accountability, and 
             serving the public interest, Lincoln Chafee has, with 
             honor and distinction, brought intelligence, vigor, and 
             courage to the U.S. Senate from debates about foreign 
             policy and homeland security to marshaling health care 
             efforts to confront breast cancer and long-term care.
               Whether serving as captain of his university wrestling 
             team, working as a blacksmith at harness race tracks, or 
             serving the highest ideals of public service, Lincoln 
             Chafee has demonstrated an independence, resiliency, and 
             strength of purpose that has made him a credit to this 
             institution and an example for his country.
               I wish Senator Chafee, his wife Stephanie, and their 
             children all the best for the future. ...

               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, it is no coincidence 
             that Senator Lincoln Chafee's home State has an 11-foot-
             tall statue called the Independent Man standing atop the 
             State House in Providence, RI. In fact, Senator Chafee has 
             referred to this statue as his inspiration, as it 
             represents Rhode Island's founding principles of political 
             and religious freedom.
               Senator Chafee has done an admirable job following in 
             the footsteps of his father, Senator John Chafee.
               During his time in the Senate, Senator Chafee has been 
             committed to environmental issues as a champion for 
             improved air and water quality.
               Senator Chafee has remained steadfast in his beliefs and 
             a powerful voice for Rhode Island. ...
             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, I have known Senator 
             Lincoln Chafee and his family for a long time. I met his 
             father, our former colleague, Senator John Chafee, while 
             standing in line to register for Harvard Law School in 
             1947. Lincoln's uncle, Zachariah Chafee, was one of my law 
             professors at Harvard. John and I served together in the 
             Senate for more than 20 years.
               When John passed away in 1999, Lincoln chose to continue 
             his family's tradition of excellence in public service. 
             Senator Chafee and I have not always agreed on the issues, 
             but I have always respected the courage of his convictions 
             and his firm commitment to his ideals.
               Senator Chafee, it's been my good fortune to serve 
             alongside you and your father for nearly 30 years. It's 
             hard to imagine this Chamber without a member of your 
             family. We will miss your spirit and dedication. ...

               Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, Lincoln Chafee came to the 
             Senate in 1999 under the most difficult of circumstances. 
             He had just lost his beloved father, and was being asked 
             to fill the shoes of one of the most noble and principled 
             Members ever to serve in this Chamber. He rose to that 
             challenge, and I have been honored to work alongside him.
               Like the illustrious Senator John Chafee, Senator 
             Lincoln Chafee came from a political tradition I am proud 
             to share--that of the New England moderate. This tradition 
             stands for a strong defense of freedom and for fiscal 
             responsibility, for government that is unobtrusive in 
             people's lives when it can be, yet compassionate and 
             involved when it must be.
               Lincoln Chafee was a quiet voice of moderation, but 
             spoke with a strong voice, a voice of conviction and 
             integrity, on such issues of critical importance to our 
             Nation as environmental protection and energy 
             independence. When, in spring 2005, the very fabric of the 
             Senate was threatened by a bitter impasse over the issue 
             of judicial filibusters, I was proud to join Senator 
             Chafee in the so-called Gang of 14 that forged a 
             productive, bipartisan solution.
               I had the opportunity to work closely with Linc in the 
             109th Congress when he joined the Homeland Security 
             Committee. The committee brought about great progress 
             during that Congress with successful legislation on port 
             security, chemical security, and rebuilding our Nation's 
             emergency management structure after the catastrophic 
             Government response to Hurricane Katrina. Linc's steady, 
             thoughtful, and informed approach to the issues greatly 
             aided these endeavors.
               I was especially impressed by Linc's understanding that 
             true homeland security begins at home. As the 2006 
             hurricane season approached, and as we were still 
             struggling to overcome the failures of Government in the 
             2005 season, he called for and organized a homeland 
             security field hearing in Rhode Island so his colleagues 
             could better appreciate the daunting challenges faced by 
             our first responders in coastal States and communities. 
             That hands-on approach, devoid of pretense and directed 
             toward results, exemplifies Lincoln Chafee's approach to 
             government.
               I know that the father would be proud of the son. And I 
             know that all Americans join me in thanking Lincoln Chafee 
             for 7 years of outstanding service, and in wishing him the 
             very best in the years to come. ...
                                                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. ...
               Senator Lincoln Chafee also will be greatly missed in 
             this Chamber. Linc served the people of Rhode Island with 
             the utmost honor, integrity and compassion.
               I have great respect for Linc Chafee for his commitment 
             to the principles of personal freedom, individual 
             responsibility and fiscal discipline. Well-known for his 
             reputation as a fierce deficit hawk, he has been a vocal 
             advocate for responsible Government spending, and a strong 
             supporter of abolishing the marriage tax penalty and 
             increasing the child tax credit. Linc also took a very 
             active interest in promoting the health care of women and 
             children.
               Lincoln Chafee also has been tirelessly dedicated to 
             improving his home State. As a member of the Senate 
             Committee on Environment and Public Works, he secured more 
             than $1 billion in Federal funding for Rhode Island's 
             infrastructure, including the Warwick Station project and 
             the development of the East Providence shoreline. And as 
             chairman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and 
             Water, he worked diligently to protect air and water 
             quality in his State.
               Linc was a principled, independent Member, adamant about 
             doing what he believed was right for the families he 
             represented. Throughout his Senate career, he demonstrated 
             a willingness to listen to all sides of an issue and work 
             with members of both political parties. He is a man who 
             speaks his mind, votes his conscience, and treats others 
             with the dignity and respect they deserve.
               Linc is a refreshing politician, a diligent public 
             servant, and a devoted family man to his wife Stephanie 
             and their three children. It goes without saying that my 
             colleagues in the Senate--and the people of Rhode Island--
             will greatly miss Senator Lincoln Chafee. ...
               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.
                             