[Senate Document 110-20]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
110th Congress, 2nd Session ------------------- Senate Document 110-20
TRIBUTES TO HON. WAYNE ALLARD
Wayne Allard
U.S. SENATOR FROM COLORADO
TRIBUTES
IN THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Wayne Allard
Courtesy U.S. Senate Historical Office
Tributes
Delivered in Congress
Wayne Allard
United States Congressman
1991-1997
United States Senator
1997-2009
a
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....................
8
Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee.................
3
Allard, Wayne, of Colorado.....................
19, 22
Bingaman, Jeff, of New Mexico..................
7
Bond, Christopher S., of Missouri..............
5
Bunning, Jim, of Kentucky......................
7
Cochran, Thad, of Mississippi..................
16
Coleman, Norm, of Minnesota....................
25
Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota..................
14
Corker, Bob, of Tennessee......................
13
Craig, Larry E., of Idaho......................
23
Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut...........
11
Domenici, Pete V., of New Mexico...............
6
Dorgan, Byron L., of North Dakota..............
30
Durbin, Richard, of Illinois...................
12
Ensign, John, of Nevada........................
14
Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming...................
28
Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin.............
6
Hagel, Chuck, of Nebraska......................
23
Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
8
Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
10
Inouye, Daniel K., of Hawaii...................
27
Kyl, Jon, of Arizona...........................
25
Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana................
11
Levin, Carl, of Michigan.......................
24
Lieberman, Joseph I., of Connecticut...........
11
McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky..................
17
Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
16
Salazar, Ken, of Colorado......................
5, 20
Sessions, Jeff, of Alabama.....................
30
Specter, Arlen, of Pennsylvania................
27
Warner, John, of Virginia......................
12
BIOGRAPHY
U.S. Senator Wayne Allard is a Colorado veterinarian
committed to cutting taxes, eliminating the deficit,
returning power to State and local governments, and
ensuring the security of America both at home and abroad.
Consistent with his belief that elected officials should
be citizen-legislators, Senator Allard spent a majority of
his time in Colorado. Since 1991, he has conducted more
than 700 town meetings across Colorado, visiting each of
Colorado's 64 counties several times, while maintaining a
99-percent voting record in the Senate. He also has led by
example by being the most frugal member of the Colorado
delegation and has returned more than $4.2 million in
unspent office funds to the U.S. Treasury since being
elected to Congress.
Senator Allard was a member of the powerful Senate
Appropriations Committee, where he worked to shape the
Nation's spending priorities and to ensure that Colorado's
people and projects received Federal support where it was
most needed. The Senator was the Republican leader of the
Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, in addition to
serving on the Legislative Branch, Energy and Water,
Military Construction, Transportation, and Financial
Services Subcommittees.
Senator Allard also served on the Senate Budget
Committee. As a fiscal conservative, he believed that
Congress must reduce wasteful spending and strive for a
balanced budget.
As a member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban
Affairs Committee, Senator Allard was the ranking member
of the Securities, Insurance, and Investment Banking
Subcommittee where he advocated for increased national
attention to the importance of savings plans and
investments and small business concerns. He also served on
the Financial Services and Housing and Transportation
Subcommittees.
In the 110th Congress Senator Allard also served on the
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee,
where he was actively involved in the reauthorization of
the No Child Left Behind Act and work to increase access
to health care. Wayne Allard served on two important
subcommittees on this committee: the Children and Families
Subcommittee and the Employment and Workplace
Subcommittee.
As founder of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Caucus, and chairman of the Senate Space
Caucus, Senator Allard was a national leader on energy and
science-related issues.
Born in Fort Collins, CO, in 1943 and raised on a ranch
near Walden, CO, Senator Allard received his doctorate of
veterinary medicine from Colorado State University in
1968. While completing veterinary school, Wayne Allard
married Joan Malcolm, a microbiologist and fellow graduate
of CSU. They built their veterinary practice in Loveland,
the Allard Animal Hospital, from scratch and raised their
two daughters, Christi and Cheryl, in Loveland. The
Allards have five grandsons.
Senator Allard ran his veterinary practice full time,
while representing Larimer and Weld Counties in the
Colorado State Senate from 1983 to 1990. A longtime
supporter of term limits, Senator Allard was best known
during his time in the State senate for sponsoring the
Colorado law that limits State legislative sessions to 120
days, preserving the concept of a citizen-legislator.
Senator Allard was a Member of the U.S. House of
Representatives from Colorado's Fourth Congressional
District from 1991 to 1996 when he was elected to the U.S.
Senate. As a Colorado Congressman, Wayne Allard served on
the Joint Committee on Congressional Reform, which
recommended many of the reforms that were incorporated
into the Contract with America. These reforms were among
the first legislative items passed by the Republican-
controlled Congress in 1995. Senator Allard was reelected
to the U.S. Senate in 2002.
Farewell to the Senate
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I would like to wrap up with
a few comments. I have spent 12 years in the Senate, 18
years in the Congress all together, when you consider the
6 years I served in the House of Representatives. I can
say it has been a great experience. In my view, I have
represented the best State in the Union. We refer to it as
the Centennial State because it joined the Union exactly
100 years after we became the United States.
It has always been enjoyable to talk to my colleagues
and talk to visitors to the Capitol about my State of
Colorado because they have usually had great experiences
when they have visited my State. It is a tourist
attraction. We have a lot of things that bring people to
Colorado. It is a beautiful State. People have great
vacations when they go there, and they are more than
anxious to share their wonderful experiences with me,
share the wonderful and welcoming attitude they
experienced from the people of Colorado, and share with me
how much they have enjoyed visiting the great State of
Colorado.
And, when people get tired of talking about the great
State of Colorado, we have always been able to talk about
their favorite cat or their favorite dog because, as a
veterinarian, it has always been a common interest among
many of my colleagues in the Senate, as well as visitors
to our office, to talk to me about their favorite pet. So
it has been a wonderful experience.
This is the greatest legislative body in the world. It
is an honor to serve here. There are a lot of dedicated
employees who have helped me get things done in this body.
They put their own political preferences aside and thought
of the well-being of the institution. They have always
been very polite and most supportive and helpful. I wish
to thank them.
I have had great employees in my office. I wish to
mention that you get things done because of the people
with whom you surround yourself. I have two members who
are currently on my staff who have served with me since I
was first elected to the Congress. I was elected to the
House of Representatives in 1990. They came in with me and
worked with me on the House side for 6 years and then they
came over here and continued to work in my office for the
last 12 years. I appreciate their dedication. Those kinds
of people don't come along every day. They spent 18 years
with me, bless their souls. The two I speak of are Sean
Conway and Doris Morgan. Both of them have been dedicated
staff people who have helped to make my service to the
people of Colorado successful.
There are also some staffers who joined me after I
became a Senator in 1997, in addition to the two I
mentioned, including Andy Merritt, who is now my State
director; Dick Poole, who is one of my top staff people;
Tewana Wilkerson, who has helped me on the Banking
Committee; and Kris Hanisch, who has helped us balance our
books as well as helping us to move through the maze here
in the Senate. We do have our own little bureaucracy in
the Senate. She knows it and understands it and has helped
us move through it. She has been my office manager and has
kept us on the straight and narrow. I appreciate the
dedication of all of the employees who have worked with
me.
I have a great group of employees currently serving me
in my office. We have had a number of people who have come
and gone, but I never felt it was because they were
disappointed in having to work in our office. When I
talked to people who came to work as employees in my
office, I would say, ``If your ultimate goal is to work in
a Senate office, I want you to rethink your goals. I want
you to get an experience here that will help you grow once
you leave the Senate, so you can be a better citizen, so
you can contribute more fully to whatever path you decide
to assume once you leave this great body and leave our
office.'' So I have always tried to encourage them to
think about where they want to go. We have had employees
who have worked in my office, continued their education,
and have become very outstanding. I have a number of
former staff people who are actually serving in elected
office; I think some five or six people right now who are
serving. They decided to go back to Colorado and pursue
elected office. I congratulate them, as they are very
active citizens in their communities.
I wish to mention some of the committee chairmen I have
had an opportunity to work with. One of the committees I
was successful in getting on was the Budget Committee with
Pete Domenici as chairman, and then Judd Gregg following
him, and now we have Senator Kent Conrad. All of these
chairmen have been very gracious and helpful in working
with me on issues.
Then I have had the chance to serve on the Armed
Services Committee. Senator John Warner, a great friend,
and somebody who is retiring and who has been very
helpful, served as the chairman while I was on the
committee.
I also served on the Banking Committee. The first
chairman I served under was Phil Gramm, and then Richard
Shelby, and now Chris Dodd. I have to say I have been
blessed with great leadership on all of those committees.
I also served on the Intelligence Committee. I served
with Senator Shelby, who was chairman, and Senator Kerrey
who was ranking member at the time I served on the
committee.
Now I serve on a different committee this Congress, the
HELP Committee. It deals with health, education, pension,
and labor issues. My well-known colleague here in the
Senate, Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts, is chairman of
that committee. He is a wonderful person and someone whom
I greatly appreciate and who has spent a lot of time in
Colorado, I might say.
I also serve with my very good friend who was chairman
of that committee for a while, Senator Enzi. I couldn't
ask for a better friend. He is from Wyoming, a neighbor of
Colorado. So we had many issues in common, and both Joan
and I consider Diana and Mike Enzi our very good friends.
I wish to say a few things about those people who are
retiring, starting with Senator Pete Domenici, who I
mentioned was my chairman on the Budget Committee. I have
worked with him also on the Appropriations Committee. I
worked with him on energy issues and issues that are
common to New Mexico and the State of Colorado. His
service here in the Senate has been remarkable and
dedicated. The West has been blessed that we have had such
a good spokesman as Senator Domenici out there, carrying
many of the issues that are important to his neighboring
States, as well as New Mexico. The institution will miss
him. I am sure New Mexico will miss him. I consider it an
honor and a pleasure to have served with him.
Senator Warner I mentioned earlier. We couldn't ask for
a greater statesman. He has made a number of trips to
Colorado. I worked with him on the defense authorization
bill. He has been more than considerate and helpful to
those issues that are important to Colorado. He has been
supportive on matters that we worked on for Fort Carson
and for Peterson Air Force Base and the Air Force Academy
and the many other issues involving the military and
military installations we have in Colorado. He has been
tough at times, but his leadership has been greatly
appreciated by me. I think the Senate and the country have
been blessed because Senator Warner has been willing to
dedicate so much of his time and effort to making this a
better country, a stronger country. He is somebody with
whom I am very proud to have been able to serve.
Also retiring is Senator Larry Craig from Idaho, another
westerner with whom I found a lot in common. He and I both
have strong agricultural roots. He has been a very strong
advocate of those issues important to the West and his
State of Idaho. Again, I have appreciated working with him
on national park issues and public lands issues. He is a
superb individual.
Another individual I wish to recognize who is retiring
is Senator Chuck Hagel from Nebraska; again, one of the
neighboring States of Colorado. The State of Nebraska is
downstream from Colorado. So we have ribbed each other a
little bit about water issues. Basically, though, we have
been partners on water issues. We have been able to work
together on many issues that have improved the management
of water in the Platte River drainage system, which is one
of the many rivers that originates in Colorado and flows
downstream. I also worked with Senator Hagel on the
Banking Committee. He was one who pushed early on for the
reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He brought to this
institution a great deal of experience. Again, he has
decided to retire the same year as I have. I will always
remember Senator Chuck Hagel and our relationship and how
we have been able to work together, I think for the
betterment of both of our States.
I would be remiss if I didn't brag about my partner and
my wife, Joan Allard. Joan has spent much of her time
being with me, whether I have been in Colorado or here in
the Senate. Senator Mitch McConnell talked about the town
meetings she attended. She attended about as many of those
town meetings as I. It has been kind of embarrassing at
times because sometimes the number of people who came just
to see her in the back of the room was large and they were
having more fun back there than I was, up front trying to
conduct the meeting. People loved Joan as they got to know
her throughout the State of Colorado. Her dedication to me
and to her family and the people of Colorado is remarkable
and unique. We are known as partners here in the Senate.
Wherever I go, Joan is very close by, and people are used
to seeing us both at receptions. Many times I was invited
to events where they wanted me to come alone. I said,
``No, I want my wife with me, and if you can't accept my
wife, maybe we won't make the reception,'' because she is
somebody who I didn't want to be divorced from this
process. She has been willing to make a personal
commitment in time and in supporting me in my work. So I
wanted to make sure that the responsibilities of serving
in the Senate didn't drive a wedge between what a
wonderful relationship we have had. She worked side by
side with me at the veterinary hospital. We worked and met
the challenges of raising two wonderful daughters of whom
we are very proud, and now we are seeing grandsons coming
up. So I couldn't have asked for a more dedicated wife. We
still have a lot ahead of us. I am very pleased that she
was willing to take an interest in my job of representing
the people of Colorado.
The first vote I took in the House and in the Congress
was on whether to authorize the first gulf war in 1991.
That was a tough vote. I have now possibly cast my last
vote on the economic bailout or the stabilization act we
voted on yesterday. So my congressional career has been
bookended by hugely significant votes that have humbled me
in terms of the trust the people of Colorado have granted.
I wish to thank the people of Colorado who have been
supportive and who have expressed their views to me in my
town meetings, letters, e-mails, faxes, and phone calls.
My office has sent out roughly 2.1 million constituent
letters since I was sworn in. I say honestly that I relish
every opportunity to hear from and explain myself to the
people of Colorado. Even those who weren't supportive and
who expressed those views in town meetings, letters, e-
mails, faxes and phone calls, I thank them for that.
I have no regrets and leave this institution with a
clear conscience. I have been true to my campaign promises
and have worked to hold down taxes, hold down spending,
hold down the growth of government here in Washington, and
I have fought to balance the budget. I have worked to
defend local control and keep America strong. I have kept
in mind private property rights and the power of the State
in managing its own water resources.
It is time to say goodbye and wish my colleagues the
very best, and to wish my successor, whoever that might
be, the very best. It is time for Joan and me to move on,
hopefully returning to a future in the private sector. I
came to Washington with small business experience, and I
hope to continue working in the business sector. The
challenge, as I see it, is for future Congresses to
protect the freedom that continues to create opportunity
for us and future generations and to ensure that we have a
secure America.
May God bless America, and may God bless Congress'
future endeavors.
TRIBUTES
TO
WAYNE ALLARD
Proceedings in the Senate
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, Senator Pete Domenici, who
is retiring from the Senate this year after serving since
1972, once said to me that we don't say goodbye in the
Senate very well. As a matter of fact, we don't say hello
very well either. We have a little orientation program,
but we abruptly arrive and leave. We leave in the midst of
a lot of turmoil and discussion with very little time to
say goodbye. Yet in between that arrival and leaving, we
have very intense personal relationships. We virtually
live with each other. We see each other often for
breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We see each other more than
we see our families. So when there is a time for saying
goodbye, we look for ways to say it a little better.
There are five Members of our body, all of them
Republicans, who have announced their retirement for this
year. While I won't be speaking at length about them here
today, I want to recognize their service. I will do it in
the traditional way in the Senate, which is to start with
seniority. By ``seniority,'' I mean from the time I have
known them. ...
Finally, there is Senator Wayne Allard. We have two
veterinarians in the Senate. When Wayne Allard goes back
to Colorado, we will have one. Senator Allard told the
people of Colorado if he was elected that he would serve
two terms. He has, and he is keeping his pledge. He has
been a strong and vigorous advocate of military
preparedness. He is a member of the Armed Services
Committee. He has been a member of the Appropriations
Committee.
One of Senator Allard's great contributions in the last
couple of years was to take a job that many others
probably wouldn't have wanted and plow into it. When the
Capitol Visitor Center, which is almost open, was being
worked on and running over budget and had some problems,
Senator Allard, through his chairmanship of the
Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, was able
to jump into that and provide a great service. ...
I say to all five of those Senators, we will miss them.
We are grateful for their service. I know people must look
at the Senate in many different ways.
Let me conclude by telling a story about how some
teachers look at it. We have a tradition in the Senate of
making a maiden address. It is kind of a funny name, but
we still call it that. We pick the subject of most
interest to us. My subject was to put the teaching of U.S.
history and civics back in its proper place in the school
curriculum so our children would grow up learning what it
means to be an American. There is not too much the Federal
Government can do about that, but what we were able to do
is to begin summer academies for outstanding teachers and
students of American history. One group of those teachers
was here in July, one from each State. I brought them on
the Senate floor early one morning. I took them to Daniel
Webster's desk, which is occupied by the senior Senator
from New Hampshire right here by me. I took them back to
that part of the Senate where Jefferson Davis' desk is,
occupied by the senior Senator from Mississippi, and told
them the story of how the marks in the desk are because a
Union soldier came in during the Civil War and started
chopping on it with his sword. His commanding officer came
in and said, ``Stop that. We are here to protect the
Union, not to destroy it.''
This Chamber is full of history, full of our country.
Anyone who stands on this floor and sees the engravings of
``In God We Trust'' or ``E Pluribus Unum'' and gets a
sense of what has happened here has respect for it. The
teachers had that respect. When we got to the end of our
visit, one teacher said to me, I think it was the teacher
from Oregon, ``Senator, what would you like for us to take
home to our students about our visit to the Senate
floor?''
I said, ``I hope you will take back that each of us
takes our position a lot more seriously than we take
ourselves. We understand we are accidents, that we are
very fortunate and privileged to be here, that each of us
reveres our country, and we respect this institution. I
can only speak for myself, but I think it is true of
Senators on both sides of the aisle that we get up every
day thinking first of how we can make a little
contribution before we go to bed at night that will help
the country be a little better off than it was in the
morning. That means serving in the Senate is a very great
privilege. I hope you will take that back to your
students. I don't know what they see on television or read
in the newspaper about the Senate, but that is how we feel
about the privilege we have to serve here.'' To these five
Senators--Warner, Domenici, Craig, Hagel, and Allard--we
say goodbye. They are members of our family. We appreciate
their service. We know they have believed it has been a
very great privilege to serve in the Senate. For us it has
been a great privilege to serve with them.
I yield the floor.
Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I wish to make a few
comments about some of our departing colleagues who will
not be joining us for the next session of Congress. They
are great colleagues, people whom I have enjoyed working
with in my 3\1/2\ years here in the Senate. They include
Senator Allard from Colorado, Senator Pete Domenici from
New Mexico, Senator John Warner from Virginia, Senator
Chuck Hagel from Nebraska, and Senator Larry Craig from
Idaho.
A quick word first about my colleague and the senior
Senator from Colorado, Mr. Wayne Allard. He has served the
State of Colorado with distinction. In the days before he
came to the Senate, now almost 12 years ago, he also
served the people of the State of Colorado in the general
assembly. I had the opportunity then to watch him work on
matters ranging from education to protecting the water
issues in the State of Colorado. I know well that he has
been a strong voice for the State of Colorado and know
that his services here, including the services of his
acting as a veterinarian for colleagues like Senator
Kennedy and his dogs, are something that will be missed. I
have enjoyed very much the time I have spent working with
him on matters of mutual and common interest to the State
of Colorado. I wish him well. ...
I will miss my five colleagues. All of them are
Republicans who are departing. Many of them brought a true
spirit of bipartisanship and working together, which is
worthy of the emulation of many Members of the Senate who
will serve in this Chamber in the next Congress and in
many Congresses to come.
I yield the floor.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Mr. BOND. Mr. President, while he is on the floor, I
commend and thank the Senator from Colorado, Mr. Allard,
for the great work he has done on housing. I commend him
also for his great leadership on all aspects of energy. I
join with him in recognizing the great contributions of
Chairman Bingaman, Senator Murkowski, and, of course,
Senator Domenici. We will miss his guidance and his
leadership. But he has made a great contribution, and we
are most appreciative.
Mr. DOMENICI. Now I rise to speak about Senator Wayne
Allard from Colorado who announced in January 2007 he
would not seek reelection in 2008, keeping his promise of
only serving two terms. I would like to thank Wayne for
his service here in the Senate and for his service to the
State of Colorado.
Senator Allard announced in January 2007 that he would
not seek reelection in 2008, keeping his promise to serve
only two terms. Some of us were sorry that he did that. I
was one. I would like to thank Wayne for his service in
the Senate, for his service to the State of Colorado, my
neighbor. Although we did not always agree, we worked well
together, and I valued his commitment to his home State.
In the course of working together with Senator Allard
for many years on the Senate Budget Committee and more
recently on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have
developed genuine respect for Senator Allard. We have a
lot in common, fighting for the interests of our
predominantly rural, Western States.
We worked together for many years on the Budget
Committee. More recently, we worked on appropriations.
Colorado is my neighbor to the north, and we have much in
common in fighting for the interests of much of our rural
way of life that Western States have. At the same time, we
have growing metropolises with the problems of
transportation and the like, which he has spent much time
on. He has supported many things I have worked on. For
that, I am grateful and thankful to him today.
He and his wife Joan will return to non-Senate life. I
don't know if he is going home. I haven't asked him
personally. But wherever he goes, it is obvious he will
make an impact.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I wish Senator Allard
well as he leaves the Senate after 12 years here and 6
years in the other body. That is a long record of
honorable service to the wonderful State of Colorado.
During our time together in the Senate, I was very pleased
to work with Senator Allard on a critical issue facing
both our States: chronic wasting disease. I appreciated
his commitment to fighting the spread of CWD, which was
characteristic of his commitment to the people of Colorado
throughout his time here. I wish him all the best as he
leaves the Senate, and I thank him for his years of
dedicated service to our country.
Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute
to a great U.S. Senator and friend, Senator Wayne Allard.
His strong political leadership will be greatly missed by
the people of Colorado and the United States.
I got to serve with Wayne on the Senate Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee and the Senate Budget
Committee. As fellow fiscal conservatives, we share many
of the same values and concerns. One of his core beliefs,
and mine, is that we must reduce wasteful government
spending and work to balance the Federal budget. This is a
philosophy that Wayne applied to every piece of
legislation that came in front of him. It was important
for him to do everything he could do as a public servant
to save the taxpayers' money. I know that I could always
count on Wayne to follow these principals and stay true to
his conservative roots.
As many of you know, Wayne had a successful career as a
veterinarian before he came to Congress. With the help of
his wife Joan, they built a successful veterinary practice
in Loveland, CO, where they raised their two daughters,
Christi and Cheryl. As a veterinarian and as a U.S.
Senator, Wayne contributed more than most to the people of
this country. He will be greatly missed by me here in the
Senate, but I know he is looking forward to spending more
time with his family back in Colorado. I wish Wayne the
best of luck as he begins the next chapter of his life.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I want to take just a few
minutes to speak about our colleagues who have announced
their plans to retire at the conclusion of this 110th
Congress. We obviously will miss them. There are five
individuals about whom I wanted to say a brief word:
Senators Allard, Hagel, Craig, Warner, and Domenici. They
have all brought their intelligence, principles, and
perspectives on the issues confronting our Nation. The
Nation is better for their efforts.
Senators Allard and Hagel both came to the Senate in
1996.
Senator Allard had a long career in public service
before coming to the Senate. He managed to serve the State
of Colorado while never giving up his credentials as an
expert veterinarian in that State, reaffirming the long-
held belief that he and all of us have had that a
legislative body should be composed of individuals with
training other than that which they acquire here in the
Halls of Congress. His straightforward approach has been a
hallmark of his work here.
Living a principle that he espouses, he is fulfilling
his often-stated intention to limit himself to two terms.
He and his wife Joan will certainly be missed here in the
Senate. ...
Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I wish to make a few
comments about some of our departing colleagues who will
no longer be with us next year. I have known some of them
for just a little while, others I have known for a long
time. And, to all of them I bid a fond farewell and mahalo
for their service to their State and to this country. They
are dear colleagues and friends of mine and I know that
even if they leave this fine establishment, our
friendships will continue long into the future.
The Senators that I am referring to are Senator John
Warner from Virginia, Senator Pete Domenici from New
Mexico, Senator Larry Craig from Idaho, Senator Chuck
Hagel from Nebraska, and Senator Wayne Allard from
Colorado. Please allow me just one moment to reflect on my
service with each of these valuable Members. ...
I wish a fond farewell to Senator Wayne Allard. For 18
years, the people of Colorado have benefited from the
leadership of Senator Allard. Through his service on
numerous committees including Appropriations, Budget,
Banking and Urban Affairs, our Nation has benefited as
well. I applaud his commitment to energy and science as
the founder of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Caucus as this is an issue that is also vitally
important to me. On this 50th anniversary of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, I should note that
Senator Allard has been a champion of space science and
technology research and I would like to thank him for his
leadership in this arena. From his time as a
Representative of Larimer and Weld Counties to his current
position as the Senator from Colorado he has been a
dedicated and capable public servant and I wish him all
the best.
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise to speak today
regarding the retirement of my esteemed colleague from
Colorado, Senator Wayne Allard. I have known Senator
Allard since he joined Congress in 1991 and have worked
closely with him in the Senate since 1996. Today I am sure
that I am joined by many of my colleagues in saying that
his service, his work ethic, and his friendship in this
institution will be missed.
A native of Colorado, Senator Allard was born in Fort
Collins in 1943. Using the skills he learned while growing
up on a ranch, Senator Allard obtained a doctorate of
veterinary medicine at Colorado State University. Soon
after, he and his wife Joan opened the Allard Animal
Hospital. Over the years that followed, Senator Allard
successfully built his practice and raised his family. He
even continued his practice while serving in the Colorado
State Senate for 17 years. Ever the citizen-legislator,
Senator Allard brought this same attitude to the U.S.
Congress in 1991 and more specifically to our Senate
legislative body in 1996.
It was in 1996 that Senator Allard was elected to the
Senate with a promise to only serve two terms. Not being
one to back away from that commitment, Senator Allard
declared early in 2007 that he would not seek a third term
because it would have gone against his word. It was then
that he declared it was a matter of integrity and of
keeping his commitments. And it is now, that I can say
nothing could be truer about the character of my good
friend, Senator Allard. Born and raised in the West, he
understands what it means when he shakes your hand and
gives you his word. His integrity is of the character of
which we need more of and his commitments are of the
nature of which we will surely miss.
Indeed, for the last 17 years I have observed Senator
Allard working tirelessly for the good people of Colorado.
Throughout his tenure, the demands placed on Senator
Allard have been great, yet he always manages to find the
time to listen, to engage, and to talk to Coloradans about
the things that are most important to them. Impressively,
Senator Allard has held over 700 townhall meetings since
he began his service in the Congress.
From his work on the Contract with America to his
instrumental role in working with me to craft the current
law promoting and regulating the development of oil shale
and tars sands in the United States, which was passed as
part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Senator Allard has
always done the work of the people, and he will be missed.
I wish him and his lovely family the best and thank him
for the years of service he has provided to this body.
To my friend Senator Wayne Allard, I convey my highest
admiration and respect for what he has been able to
accomplish while here in the Senate. As with any new
chapter in our lives, our feelings are always mixed as we
continue turning the pages that finish the tale of one
story while we hurriedly rush to the next. Yet the story
of Senator Allard's journey in the Senate would not be
complete without the support of his wife Joan and the love
of his children and grandchildren. Without question, our
loss is their gain. It is to them that I extend my deepest
gratitude for the sacrifices they have made while their
husband, their father, and their grandfather has served so
well these many years. I am certain they are excited to
have Senator Allard back, but somehow I have a feeling
that he will not be resting for long.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, Senator Allard has spent
many years working for Colorado.
He came to the Senate in 1996 after serving three terms
in the U.S. House.
As Colorado's senior Senator, he worked diligently to
cut taxes, eliminate wasteful spending, return power to
State and local governments, and assure the security of
America both at home and abroad.
Consistent with his belief that elected officials should
be citizen-legislators, Senator Allard conducted more than
700 town meetings across Colorado, visiting each of
Colorado's 64 counties.
He was one of only two veterinarians in the Senate and
provided leadership on small business issues from his
practical experience.
He also led by example, returning more than $4.2 million
in unspent office funds to the U.S. Treasury.
As the Republican leader of the Interior Appropriations
Subcommittee, Senator Allard worked to shape the Nation's
spending priorities.
His work on the Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act
helped keep access to the Internet tax free.
He also worked to increase military benefits, including
legislation to increase the death benefits for families of
fallen heroes from $12,000 to $100,000.
I will miss working with him in this Chamber, and I will
miss his friendship and support on the issues that matter
most to America.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
ORDER FOR PRINTING OF SENATE DOCUMENT
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent
that the tributes to retiring Senators that appear in the
Congressional Record be printed as a Senate document and
that Senators be permitted to submit such tributes for
inclusion until Friday, November 21, 2008.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Mr. LIEBERMAN. ... I offer thanks and best wishes to
other colleagues who are leaving--Senators Allard, Hagel,
and Craig.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Mr. DODD. ... Mr. President, I, again, want to say a
kind word or two about Wayne Allard as well, who is
retiring. We serve on the Banking Committee together. He
has a wonderful family history dating back decades in
Colorado. Some of the earliest arrivals from the East were
the Allard family in Northern Colorado. That family has
made wonderful contributions.
Wayne has been a wonderful member of the Banking
Committee. We have not spent a lot of time on many issues
together, but I can tell you, on issues such as regulatory
reform and working together to see we had a good housing
bill last summer, Wayne Allard was a very constructive and
positive member, and he can be very proud of his
contribution to this body.
Certainly, as to the landmark transportation bill we
sent to the President just a few years ago, Wayne Allard
was as much responsible for that as any Member of this
body, coming from a State where you normally would not
think of transportation issues, certainly not mass transit
issues as being pivotal. But Wayne Allard played a very
important role in all of that.
So to Wayne Allard, his wife Joan, and their family, I
wish them the very best as well in their retirement years.
Mr. DURBIN. ... Wayne Allard is a colleague of mine who
made a promise to the people of Colorado that he would not
run for reelection, and he kept his word. He did not stand
for reelection this year. Wayne and I had an interesting
responsibility, assignment, to deal with the legislative
appropriations bill. It does not get a lot of attention
because it just deals with Capitol Hill and the people who
work here. But this Nation's Capital is a great American
treasure. Wayne took it so seriously. He held more
thoughtful hearings about this Capitol and the new Capitol
Visitor Center. He asked the hard questions and did it in
a respectful, gentlemanly way. I was honored to sit next
to him and to participate in those hearings.
I came to know him and his family and respect him. We
get to see one another in the Senate gym in the morning. I
go there in the morning for no obvious reason, but I get
to at least socialize with Wayne and a number of other
colleagues. I am going to miss him and wish him the very
best.
Those Senators leaving our ranks leave positive memories
for this Senator from Illinois. The fact that I have been
able to serve with them, know them, and count them as
friends, I count as one of the real blessings of my
service in the Senate.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today, as one of those
who made the weighty decision not to seek reelection, to
share my most personal thoughts--tributes--to my esteemed
colleagues who will quietly, humbly, and with a deep sense
of gratitude to their States, to our Nation, bring to a
conclusion their public service as U.S. Senators.
This is a diverse group of Senators. Whether we hail
from small farms, small cities or, in my case, from major
metropolitan areas, we bring different backgrounds,
different interests. That diversity gives the Senate its
strength to serve equally all Americans. What we share,
however, is an unwavering love for our States, our country
and for the institution of the U.S. Senate.
We aspire to Winston Churchill's quote: ``We make a
living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.''
It has been my privilege, over my 30 years in the
Senate, to serve with a total of 261 Members. Each,
almost, shall be remembered as a friend. ...
I turn now to Senator Wayne Allard, with whom I have
been privileged to serve on the Armed Services Committee,
who told his fellow Coloradans that if they chose him as
their Senator, he would only serve 2 terms. He kept his
word, just as he has honorably kept his word to his
constituents on many issues. I admire this Senator and how
well he has served his State.
This veterinarian and small-business owner has been a
forceful advocate for military preparedness, for increased
access to health care and for cutting spending, leading by
example by often returning some of his own office's funds
to the U.S. Treasury. In a sense, he sent them back to his
constituents.
He was also willing to roll up his sleeves and take on
the tough task of overseeing the construction and
budgeting, along with other Senators and Members of the
House of Representatives, on the new Capitol Visitors
Center. I might add, as a footnote, that when I was
chairman of the Rules Committee, I co-sponsored some of
the earliest pieces of legislation to provide for this
center. Senator Allard can be proud of his efforts, which
will serve present and future Americans who travel from
afar to their Nation's Capital to learn about their
government, the longest-surviving Democratic republic in
world history.
I vividly recall journeying to Colorado, home State of
one of my children, to travel through a magnificent area
of the State with his lovely wife and children on behalf
of his campaign to get elected to the U.S. Senate. Those
trips are memories I have and will keep safely tucked
away.
I am proud to say I have come to know each of these fine
men. And I firmly believe that this is but yet another
beginning in all of our lives, for, to quote Churchill
again, ``the chain of destiny can only be grasped one link
at a time.''
I yield the floor.
Mr. CORKER. Madam President, there are a number of
distinguished Senators who are leaving this body this
year. I know there have been a number of tributes given to
all of them and their service.
Senator Warner is a very distinguished Senator whom I
have known, it seems from afar, almost all of my life. I
have watched him with great admiration, and I have watched
him lead us on the Armed Services Committee.
Chuck Hagel, who exercises this tremendous independence,
somebody with whom I have really enjoyed serving on
Foreign Relations; Wayne Allard from Colorado who is
honoring a two-term pledge to leave this body after two
terms to go back to the people of Colorado, he has been
distinguished in his service on the Banking Committee;
Larry Craig of Idaho who, again, in the energy area, has
offered great counsel and made sure that wise decisions
were made in that particular committee--I honor all of
them. I wish them well. I think we are all better having
had the opportunity to serve with them. ...
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute
to my colleague Senator Wayne Allard. Senator Allard is
retiring to honor a commitment he made to the people of
the State of Colorado to serve only two terms. I have come
to know Senator Allard best as a fellow member of the
Budget Committee. Even though we often disagreed, I always
found him to be a true gentleman.
Born and raised in Colorado, Senator Allard has always
been true to his roots and has fought to represent the
best interests of his State. His entry into public service
came in 1982 when he was elected to the Colorado State
Senate. While serving in the State legislature, he
maintained a successful veterinary practice he built with
his wife Joan.
Senator Allard's public service has spanned more than
two decades. After serving in the State legislature, he
was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and
subsequently the U.S. Senate. During his time in the
Senate, there are accomplishments that stand out. He
spearheaded legislation creating the country's 56th
national park, the Great Sand Dunes National Park. He also
took on the extraordinary task of overseeing the Capitol
Visitors Center as chair of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Subcommittee. Finally, he has been a
steward of the taxpayer and has led by example, returning
unspent funds from his office account to the U.S.
Treasury.
I wish Senator Allard and his family many happy years
ahead and thank him for his years of public service.
Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, President Ronald Reagan once
said:
Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us
in our time, that in our time we did everything that could
be done. We finished the race; we kept them free; we kept
the faith.
There can be no question that Senator Wayne Allard's
time in public office will be remembered by these words
both here in this Chamber and in his State of Colorado.
Wayne will end his career in the U.S. Senate because of a
self-imposed term limit. He has never once wavered in his
belief that legislators are citizens first and lawmakers
second.
As one of only two veterinarians in the Senate, I know
the void the Senate will feel. Leaving a veterinary
practice to fight for what is right in the U.S. Senate
isn't exactly the norm. Wayne and I each made this choice
and we have stood shoulder to shoulder in legislating for
the humane treatment of animals. The legislation we put
forth against animal fighting has become law and has
helped law enforcement put away individuals who abuse
animals. I am sad to see that our small, very small,
veterinary caucus will leave with Wayne.
Wayne's commitment to country and freedom is
unshakeable, but his dedication to fiscal conservatism has
made him a hero for taxpayers across the country,
especially in his State of Colorado. Throughout his time
here, he has fought to pay down the debt by eliminating
programs, staying true to the belief that government
should steer clear of a wasteful spending black hole.
His efforts on the Appropriations Committee have been
committed to steering our country toward fiscal
responsibility, and his voice will be missed.
I hope this Chamber remembers the role Wayne played in
fighting against a bloated Federal Government and giving
States the rights they deserve to manage their own
affairs. Let's not let his voice for government
responsibility fall on deaf ears. The burden of the
taxpayer rests on our shoulders, and that is even more so
now with Wayne's departure.
Wayne has been a voice and a crusader for Colorado,
preferring the scenery there to that of Washington. He has
worked hard to ensure that his constituents are as
familiar with his face as they are with his name. Colorado
has greatly benefited from his leadership, as has this
country.
It is with sadness that I lose my friend here. But I
know the impact he has had on this body, his State, and
our country. I wish him great success in his future
endeavors. I know he will continue to be an advocate for
life, liberty, and freedom.
We will continue to fight for the ideals Wayne came to
this body hoping to achieve, that ``Government of the
people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish
from the Earth.''
Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, it has been a genuine
pleasure to serve in this body with the distinguished
Senator from Colorado, Wayne Allard. He has made
significant contributions through his thoughtful and
effective leadership for the betterment of our country.
He has brought to the challenge of public service a
seriousness of purpose and sense of responsibility to do
this job well, not for personal aggrandizement but for the
improvement of our national security and our Nation's
economy.
In the process, he has reflected credit on his State of
Colorado and his family. His personal qualities of
humility and trustworthiness have aided him as he has
worked to contribute to the quality of this legislation we
have enacted.
Wayne Allard is one of the most respected Members of
this body. He is also one of the best-liked Senators. We
are certainly going to miss having the benefit of his
leadership.
We wish him well in the years ahead.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise this morning to
recognize and pay tribute to several colleagues who are
concluding careers in the Senate. These gentlemen have
distinguished themselves. They have dedicated themselves
to representing their States and representing the best
interests of the Nation. ...
There are three Senators with whom I have had the
opportunity to serve closely. They are people I respect
immensely and wish the best to as they go forward. Wayne
Allard and I came to the Senate together. We were in the
House of Representatives together. We have served on both
the Armed Services Committee and the Banking Committee
together. It seems, indeed, that on the Banking Committee,
we were either the subcommittee chair or ranking member,
depending on who has the majority, throughout our career
in the Senate. In that effort, we worked closely with
Senator Allard and his staff on issues with respect to
homelessness, housing programs, many areas of endeavor. He
has been a distinguished individual who has done a great
deal, not only for the State of Colorado but for national
housing policy and for many other areas of endeavor.
On the Armed Services Committee, I had the privilege of
working with him. He applied his energy and efforts to
clean up the Rocky Flats plant, a nuclear facility in
Colorado. He has made a lasting and extraordinary
contribution to his State through those efforts. I commend
him for all those. I wish him well as he goes forward. ...
To these Members, I wish them well. I thank them
personally for their kindness to me and their
thoughtfulness on so many other occasions.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I thank my good friend
from Colorado. I am here to talk about his distinguished
career.
Mr. President, as the 110th Congress draws to a close,
we must reluctantly say goodbye to some friends who will
be leaving us. That includes, as we have been discussing,
my good friend, the senior Senator from Colorado.
As the Republican leader, I get to work closely with
each and every one of our colleagues on this side of the
aisle. What has always impressed me the most about Senator
Allard is the fact that he is a true citizen-legislator in
the model our Founding Fathers envisioned.
The Founders favored ordinary citizens of extraordinary
wisdom. Those who step forward from among the people they
represent and return to them when their time here is done.
So it is with Wayne Allard. He is retiring from the
Senate because he is following a two-term pledge he set
for himself when he was first elected in 1996. In the
spirit of George Washington, he voluntarily retires ``from
the great theatre of Action'' to return to the people and
the place he has so ably represented.
Anyone who knows Senator Allard knows he is a big
believer in keeping close contact with the people he
represents. As a member of the Colorado State Senate, he
passed legislation limiting the length of legislative
sessions to 120 days to better ensure that State lawmakers
stayed in touch with their constituents.
After election to the Senate, he made a promise to
Coloradans that he would visit every one of the State's
counties every year--a promise he kept, keeping him in
sync with Colorado sympathies and values.
Even more impressive are the 700 town meetings across
Colorado that Senator Allard has held since his election
to the Senate.
As a Senator, he has hosted the Allard Capital
Conference, which brings Colorado community leaders to
Washington to see the workings of the Federal Government
up close--and to keep the Federal Government accountable
to the people who elected them.
If I may add, I have had the pleasure of speaking to the
Allard Capital Conference attendees on more than one
occasion, and I have always admired how Senator Allard has
stayed tied to communities across Colorado. He is always
seeking to bring them closer to their elected
representatives.
For 12 years, Senator Allard has been a strong voice for
returning power from Washington back to the people and to
the States. He has been a strong voice for lower taxes and
lower Federal spending. Hailing from the Rockies, he has
been a strong defender and protector of our environment.
Senator Allard has a different background than most of
his colleagues. Born and raised in Colorado, the son of a
cattle rancher, he had a successful career as a
veterinarian. He and his wife Joan started their own
animal hospital. He maintained his successful practice
while serving as a State senator, and was elected to the
House of Representatives for three terms starting in 1990.
I have had the pleasure of working alongside Wayne on
many issues over the years. We have been allies in pushing
the Department of Defense to safely and efficiently
dispose of deadly chemical weapons stored in the Blue
Grass Army Depot in Kentucky and the Pueblo Depot in
Colorado.
I have watched with admiration as he fought to establish
the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, which is crucial
to preserving the natural habitats of so many diverse
species in Colorado.
That success came after he successfully pushed, as a
Member of the House, legislation to make the Rocky
Mountain Arsenal site a wildlife refuge, turning a site
that was once a manufacturing center for nerve gas and
other chemical weapons into what is now one of the largest
urban wildlife refuges in the Nation.
Wayne has fought to get aid for workers in Colorado who
were exposed to unhealthy amounts of radiation at nuclear
weapons facilities. He has also taken the lead on passing
legislation to preserve the Great Sand Dunes National Park
and Colorado's Spanish Peaks mountain area. With his
retirement, Colorado is losing a longtime champion of
conservation and environmental protection.
Senator Allard has been a consistent and strong
supporter of our military and our national security
interests. He led the debate on establishing a system to
protect America from ballistic missile attacks, and he has
supported funding and rigorous testing for such programs.
He has passed legislation multiple times to improve the
system of voting for our men and women in uniform serving
overseas, making sure the brave warriors who protect
America are heard when it is time to elect America's
leaders.
With all these accomplishments, and many more, the
senior Senator from Colorado is going to leave some very
big shoes--maybe it is better to say boots--to fill come
next January.
He is also going to leave behind many friends. I am
proud to call myself one of them. Elaine and I have
enjoyed getting to know Wayne and Joan and their family
over the years. We have had a chance to have dinner
together from time to time, just the four of us. We will
miss the common sense and grace they have brought to our
Nation's Capital.
We are sorry to lose such a fine Senator. But as Wayne
has said himself about his pledge on term limits: A
promise made should be a promise kept.
The people of Colorado should be proud that their
Senator ends his tenure with integrity, with honor, with
humility--the same integrity, honor, and humility he
brought when he came to the Capitol.
Wayne, we all wish you the best of luck for whatever the
future holds. You will always have friends in the Capitol.
We look forward to seeing you and Joan in the coming
years.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from Colorado.
Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from
Kentucky for his more than generous remarks. Joan and I
have been thrilled to have been able to work with you and
your lovely wife on many issues. The people of Colorado
need to know I got things done in this body because of
your help and your assistance. Many times we shared common
issues that we wanted to see move forward. But lots of
times you were more than generous in giving me an
opportunity to put forth my bills and my arguments on
various bills, and I will forever be thankful for that.
I think the country needs to know that in your wife and
you we have two great leaders in this country. I brag
about both of you when I get back to Colorado and talk
about those people who I think have made a huge influence
on this country and have set a great example for
Americans.
So I thank you. I thank you for your continued
leadership. I look forward to your continuing to serve in
this body. America needs you, and the people of Kentucky
ought to be thankful they have such a fine Senator.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I thank my good friend
from Colorado.
Mr. ALLARD. I thank the Republican leader.
Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute
to my friend and colleague, Wayne Allard, the senior
Senator from Colorado. As all of us in the Senate know,
Senator Allard will retire from the Senate at the end of
this legislative session.
Senator Allard is a Coloradan through and through.
Raised on a ranch in Walden, CO, a very small town in the
northwest corner of our State, he found his calling in
animal medicine. He followed this passion to Colorado
State University at Fort Collins, where he received his
doctorate of veterinary medicine. Even today, he proudly
wears his tie as a Colorado State University ram. At CSU,
Wayne met his future wife Joan who was studying
microbiology at the time.
After graduating, Wayne and Joan built the Allard Animal
Hospital in Loveland together. They made their home there.
They had two wonderful daughters, Christi and Cheryl.
Living and working in Loveland, Wayne developed a passion
for public service. He developed a passion for the good
that could come from serving in politics.
He began his political career in the Colorado State
Senate. There, he served the people of Weld and Larimer
Counties in the State legislature for 7 years. A strong
believer in preserving the idea of citizen-legislators,
Senator Allard championed a Colorado law that limits
legislative sessions to 120 days, a law that is still in
our Constitution today. It works to ensure that Colorado
representatives are able to spend the bulk of their time
in their communities as opposed to the corridors of the
State Capitol.
In 1991, the people of the Fourth Congressional District
elected Senator Allard to the U.S. House of
Representatives. Five years later, Coloradans elected him
to serve as Colorado's U.S. Senator.
Throughout his career on the Federal level, Senator
Allard has been a strong voice for fiscal responsibility
and ensuring the security of America at home and abroad.
He has used his position on the Senate Appropriations
Committee to champion priorities important to Colorado. He
has played an active role on the Senate Budget Committee
to restore integrity to the government's use of taxpayer
dollars.
Yet, even as Senator Allard served in Washington, he has
never forgotten where he came from and who he works for.
He was always traveling throughout Colorado, engaging his
constituents, hearing their hopes and concerns. It is
there, in those communities of Colorado, that Senator
Allard feels most at home.
I have been privileged to work with Wayne Allard in the
Senate for the past 4 years. We fought together for clean
and safe drinking water for the communities in the Lower
Arkansas Valley and through the construction of the
Arkansas Valley Conduit which we hope will happen in the
next several years. We worked to ensure the Animas-La
Plata Water Project in Southwest Colorado, making sure
that project is fully funded, to implement the historic
settlement between Colorado and its Indian tribes. Over
the past few months, we came together to move judicial
nominees for the Federal Court in Colorado through the
often contentious Senate confirmation process. It has been
a productive and fulfilling partnership.
Now, to be sure, Senator Allard and I have not always
seen eye to eye on a number of issues. But in spite of our
differences, I have always respected him. He works hard.
He is humble. He loves the people of Colorado.
But more than his love for Colorado and his country,
Senator Allard is devoted to Joan, Christi, Cheryl, and
his five grandsons. You will never see him have a smile
wider or laugh harder than when he is in their company. I
am happy that his return to Colorado will afford him the
opportunity to spend more time with them. He deserves it.
I know Senator Allard is a great admirer of a Democrat
from Colorado by the name of Wayne Aspinall, who served in
this Congress for a very long time. Wayne Aspinall was a
strong protector of Colorado's water and the champion of
the people of the Western Slope during his 24-year tenure
in Congress. Congressman Aspinall once said:
We all have moments when we feel that ``the system'' is
wrong, but that does not entitle us to assume that only we
could be right and therefore permit us to secede from our
society. We have to learn to live with it--to improve on
it if we can, to change it through established procedures,
if we must, but we must always remember that individually
we are only one person and that the views and ideas of
others might be equally valid as our own.
For the past 25 years, Senator Allard has committed
himself and his talents to the people of Colorado in this
spirit--a spirit of reform and a spirit of humility. He
has served with honor and distinction and with an
unyielding focus on what he thinks is best for our State.
I thank him for his service and his friendship, and I
congratulate him on his retirement.
Mr. President, I thank the presiding officer. I yield
the floor and I note the absence of a quorum.
Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, while the Senator from Idaho
is on the floor, I made some comments earlier about the
pleasure of being able to work with him in the Senate. I
wish to also recognize the fine work he has done on
energy. We certainly appreciate his work on that.
Colorado is an energy-rich State. We have all forms of
energy, not only fossil fuels but also wind and solar and
geothermal. I think Senator Craig has been very sensitive
to those.
When working with the Senator from Idaho I felt like he
truly had the Nation's interest in mind. It has been a
pleasure for me to serve with Senator Craig, particularly
on the Appropriations Committee. The Senator brought in a
very competent staff and was himself extremely
knowledgeable.
As we leave this institution, I wish to thank the
Senator from Idaho for all the work he did to help me
along with legislation. What a privilege it has been to be
able to know Senator Craig and work with him in the
Senate. Also, I wish to recognize the Senator's hard work
in the Senate.
Senator Salazar was making some comments earlier on,
talking about my retirement. I happened to have gone
downstairs and grabbed a lunch and there he was. I also
want the people of Colorado to know I have enjoyed working
with Senator Salazar. We have not agreed on some of the
national issues, but I think generally one thing we have
agreed on is we need to work for Colorado.
I think we have truly been partners in that effort. I
appreciated the opportunity to get to know you. I'm
reminded that when Colorado came into the Union, in 1876--
we are known as the Centennial State--the Republicans were
pretty much in control of everything. You see, Colorado is
a State that is recognized as a swing State, it swings
back and forth between the Republican and Democratic
Parties.
But at that particular time, there was a big effort to
have a Senator from the north and a Senator from the south
of our State. Similarly, today, I grew up about as far
north as you can get in Colorado, Senator Salazar grew up
about as far south as you can get in the State of
Colorado. I think, at least in the spirit, and certainly
in geographic location, we have been able to represent all
of the State of Colorado and deal with those issues in a
civil and responsible way.
I wish to thank Senator Salazar publicly for his service
to the State of Colorado and also want the people of
Colorado to know I highly respect Senator Ken Salazar, who
is sitting in the chair right now, for his dedication and
the rich heritage he has in the State of Colorado. I have
appreciated the opportunity to serve with Senator Salazar
in the State of Colorado and I wish the Senator well in
future years.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.
Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, before the senior retiring
Senator from the State of Colorado leaves, let me thank
him for his gracious comments. We have been a very good
team and have partnered on a lot of issues over the years
because we have such common interests in mind. Our States
are very similar in so many ways.
The State of Colorado happens to have the hydrocarbons
we do not have, when it comes to gas and oil. But at the
same time, agriculture, water, and timber, tourism, and
all the great things many people attribute to the West are
embodied in the State of Colorado and certainly in the
State of Idaho.
But a very special thanks to Senator Allard for your
fine comments. The work the Senator has done on behalf of
his State is precedent setting. I hope--I know--the
Senator will be continually recognized for that.
But let me also say the Senator and his wife Joan have
become good friends of both my wife Suzanne and I. Those
are the kinds of friendships that build partnerships in
the Senate. I hope other Senators recognize the Senate
works well when Senators are friends and partners.
Now, we may have our disagreements along the way, and
there may be some disagreements between Democrats and
Republicans, but when the collegiality of the Senate
leaves, the Senate no longer works or works as well as it
should on behalf of our citizens. Certainly, the
collegiality between the Craigs and the Allards has been
long-standing and greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I would like to begin my
remarks this afternoon acknowledging four of our
colleagues who will be leaving the Senate along with me at
the end of this Congress, the 110th Congress, and then
make some additional comments. ...
Mr. President, I wish also to recognize one of my
classmates with whom I came to the Senate 12 years ago. He
is our neighbor from the West, the senior Senator from
Colorado, Wayne Allard. Aside from Senator Allard and
Colorado usually taking Nebraska's water, we find little
to quarrel with in the kind of work that Senator Allard
has done for his State and our country.
I have had an opportunity to serve 12 years with Senator
Allard on the Banking Committee. His very steady
performance and leadership will be missed on that
committee, as well as on the other committees he has
served and has been very active, as my colleague in the
chair knows, who served with him as well on the Armed
Services Committee. His leadership on the Budget Committee
in particular will be missed. I wish to acknowledge that
friendship and that leadership of Senator Allard. ...
Senator Craig, Senator Allard, Senator Warner, and
Senator Domenici all leave the Senate a better institution
for their service.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize
Senator Wayne Allard, who will retire from the U.S. Senate
at the end of this Congress after more than 25 years of
serving and representing Colorado in the State senate, the
U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
Wayne Allard's work throughout his career reflects his
intense commitment to the people of Colorado. While we
frequently disagree on issues, he has earned the respect
of his colleagues for his integrity, hard work, and the
strength and steadfastness of his support for the
principles he believes in.
I have worked with Wayne Allard as he helped lead our
effort to move the National Trails System Willing Seller
Act through Congress. Without this bill, a landowner who
wants to sell to the Federal Government was denied the
right to do so. The legislation provides the Federal
Government with the authority to acquire land and
easements from willing sellers to complete nine national
scenic and historic trails authorized across the Nation.
One of those is the North Country Trail, which runs
through Michigan. I particularly appreciate Wayne Allard's
hard work on this important measure. On the Senate Armed
Services Committee he brought his important background and
experience as a veteran to our work on the anthrax threat.
I offer my thanks and best wishes to Wayne Allard and
his wife Joan as they turn to the next chapter of their
productive lives.
Mr. KYL. Mr. President, as this session draws to a close
and as we look forward to the 111th Congress, I would be
remiss if I didn't pay tribute to my colleagues who are
retiring after years of service to their country.
I have known Senator Wayne Allard since we served in the
House together.
Senator Allard served with distinction on the Armed
Services Committee, and we have worked together to make
sure that this country is prepared to meet national
security challenges. Both of us believe strongly in
President Reagan's famous axiom, ``peace through
strength.''
Recently, we worked together to secure funding to study
the possibility of basing missile defenses in space. As a
result, policymakers will finally begin to have the
information necessary to debate the overall feasibility of
a space-based missile defense layer. The space threat will
only grow in the years ahead, and I am pleased that I was
able to work with Senator Allard to make small, but
measurable progress toward better defending the Nation.
Senator Allard is the model legislator. He's not a
professional politician, but a veterinarian by trade. He
understands that the money we spend in Washington is not
the government's money, but the taxpayers'. And he proves
it, returning over $4 million of his office's funds to the
government's coffers. His votes are based on principle,
not politics.
I wish Senator Allard all the best. Colorado has lost a
great legislator, but I am sure that his wife Joan, his
children, and his five grandsons will be glad to have him
at home more often.
Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, with the conclusion of our
business for the year comes the moment when we must say
farewell to Members who have chosen to leave the Senate,
and I want to take this opportunity to honor my friend and
colleague from Colorado, Senator Wayne Allard. He is
leaving as a matter of principle, believing in the value
of citizen-legislators, which he is fulfilling by ending
his service here after two terms. I greatly respect him
for that choice.
One of the wonderful things about the Senate is the
distinctive experiences that bring people to this place.
Senator Allard's professional training is as a
veterinarian, a skill that is of great importance to a
State with as much livestock agriculture as Colorado. He
began a successful veterinary practice from nothing in
Loveland, in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
That experience has given him unique insight into the
needs and concerns of America's millions of small
businesses, where the job growth and creative energy of
our economy comes from.
Wayne Allard brought many values with him to the Senate,
but perhaps the most important is the need to use more
care in the way we spend the people's money. He personally
practiced that value by returning $4.2 million of his
office allotment to the U.S. Treasury. As a member of the
committees which handle appropriations, the Federal
budget, and banking policy, he has been a constant
advocate for lower spending, improved efficiency in
government programs, and steady progress toward a balanced
budget.
Our former colleague, Howard Baker, once said that you
could trace the decline of the legislative branch of
government to the installation of air-conditioning in the
Capitol. What he meant by that was that previous
generations of Senators were driven from Washington by the
tropical summers, and that gave them an opportunity to
reconnect with their roots so they could return refreshed
and reoriented toward the people's wishes. Senator Allard
needed no such climatic encouragement: he couldn't wait to
get back to Colorado where he would spend countless hours
listening to and learning from the folks who sent him
here.
I will truly miss his example and his friendship here in
the Senate. The Senate is a distinctive and valuable
institution generation after generation because the senior
Members pass on their lessons to the junior Members.
Senator Allard taught me a lot about how to be a good
Senator by working hard, sticking to your principles, and
listening more than talking.
Former Senator Harry S. Truman said that if you want a
friend in Washington, buy a dog. But Senator Allard has
been my good friend, encouraging me when I was discouraged
and keeping me humble when I was flying too high for my
own good.
I think the ideas of fiscal conservatism and frugality
that he based his life and service on are returning to the
forefront here in Washington as he departs. As we move
toward a balanced budget, I think he can take pride in
fighting for it for 12 years in Washington and pointing us
in the right direction.
Wayne Allard is a good man who chose to serve in the
Senate for a specific amount of time, and he has done
that. I honor him today as a person of character and
wisdom, and I thank him for making me a better Senator and
for making the Senate a place that better reflects the
values of regular people.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, I rise to recognize the
service of a great public servant and an outstanding
leader.
Senator Allard has been a tremendous and dedicated
servant to his home State of Colorado. His distinguished
career spans 17 years in the U.S. Senate and the House of
Representatives.
Senator Allard has been a devoted champion of the State
of Colorado. His tireless commitment to the people of
Colorado is evident to all who know him. He has been an
ardent supporter of increased national attention to the
importance of savings plans and investments and small
business concerns.
Madam President, I ask my colleagues to join me in
paying tribute to this magnificent Senator.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Mr. SPECTER. The Senate Appropriations Committee, as
well as the Senate generally, will miss Senator Wayne
Allard. Wayne has been a strong voice for fiscal
responsibility. His background as a veterinarian has
provided an interesting dimension beyond members who have
legal, business, or academic backgrounds.
Senator Allard has led by example, demonstrating his
frugality by returning more than $4 million in unspent
office funds to the U.S. Treasury since being elected to
Congress. In retiring after two terms, he has stuck by his
commitment on term limits. My personal preference would
have been for Wayne to stay on because, building on his
experience, he would have made additional significant
contributions to the benefit of his State, Colorado, and
the Nation.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, when the final gavel brings an
end to the current session of Congress, my good friend
Wayne Allard has chosen to retire from the U.S. Senate. I
know we will all miss him and the strong and powerful
voice he has been for Colorado and the West. His eye for
detail and focus on the issues that are of such great
importance to his constituents and mine will be very
difficult to replace.
Wayne is quite a remarkable guy. He knew at a very young
age that he wanted to be a veterinarian and so he directed
all his efforts to pursuing that calling. He graduated
from Colorado State University with a degree in veterinary
medicine and opened a veterinary practice in Loveland, CO,
with his wife Joan.
As he worked at the profession he loved he got to know
the people of the area and the problems they faced every
day. He wanted to do more than just take care of their
animals and livestock, so he started to branch out to a
career in politics. He knew he could find the time for
both his practice and for politics and the challenge of
learning something new interested him.
Wayne had one great advantage as he began--his family's
deep Colorado roots. Wayne's great-great-grandfather was a
trapper and an explorer and he was one of the first
permanent settlers of Northern Colorado. His family was
among the first to move into the area and establish a home
there.
Wayne grew up on the family ranch. He learned at an
early age the importance of a hard day's work and of
always doing your best. His days were spent baling hay and
helping out with whatever needed to be done around the
ranch from dawn to dusk. Life on the ranch taught him a
lot and instilled in him the values and principles that
have served him well throughout his life and his political
career.
Wayne is a strong believer in the idea of a citizen-
politician. He believes that the more experience we have
in the workforce, the better we are able to find
legislative solutions to address the problems faced by
families across the Nation.
That philosophy guided Wayne's efforts in the House and
helped him win his present seat in the Senate in 1997.
That was the same year that I came to Washington, and
Wayne was one of the first people I met. Our shared
commitment to the people of the West made us natural
allies.
It was soon after we were sworn in as freshman Senators
that Wayne told me about his plans to hold an annual
conference to get his constituents more involved in the
day-to-day operations of the government. His dream took
shape as the Allard Capital Conference. This annual event
gives those who attend an opportunity to learn more about
how their government works, and to share their good ideas
about how to change things. When it is over, it sends all
those who attend back home to Colorado with a hefty dose
of encouragement to continue the dialog they began here.
It has been a great success and Wayne has been able to
attract many of Washington's leaders to participate along
with an impressive list of Senators from both sides of the
aisle.
History will show that Wayne has been so successful in
the Senate because he is committed to getting things
done--and not in making sure he gets the credit. It is
another philosophy we share. You can get just about
anything done if you don't care who gets the credit for
it. Wayne has been a workhorse more than a show horse and
that has always pleased his constituents.
Over the years, Wayne's commitment to fiscal sanity has
been so strong and so compelling that it drove him to give
up his seats on the Armed Services and Environmental and
Public Works Committees to join the Appropriations
Committee. From there he took the reins of the Legislative
Branch Subcommittee and began the difficult and demanding
task of overseeing the construction of the Capitol Visitor
Center. Up till then, the project had been the center of a
lot of attention because there were so many cost overruns,
delays in its construction, and questions about how the
project was being managed. Wayne brought some sanity to
the process. He started checking in on the work being done
on a regular basis and his oversight brought a much needed
sense of accountability to the project which is now about
to open its doors to the people who come to visit our
Nation's Capital every year. In the years to come, the
Capitol Visitor Center will be part of the legacy of
Wayne's service to the people of our Nation.
There is another area of achievement that Wayne is
probably more proud of--and that is his work on the Great
Sand Dunes National Park, his successful effort to convert
Rocky Flats, which was formerly a nuclear weapons
facility, to a national wildlife refuge, and his
determination to protect and preserve the area around the
Rio Grande River. All these projects were important to him
because they enabled him to make a difference back home in
Colorado.
Now that his Washington years are drawing to a close,
Wayne would be the first to give a lion's share of the
credit for all he has accomplished to his wife Joan. She
was there from the start, working alongside him in his
veterinary clinic and she was by his side as he served in
the Senate. They have long been a remarkable team, and it
can truly be said that he and I both overmarried. Joan has
been his best friend, his most trusted adviser, and his
wisest political adviser and counselor.
Now they will return to Colorado and to the life that
they love. I don't know what Wayne's plans are for the
future, but I hope and expect I will continue to hear from
him whenever he thinks that we just aren't getting it
right when it comes to the budget, the environment, or any
of the other issues that have driven him during his
service in the Senate. Whatever he decides to do, I know
we will continue to hear from him, and that is something
that can only continue to serve us all well. Wayne is a
special guy who loves Colorado and his country, and he has
dedicated his life to making them better places for us and
for future generations to live. He can retire secure in
the knowledge that he has succeeded because he cared
enough to serve.
Thank you, Wayne, for your heartfelt commitment to
Colorado and the Nation, for your willingness to serve the
people in the Senate, and most of all, thank you for your
friendship. Diana joins in sending all the best for a
continued rich and rewarding life to you and Joan. And
Wayne, for me, please keep track of and share the good
fishing spots. I know most of them will be in Wyoming.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that
the order from September 27 regarding tributes to retiring
Senators be modified so that Senators be permitted to
submit such tributes for inclusion in a Senate document
until Friday, December 12, 2008.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, one of the great privileges
of my tenure in the Senate has been to serve with my
colleague Wayne Allard from Colorado.
He and his wonderful wife and partner Joan have
contributed greatly to the life of the Senate. Wayne has
been a leading advocate for a strong space and missile
defense program, an important issue when he chaired the
Strategic Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on the
Armed Services. I was honored to follow him in that
position when he moved to the prestigious Appropriations
Committee.
Wayne has also been a firm and consistent voice for a
sound economic policy based on the free market, lower
taxes, free trade, and restraint in spending. Day after
day--year after year--he never wavered in those
principles.
I deeply regret that Wayne took a pledge to not seek a
third term in the Senate. His unqualified commitment to
principle will be sorely missed. Wayne is a man of
integrity, and he never hesitated to keep the promise he
made to the voters of Colorado.
Wayne and I came to the Senate together. We have been
good friends throughout our time here. We have stood
together in the Armed Services Committee in support of our
men and women in uniform. We were thrilled to see the
child tax credit become law, providing relief to hard-
working American families. We witnessed many other
important pieces of legislation be enacted into law. And
we were able to stop quite a few bad pieces also.
Mary and I send our best and most sincere wishes to
Wayne and Joan. I know that he will continue to contribute
to the good of Colorado and to the Nation.