[Senate Document 109-32]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




                                                              S. Doc. 109-32


 
                      TRIBUTES TO HON. JAMES M. JEFFORDS





                           James M. Jeffords

                       U.S. SENATOR FROM VERMONT

                                TRIBUTES

                           IN THE CONGRESS OF

                           THE UNITED STATES




                                           


                                           

                             James M. Jeffords


                                  Tributes

                           Delivered in Congress

                             James M. Jeffords

                         United States Congressman

                                 1975-1989

                           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:
                    Akaka, Daniel K., of Hawaii....................
                                                                     51
                    Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee.................
                                                                     33
                    Allen, George, of Virginia.....................
                                                                     34
                    Boxer, Barbara, of California..................
                                                                     18
                    Byrd, Robert C., of West Virginia..............
                                                                     27
                    Clinton, Hillary Rodham, of New York...........
                                                                     41
                    Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota..................
                                                                     40
                    DeWine, Mike, of Ohio..........................
                                                                     44
                    Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut...........
                                                                  9, 44
                    Durbin, Richard, of Illinois...................
                                                                 12, 35
                    Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming...................
                                                                  3, 29
                    Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin.............
                                                                     37
                    Frist, William H., of Tennessee................
                                                                     50
                    Grassley, Chuck, of Iowa.......................
                                                                      6
                    Hagel, Chuck, of Nebraska......................
                                                                     32
                    Harkin, Tom, of Iowa...........................
                                                                     15
                    Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
                                                                     45
                    Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
                                                                     50
                    Jeffords, James M., of Vermont.................
                                                                     26
                    Kennedy, Edward M., of Massachusetts...........
                                                                      8
                    Kyl, Jon, of Arizona...........................
                                                                     43
                    Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana................
                                                                     42
                    Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont..................
                                                                      4
                    Levin, Carl, of Michigan.......................
                                                                     47
                    Nelson, Bill, of Florida.......................
                                                                     34
                    Obama, Barack, of Illinois.....................
                                                                     25
                    Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
                                                                     33
                    Reid, Harry, of Nevada.........................
                                                                  3, 44
                    Rockefeller, John D., IV.......................
                                                                     20
                    Salazar, Ken, of Colorado......................
                                                                     37
                    Snowe, Olympia J., of Maine....................
                                                                     48
                    Stevens, Ted, of Alaska........................
                                                                     50
                    Warner, John, of Virginia......................
                                                                     39
                                      Biography

               Born in Rutland, VT, on May 11, 1934, James Merrill 
             Jeffords is the son of the late Marion H. Jeffords and the 
             late Olin M. Jeffords, former chief justice of the Vermont 
             Supreme Court. His father's family settled in northwestern 
             Vermont in 1794. After attending public schools in 
             Rutland, Senator Jeffords received his undergraduate 
             degree from Yale University in 1956 and his law degree 
             from Harvard Law School in 1962. He served in active duty 
             with the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1959, and retired from the 
             U.S. Naval Reserve as a Captain in 1990. He was married to 
             the late Elizabeth Daley and has two children, Leonard and 
             Laura. The Jeffords' residence is in Shrewsbury, VT.
               Senator Jeffords spent 32 years in Congress. He was 
             first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 
             1974, and served three terms as a U.S. Senator. Before 
             arriving in Washington, he served as a Vermont State 
             Senator from Rutland in 1967 and 1968, and held his first 
             statewide office as Vermont Attorney General from 1969 to 
             1973.
               Throughout his tenure in Congress, Senator Jeffords 
             championed legislation to strengthen our Nation's 
             education system and increase the opportunities for 
             individuals with disabilities. He left his fingerprints on 
             every piece of education, job training, and disability 
             legislation over the past quarter-century. In 1975, 
             Senator Jeffords, as the ranking member on the 
             Subcommittee on Select Education, co-authored what would 
             later be known as the Individuals with Disabilities 
             Education Act (IDEA), which has provided equal access to 
             education for millions of students with disabilities. 
             Since IDEA's enactment, Senator Jeffords continued to 
             fight for full Federal funding for the law.
               Senator Jeffords has also been a leading advocate in 
             Congress for environmental protection. He fought to reduce 
             industrial pollution and acid rain, and as a member of the 
             Senate Environment and Public Works Committee he ensured 
             the passage of the 1990 Clean Air Act. More recently, 
             Senator Jeffords introduced legislation that would clean 
             up dirty power plants and create incentives for 
             investments in clean, renewable power.
               Through his leadership on the Senate Environment and 
             Public Works Committee, Senator Jeffords also worked to 
             improve Vermont's ground transportation system. Last 
             summer, Congress passed a 5-year, $286.5 billion highway 
             bill, which Senator Jeffords co-authored. This legislation 
             will increase Vermont's share of total highway dollars by 
             40 percent. In all, Vermont will receive more than $1 
             billion over the 5-year period, with specific projects 
             included. In addition to creating thousands of jobs 
             throughout Vermont, the highway bill will dramatically 
             improve the State's roads, bridges, and rail lines.
               Senator Jeffords, who was first elected to the U.S. 
             Senate in 1988, chaired the Senate Environment and Public 
             Works Committee from 2001 to 2002 and later served as the 
             Committee's ranking member. He also served as a member of 
             the Senate Finance Committee, Senate Veterans' Affairs 
             Committee, Special Committee on Aging, and the Senate 
             Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which he 
             chaired from 1997 to 2001.
               He was one of six founders of the Congressional Solar 
             Coalition, and he served as chairman of the House 
             Environmental Study Conference from 1978 to 1979.
               In 1980, then-Congressman Jeffords co-founded the 
             Congressional Arts Caucus. Throughout his career he 
             consistently fought for financial support of the National 
             Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the 
             Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library 
             Services. In addition to his legislative work in the arts, 
             Senator Jeffords has sponsored the Congressional High 
             School Art Competition in Vermont for 25 years.
               In recognition of his achievements, Senator Jeffords has 
             received many prestigious awards, including being named 
             Legislator of the Year by Parenting magazine in 1999, and 
             in 2002 he received the Sierra Club's top honor.
               In 2001, Senator Jeffords left the Republican Party and 
             became an Independent. He has been profiled on ``60 
             Minutes'' and ``Dateline NBC,'' and in the New York Times 
             and the Washington Post. He is the author of ``My 
             Declaration of Independence'' (Simon and Schuster, 2001) 
             and ``An Independent Man: Adventures of a Public Servant'' 
             (Simon and Schuster, 2003).
               Senator Jeffords is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
                               Farewell to the Senate
                            Wednesday, September 27, 2006

               Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, even a diehard Red Sox fan 
             has to give the devil his due. Probably the most moving 
             moment in the history of baseball was when longtime New 
             York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig walked on the field 
             to accept the tribute of his fans and teammates. On 
             Independence Day in 1939, he told the crowd at Yankee 
             Stadium that he considered himself the luckiest man on the 
             face of the Earth.
               I consider myself pretty lucky, too. I was elected to 
             the House of Representatives in 1974. That was not the 
             best year to be a Republican candidate. Out of an enormous 
             freshman class of 92 new Members, which included Chris 
             Dodd and Tom Harkin, only 17 of us were Republicans. And 
             as Chuck Grassley and I walked down the aisle of the 
             House, he with crutches and I with a neck brace, one 
             Democrat muttered: There's two we almost got.
               Time has gotten just about all of us. With my retirement 
             and that of Henry Hyde in the House, Chuck Grassley next 
             year will become the last remaining Member of the 
             Republican class of 1974, an iron horse in his own right. 
             The silver lining for me in the electoral losses suffered 
             by the Republicans was a chance to land senior positions 
             on the Agriculture and Education Subcommittees that would 
             quickly throw me into the thick of things. Throughout my 
             career in the House, I focused on those two issues.
               In 1988, with the retirement of Bob Stafford, I ran for 
             and won a seat in the Senate. Senator Stafford was a tough 
             act to follow. He had held just about every office in the 
             State of Vermont and had an enormous impact on the Federal 
             policy for education, the environment, and elsewhere. I 
             was lucky when I got to the Senate that there were 
             openings on both the Education and Environment Committees.
               Early on, I learned what the Senate can be at its best. 
             In 1989, Congress was in the midst of reauthorizing the 
             Clean Air Act. Even though I was a freshman, the door was 
             open for anyone who had the time and interest. As John 
             Chafee, George Mitchell, and the rest of us forged a 
             strong renewal of the Clean Air Act, I realized these were 
             the moments I enjoyed most. I realized these were the 
             moments I enjoyed most when smart and committed people 
             worked together to solve tough problems and improve the 
             lot for Americans. Every year since has provided similar 
             moments, from rebuilding our roads to rewriting our food 
             and drug laws.
               Probably the biggest and the most rewarding challenge 
             for me has been in the area of education. From my first 
             year in the House when we enacted the Education of the 
             Handicapped Act, to work that continues today on the 
             Higher Education Act, I have tried to do my best to ensure 
             that every child is given the opportunity to reach his or 
             her potential.
               There is plenty of work left to be done to reach this 
             goal, and nowhere is that more true than in the District 
             of Columbia. A decade ago, Congress stepped in to try and 
             help the District resolve the problems plaguing its 
             overall budget and its schools in particular. As chair of 
             the DC Appropriations Subcommittee, I helped lead that 
             effort. The city is to be commended for its record of 
             fiscal responsibility in the years since, and I hope the 
             superintendent, the new mayor, the council, and the school 
             board will be able to make similar progress in improving 
             the city's school system.
               While Vermont has always been home, I have lived in the 
             District of Columbia since coming to Washington. Luckily, 
             I have never lost the ability to be moved by the sight of 
             the Capitol dome. Its majesty struck me when I first came 
             to Washington and it still does today. Under that dome and 
             in the buildings around it work thousands of good people. 
             We are all privileged to work with a whole host of people 
             who get too little recognition, from the person recording 
             my words, to the people who put them in the Congressional 
             Record while we sleep--not always easy tasks, in my case.
               Ours, too, is not always an easy task. I know it is hard 
             for the public to understand the reality of life in the 
             Congress, but the continual travel, the campaigns, and the 
             unpredictable hours of our jobs can take a toll on our 
             families. I have been blessed with two wonderful children, 
             Laura and Leonard, who are here with me today, and a 
             feisty, funny, and an incredibly strong wife, Liz. They 
             have had to put up with an awful lot over the years so 
             that I could serve Vermont.
               Three decades is a blink of an eye in history, but what 
             a tremendous period of change in our country we have been 
             through. When I came to Washington, we were only three 
             decades removed from the Second World War. My childhood 
             heroes were heroes of that war, and it seemed as though 
             every family had a father or son or uncle who served and 
             sacrificed in that war. But when I came to Washington, an 
             entirely different war was being waged in Southeast Asia. 
             Vietnam has colored much of our thinking since. Whether 
             Vietnam had too much or too little influence upon the 
             ensuing three decades is a much larger debate, but we 
             would be better served in world affairs today by being 
             less haughty and more humble.
               I regret that my departure from Congress, like my 
             arrival, finds our country at war. Young and even not so 
             young Americans are sacrificing life and limb while the 
             rest of us are making little or no sacrifice. It seems to 
             me the very least we should do is pay today for the fiscal 
             costs of our policies. Instead, we are floating IOUs 
             written on our children's future. This year we have no 
             budget, and we are unwilling even to debate most of our 
             basic spending bills before the November election. Thirty 
             years from now, we could well face the biggest crisis in 
             government since the Civil War, if Congress and the White 
             House do not adopt a more honest approach to government.
               The basic compact between generations is being broken. 
             F.D.R. was right to borrow heavily to finance World War 
             II, but are we justified in doing so today?
               Earlier this month I was privileged to attend the 
             dedication of a monument in Virginia commemorating the 
             sacrifice of more than 1,200 men of the Vermont Brigade 
             during the Battle of the Wilderness. The tangled thickets 
             of the 19th century have given way to mature forests. The 
             individuals are largely forgotten, but our collective 
             memory must endure. Today, we use blocks of granite to 
             remind us of the sacrifices of the Civil War. In its 
             immediate aftermath you would think no such reminder would 
             have been needed. But 140 years ago, so the story goes, a 
             northern Congressman literally waved a bloody shirt before 
             his colleagues to inflame them against the South for 
             alleged misdeeds. True patriotism is the incredible 
             bravery of those men whose too-brief lives ended on that 
             Wilderness Battlefield. Waving the bloody shirt then or 
             today is anything but patriotic.
               The beautiful Capitol dome above us, completed even as 
             the Civil War concluded, should serve to inspire us. I am 
             an optimist and have been every day of my life. With 
             Lincoln, I hope that the mystic cords of memory will 
             stretch from every battlefield and patriot grave to the 
             hearts of the living, and that we will soon again be 
             touched by the better angels of our nature.
               Mr. President, I wish you and all of my colleagues good 
             luck and Godspeed.
               Mr. President, I yield the floor.
?

                                           

                                      TRIBUTES

                                         TO

                                  JAMES M. JEFFORDS
                              Proceedings in the Senate
                                            Tuesday, September 26, 2006
               Mr. ENZI. ... I would like to recognize two departing 
             members of the [HELP] committee [Health, Education, Labor, 
             and Pensions]: Majority Leader Frist and Senator Jeffords. 
             We are fortunate they chose to serve, and we are grateful 
             for their contributions. Senator Jeffords is a past 
             chairman of the committee, and, of course, Majority Leader 
             Frist has been the doctor on the committee and provided a 
             perspective no one else could. I am proud of the work we 
             have done here on the committee these past 2 years. By 
             working together, we have established a track record of 
             success. ...
                                          Wednesday, September 27, 2006
               Mr. REID. Mr. President, Senator Jeffords has been a 
             friend and colleague for many years. We had the 
             opportunity to serve together in the House of 
             Representatives. We served together in the Senate. To say 
             that he has made history during his time in Congress is an 
             understatement. But more important, he has made a 
             difference. I have always been impressed by his knowledge 
             of the issues and his dedication to the public well-being 
             and the environment. I have had the good fortune of 
             serving with him on the Environment and Public Works 
             Committee. He is a stalwart. He is a true believer that 
             the environment is in distress and things need to be done 
             to change our environment.
               He has worked to preserve the middle class and to 
             provide for the safety of the American people in so many 
             different ways. Senator Jeffords is a man of conscience. 
             No one can question that. He grew up in Vermont where the 
             Jeffords family first settled in the 18th century. His 
             father was a longtime member of the Supreme Court. After 
             Jim Jeffords graduated from Yale, he served in the Navy on 
             active duty for 4 years. He served then in the Naval 
             Reserve, retiring as a captain. Senator Jeffords studied 
             law at Harvard--Yale and Harvard--which shows his 
             intellect. He returned after having finished law school to 
             Vermont to practice law. Shortly thereafter, he was 
             elected to the Vermont State Senate and then attorney 
             general. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 
             1975 and served there until he came to the Senate in 1989.
               In walking in here I grabbed a book that has a lot of 
             definitions. I flipped to courage. Whatever definition you 
             have of courage, you can pick one here going back to two 
             centuries ago:

               I love the man who can smile on trouble, who can gather 
             strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. It is 
             the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart 
             is firm and whose conscience has approved his conduct will 
             pursue his principles unto death.

               That really is Jim Jeffords, and that, Mr. President, is 
             a quote from Thomas Payne. I have seen up close Jim 
             Jeffords's courage. Everyone knows, as it has been written 
             about in books, the conversations that Senator Jeffords 
             and I had prior to Senator Jeffords deciding that he 
             wanted to change course and become an Independent. That 
             was not an easy decision. It involved years of friendship, 
             and it involved years of his being a member of two 
             different legislative bodies on Capitol Hill.
               Most of our discussions took place on the Senate floor 
             as people were walking around, but we had conversations in 
             private. I know firsthand, I repeat, of the courage of 
             this man. I, in my now long public career have been 
             involved in a number of things that I will always 
             remember, but I will never, ever remember anything more 
             vividly than the Senator from Vermont, as a matter of 
             principle and courage, changing not only his course but 
             the course of this country.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont is 
             recognized.

               Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I have listened to my friend, 
             Jim Jeffords, the Senator from Vermont speak here this 
             morning [see Farewell to the Senate, page vii]. I couldn't 
             help but think as I heard Senator Jeffords speak with wit 
             and clarity, and you might say even some emotion, that Jim 
             Jeffords, given the opportunity to make a speech--and many 
             of us will do so on this Senate floor as we leave--did it 
             being true to himself, with his own good nature, his own 
             sense of history, and his own justifiable pride in what he 
             has accomplished.
               I have known Jim Jeffords from his days as a State 
             senator in Rutland. I have known his wonderful wife, Liz 
             Daley Jeffords. They are both dear friends of mine and my 
             wife Marcel. Mrs. Jeffords was referred to as a great lady 
             the other night by the anchor of our State's largest TV 
             station. Some of us who have known Jim for years would say 
             she gets that greatness for putting up with him for all 
             these years. But we Vermonters found no difficulties in 
             putting up with Jim Jeffords. He has been elected 
             overwhelmingly to the offices he has held and he has done 
             it with support from Republicans, Democrats, and 
             Independents alike. He has gotten these votes the old-
             fashioned way--he earned them.
               We came here together 32 years ago. I like to talk about 
             the Leahys coming to Vermont in the 1850s. Jim reminds me 
             his family came to Vermont a century before. We both live 
             in small towns in Vermont; we have had that sense of 
             Vermont. He has never lost it. He has been a good friend.
               His career highlights are legendary. Let me tell you why 
             he is supported so. First and foremost, Senator Jeffords 
             is known as an environmental champion. In Vermont, they 
             say, If you scratch a Vermonter you scratch an 
             environmentalist, no matter the party.
               He has done it in the great tradition of Senator Bob 
             Stafford. Senator Bob Stafford is also from the same 
             county as Jim Jeffords--actually Jim grew up near him. He 
             mentioned Bob today.
               He carved out a legend on education and the environment 
             when he was here. But then Jim Jeffords had done that as 
             attorney general and as a State senator in our State. For 
             the past three decades he has left his fingerprints on 
             nearly every environmental law enacted, from the Clean Air 
             Act and the Clean Water Act to the Superfund Program to 
             acid rain reduction.
               In fact, when others in his position would be thinking 
             about where are the papers going and how will we retire, 
             just a matter of months ago he offered the boldest 
             solution to combat global climate change this body has 
             ever considered.
               He has championed legislation to strengthen our Nation's 
             education system and increase the opportunities for 
             individuals with disabilities.
               In 1975, as a brand new Member of the House of 
             Representatives, as he said, coming in with a neck brace--
             the walking wounded from an election where both of us ran 
             in Vermont--he coauthored what would later be known as the 
             Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA. It was 
             strongly supported by his colleagues here in the Senate 
             and before that in the House. It has provided equal access 
             to education for millions of students with disabilities, 
             students who otherwise would have been shunted aside and 
             this country would not have had the value of their 
             achievements.
               As chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pension 
             Committee, he worked tirelessly on education, job 
             training, and disability legislation. Most recently, his 
             leadership in the Senate Environment and Public Works 
             Committee was essential to the passage of the highway 
             bill. Of course, Vermont and the rest of the country will 
             benefit from that.
               I might say there has been no greater leader for 
             Vermont's dairy industry than Senator Jeffords. In his 
             work on the Northeast Dairy Compact and the milk programs, 
             he has fought tough battles for Vermont dairies--and won. 
             He actually knows as much about our dairy industry as most 
             dairy farmers.
               It is what he has done for future generations. All of us 
             can talk about what we do here. It is what we leave for 
             our children and our grandchildren that counts. Future 
             generations of Vermonters will honor Jim's legacy when 
             they see the work that he began as attorney general and 
             continued throughout the Senate--helping to restore Lake 
             Champlain to its brilliance, its magnificence; or witness 
             the bald eagles abounding in the wilderness areas, thanks 
             to Jim.
               I applaud him for this statement as he takes leave of 
             the Senate--although it seems this year we will never know 
             when we leave. None of us are getting our final airplane 
             reservations yet. But he has done it with his usual grace 
             and good humor. I applaud him for that and I hope all of 
             us when we come to leave, whenever that may be, will have 
             the opportunity to show that same grace. He served Vermont 
             well and, just as important, he served the Senate well.
               After a long career I might violate the rules somewhat, 
             addressing my friend and colleague directly: For a long 
             career, Jim, you can leave with your head held high. You 
             have served Vermont and your Nation proudly.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa is 
             recognized.

               Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise to tell the Senator 
             from Vermont that I am going to miss him in the Senate and 
             still consider him a friend. I hope to have a long 
             relationship with him, even in his retirement. I am that 
             Senator that Jim Jeffords, the Senator from Vermont, 
             referred to as the one remaining Republican of the class 
             of 1974. There were 17 of us. I think there were about 70 
             Democrats. It was a bad year for Republicans. You couldn't 
             even put the word Republican on your literature. It was 
             the year Nixon resigned.
               There were only 140 of us in the House of 
             Representatives at that time. I don't know whether Senator 
             Jeffords felt this way, but I felt this way, that it was 
             probably the end of the Republican Party. Well, I was 
             wrong. He and I have been reelected to serve together, to 
             serve our respective constituents.
               I remember Senator Jeffords as an outstanding member of 
             the Agriculture Committee in the House of Representatives 
             the 6 years I served on that committee. Then there was a 
             period of time where I was a Member of the Senate and he 
             still stayed in the House of Representatives. Our 
             friendship still held. But working together--you know how 
             it is in Congress, the House and Senate; there is a Grand 
             Canyon between us sometimes, and we don't communicate as 
             much as we ought to. Consequently, it was like getting 
             reacquainted with Senator Jeffords again when he came to 
             the Senate. I was glad then and I am very glad now that he 
             continued his service.
               I think he is an outstanding example of probably what is 
             an unacknowledged principle of political science--at least 
             it is a feeling I have about the people of our country--
             that if you serve honorably where you are at a certain 
             time and do the best job possible, you are going to have 
             opportunities to enhance your position within public 
             service. So as a State senator, then as an attorney 
             general, then as a Congressman, and then as a Senator for 
             the people of Vermont, I believe he got to be a Senator 
             because people in Vermont recognized him, as a State 
             senator, as a Congressman, and as an attorney general, as 
             a person who was not there because of political ambition, 
             wanting to rise to the top, but a person, in each stage of 
             his public service life, who did what that job required 
             and did it well. People recognized that and in the end of 
             the process, he came to the Senate.
               In every relationship I have had with Senator Jeffords, 
             whether he was a Republican or an Independent, it has 
             always been one that has been friendly and honorable and 
             honest. And most important, he was a humanitarian in his 
             approach to public policy.
               It seemed to me that as a Member of the Senate, whether 
             as an Independent or as a Republican, Senator Jeffords 
             brought forth what it takes to get things done in the 
             Senate, and that is moderation. It doesn't matter whether 
             it is a bill that is representing the philosophy of the 
             extreme left or a bill that represents the philosophy of 
             the extreme right, nothing such as that is going to get 
             through the Senate. Eventually you have to have people 
             come together seeking a middle ground, a bipartisan 
             approach to get things done. It seems to me, in every 
             respect, that is what Senator Jeffords did--he sought 
             moderation because that is how you get solutions and that 
             is the only way the Senate produces.
               I compliment him on his dedicated public service. I 
             congratulate him on his long service to the people of the 
             United States and the people of Vermont. I will miss 
             working with him. I will miss him, but I hope we have 
             opportunities to have great relationships for the rest of 
             our lives.

               Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is entirely appropriate 
             that we take these few moments on the floor of the Senate 
             to listen carefully and take the measure of an 
             extraordinary Senator, Senator Jim Jeffords. In these next 
             several weeks, this Nation is going to be focused in many, 
             many States on trying to select who is going to represent 
             them in the Senate. And if the people of those States just 
             took a few moments to listen to the eloquence of this 
             Senator, they would know what the standard should be in 
             selecting someone to represent them in this body. It is 
             Jim Jeffords. He sets the standard. So we thank Jim 
             Jeffords for his service--his service to the State of 
             Vermont and his service to all of our States and to the 
             country. We thank him for that service.
               We also thank the people of Vermont for their wisdom in 
             selecting this extraordinary talent and giving him the 
             kind of support that they gave over a long and 
             distinguished career, especially in those times when he 
             was willing to take positions and stand up on issues as a 
             matter of conscience. They understood their native son. 
             They respected him, and they supported him. So thank you 
             to the voters of Vermont.
               Thank you to his family, Elizabeth that Senator Jeffords 
             mentioned, Laura, and Leonard--a family that gave him 
             great support. I think those of us who have been fortunate 
             enough to know that family and meet that family understand 
             what a strong influence it has been in terms of his 
             service.
               And thank you, Senator Jeffords, for that simple 
             eloquence that we heard from you today on the floor of the 
             Senate, going back into the history of our country, 
             providing inspiration as we listen to you talk about the 
             history of the Nation, mentioning with great pride the 
             role of Vermonters in the time of the Civil War--and his 
             understanding of history, talking about people of the 
             Greatest Generation, which were inspiring figures to him 
             and many of us continuing to the present.
               He typically understated his own achievements and 
             accomplishments. I think many of us on this floor are well 
             familiar with them. I certainly am as someone who has had 
             the good opportunity to serve with him on the Education 
             Committee. I know the difference that he has made in the 
             education of children in this country, particularly those 
             with special needs, accomplishments which are memorable 
             and historical. He mentioned just casually his interest in 
             the education of the children here in the District of 
             Columbia. A number of us who are here on the floor now 
             remember Jim Jeffords speaking in our caucus not many 
             years ago about how we, as Members of the Senate who 
             happen to either live here in the District or work here, 
             even though we are working in this body, have a 
             responsibility for the education of the children here. He 
             was the inspiration of a program, a literacy program 
             called ``Everybody Wins!'' And Jim Jeffords led a number 
             of us to Brent School here near the Capitol to read with 
             the second and third graders each week to ensure that 
             those children were going to have an opportunity to learn 
             to read. It was just a simple illustration, once again, 
             that Jim Jeffords does not just talk the talk, he walks 
             the walk. And at so many different times he has been there 
             doing just that.
               So, Jim, we admire your service. You have demonstrated 
             here--and we do not understand perhaps well enough--that 
             you can speak with a quiet and soft voice, but you speak 
             with a great passion and a compelling argument, and with a 
             simplicity and effectiveness that has enriched and 
             enhanced the quality of life and opportunity, particularly 
             for children but also for all Americans. It is a 
             distinguished career, and it is one I know that you should 
             be--and are--proud of. All of us have had our own lives 
             enriched and inspired because of our friendship with you 
             and the type of Senator you have been.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut is 
             recognized.

               Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I add my voice to my colleagues 
             who have spoken and those who will speak in thanking our 
             wonderful friend from Vermont for his remarkable service 
             to our country.
               I begin as well by thanking his family, Elizabeth and 
             the children, as well as the people of Vermont, as Senator 
             Kennedy has said so eloquently.
               Let me also include in enumeration his wonderful staff 
             people, over the years, who have been very much a part of 
             Jim's family. In fact, I note from the interns to senior 
             staff people, everyone refers to him not as ``Senator'' or 
             ``Mr. Chairman''--but just ``Jim.'' That is certainly a 
             symbol of the kind of relationship he has had with his 
             constituents and with his congressional family over the 
             years.
               I have had the privilege of serving my entire time in 
             the Senate--in the Congress--with this remarkable person 
             from Vermont. We arrived in the House of Representatives 
             on the very same day, 32 years ago. As Jim pointed out, he 
             had that neck brace on, and I had a head of black hair. We 
             have aged over those three decades. But my respect for Jim 
             Jeffords has only grown.
               He has taught us America will listen to you even if your 
             voice is soft. His achievements in the Senate and the 
             House are the envy of all who wish to improve a quality of 
             life in this great country of ours. Jim's body of work is 
             truly admirable.
               But it looks even more admirable when you remind 
             yourself that it was all the doing of a man unpretentious 
             enough to be fond of mismatched socks, frugal enough to 
             spend his earliest days in Washington sleeping in a parked 
             van, and humble enough to be universally known, as I've 
             said, as just ``Jim.'' The people of Vermont returned him 
             to office over and over again on the strength of his 
             plainspoken integrity and his indefatigable Yankeeness. 
             That's what Jim brought to this body of discussion; and 
             that was more than enough.
               Jim came to Washington knowing what he wanted to 
             accomplish, and his success is clear to us today. No one 
             has worked with more dedication for a clean environment. 
             Jim was an environmentalist practically before we had a 
             word for it. In fact, he got his start in the Vermont 
             State Senate in the 1960s, fighting the efforts of the 
             papermills to pour sludge right into Lake Champlain. He 
             was a long-time nuclear watchdog and among six Congressmen 
             to found the Congressional Solar Coalition years ago. It 
             is telling that when he had his pick of chairmanships, 
             Senator Jim Jeffords chose the Environment and Public 
             Works Committee. Perhaps most important, he helped clean 
             up the air we breathe. He mentioned it briefly. But the 
             work of John Chafee, George Mitchell, and Jim Jeffords 
             truly created the great Clean Air Act of 1990, a huge 
             accomplishment. I want to thank Jim immensely for the 
             tremendous effort he made years ago in improving the 
             quality of air in this country. If he had done nothing 
             else in 32 years, that alone would have been a significant 
             achievement. Of course, his body of work is far more than 
             that.
               Like Jim's dedication to the environment, his work for 
             children who have special education needs is decades long. 
             In 1976, he was essential to the passage of legislation 
             guaranteeing local school districts that the Federal 
             Government would pay 40 percent of the costs of educating 
             the disabled. And if that guarantee remains unfunded 
             today, never let it be said that it was for lack of Jim's 
             passionate work.
               I would be remiss if I didn't mention of Tom Harkin, 
             another fellow classmate of 1974, working with Jim and 
             many others who cared about this issue over the years. No 
             one contributed more to the Individuals with Disabilities 
             Education Act than Jim Jeffords. Few Senators are as tied 
             to special education, and that is a title to be very proud 
             of. It has been my honor to work along with him in the 
             House and the Senate on the issues that meant the most to 
             him--on after school programs, on higher education, and, 
             most especially, to secure funding for IDEA.
               In Vermont, commitment to education is a long-standing 
             tradition. Right in the middle of the Civil War, we built 
             the dome on the Capitol to show our determination to keep 
             this Union together; but we showed it in another way, too. 
             A Senator from Vermont by the name of Justin Smith Morrill 
             created the land grant colleges--the University of 
             Connecticut is one; there are many all across the 
             country--and his work was one more demonstration of the 
             remarkable people who come from that State of Vermont to 
             help build this country, defend this country, and secure 
             this country for our children. Senators Stafford and 
             Morrill passed on that proud tradition, and Senator 
             Jeffords stands in its forefront today.
               Jim has taught at every opportunity the difference 
             between education as a privilege and education as a right. 
             It is a right, and its worth is measured in our 
             willingness to educate even--especially--where it is 
             inconvenient.
               There weren't many Senators shier than Jim Jeffords, but 
             there wasn't a single one fuller of quiet purpose and 
             courage. Politics was always a means to Jim's purpose--
             never the other way around. And the way Jim practiced 
             politics, the way he spent his power, was never calculated 
             to bring him money, or fame, or even particularly glamour. 
             It was only the quiet satisfaction of a job very well 
             done.
               That is what I think of when I recall the more than 
             three decades of our service together. But, to tell the 
             truth, through all those 30 years I had a privileged seat 
             right here with him. Those without that vantage point are 
             probably going to remember, first of all, something very 
             different. We all know how Jim crossed this aisle for good 
             5 years ago, and how he has served as an Independent ever 
             since. Jim entered the national spotlight full of honest 
             regret, and fully aware of how difficult his choice was 
             for colleagues, his staff, and his supporters.
               I saw Jim up close as he struggled with a decision as 
             few men or women ever have to. But whatever one thinks of 
             it, there is a fact beyond dispute, which all of us 
             appreciate in this body: Jim Jeffords has never followed 
             anyone but his conscience.
               If we insist, 5 years later, on reasoning out the need 
             in votes or dollars or any other measure of practicality, 
             we only reveal our failure to understand what that man did 
             on the day he made his choice. Sometimes what goes on in 
             this Chamber cannot be reasoned away. Jim taught us that, 
             too.
               So, I would like to close with a happy thought. Two 
             years before the American Revolution, Edmund Burke gave a 
             speech on the relationship between a Representative and 
             those whom he tries to represent.

               It is his duty,

             said Burke,

             to sacrifice his repose, his pleasures, his satisfactions, 
             to theirs; and above all, ever, and in all cases, to 
             prefer their interests to his own. But his unbiased 
             opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened conscience, 
             he ought not to sacrifice to you, to any man, or to any 
             set of men living. These he does not derive from your 
             pleasure; no, nor from the law and the constitution. They 
             are a trust from Providence.

               Jim, you have kept your trust over these many years, in 
             both the Senate and public life, in your State and in the 
             Congress. We send you back to Vermont with your work in 
             the Senate accomplished, with your conscience still clean, 
             and with our best wishes to you and your lovely family. 
             God bless you.
               I yield the floor.

               Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, it took an act of courage for 
             Jim Jeffords to declare himself an Independent. It took an 
             act of courage for a lifelong Red Sox fan to quote a New 
             York Yankee in his farewell address to the Senate.
               Jim Jeffords is an extraordinary public servant. Fewer 
             than 2,000 men and women in the history of the United 
             States of America have served in the Senate. We all 
             understand the great privilege of being in this body 
             representing our great States. But people are not noted in 
             the history of the Senate for longevity alone. People are 
             noted for singular acts of courage. And when it comes to 
             Jim Jeffords, his public career has been a singular act of 
             courage.
               I hail from the State of Abraham Lincoln, where he lived 
             most of his adult life, and where we claimed him as part 
             of our national heritage. When I think of Jim Jeffords and 
             the political party he identifies with more than any other 
             name, I will say he identifies with the party of that 
             great leader Abraham Lincoln who stood up for principles 
             often against public and popular will.
               This last week, Time magazine noted they were going to 
             designate Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont as ``Person of 
             the Week.'' They said in his one principled decision to 
             become an Independent, ``He demonstrated to the White 
             House and the United States Senate that revolutionaries 
             often come in surprising packages.''
               We all know what happened after Jim made his decision to 
             become an Independent. He told me about walking home to 
             his apartment at night down Pennsylvania Avenue. And 
             people who were outside restaurants and cafes would stop 
             and stand and start to applaud, and Jim would be startled 
             by it at first. But he received more recognition than he, 
             I am sure, expected. A lot of it came in positive terms; 
             some in negative terms. People wanted to name their babies 
             after him.
               In Burlington, VT--I think this is probably the greatest 
             tribute a politician could ever expect--they named a beer 
             after him--``Jeezum Jim'' they called it. I hope it was a 
             popular brew because he has been a popular Senator.
               When they asked him why he changed his affiliation to 
             become an Independent, he replied very simply: ``It is all 
             about education.'' I remember it well, because I know that 
             was the deciding factor.
               Your commitment to particularly those students who 
             struggled with disabilities, students who have these 
             difficulties, your commitment to those kids led you to 
             this decision. Many of us make these decisions on votes on 
             the floor. But as has been said, for Jim Jeffords 
             education went way beyond a vote or a speech. Several 
             years ago, he established this tutoring program in 
             Washington, DC, encouraging us, as Members of Congress, 
             the House and the Senate, to walk just a few blocks from 
             here, as he did so many times, to tutor the inner-city 
             youth of Washington, DC.
               He is a true Vermonter and a true Independent. When we 
             look at his record, he was the only House Republican who 
             voted against the Reagan tax cut because he was afraid it 
             would lead to dangerous deficits. How right he was. In 
             1993, he was the only Republican Senator to cosponsor 
             President Clinton's health care plan. He worked for years 
             for regulation of tobacco by the Food and Drug 
             Administration, a goal which I share with the Senator. And 
             he sponsored the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, banning 
             employment discrimination on the basis of sexual 
             orientation.
               Some politicians in their career find ways to divide us. 
             Jim Jeffords always looked for ways to bring us together. 
             A strong supporter of Federal funding for AIDS research 
             and the arts, justifiably proud of the role he played in 
             passing the Work Incentives Improvement Act, and, of 
             course, his record on the environment is without parallel.
               I know historians will also record all these 
             accomplishments and courageous battles when they write 
             about Jim Jeffords. On July 4, 2001, several weeks after 
             he made his decision to become an Independent, he sat down 
             at his home in Vermont and wrote these words:

               I hope my decision will move the two parties to the 
             center, where the American people are. The American people 
             want an active, responsible, Federal Government.

             He went on to say:

               There seems to be a hunger in this country for heroes, 
             especially for the political variety.

               Not only with this one historic act of conscience but 
             throughout his career in the House and the Senate, in 
             public life Jim Jeffords has been a living example of 
             these hopes and beliefs. I am proud to have been able to 
             serve with him. I am proud to count him as one of my 
             colleagues, even prouder to count him as a friend.
               I thank his family for giving him this opportunity to 
             serve and giving this wonderful man to public life.
               I thank you, Jim Jeffords, for all you have meant.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa is 
             recognized.

               Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, it is, indeed, a privilege to 
             be here this morning to personally hear the words of our 
             good friend, Senator Jeffords, and to hear other Senators 
             get up and talk about Jim in such glowing terms.
               However, I must say that all the years I have known Jim 
             Jeffords, he is an old-fashioned New Englander, which 
             means he is very modest. That means he is embarrassed to 
             receive this kind of praise and adulation. Senator 
             Jeffords will just have to endure it because we love you, 
             we respect you, we admire you, and you are one of the most 
             beloved Members of the Senate.
               Thirty-two years ago, we came together in the House. You 
             talked about that. Our colleague, Chris Dodd, was in that 
             class, and also my colleague from Iowa, Senator Grassley. 
             I didn't know Senator Jeffords at that time, obviously. We 
             had just come in as freshmen Members. I found myself on 
             the Committee on Agriculture with Senator Jeffords. We 
             both sat down at the end. He was on one side and I was on 
             the other side because we were just freshmen.
               We had a farm bill coming up. After a few weeks on the 
             Agriculture Committee, we dubbed Senator Jeffords ``the 
             Senator from Dairy.'' He was tenacious in fighting for his 
             dairy farmers of Vermont and, of course, New England. 
             Those from Iowa and Minnesota and Wisconsin--we had dairy 
             farmers, too, and there was, shall I say, a little bit of 
             a conflict in how we viewed the world of milk and dairy. 
             That was my first experience with Senator Jeffords because 
             we had to work things out. And we did. That was the first 
             time I got to see the kind of person Jim Jeffords is and 
             always has been. He was tenacious in fighting for his 
             dairy farmers but willing to understand that we all have 
             to live together; somehow we have to seek our compromises. 
             And we did. We reached a compromise and we moved the 
             legislation forward. That was the first time I came to 
             really know and respect Jim Jeffords.
               As we moved ahead in agriculture, I found another area 
             in which I respected and admired Senator Jeffords. That 
             was the area of environment and conservation. In those 
             days, people were thinking mostly about all the commodity 
             programs, how much money we could get in the commodity 
             programs. We were all protecting our interests. I was 
             protecting my Iowa interests and Senator Jeffords was 
             protecting his Vermont interests.
               However, conservation transcended everything. That began 
             back in the late 1970s, in the House Agriculture 
             Committee. We began the move toward more conservation in 
             our farm bills, which led to more of a ``greening'' of 
             America. He did that work also on Environment and Public 
             Works. When I think about the environment, cleaning up the 
             environment--clean water, clean lakes, clean streams--I 
             have to think of Jim Jeffords. He was there at the 
             beginning.
               Then in 1975, on the Committee on Education, Jim 
             Jeffords coauthored what later became the Individuals with 
             Disabilities Education Act. I was not on the Committee on 
             Education, but because of my family and because of my 
             intense interest in disability rights, especially as it 
             pertained to the hard-of-hearing and the deaf, I learned 
             about this bill with Jim Jeffords and with Paul Simon--at 
             that time, Senator Simon--and sort of stuck my nose in 
             their business, if you don't mind my saying that, because 
             I was not on the committee. I talked about how we had to 
             help do some of these things. My focus was narrow at that 
             time, just in hard-of-hearing and deafness at that time. 
             My great respect for Senator Jeffords, or Jim, at that 
             time grew because he was focused on how we make sure every 
             kid in America gets an education, make sure kids with 
             disabilities were mainstream, make sure they got the 
             support in our schools.
               It was Senator Jeffords who made sure that in the bill 
             we passed, the Federal Government committed itself to 
             providing at least 40 percent of the additional costs to 
             States and local communities in educating kids with 
             disabilities. Forty percent was the goal we set in the 
             bill Senator Jeffords coauthored in 1975.
               That moves me up to the year 2001. In the year 2001, the 
             budget came from the White House, President Bush's budget, 
             which severely underfunded our commitment to increasing 
             funding. We have never reached 40 percent. I think the 
             highest we have been is 18 percent. We have never gotten 
             the 40 percent. Senator Jeffords wanted to move that up. 
             Yet the budget came down and had a severe cut in the 
             funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
             Act. That is when Senator Jeffords said no, he wanted to 
             make sure that money was in there. That happened, mostly, 
             on the Republican side of the aisle. I was not privy to 
             all of that. That is when Senator Jeffords made his 
             declaration of independence. A matter of conscience--he 
             could not turn his back on all these years of moving our 
             society forward to educating kids with disabilities in our 
             schools and then all of a sudden say: No, we are going to 
             turn the clock back; we are not going to do it. He wanted 
             to keep moving forward. The budget would not allow it; he 
             fought hard for it. Based upon the fact that the 
             administration would not move on that, he declared his 
             independence and became an Independent and left his party. 
             We can all imagine how wrenching that must be, to leave 
             the party that nurtured us, that we grew up with, that 
             supported us all our adult life. It is a matter of 
             conscience. You can read about it in his book, ``My 
             Declaration of Independence.''
               After that, I invited Senator Jeffords to come out to 
             speak at the steak fry I have in Iowa every year. It was 
             after the book came out. I will never forget the scene. We 
             had thousands of people. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday 
             afternoon. Thousands of people came to meet this person, 
             to hear him and to hear his message. They had all these 
             little books they were waving, ``My Declaration of 
             Independence.''
               He had a wonderful message. His message was: don't ever 
             turn our back on making sure every child in America has a 
             decent education. It was a simple, straightforward 
             message. But you should read his book.
               Senator Kennedy mentioned another thing about Senator 
             Jeffords that not too many people know about; that is, his 
             support for a program called ``Everybody Wins.'' He 
             brought it here to Washington in the late 1990s and then 
             began badgering us to participate in it in his usual 
             tenacious manner. So he got a lot of us hooked on it.
               It is every Tuesday. I see Senator Kennedy goes about 
             every Tuesday; Jim, of course, goes all the time; I go 
             every Tuesday we are here, as do a lot of staff members. 
             We go to Brent Elementary School. We read to a child for 1 
             hour every Tuesday. It has been a wonderful experience for 
             me and I know for everyone who participates in it. In 
             fact, we now talk about Jim as being sort of the Johnny 
             Appleseed of this movement because now it is starting in 
             other States. We took the idea to Iowa, and now it is 
             sprouting in Iowa. Other States and businesses are 
             involved. ``Everybody Wins'' is now moving around the 
             country. Senator Kennedy said: Senator Jeffords doesn't 
             just talk the talk, he walks the walk. When he brought it 
             here, he was there every week reading to kids and getting 
             us to go down and read to them, also.
               I have in my office a big picture, my favorite picture. 
             It is a big picture taken at Tiananmen Square, a picture 
             we all will remember of the young man holding a little 
             briefcase, a young student holding a briefcase. There is a 
             line of tanks. He is standing in front of the tanks, and 
             the tanks have all stopped. To those of us who have seen 
             the video of this, the tanks were coming down the street, 
             the student went out in the street, he stopped, the tanks 
             turned to go one direction and he moved over a few steps, 
             then the tanks moved another direction to get around, and 
             he moved over and stood there. Finally, the tanks stopped 
             right in front of him. A hatch popped open, and a military 
             guy got out and looked at him and stood there for a few 
             minutes. The tanks all stopped, and then the young man 
             turned and walked off the street.
               A lot of people I talk to about that picture--did they 
             ever know who he was? No, they never did find out his 
             name. But I gave them the name. I call him Jim Jeffords. 
             To me, that young man who did that represents the Jim 
             Jeffords of the world, willing to stand on principle no 
             matter what the odds are. No matter what is coming at 
             them, they are willing to stand on principle.
               So after 32 years, we will miss this soft-spoken and 
             self-effacing New Englander who has a spine of steel. 
             After 32 years, Senator Jeffords, you have left your mark: 
             education, job training, disability rights, the 
             environment and, lest we forget, the dairy farmers of New 
             England, who will never forget Jim Jeffords.
               Jim, we are going to miss you, your kindness, your 
             leadership, your courage, your generosity of spirit, and 
             your example. Know that our love, our admiration, our 
             respect, and our best wishes go with you and with 
             Elizabeth and your family. Know that you have left our 
             Nation and the world a mark for all of us to follow in how 
             to make our Nation and our world a better place.
               Senator Jeffords, Jim, Godspeed. Come back now and then. 
             Come back on the floor. Retired Senators have the 
             privilege of coming to the floor. Come back on the floor 
             and remind us why we are here.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California is 
             recognized.

               Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, this is a very poignant 
             morning for so many. I am so glad I have been able to 
             arrange my schedule to be here to listen to my colleagues 
             and friends, whom I deeply respect, and to listen to the 
             great Senator from Vermont, Jim Jeffords.
               If I might say how blessed I have been, I got here in 
             1993 and went right to the Environment and Public Works 
             Committee. I met Jim there, and now I get to sit next to 
             him in the Senate. I got to know his staff.
               We are going to miss you. But, Jim, I must say, you made 
             a beautiful speech today. And in listening to Tom Harkin 
             talk about you and explain that you have always been 
             motivated by what is right for the people, if ever you 
             could take an opportunity to tout your accomplishments, it 
             is when you say goodbye. People would say that is fair. 
             But you did not do that. You did not say: This year I 
             passed this legislation and this bill. The rest of us have 
             been lauding your accomplishments, but it is just like 
             you, instead, to talk about this country you love so much. 
             And you cite to us what our challenges are. And, of 
             course, they continue to be the challenges you have taken 
             up: education, the environment, fiscal responsibility, war 
             and peace. You have left a roadmap for us, and for that we 
             are very grateful.
               I mentioned that I was sworn in in 1993. That was the 
             so-called year of the women, where we tripled the number 
             of women in the Senate. That sounds great, but it was from 
             two to six. We were still a very strong minority. Our 
             leader, Barbara Mikulski, the dean of the women here, 
             always taught us, from day one--she said: You are going to 
             have to work with the men because they control things 
             here, and you are going to find that among these many men 
             there are many Sir Galahads.
               Jim, you are Sir Galahad. You have been a wonderful 
             friend to us, treating us, from the minute we walked in, 
             as equals and colleagues. We are very grateful to you for 
             that.
               I am not going to talk a long time at all. But I want to 
             talk about three things quickly. One is, I went to your 
             State of Vermont this last weekend. I had been there 
             before and always marveled at how beautiful it is, but I 
             was taken with it again.
               Now, coming from California, we have our beautiful 
             places, believe me. So I have come to appreciate beautiful 
             places. We overlooked Lake Champlain when we were there. 
             Knowing that you worked so hard to make that lake clean 
             and beautiful, thank you for that. There is so much 
             history there, Jim, that you have also helped to 
             preserve--you and Patrick Leahy, and so many others who 
             came before.
               But what struck me about Vermont as much as the beauty 
             are the incredible people in your State, how involved they 
             are. It is that old New England townhall type of quality. 
             They get it. They are involved. They love you, Jim. They 
             love you. When I mentioned your name, oh, my goodness, the 
             roars came up. You could hear it blocks away.
               People love you here and they love you in Vermont. And 
             your family loves you. As you said, you are blessed, as we 
             are blessed in your presence.
               The second point is your family and how much they care 
             about you. They are so proud of you. I know how hard it 
             was for them when you declared your independence. It 
             rocked their world, just as it rocked your world, and just 
             as it rocked the country. But when you do something for 
             the right reasons, it all works out. And you did something 
             for the right reasons, for the people of this country.
               The last thing I want to say to you is, we do not know 
             how things will work out this November, but either way, I 
             will be taking a larger role on the committee you love, 
             the Environment and Public Works Committee, where you have 
             been an extraordinary leader. You have given us a roadmap 
             on how to fight global warming--a huge challenge we face. 
             We cannot turn away from it because if we do, we are 
             neglecting our responsibility. You, thank goodness, have 
             written a bill that will show us the way.
               So I am here today not only to wish you well in your 
             retirement, and joy with your family, but to tell you that 
             I am going to follow your leadership on global warming. I 
             am excited about the challenge. And because of the love 
             your colleagues feel for you, I hope you will come back 
             here, as Tom Harkin said, to help me with that because we 
             are going to have to move and get going on it.
               Mr. President, thank you very much. And thanks to our 
             colleagues for giving us this time we need to pay tribute 
             to an extraordinary Senator, one who will be missed but 
             never forgotten.
               Thank you very much. I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia is 
             recognized.

               Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I have to start off 
             anything I say--and I will be short--about Jim Jeffords 
             with the word ``friendship,'' based upon his unbelievable 
             qualities of kindness, of goodness, of steadfastness, 
             being the same person every day under any circumstance.
               We sit together. We have sat together for quite a long 
             time on the floor of the Senate. And we talk a lot. I have 
             the honor of talking with his staff, too, a superb staff, 
             who adores him.
               The business of friendship in the Senate is 
             underpracticed. If you know Jim Jeffords, then you know 
             why you should take more time to know your colleagues 
             better. Because the fact is--although it has been more so 
             recently--it is not your politics or your party that 
             determines how you vote, but your conscience and your 
             sense of a moral compass that guides you. In that 
             practice, you have to think of Jim Jeffords.
               He is an extraordinarily wonderful human being. He has 
             got a ferocious sense of humor, which is always delivered 
             very quietly. And yet he is deep, he is profound, he sort 
             of looks like Vermont: chiseled; his nose is just the 
             right shape. And, of course, he talks that way. But he is 
             humble, not because he wants to be, just because he is. 
             Nothing about his record is humble. But his nature is 
             humble. He is gentle; and he really is. He listens, does 
             not interrupt, does not insist on his point of view--
             except when it counts, and then he is unmovable.
               All of the subjects he has concentrated on--children, 
             the environment, many other things that have been 
             mentioned--there is also the matter of post-traumatic 
             stress disorder. On the Veterans Committee, which is the 
             one committee where I do get to--not the only committee, 
             but I get to sit with him on that committee--he has been a 
             champion of something which Americans still do not really 
             understand; and that is, the ferocious nature of being 
             wounded in war these days--an Iraqi improvised explosive 
             device that implants shards of metal into people that will 
             remain there for the rest of their lives; the whole 
             question of how does somebody rehabilitate a life? And 
             what is the VA doing about that? Jim is all over that 
             subject.
               When he switched parties to be an Independent, woe be 
             the person who said: Switch parties from Republican to 
             Democrat--no--Republican to Independent. And, yes, he got 
             an enormous amount of cheering and praise based upon his 
             moral compass. He also got a lot of death threats. Life 
             was very hard for him for a period of time. So he 
             understood that was going to happen. But with Jim 
             Jeffords, the moral compass always prevails. I think it is 
             one of the reasons all of us here respect him so, admire 
             him so, look to him as to what the Senate ought to be.
               I had never heard the word ``ANWR'' until it was 
             explained to me by Senator Jeffords. He was there early 
             because he was thinking, as always, of our children and 
             grandchildren, and, as they say, their children too. We 
             always take it one generation too far, but it is true.
               Alternative fuels. Will the history books write about 
             Jim Jeffords on alternative fuels? Yes, they will. Do 
             people generally in the Senate or elsewhere know that he 
             has spent a career working on that? Probably not.
               Our air; they know about that. The groundwater; they 
             probably know about that. But his work on alternative 
             fuels is one of the most important things he's done.
               Title I, Head Start, improving the lives of children, 
             all of that has been talked about--Senator Harkin talked 
             about, in 1975, the Individuals with Disabilities 
             Education Act--he has always been looking ahead. Does that 
             make him a Good Samaritan? Does that mean he is a do-
             gooder or does it mean that he does good? It is the 
             second. He does what is comfortable to him and what he 
             feels is just for the people he serves, not only in 
             Vermont but across the United States of America.
               The work he has done with post-traumatic stress disorder 
             is awesome in terms of those of us on the Veterans 
             Committee. He is justifiably proud of the research and 
             work done by Vermont's White River Junction Veterans' 
             Administration Hospital to help veterans who are 
             struggling, as they truly are, not just with the postwar 
             physical problems of being wounded, but the psychological 
             problems of that, as well.
               He has never sought the limelight, and he does not care 
             about the limelight. He has been elected time after time 
             probably partly because of that. Because he is not like so 
             many other people who run for public office who want to 
             tick off everything they have done. He is Jim Jeffords. 
             And with Jim Jeffords comes a certain set of principles, a 
             certain set of commitments to people. The people of 
             Vermont have understood that over the years. So he has not 
             had to promote himself in ways that others have to do.
               Jim has always had extraordinarily deep passions and 
             convictions, but, at the same time, he has been a paragon 
             of civility and humbleness. Jim has a gentle voice, but 
             his resolve and commitment to stand up for vulnerable 
             children, veterans in need, and our environment is 
             assertive and strong.
               Throughout his career, Jim has made some very tough 
             personal decisions. Take his decision to switch parties to 
             be an Independent in the summer of 2001. Regardless which 
             party you are a member of, I think all of us would agree 
             that given the fact that his move fundamentally changed 
             the governing structure of the Senate, it truly was a 
             profile in courage. Time and time again, Jim has been 
             willing to take risks for his beliefs, and he deserves our 
             respect and admiration for such independence.
               In terms of public service, Jim Jeffords has lived a 
             life that many aspire to. He has spent nearly every day of 
             his life working to make the lives of people better. In 
             the 1950s, he served in the U.S. Navy, and until 1990 he 
             was in the Naval Reserve, where he retired as a captain. 
             In the 1960s, he began his political service, first as a 
             Vermont State Senator, then as Vermont's Attorney General, 
             and then, in the wake of the Watergate scandal, he became 
             one of the very few Republicans elected to Congress in 
             1974.
               Jim has been a true steward of the environment. Long 
             before many of us knew what ANWR was, he was fighting to 
             preserve the environment for our grandchildren and their 
             grandchildren. He has been at the forefront of fighting to 
             make sure our air and ground water are safe for our 
             citizens, and he has fought for the use of alternative 
             fuels. His efforts have truly cut a trailblazing path for 
             many generations to come.
               Over the years, Jim and I have worked on many issues 
             together, and I am particularly proud of what we have done 
             for our students and for our veterans. He understands how 
             important it is to make sure that our citizens get started 
             on the right foot. He believes that the first years of a 
             child's life are absolutely critical in the life and 
             future of that person, and that is why he has worked so 
             hard to push for greater funding for Head Start and other 
             early education programs. And that is why he has worked on 
             Title I--to help low-performing students, who 
             disproportionately live in the rural areas that make up 
             much of West Virginia and Vermont, achieve the standards 
             they must meet.
               That sort of Good Samaritan principle has always guided 
             Jim's life and career. He has been extraordinary in 
             advocating for those whose needs are often forgotten. In 
             fact, perhaps no American living today and certainly no 
             American legislator--I want to echo here what Senator 
             Harkin has said--has done more to advance the educational 
             success of those with disabilities. Almost from his 
             arrival in Congress, Jim took extraordinary steps because 
             he believed that the needs of others simply could not 
             wait. In 1975, as a House freshman, Jim co-authored what 
             would later be known as the Individual with Disabilities 
             Education Act, IDEA. IDEA serves as a Federal commitment 
             to give students with disabilities a better education.
               It was an extraordinary legislative achievement, one 
             that had even greater implications in terms of setting a 
             moral baseline imperative that we must meet the needs of 
             those who live difficult lives. Jim has worked, not for 
             the well-heeled or the heavy-hitting lobbyist--he has 
             tirelessly worked for the people who truly need help.
               I have also been proud to serve with Jim on the Senate 
             Veterans' Affairs Committee. He has been an important 
             voice in calling for compassionate care for our veterans, 
             especially those veterans returning from Afghanistan and 
             Iraq.
               We both have States with a very large number of soldiers 
             and veterans, and we both know how important it is for our 
             soldiers and veterans to have the health care they have 
             earned and deserve. The two of us have been allies in 
             pushing for greater funding and resources to help our 
             soldiers with PTSD, and I know that Jim is justifiably 
             proud of the research and work by Vermont's White River 
             Junction to help veterans struggling with PTSD.
               Jim Jeffords has never sought the limelight--he has 
             sought results. He has always done his work in the words 
             of Shakespeare, ``with the modest stillness and humility 
             that becomes any human.'' But when one looks back at his 
             record, you can see that the modest man from Shrewsbury, 
             VT, has left his mark on virtually every piece of 
             education, job training, and disability legislation over 
             the past quarter century. It is difficult to determine how 
             many people Jim's efforts have helped, but if it were 
             possible to quantify his efforts, I know we would find 
             that hundreds of thousands of lives have been improved 
             because of his actions in Vermont and across the country.
               The Senate this year is losing a treasure, a man who in 
             the best tradition of the Senate has never been afraid of 
             taking a heroic, principled stand without having to make a 
             lot of noise. Sharon and I are personally losing good 
             friends in Jim and his wife Liz. And Americans all over 
             the country are losing one of the most dedicated fighters 
             for the basic rights that too many disadvantaged people 
             are shortchanged on. I wish my friend well in his 
             retirement.
               I close with the sadness of losing in our body somebody 
             such as Senator Jeffords. People go to him. People are 
             comforted by his presence. People are emboldened by his 
             nature. They see what it is he does not say to promote 
             himself or his ideas, and somehow they are attracted to 
             those ideas because they understand if it comes out of Jim 
             Jeffords, it is good for the public.
               So I think of his family too, I say to Senator Boxer, 
             and I think of how proud they must be. I also think of 
             just myself, to be honest, how sad I am going to be not 
             being able to sit next to Jim Jeffords and share his humor 
             and to look upon his greatness--not just his nose, but his 
             greatness: the classic Vermonter, the classic New 
             Englander. He has been so incredibly good for the Senate.
               Mr. President, I yield the floor.

               Mr. OBAMA. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge 
             the extraordinary career of Senator Jim Jeffords.
               For the past 32 years, Jim Jeffords has served the 
             citizens of Vermont and the American people with 
             integrity, intellectual honesty, and diligence. When faced 
             with the choice between political convenience or 
             protecting the interests of his constituents, Jim Jeffords 
             always stood for Vermont and the concerns of hard-working 
             Americans. When others decided to do what was popular in 
             Washington or among the chattering classes, Jim remained 
             true to his values. He has been a model of principled 
             leadership, often ahead of his time.
               Long before protecting our environment and precious 
             natural resources occupied America's consciousness, Jim 
             was leading on these issues. Working across party lines 
             throughout his career, including as chairman of the Senate 
             Environment and Public Works Committee, Jim Jeffords urged 
             the President to strengthen antipollution measures, 
             investigated the effects of greenhouse gas emissions, and 
             promoted increased fuel efficiency. During his time in the 
             U.S. Senate he introduced the Global Warming Pollution 
             Reduction Act, the High-Performance Green Buildings Act, 
             and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Investment 
             Act.
               Jim Jeffords has never lost sight of his constituents 
             and their needs. He loyally stood by farmers in Vermont 
             and all over the Nation when he fought President Bush's 
             dairy tax, extended MILC, the Milk Income Loss Contracts 
             Program, and supported the Farm Security and Rural 
             Investment Act.
               Jim Jeffords has also committed his career to improving 
             education, which he has treated as one of the great 
             callings of our time. Speaking at a Rally for Education in 
             2002, Jim Jeffords said of education funding that ``it is 
             not an option, it is a necessity, for our children, for 
             our schools and for the future of our great Nation.'' Jim 
             Jeffords championed the Head Start Program, increased 
             funding for elementary, secondary, and higher education, 
             and sponsored the Better Education for Students and 
             Teachers Act. He has also provided unwavering support to 
             American children with disabilities that face a unique set 
             of challenges in navigating our education system. Even as 
             a freshman Congressman some 30 years ago, Jim Jeffords 
             managed to marshal his colleagues in order to pass the 
             Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
               As a member of the Environment and Public Works 
             Committee, I have had the opportunity to work closely with 
             Senator Jeffords and his capable staff. His office and his 
             standards of professionalism inspire great respect.
               On a personal level, I continue to admire a public 
             servant who has so consistently followed his conscience. 
             Time magazine recognized Jim Jeffords as the ``Person of 
             the Week'' for his ``revolutionary'' party switch in 2001. 
             I do not believe that Jim necessarily set out to start a 
             revolution; rather he invoked what might be considered a 
             revolutionary idea to some in Washington: government ought 
             to serve the concerns and interests of ordinary Americans 
             instead of catering to fringe groups or election year 
             antics. In hindsight, most will hail Jim Jeffords's 
             principled decision to switch parties, though I know the 
             decision was a difficult one for him and strained his 
             relationship with many in this body. But Jim Jeffords did 
             what he thought was right, and I applaud his courage and 
             his example of leadership.
               So I thank Senator Jeffords not only for his lifetime of 
             service and accomplishments but for having raised the bar 
             for all of us.
               I wish Jim Jeffords and his family many happy years 
             ahead.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont is 
             recognized.

               Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I thank my colleagues for 
             their very generous and kind comments. Their remarks 
             remind me--all of us--the Senate is a family. I also thank 
             my colleagues for their friendship. I am honored to be 
             able to serve with you, especially you, I say to Senator 
             Rockefeller.
               You have been very kind to me over the years. I have 
             followed your guidance, and it has been good. I thank all 
             of my colleagues for their friendship and am honored to 
             serve with you. And as I go forward--I don't know--I am 
             going to wonder why I am going forward and not just 
             staying with you.
               Mr. President, now I guess we should proceed with the 
             process that is normal. I thank the leader.
                                             Friday, September 29, 2006
               Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, unfortunately, when Congress 
             meets again in January 2007, this Chamber and our Nation 
             will be without the services of our esteemed colleague, 
             Senator Jim Jeffords.
               Senator Jeffords has announced that he is retiring so he 
             may spend more time with his lovely wife Elizabeth. May I 
             make clear that Elizabeth's gain is the Senate's loss.
               For 32 years, Jim Jeffords has proudly and superbly 
             represented his beautiful State of Vermont and our great 
             country in the U.S. Congress.
               From 1975 to 1988, he was Vermont's lone Member in the 
             U.S. House of Representatives. Now having served three 
             terms in the Senate, he has decided to retire. I regret 
             his departure. He is a Senator I have admired. He is a 
             Senator I respected since he first came to this Chamber.
               Through his hard work and his dedication to this 
             institution, he has helped to make the Senate a better 
             place. For that I have been grateful and thankful. He is a 
             polite, friendly, mild-mannered man whom it is always 
             pleasant to be around. He is a U.S. Navy veteran who has 
             never failed to demonstrate his love for our great 
             country.
               This Senator is a great American who possesses a passion 
             to do the right thing no matter what the consequence. He 
             is a U.S. Senator who has always displayed a reverence for 
             this institution, the Senate of the United States.
               While he has a natural, easygoing manner, he is a 
             Senator who will work feverishly, who will work tirelessly 
             for the causes in which he believes. Seldom has the Senate 
             seen a stronger or more avid defender of the environment. 
             He was one of the founders of the Congressional Solar 
             Coalition. He has chaired the House Environment Study 
             Conference and the Senate Environment and Public Works 
             Committee. In Congress, he has constantly sought to 
             broaden and to strengthen the power of the Environmental 
             Protection Agency, and he has worked to ensure that 
             important agency does its job.
               His efforts to protect our environment have earned him 
             recognition and awards from a number of environmental 
             organizations, including the prestigious Sierra Club.
               Senator Jeffords has been one of the Senate's foremost 
             promoters of the rights of disabled Americans. Senator 
             Jeffords has worked to open opportunities for them. He is 
             coauthor of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
             Act, IDEA. For his efforts on behalf of disabled 
             Americans, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, NMSS, 
             honored him as its ``Senator of the Year.''
               Senator Jeffords has been a promoter of the arts. He was 
             a cofounder of the Congressional Arts Caucus, and not long 
             ago as head of the Senate committee that oversees the 
             National Endowment for the Arts, Senator Jeffords--yes, 
             Senator Jeffords--was able to block a House effort to 
             abolish the NEA.
               Senator Jeffords has been one of the Senate's biggest 
             and best promoters of education. I have read some 
             criticisms of Senator Jeffords for his continuous efforts 
             to seek more and more funding for educational programs for 
             America's youth, America's young people, especially 
             special educational programs. He has even been accused of 
             ``bartering his vote'' on legislation for his own pet 
             educational projects. I think this was probably meant as a 
             criticism. If it were, I am sure that it is a criticism 
             that Senator Jeffords wears with pride.
               I don't think there is anything more important to 
             Senator Jeffords than seeing that all of America's 
             children have every opportunity to fulfill their 
             educational pursuits. For this, he certainly has my 
             respect and my admiration. I applaud him. Yes, I applaud 
             Senator Jeffords.
               Throughout his congressional career, Senator Jeffords, 
             son of a chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court and 
             graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, has 
             always displayed an independence of spirit, an 
             independence of spirit for which he has been labeled a 
             loose cannon. Knowing Senator Jeffords as I do, I know 
             that his independence stems from an unrelenting 
             determination to place doing the right thing above 
             political or personal interest.
               While in the House of Representatives, Senator Jeffords 
             was the only Republican to vote against President Reagan's 
             tax cut bill because he charged it would increase the 
             national deficit. And it did. In the Senate, he was one of 
             two Republicans who voted against President Bush's first 
             round of tax cuts because those cuts were irresponsible 
             and favored the wealthy. Senator Jeffords was the only 
             Republican Senator to cosponsor President Clinton's effort 
             to overhaul our national health care system.
               I remember Senator Jeffords for being 1 of only 23 
             Senators who voted against going to war in Iraq. I have 
             been in this Senate 48 years this year. I have cast 17,752 
             rollcall votes. I will say it again, 17,752 rollcall 
             votes. And of all these votes--I have said it before--I am 
             most proud of that particular vote, the vote against that 
             arrogant and reckless charge to war in Iraq.
               The Constitution says Congress shall have the power to 
             declare war. It does not say that ``one person,'' it does 
             not say that the President of the United States, be he 
             Republican or Democrat, shall have the power to declare 
             war.
               So, 23 Senators, including Robert Byrd and Jim Jeffords, 
             voted to uphold the Constitution of the United States. 
             That was the greatest vote ever cast in my 48 years in the 
             Senate. If we only had more Senators with the courage, the 
             determination and the character of Jim Jeffords, we might 
             have avoided becoming involved in the bloody mess in which 
             we now find ourselves in Iraq--with no end in sight. The 
             Senate needs more Members like Jim Jeffords.
               In September 2000, Congressional Quarterly included a 
             nice profile of Senator Jeffords. That article discussed 
             his willingness to take independent positions even on the 
             most partisan issues. It also discussed his black belt in 
             the martial arts and how he had joined with other esteemed 
             colleagues--Senators Lott, Craig, and Ashcroft--to form 
             that magnificent vocal group ``The Singing Senators.'' 
             Congressional Quarterly pointed out that Senator Jeffords 
             ``calls his own tunes,'' and I say he does. He calls his 
             own tunes.
               Eight months later, CQ proved prophetic. In May 2001 
             came an event for which Senator Jeffords will often be 
             remembered in his 32 years in Congress, the event that he 
             has called his own personal ``declaration of 
             independence.'' He followed his conscience and followed 
             the path best for him. As I said before, we need more 
             Senators like Jim Jeffords.
               I am sorry to have to say goodbye to this unassuming, 
             fiercely independent man. As much as I would prefer that 
             he stay, I understand and I respect his wishes.
               I wish Senator Jeffords and his lovely wife Elizabeth 
             the blessing of Almighty God as they begin the next 
             chapter of their lives.

               Mr. ENZI. ... Mr. President, as the session draws to a 
             close and we complete the consideration of the bills 
             before us by casting our final votes of the session, I 
             rise to express my gratitude and best wishes to one of our 
             colleagues who will be retiring when the final gavel 
             brings to a close the current session of Congress.
               Jim Jeffords, my good friend from Vermont, has decided 
             to return home so that he can spend more time with his 
             family. Although I will miss him, as will we all, I 
             understand the reasons for his departure. There is nothing 
             more important than family and the bonds between us and 
             our children--and grandchildren--are stronger than any 
             other in our life.
               As the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and 
             Pensions Committee, I will miss Jim's good ideas, his 
             commitment to making a difference, and his strong 
             determination to make our education and health care 
             systems operate more effectively and efficiently. He was 
             an important presence on the committee and he and his 
             staff were always willing to work long and hard on the 
             initiatives they proposed to help make our Nation a better 
             place for us all to live.
               Looking back, 1974 was a good year for both Jim and me. 
             I was elected to my first term as mayor of Gillette, WY, 
             and Jim was elected to his first term in the House of 
             Representatives. We both took office full of great hopes 
             and dreams as we looked forward to doing everything we 
             could to make a difference in the lives of the people we 
             were elected to serve.
               From the beginning, Jim was very clear on his mission in 
             Congress. He had come here to make sure that our most 
             precious resource--our children--were well taken care of. 
             For Jim, the issue of education was not something he took 
             lightly. It was a commitment that came from his heart. He 
             took the problems of our schools personally and he was 
             determined to do something about them. He wanted everyone 
             to have the same advantages in life that he had. That was 
             his goal and it inspired him and drove his active 
             involvement in the consideration of the education issues 
             that would come before the House and the Senate.
               Jim's passion for education not only drove his work on 
             the subject in Congress, but it also led him in the years 
             to come to serve as a tutor at a public school on Capitol 
             Hill each week as part of a literacy program he created. 
             That program reaches out to involve us all in supporting 
             our public schools. Its philosophy is simple. Anyone can 
             make a difference in our schools. All it takes is a little 
             investment of our time and a willingness to share our 
             talents with the students of a local school.
               Not long after Jim had taken his oath of office in the 
             House, he began working on what was to be one of his 
             greatest successes, the Individuals with Disabilities 
             Education Act, or IDEA as it has come to be known. Over 
             the years IDEA has ensured that students with disabilities 
             have equal access to a good education--and a promising 
             future. Thanks to this landmark legislation those living 
             with disabilities will receive the education, support and 
             encouragement we all need to help us become all we can be 
             and reach our full potential.
               As he served in the House, Jim's commitment to working 
             today to make things better for us all tomorrow led him to 
             fight for meaningful environmental protections, a more 
             effective and responsive health care system, and a sound 
             fiscal budget that didn't overspend our present resources 
             and leave a bill behind for future generations to pay.
               That is the philosophy that directed and guided Jim when 
             he ran for and won a seat in the Senate in 1988. It wasn't 
             long after he had taken the oath of office for his new 
             position that he began working on the reauthorization of 
             the Clean Air Act--another part of his legislative passion 
             that will continue to be a key part of his legacy in the 
             Senate. Even though he had just begun his service in the 
             Senate at the time, his good ideas and commitment to the 
             protection and preservation of our natural resources made 
             him an important part of the team that would write and 
             promote this important bill.
               No one was surprised that Jim was a key Member who was 
             involved in so many difficult and important projects as 
             soon as he arrived in the Senate. He preceded me as 
             chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions 
             Committee and, under his leadership the committee took a 
             close look at our schools and the quality of the education 
             we provide our children. It considered how we might 
             improve the training we provide our Nation's workers so 
             that they might find and keep better and better jobs. And, 
             it continued to look for ways that we might provide 
             support and empower those living with disabilities so that 
             all Americans are able to maximize their potential and 
             live their own version of the American dream.
               Back home, Jim has deep roots in his State that date 
             back for generations. His father was a chief justice of 
             the Vermont Supreme Court and I am sure he learned a great 
             deal about politics, life and the law from his Dad.
               In addition, coming from Vermont, Jim has a great 
             understanding of the challenges faced by small and rural 
             States and the local industries they depend on to keep 
             local and State economies healthy and strong. It has been 
             said that Jim knows as much about the dairy industry as 
             anyone directly involved in it in his State. He knows 
             firsthand that the one-size-fits-all solutions that work 
             well for the big States, all too often penalize the 
             smaller ones and leave them without the support they need 
             to address the same problems the large States face. In the 
             years to come, when I think of Jim I will remember how he 
             shared his dream of a better America with us. By daring us 
             to dream, too, he encouraged us to work together so that 
             the future would be a brighter one for us, our children 
             and our grandchildren.
               There is an old saying the Native Americans in Wyoming 
             know well. We have not inherited the Earth from our 
             ancestors, we are borrowing it from our children. It's a 
             philosophy that Jim took to heart and put into practice 
             every day during his many years of public service.
                                              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 Jim Jeffords, from Vermont. Senator Jeffords, in 
             his long, distinguished service to our country, served in 
             the House of Representatives, and then served here in the 
             Senate. He served our country in the U.S. Navy. Jim 
             Jeffords's life has been about service.
               I had an opportunity to get acquainted particularly with 
             Senator Jeffords and work closely with him on the 
             Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA. There 
             has been no one in this Senate over the last 25 years more 
             committed to education for our young people than Jim 
             Jeffords. We will miss Jim Jeffords. ...
               Mr. President, in conclusion, it is not easy to put 
             one's self on the firing line and offer one's self as a 
             candidate for any office. It takes a certain amount of 
             courage and, I suspect, a little dose of insanity. But 
             nonetheless individuals who believe deeply enough to 
             commit themselves to a cause greater than their own self-
             interests need to be recognized. Having nothing to do with 
             me or you or any one individual, but it is the essence of 
             our country, it is the very fabric of our democracy that 
             makes it all work and probably gives rise to, more than 
             any one reason, why we have been such a successful nation 
             for over 200 years--because people from all walks of life, 
             in every community, in every State, offer themselves for 
             office. Whether it is a mayor, a Governor, city 
             councilman, county official, a sheriff, these individuals 
             deserve recognition.
               We all make mistakes. That is who we are. But in the 
             end, it is not unlike what Teddy Roosevelt once referred 
             to in his magnificent quote about the man in the arena. 
             And it is the man and the woman in the arena who change 
             our lives. It makes a better world that shapes history, 
             that defines our destiny. And for these individuals who 
             will no longer have that opportunity to serve our country 
             in the Senate, we wish them well, we thank them, and we 
             tell them we are proud of them and their families and wish 
             them Godspeed.
               Mr. President, I thank you for the time and yield the 
             floor.

                                            Wednesday, December 6, 2006
               Mr. REED. Mr. President, this is an opportunity to 
             recognize the service of several of our colleagues who are 
             departing from the Senate. To Senator Jeffords, Senator 
             Frist, Senator DeWine, Senator Talent, Senator Santorum, 
             Senator Burns, and Senator Allen, let me express my 
             appreciation for their service to their States and their 
             service to the Nation and wish them well. ...
               To all my colleagues who served and conclude their 
             service, let me once again express deep appreciation for 
             their friendship and for their service to the Nation.
               I yield the floor.

               Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, we are coming to the end 
             of the session and 10 of our colleagues are retiring. I 
             want to say a word about them ...
               Or Jim Jeffords, a former Navy captain, who has had so 
             much to do with offering legislation for clean air and 
             children with disabilities.
               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. Mr. President, most of us remember the 
             tectonic shift that occurred in the Senate in 2001, in the 
             month of May, when our colleague, Jim Jeffords, changed 
             parties. He moved from being a Republican to becoming an 
             Independent Senator and lined up with the Democratic 
             Caucus. Never before had control of the Senate changed on 
             the decision of one Senator.
               It wasn't the first time Jim Jeffords had followed his 
             conscience and made history. I can recall his alliance 
             with my predecessor, Senator Paul Simon. At a time many 
             years ago, in 1994, when Rwanda was facing a genocide, 
             Paul Simon and Jim Jeffords were the two voices in the 
             United States who stood up and called for the Clinton 
             administration to do something to stop this genocide. 
             Unfortunately, it did not occur and hundreds of thousands 
             of people lost their lives. But that call to action by Jim 
             Jeffords was just one of the achievements of his public 
             career he can point to with pride.
               During that genocide, he was the ranking Republican of 
             the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa. The 
             chairman of that committee, Paul Simon, joined with him in 
             that effort. Five weeks after the slaughter in Rwanda 
             began, Senators Simon and Jeffords phoned Gen. Romeo 
             Dallaire, head of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Kigali, 
             and asked what he needed. The desperate general said he 
             needed 5,000 American troops to stop the killing. Those 
             two Senators, Jeffords and Simon, got on the phone, 
             begging the White House to send the troops. They wrote in 
             their common message:

               Obviously, there are risks involved, but we cannot sit 
             by idly while this tragedy continues to unfold.

               Senators Jeffords and Simon received no reply, and the 
             killings continued. Hundreds of thousands of innocent men, 
             women, and children were killed or maimed.
               Later, Paul Simon would say:

               If every Member of the House and Senate had received 100 
             letters from people back home saying that we have to do 
             something about Rwanda, when the crisis was first 
             developing, then I think the response would have been 
             different.

               So many times I have stood on the floor of the Senate 
             pleading for our Nation to intervene to stop the genocide 
             in Darfur. Each time, I have thought about Paul Simon and 
             Jim Jeffords. Had the President listened to them, hundreds 
             of thousands of people in Rwanda could have survived that 
             genocide. It doesn't take a great deal of moral courage to 
             follow your conscience when the world is on your side, but 
             it is when you stand alone, knowing you may lose, and you 
             follow your conscience anyway, that you demonstrate real 
             moral courage.
               Time and again in his public career, Jim Jeffords, the 
             retiring Senator from Vermont, has shown that courage. He 
             has been an unwavering champion of children and families 
             with special needs, the environment, affordable health 
             care for all Americans, and budget policies that are both 
             compassionate and responsible. He believes in moderation, 
             tolerance, and that the Federal Government be committed to 
             protecting basic individual freedoms.
               Three years ago this week, Paul Simon died unexpectedly 
             following heart surgery. At the end of this week, Jim 
             Jeffords will be casting his last vote in the Senate. We 
             wish him well in the next chapter of his life. Those of us 
             who have had the privilege of working with Jim Jeffords, 
             the new Senators who will join us soon, and those who will 
             follow in years to come would do well to remember the 
             moral courage of Senator James Jeffords of Vermont. ...
               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. ...
               I also want to say farewell to my friend from Vermont, 
             Senator Jim Jeffords--a true Yankee Independent and a real 
             treasure. When I joined the Veterans' Affairs Committee 
             with Senator Jeffords, I learned early on that he was an 
             ally in standing up for America's veterans. I was always 
             impressed with his willingness to listen to all sides of 
             an issue, and when he spoke, I was always listening. I 
             have admired his stewardship of the Environment and Public 
             Works Committee, and I know that the Senate, the people of 
             Vermont, and people across our country will miss his 
             leadership and his experience--more than three decades of 
             service. ...
               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. FEINGOLD. ... Mr. President, today I want to pay 
             tribute to Senator Jim Jeffords, a man who has honorably 
             served Vermont and this country in the U.S. Senate since 
             1989. The people of Vermont have been fortunate to be 
             represented by a man who is as principled and dedicated to 
             serving our Nation's best interests as Jim Jeffords.
               Senator Jeffords will long be remembered for his courage 
             and conviction and for his bold decision to leave the 
             Republican Party and become an Independent. Never straying 
             from his principles and his commitment to representing the 
             interests of his constituents, Senator Jeffords made this 
             decision despite the consequences for him personally. He 
             knew his decision would enable him to better serve the 
             people of Vermont and this Nation. His conviction was also 
             clear when he voted against authorizing the President to 
             use force in Iraq. He has also been an unyielding voice 
             for upholding civil liberties and seeking to eliminate 
             discrimination in the workplace, and I greatly respect him 
             for his outspoken leadership on these critically important 
             issues.
               I am proud to have worked with him on other widely 
             ranging issues over the years. I want to particularly 
             thank him for helping to pass the Bipartisan Campaign 
             Reform Act and eliminate soft money. Senator Jeffords also 
             played a crucial role in the effort to pass much-needed 
             Army Corps of Engineers reforms. Debate over these reforms 
             was contentious at times, and his work behind the scenes 
             and on the floor was needed to win support for changing 
             the way the Corps does business. In the next Congress we 
             will work to build on Senator Jeffords's hard work and 
             commitment to these important issues.
               As chairman and ranking member of the Senate Environment 
             and Public Works Committee, he has been committed to 
             reforming our Nation's energy and environmental policies. 
             He is a champion for our environment, and his leadership 
             and expertise will be greatly missed. It is the 
             responsibility of the next Congress to honor Senator 
             Jeffords's legacy in this area by redoubling our efforts 
             to protect the environment.
               I was proud to work with Senator Jeffords on other 
             critical issues as well. As a knowledgeable leader on 
             education issues, having served as chairman of the Health, 
             Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, he pushed for 
             reforms to the No Child Left Behind law. I was proud to 
             work with him on efforts to support our military families 
             and to cast votes alongside him to force Congress to be 
             more fiscally responsible.
               Here in the Senate, we will miss Jim Jeffords's 
             thoughtful leadership, his independence, and his 
             friendship. He was a valued ally on so many issues, and I 
             wish him all the best in his retirement. ...
                                             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. ...
               From 1956 to 1959, Senator Jim Jeffords served in the 
             U.S. Navy. He later served in the Naval Reserves. In 1989, 
             after Jim had served the citizens of Vermont in State 
             positions and in the U.S. House of Representatives, Jim 
             was elected to the U.S. Senate. In the Senate, I have been 
             pleased to work closely with him, particularly in serving 
             with him on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
             Committee and on the Environment and Public Works 
             Committee. Jim chaired both committees during his years in 
             the Senate.
               While Senator Jeffords legislatively had many interests, 
             I believe that improving the education of our children, 
             particularly children with special needs, is the issue 
             most dear to his heart. I remember him time and time again 
             on the floor of the U.S. Senate pushing for increased 
             funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
             Act, IDEA. And, I remember joining him, and others, in 
             pushing hard for mandatory IDEA funding after it became 
             clear that the Congress would be unable to fulfill its 
             funding commitment through the discretionary funding 
             process. While, to date, we have not achieved full 
             funding, it is without question that Jim Jeffords's Senate 
             career has left a lasting, positive imprint that will 
             improve America's education system for years to come. ...
               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, today I would like to 
             take a moment to recognize my friend and colleague, Jim 
             Jeffords, who after 32 years of distinguished service in 
             Congress is retiring to spend more time with his family.
               Jim Jeffords's family roots in Vermont can be traced all 
             the way back to 1794. After attending public schools in 
             Rutland, Jim received his undergraduate degree from Yale 
             University and his law degree from Harvard Law School. He 
             served in the U.S. Navy and retired from the U.S. Naval 
             Reserve.
               I have worked closely with Jim Jeffords for years on the 
             Centrist Coalition. He is a good friend and someone I 
             could always trust. Jim has always been independent-minded 
             with a strong sense of integrity, a real commitment to 
             fiscal responsibility, an unparalleled dedication to the 
             environment, and a passion for improving education for our 
             children. During his time in Congress, Jim Jeffords left 
             his mark on some of the most important legislation this 
             institution has passed, including the Individuals with 
             Disabilities Education Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean 
             Water Act, and the 2005 highway bill.
               In 2001, Jim Jeffords made a historic and difficult 
             decision to switch his party affiliation to an 
             Independent. He was never afraid to make tough decisions, 
             and this one was no exception. It took courage to stand up 
             against the rising tide, knowing that his decision would 
             tip the balance in the Senate and set us on a new course.
               Jim Jeffords embodies what it means to be a good 
             Senator--honesty, a strong work ethic, courage, 
             dedication, and being true to one's convictions. He is 
             also thoughtful, modest, and soft spoken. With these 
             character traits it is hard to believe that he has a black 
             belt in tae kwon do.
               Jim Jeffords has been a true fighter for Vermont. His 
             compassion and conviction will be missed in the U.S. 
             Senate. I wish Jim and his family many happy years ahead. 
             ...

               Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 
             great service of retiring Senators Paul Sarbanes, Mark 
             Dayton, and James Jeffords. ...
               I will also say a few words about Senator Jeffords.
               Senator Jeffords has ably represented Vermonters here in 
             the Congress for decades. In doing so, he has reflected 
             the independent spirit of Vermonters, and no more so than 
             when he took the courageous step in 2001 to become an 
             Independent and caucus with the Democrats.
               Since that time, I have had the great pleasure of 
             working with Senator Jeffords on the Environment and 
             Public Works Committee. His tenure at that committee was a 
             fitting capstone to his career, as he has long been 
             focused on environmental protection.
               Throughout his long and distinguished career, Senator 
             Jeffords has been a strong advocate of renewable energy. 
             In many ways, he has been ahead of his time. In 1990, he 
             introduced a bill to promote ethanol and other alternative 
             fuels, and nearly 10 years ago he introduced legislation 
             to create a 20-percent renewable portfolio standard. 
             During his tenure first as chairman, and then as ranking 
             member of the EPW Committee, he has been a strong and 
             clear voice for a cleaner environment.
               He has been an ally and a champion of reducing pollution 
             from powerplants, fighting global warming, and making our 
             buildings more energy efficient. And he has worked hard to 
             hold the administration to task for numerous rollbacks of 
             our landmark environmental laws. During his tenure on the 
             committee, Senator Jeffords has been ably assisted by a 
             staff led by Ken Connolly and Alison Taylor. I thank them 
             and Senator Jeffords's entire staff for their assistance 
             to me and my staff.
               Unfortunately, I could not attend the final EPW meeting 
             this week, but I understand that Senator Jeffords 
             announced that he is returning home to Vermont, and 
             described home as ``the place you can go where they have 
             to take you in.''
               I know that Vermont will welcome Senator Jeffords back 
             with open arms, and I know that he will always have a home 
             away from home here in the Senate.
               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, I also want to remember for a minute the 
             good work of Senator Jeffords. Senator Jeffords tends to 
             be one of the quiet Members of the Senate. Some of us talk 
             a lot more than others. He does not do much talking, but 
             he sure gets a lot done. I will never forget, and the 
             people of Louisiana are so grateful to Senator Jeffords, 
             as he chaired the EPW Committee, for being one of the 
             first Senators in this Chamber to recognize the 
             extraordinary loss of our wetlands and what it would mean 
             to south Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico. And ultimately, 
             of course, we saw the tragedy unfold before our eyes. Had 
             we listened to Senator Jeffords, and the other few voices 
             who were calling out years ago, perhaps some of that loss 
             of life and billions of dollars of loss of property could 
             have been averted.
               Senator Jeffords came down to Louisiana on several 
             occasions. One I will never forget is standing with him in 
             this very southern part of the State in Lafourche Parish, 
             literally almost into the gulf waters, we were so far down 
             south. I was explaining to him--and this is far out from 
             New Orleans. You have to try a little hard to get there. 
             You fly into the big airport, and then you have to go by 
             either bus or helicopter, and it is difficult. And, of 
             course, Senator Jeffords's health has not been great 
             lately. But he was a real trooper, and he said: No, Mary. 
             I want to go, and I want to see it.
               So we flew him way down to the wetlands, and he and I 
             were standing there, and I was explaining to him how his 
             work in the Senate was affecting the lives of my 
             constituents down in the bayou and was saying: Senator, 
             almost once a week or so some fishing vessel or shrimp 
             trawler runs into this bridge. And when the bridge shuts 
             down, we literally not only keep schoolchildren from 
             getting to school and parents from getting to their 
             children, but we literally shut down the whole offshore 
             oil and gas industry or a big part of it, because when a 
             bridge shuts down, none of the trucks can move, no 
             supplies can get out to the rigs. Don't you think this 
             country, which spends trillions of dollars every year, can 
             spend a few million dollars to fix this bridge?
               The words had not gotten out of my mouth when a shrimp 
             trawler hit the bridge, and the bridge moved slightly. The 
             big wings of the shrimp trawler collapsed, and Senator 
             Jeffords looked at me and said: Now, Mary, you have gotten 
             way too dramatic on this point. You did not have to set 
             that stage for that boat to hit that bridge. He said: I 
             get the message. So we, of course, had a laugh about that.
               But his sense of humor, his commitment, and his passion 
             for the environment and the people who live on the land, 
             the people who live in this natural environment, is what 
             has always made me a real fan of his. I want him to know I 
             am going to miss him and his staff who have also been 
             extremely kind to me and my staff in the Senate. ...
               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. ...
               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 also sincerely thank Judiciary 
             Committee Chairmen Specter and Hatch; HELP Committee 
             Chairmen Enzi, Gregg, and Jeffords; and Intelligence 
             Committee Chairmen Roberts and Shelby. I have been 
             fortunate to have passed dozens of bills and amendments in 
             my career in the Senate, and most of them were provisions 
             that I worked along with these chairmen to pass. It would 
             never have happened without them. I appreciate their help.
               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. ...
               Mr. President, I want to wish the best to all of my 
             fellow Senators who were defeated this fall or who are 
             retiring this year--Senators Frist, Santorum, Talent, 
             Burns, Allen, Chafee, Dayton, and Jeffords. They are all 
             good people and all good friends. I wish them well. ...

               Mr. DODD. ... Mr. President, today I pay tribute to my 
             departing colleagues who have, for a time, lent their 
             talents, their convictions, and their hard work to this 
             distinguished body. I may have had my disagreements with 
             them, but the end of a term is a time for seeing 
             colleagues not simply as politicians, but as partners who 
             have ``toiled, and wrought, and thought with me.'' Each, 
             in his own way, was distinctive; and each, in his own way, 
             will be sorely missed. ...

               Mr. REID. Mr. President, the great Senator Daniel 
             Webster once remarked that the Senate is a place ``of 
             equals of men of individual honor ... and personal 
             character.''
               He was right, and we can see what he was talking about 
             in the fine men the Senate is losing to retirement at the 
             end of this Congress: Senator Frist, Senator Sarbanes, 
             Senator Jeffords, and Senator Dayton.
               On previous occasions, I have talked about how much I 
             appreciated serving with Senators Frist and Jeffords. 
             Today, I would like to say a few more words about Senators 
             Sarbanes and Dayton. ...
               Mr. President, Mark Dayton, like Paul Sarbanes, like Jim 
             Jeffords, like Bill Frist, will be missed.
               The Senate--and our country--are better off because of 
             their service.

               Mr. HATCH. ... Mr. President, I would like to extend my 
             best wishes to my good friend and colleague, Senator Jim 
             Jeffords.
               For the last 18 years, I have been privileged to serve 
             with Jim here in the U.S. Senate. When he first came to 
             the Senate in 1989, he was assigned to the Senate Labor 
             and Human Resources Committee. At the time, I was the 
             ranking minority member of that committee and worked 
             closely with Jim. In fact, when Jim later became chairman 
             of the committee, he changed the name to the Committee on 
             Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, better known today 
             as the Senate HELP Committee. He did that because he felt 
             that the purpose of the committee was to help people. 
             Later, he and I also served together as members of the 
             Senate Finance Committee.
               Jim has an undergraduate degree from Yale University and 
             graduated from Harvard University Law School. He served in 
             the U.S. Navy for 3 years and was in the Reserves until 
             1990 when he retired as a captain.
               He started his career in politics in 1966 when he was 
             elected to the Vermont State Senate. In 1968, he became 
             the attorney general for the State of Vermont. In 1974, he 
             was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives where he 
             tells a very interesting story about the day that he was 
             sworn in as a Member of the House. As Jim tells it, 1974 
             was not a good year to be a Republican candidate--for 
             those who do not remember, it was the year that President 
             Richard Nixon resigned due to the Watergate scandal. The 
             1974 freshman class had 92 new Members of which only 17 
             were Republicans--two of them were our Senate colleagues, 
             Chuck Grassley and Jim Jeffords. At the time, Chuck was on 
             crutches and Jim was in a neck brace. As the two walked 
             down the aisle, Jim heard one of the Democrat Members say, 
             ``There are two we almost got.'' Well, all I can say is, 
             thank goodness the Democrats didn't get Chuck and Jim. The 
             two of them have been an integral part of both the House 
             and the Senate.
               Senator Jeffords has always been known for his self 
             deprecating sense of humor. I will never forget his story 
             about being interviewed by a reporter with Congresswoman 
             Millicent Fenwick, who, as many know, was a very elegant 
             woman from New Jersey, on their first impressions of what 
             it was like to live in Washington. Congresswoman Fenwick 
             talked about her lovely view of the city from across the 
             river. When asked what it was like for him to be in 
             Washington, Jim replied that he lived in a Winnebago in 
             the parking lot of a Holiday Inn and he had a view of the 
             hotel dumpster. Quite honestly, Jim is probably one of the 
             most humble and down to earth people I have met in the 
             Senate.
               Jim is someone who fought hard for increased education 
             funding, especially for special needs children. He is also 
             very passionate about environmental issues. But in my 
             opinion, one of Jim's most significant achievements was 
             the difference he made on health care issues. Jim was 
             committed to providing a prescription drug benefit to 
             Medicare beneficiaries and was actively involved in 
             writing the tripartisan Medicare prescription drug bill 
             which was considered on the floor of the Senate in 2002. 
             Jim, Chuck Grassley, former Senator John Breaux, Senator 
             Olympia Snowe, and I all got together and wrote a bill 
             that provided a drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries. 
             It was the foundation of the Medicare prescription drug 
             benefit, Medicare Part D, which was included in the 
             Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. Jim provided valuable 
             input and did his best to look out for what was in the 
             best interests of senior citizens and the disabled. So 
             far, 38 million Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in the 
             Medicare Part D Program.
               Before I close, I want to share an insightful story 
             about Jim that is indicative of the way he has led his 
             life. When Jim interviewed Paul Harrington to be the HELP 
             Committee's health policy director, it was at his home in 
             Shrewsbury, VT. Shrewsbury is a very rural town in a very 
             rural State and that is best typified by the Brown Covered 
             Bridge. Jim conducted the job interview in his garage 
             where he had a large pile of bent nails on his work bench. 
             While he discussed the possibility of Paul joining his 
             staff, they each began straightening out the used nails. 
             At the end of the conversation they had created quite a 
             large pile of nails that were useful again. Paul shared 
             this experience with many of his friends and colleagues 
             when he left the Senate because he felt that the 
             circumstances of the job interview were indicative of 
             Jim's philosophy and his approach to problem solving. I 
             couldn't agree more. There's a practical side to Jim's 
             nature that seeks to adapt old solutions to solving new 
             problems. Using the analogy of the nails, Jim has always 
             been able to take up used ideas from the past and put them 
             to good use in new circumstances by reshaping them to fit 
             the new needs of today.
               I want everyone to know that I consider Jim to be one of 
             my dear friends in the Senate, and while I was 
             disappointed when he decided to become an Independent, I 
             respected his decision. And so did former Senate Majority 
             Leader Bob Dole, who is a close friend of Jim's. In fact, 
             on the first year anniversary of Jim's big decision, Bob 
             sent Jim a pineapple upside down cake. He told Jim that he 
             looked all over for a cake to send him and came to the 
             conclusion that a pineapple upside down cake described Jim 
             the best. While that may be true, let me say that Jim is a 
             man who has the best of intentions and always does what he 
             believes is in the best interests of his constituents.
               While serving in the Senate, Jim has always been an 
             independent force and that is one of the main reasons that 
             I respect him so much. Policy always came before politics, 
             something very rare in Washington these days. He has a 
             great love for the institution. He is passionate about 
             issues he cares about and it showed when he offered an 
             amendment in committee or spoke on the Senate floor.
               Jim has dedicated his life to public service and the 
             great people of Vermont are very fortunate to have had him 
             representing them in both the House of Representatives and 
             the Senate. He is a great legislator and he will be missed 
             by all of us. I wish Jim Jeffords all the best in the 
             years ahead. ...

               Mr. LEVIN. ... Mr. President, when this session of 
             Congress comes to an end, Senator Jim Jeffords will leave 
             the Senate. He has been a thoughtful and independent voice 
             here, and he will be greatly missed.
               Senator Jeffords has been a true champion for the 
             environment. He was instrumental in passing the 1990 Clean 
             Air Act, and he chaired the Environment and Public Works 
             Committee from 2001 to 2002. He has fought for policies 
             that encourage renewable energy use and that reduce 
             emissions of carbon and other pollutants.
               Senator Jeffords is a strong believer in promoting 
             economic development that also protects the environment 
             and preserves the landscape. In the 1960s, when he served 
             as a State senator and then attorney general of Vermont, 
             Jim worked on the most comprehensive State-level growth 
             management policy in the United States. Jim continued 
             these efforts as a U.S. Senator, and I joined with Jim in 
             1999 to form the Senate's Smart Growth Task Force, a 
             bipartisan, multiregional caucus.
               With Jim's leadership, the task force's membership grew 
             to more than 20 Senators who shared the goal of 
             determining how the Federal Government can help States and 
             localities address their own growth management issues. Out 
             of this task force, a series of bipartisan legislative 
             initiatives have emerged, including legislation to promote 
             brownfields development, support urban and town centers, 
             provide transportation funding and access, and conserve 
             open space and historic structures.
               Senator Jeffords has also been a strong leader on 
             education, job training, and disability legislation and 
             served as chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and 
             Pensions Committee from 1997 to June 2001. He has a 
             particular passion for improving education for students 
             with special needs and coauthored the Individuals with 
             Disabilities Education Act. Jim Jeffords is also a strong 
             advocate for fairness and has sponsored legislation to end 
             discrimination based on sexual orientation and to 
             strengthen penalties for hate crimes.
               Senator Jeffords became a household name and earned a 
             spot in Senate history in 2001 when he left the Republican 
             Party, creating a Democratic majority in the Senate. That 
             action stunned Washington. But for those of us who have 
             been fortunate to know him over the years, we were not at 
             all surprised that Jim Jeffords had followed his 
             conscience and his deep commitment to the interests of the 
             people of Vermont and did what he believed to be right.
               I want to wish Jim and his wife Elizabeth well as they 
             enter a new phase in their lives.

               Ms. SNOWE. ... Mr. President, I rise to express my 
             enormous gratitude and deep appreciation for my good 
             friend and colleague, Senator Jim Jeffords. President John 
             Adams, who served as the first President of this body, 
             once exclaimed. ``If we do not lay out ourselves in the 
             service of mankind whom should we serve?'' The answer 
             given through the years by Senator Jim Jeffords has been 
             one marked by the eloquence of his actions.
               True Yankee independence and integrity are two of the 
             hallmarks distinguishing Senator Jim Jeffords. Our 
             legislative service together dates back to the 97th 
             Congress and our participation together on the House Aging 
             Committee, ironically at much younger ages than we are 
             today. We have also served together on the Senate Finance 
             Committee. I will forever fondly remember the monthly 
             Moderates lunches we attended together, just as I will 
             cherish the lunch we shared in the final days of his 
             distinguished tenure in the Senate.
               Indeed, so many achievements distinguish this public 
             servant and usher him into a prestigious pantheon of 
             officeholders whose common denominator is uncommon 
             commitment to addressing tough issues that truly affect 
             the daily lives of the people whom they represent.
               Educated at Yale University and Harvard Law School, this 
             son of a former chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court 
             could have pursued any number of pathways in his life, but 
             it testifies to his strength of character and abundance of 
             integrity that he chose to use his depth of learning, 
             prodigious skill, and expertise on behalf of others with 
             the goal of service--a journey that began with his active 
             duty in the U.S. Navy in 1956 and that continued 
             throughout his 32 years in the Congress. From his days in 
             the U.S. House in the mid-1970s--where he also served with 
             my husband John McKernan--to the present, Senator Jeffords 
             made a priority to champion education and the environment 
             and by doing so became one of the best advocates these 
             issues have ever had.
               In 1975, Senator Jeffords, as the ranking member on the 
             Subcommittee on Select Education, coauthored what would 
             later be known as the Individuals with Disabilities 
             Education Act, which has provided equal access to 
             education for millions of students with disabilities. 
             Since its enactment, Senator Jeffords has continued to 
             fight for full Federal funding for the law. He has fought 
             to reduce industrial pollution and acid rain, and as a 
             member of the Senate Environment and Public Works 
             Committee he ensured the passage of the 1990 Clean Air 
             Act. More recently, Senator Jeffords has introduced 
             legislation that would clean up polluting powerplants and 
             create incentives for investments in clean, renewable 
             power.
               In 2001, during the tax-cut debate, as we were working 
             to ensure a fair but a fiscally-responsible compromise, 
             Senator Jeffords and I combined to advocate for 
             significant relief for the working poor. In 2003, during 
             intense negotiations, we joined forces to ensure 
             prescription drug benefits for Medicare. And I could not 
             have been more pleased to work with him in authoring the 
             so-called Snowe-Jeffords provision to the historic 
             Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. I couldn't be more proud 
             that our arguments were not only persuasive in the Senate 
             but ultimately before the U.S. Supreme Court after more 
             than 3 hours of oral arguments, as the act--including our 
             provision--was upheld.
               In the true spirit of statecraft, Jim Jeffords has 
             ennobled not only the art of public affairs but the public 
             affairs component of art. Then-Congressman Jeffords 
             cofounded the Congressional Arts Caucus and has 
             consistently fought for financial support of the National 
             Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the 
             Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library 
             Services. Like my State's own Margaret Chase Smith, 
             Senator Jeffords has been a public servant of deep and 
             abiding conscience, buttressed by a profound courage and 
             unwavering love for his State and his country. I wish him 
             all the best.

               Mrs. HUTCHISON. ... Mr. President, today we say goodbye 
             to Senator Jim Jeffords after 18 years in the Senate, 
             serving the State of Vermont.
               Throughout his years in the Senate, Senator Jeffords has 
             remained steadfast in his convictions and beliefs.
               As a proud citizen of the State of Vermont, Senator 
             Jeffords has made enormous efforts to ensure the interests 
             of his State were represented in the U.S. Congress.
               This is the legacy Senator Jeffords has earned.
               As a staunch proponent of environmental issues, Senator 
             Jeffords rose to leadership as chairman of the Environment 
             and Public Works Committee in 2001, and he currently 
             serves as the committee's ranking member.
               Senator Jeffords leaves the Senate with my respect. ...
             UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--TRIBUTES TO RETIRING SENATORS
               Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the tributes to 
             retiring Senators be printed as a Senate document and that 
             Senators be permitted to submit tributes until December 
             27, 2006.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.
                                           Wednesday, December 27, 2006
               Mr. STEVENS. ... Mr. President, Senator Jim Jeffords's 
             service has been unique but no doubt beneficial to his 
             home State of Vermont and to our country. On May 21, 2001, 
             Senator Jeffords pursued his conscience and made a 
             difficult decision to leave our party. While unexpected, I 
             respect Senator Jeffords for following his heart and doing 
             what he thought was best for his constituents in Vermont.
               Jim has now served three full terms in the Senate. Over 
             the years, he has stood out as a champion for education 
             and the disabled. In 2004, he co-authored the Individuals 
             with Disabilities Education Act. His work here has helped 
             improve millions of lives.
               I wish the distinguished gentleman from Vermont well in 
             his future endeavors. ...

               Mr. AKAKA. ... At this time, Mr. President, I would like 
             to take the opportunity to wish my warmest aloha to 
             Senator Jim Jeffords, who is retiring after 32 years in 
             Congress. The Committee on Veterans' Affairs will be 
             losing one of its finest and most esteemed members. A 
             veteran himself, Senator Jeffords has been a strong voice 
             and advocate for veterans. I thank Senator Jeffords for 
             his service. He will truly be missed. ...
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