[Senate Document 110-21]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




110th Congress
2d Session                                              S. Doc. 110-21
 
                    TRIBUTES TO HON. LARRY E. CRAIG


                                           

                                   Larry E. Craig

                        U.S. SENATOR FROM IDAHO

                                TRIBUTES

                           IN THE CONGRESS OF

                           THE UNITED STATES





                                      Tributes

                                Delivered in Congress

                                   Larry E. Craig

                              United States Congressman

                                      1981-1991

                                United States Senator

                                      1991-2009



                         U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
                                   WASHINGTON : 2010








                            Compiled under the direction

                                       of the

                             Joint Committee on Printing












                                      CONTENTS
             Biography.............................................
                                                                      v
             Proceedings in the Senate:
                Tributes by Senators:
                    Akaka, Daniel K., of Hawaii....................
                                                                     10
                    Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee.................
                                                                      3
                    Allard, Wayne, of Colorado.....................
                                                                 13, 18
                    Bingaman, Jeff, of New Mexico..................
                                                                      9
                    Bunning, Jim, of Kentucky......................
                                                                      8
                    Corker, Bob, of Tennessee......................
                                                                     13
                    Craig, Larry E., of Idaho......................
                                                                 15, 18
                    Crapo, Mike, of Idaho..........................
                                                                 14, 17
                    Domenici, Pete V., of New Mexico...............
                                                                      5
                    Dorgan, Byron L., of North Dakota..............
                                                                     26
                    Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming...................
                                                                     24
                    Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin.............
                                                                      8
                    Hagel, Chuck, of Nebraska......................
                                                                     19
                    Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
                                                                     11
                    Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
                                                                     12
                    Inouye, Daniel K., of Hawaii...................
                                                                     23
                    Kyl, Jon, of Arizona...........................
                                                                     22
                    Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana................
                                                                     12
                    Levin, Carl, of Michigan.......................
                                                                     19
                    Lieberman, Joseph I., of Connecticut...........
                                                                     13
                    McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky..................
                                                                     20
                    Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
                                                                     13
                    Salazar, Ken, of Colorado......................
                                                                      5
                    Specter, Arlen, of Pennsylvania................
                                                                     24
                    Warner, John, of Virginia......................
                                                                     22
                                      BIOGRAPHY

               Senator Craig was born on the family ranch near Midvale, 
             ID, which was homesteaded in 1899 by his grandfather. He 
             later served as the Idaho State president and national 
             vice president of the Future Farmers of America.
               After graduating from the University of Idaho where he 
             served as student body president and was a member of the 
             Delta Chi fraternity, he pursued graduate studies before 
             returning to the family ranching business in 1971.
               In 1974, the people of Payette and Washington Counties 
             sent Senator Craig to the Idaho State Senate, where he 
             served three terms before winning the 1980 race for 
             Idaho's First District congressional seat. He was 
             reelected four times before winning the U.S. Senate 
             election in 1990 and was reelected to the Senate in 1996 
             and 2002.
               Senator Craig served as chairman of the steering 
             committee, a legislative think tank and action group for 
             Senate conservatives. He was the youngest Senator ever 
             elected to that position.
               Senator Craig quickly rose to the fourth highest Senate 
             leadership position in his first term, when his colleagues 
             elected him chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. 
             He was reelected to that position in the 106th and 107th 
             Congresses. The committee is responsible for developing 
             policy positions for Senate Republicans.
               A forceful advocate for commonsense, conservative 
             solutions to our Nation's problems, Senator Craig emerged 
             as a leader in the battle for the balanced budget 
             amendment to the Constitution, limited taxation, private 
             property rights, and greater accountability in government. 
             He has been recognized by national groups including 
             Citizens for a Sound Economy, Citizens Against Government 
             Waste, Watchdogs of the Treasury, and the National 
             Taxpayers Union Foundation for his votes to cut spending 
             and protect the taxpayer.
                Senator Craig was a member of the Committee on 
             Veterans' Affairs, which he chaired during the 109th 
             Congress. He was also a member of the Committee on Energy 
             and Natural Resources, where he served on the Subcommittee 
             on Energy, the Subcommittee on Water and Power, and the 
             Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests.
               With his appointment to the Senate Appropriations 
             Committee, Senator Craig oversaw funding on the following 
             subcommittees: Agriculture; Energy and Water Development; 
             Homeland Security; Labor, HHS, and Education; Military 
             Construction and Veterans Affairs; and Interior and the 
             Environment. He was also a member of the Special Committee 
             on Aging, which he chaired during the 107th and 108th 
             Congresses, and the Committee on Environment and Public 
             Works, where he served on the Public Sector Solutions to 
             Global Warming, Oversight, and Children's Health 
             Protection Subcommittee and the Superfund and 
             Environmental Health Subcommittee.
               In addition to his committee memberships, Senator Craig 
             sat on a number of caucuses that worked for issues 
             important to Idaho, including Air Force, National Guard, 
             Nuclear, Rural Health, Diabetes, Congressional 
             Sportsmen's, Congressional Potato, WTO for Farmers and 
             Ranchers, Senate Sweetener, Idaho Safe Kids Coalition 
             (honorary co-chair), the Western States Senate Coalition, 
             and Education Advisory Committee to the National Youth 
             Leadership Conference. He is a former co-chair of the 
             Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and helped 
             to found and lead the CCAI, an institute working on 
             adoption issues.
               The Idaho lawmaker was also on the board of directors of 
             the National Rifle Association, the Alliance to Save 
             Energy and the Keystone Center, and he co-founded and co-
             chaired the Congressional Property Rights Coalition.
               As a westerner and a former rancher, Senator Craig 
             played a leading role in the formation of natural resource 
             and energy policies, and he has gained a national 
             reputation as a stalwart against environmental extremism. 
             He is also one of America's foremost defenders of the 
             second amendment right to keep and bear arms.
               He is married to the former Suzanne Thompson. They have 
             three children: two sons, Mike and Jay, a daughter, Shae, 
             and seven beautiful grandchildren.






                                      TRIBUTES

                                         TO

                                   LARRY E. CRAIG
                              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. ...
               Senator Larry Craig has been in the Congress for a 
             number of years. He served three terms in the Senate. I 
             believe Senator Craig's great contribution is in the area 
             of energy. He and Senator Domenici have been a team in 
             advocating for nuclear power. They have been leaders in 
             the Senate in understanding energy and its details, 
             particularly over the last few years as issues of energy 
             and the environment have become the most fascinating and 
             important issues we have to deal with in many respects. 
             Senator Craig has made a great contribution.
               I especially appreciate his courtesies. When I was just 
             elected to the Senate, I had worked here before as a staff 
             member many years ago, but I didn't understand what it was 
             like to be a Member. Senator Craig took a long hour with 
             me on the telephone just explaining to me about committee 
             assignments. I have always been grateful for that. ...
               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. ...
               Senator Larry Craig from Idaho has been a champion for 
             agriculture and rural issues and for western values. When, 
             yesterday, we were able to pass the Payment in Lieu of 
             Taxes, Secure Rural Schools Act, on which Senator Wyden 
             and others had worked so hard, it was Senator Craig who 
             helped make sure at the beginning that payment in lieu of 
             taxes, which is so important to the presiding officer's 
             State and my State of Colorado, were, in fact, on the 
             radar screen of Washington, DC. Sometimes those issues 
             that are unique to the western part of the United States 
             are not heard in the Halls in this Capitol. Senator Craig 
             was an unrelenting advocate for making sure those western 
             issues were, in fact, not forgotten by those of us who are 
             here who have an ability to cast a vote.
               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. DOMENICI. At this time I would like to take some 
             time to talk about Senator Larry Craig and to thank him 
             for his service here in the Senate and for his service and 
             dedication to his home State of Idaho.
               I have been fortunate enough to work with Senator Craig 
             on many of the same issues over the years. More often than 
             not we were on the same side of those issues. We worked 
             for many hours together on energy policy, and more 
             specifically, nuclear energy policy. In addition, the 
             States we represent, New Mexico and Idaho, are similar in 
             that they are both in the West, are largely rural, have 
             vast swaths of Federal land, and are home to Federal 
             research laboratories. These similarities between the 
             States we represent brought us together by way of common 
             interests on many of the same policy subjects.
               Senator Craig and I served on the Appropriations 
             Committee together for many years. During that time, we 
             worked together to make sure the Departments of Energy and 
             Interior were taken care of in terms of funding. As many 
             of us know, Senator Craig comes from a strong agriculture 
             background. At times we had to try to fend off, as best we 
             could, efforts to change the Milk Income Loss Contract 
             Program. The changes to the program would have compromised 
             dairy producers from each of our home States. Dairy 
             farmers in New Mexico and Idaho knew that Senator Craig 
             was a formidable ally for their cause, and I thank him for 
             his help and support.
               As chairman and ranking member of the Energy and Natural 
             Resources Committee, I have always admired Senator Craig's 
             command of public lands policy. He has been a great leader 
             on public lands issues throughout his career, and without 
             the leadership of Senator Craig, we would have never been 
             able to pass the healthy forests bill in December 2003. It 
             was also through his leadership we passed the Secure Rural 
             Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, which has 
             been so important to both our States. He led the 
             Republican side on public lands and forest issues as 
             chairman or ranking member of the Public Lands and Forest 
             Subcommittee from 1995 until 2007.
               Some of our most important work together took place in 
             the nuclear arena. Senator Craig has done a tremendous job 
             of promoting nuclear power as a safe, reliable, and clean 
             source of energy. I appreciate his outstanding work on 
             nuclear matters, and I appreciate his support and 
             encouragement along the way for my efforts in this 
             important area.
               Many people know that because of where we live and what 
             we do in our States, Senator Craig and I naturally work on 
             similar matters. That is as it turned out. I will talk 
             about some matters that have been very big for our country 
             that are not natural to our States.
               First, I served with him on the Committee on 
             Appropriations for a number of years. We worked together 
             on energy policy and, more specifically, nuclear energy 
             policy. The States we represent are home to national 
             research laboratories.
               As many of my colleagues know, Senator Craig comes from 
             a strong agricultural background. At times, we had to try 
             to fend off, as best we could, efforts to change the Milk 
             Income Loss Contract Program, called the MILC Program. 
             That sounds like something we should all be for. It turns 
             out that dairy farmers in New Mexico and Idaho knew 
             Senator Craig was a formidable ally when it came to 
             subsidies that would help some and hurt others. We were 
             generally on the hurt end because we were smaller States 
             that had that particular set of facts. We worked hard on 
             those issues. I learned to respect him greatly.
               He led Republicans on public lands issues and forest 
             issues as chairman and ranking member of the Public Lands 
             and Forest Subcommittee from 1995 through 1997. This led 
             to the enactment of the healthy forest bill in December 
             2003--I was part of that with him--and the Secure Rural 
             Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act, which was 
             his. I am sure most of the thinking to put it together was 
             his. It was an absolutely stellar bill that got assistance 
             to schools across his State and other Western States that 
             lost some or all of their revenues for their schools 
             because of the curtailment of timber sales in the area. He 
             and the distinguished Senator from Washington worked 
             together to get this done.
               Senator Craig and I have spent a great deal of time on 
             matters pertaining to nuclear power. Nuclear power is 
             making a renaissance in America. We will soon have many of 
             them built in the United States. We have more than any 
             other country in the world, but we only get 20 percent of 
             our electricity from nuclear power. Countries such as 
             France have gone way ahead of us and now have 75 to 80 
             percent. Other countries of the world have as well, since 
             America has made its bid, saying: We are going to change 
             our minds, for which I am very proud. I took the lead in 
             that, with Larry's help, and we have changed America. With 
             it has come a renaissance in nuclear power.
               I wish him the greatest success in his retirement. I am 
             sure we will hear from him. He is too young to be quiet. 
             He will be doing something, and we will hear about it.

               Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, as Senator Craig retires 
             from the Senate, I want to take a few moments to recognize 
             him and thank him for his work on behalf of the people of 
             Idaho. He devoted 18 years to serving the people of Idaho 
             in the Senate, following 10 years of service in the House 
             of Representatives. Senator Craig and I worked together in 
             two very different, very important areas: protecting civil 
             liberties and supporting America's dairy farmers. In both 
             cases, he was dedicated to the best interests of the 
             people of Idaho, and I am grateful for his efforts.
               Senator Craig was a key member of the group of six 
             Senators--three Republicans and three Democrats, including 
             myself--who worked together to try to strengthen the 
             protections for Americans' privacy rights in the PATRIOT 
             Act reauthorization that we considered in the Senate 
             during the 109th Congress. His willingness to work across 
             party lines on that issue was commendable, and it was a 
             critical boost to our efforts. Senator Craig understands 
             the importance of protecting Americans' freedoms, and I 
             applaud his commitment to these issues.
               I also thank him for his consistent support of dairy 
             farmers, another area where we frequently worked together. 
             Senator Craig and I shared concerns about the impact of 
             the Australia Free Trade Agreement on dairy farmers, on 
             the threat of unsafe importation of milk protein 
             concentrates, and on nonfat milk price reporting errors.
               Once again on these issues, Senator Craig put the needs 
             of the people of Idaho first, and reached across the aisle 
             to protect hard-working dairy farmers. After 28 years of 
             service in Congress, Senator Craig is retiring from the 
             Senate, and I wish him all the best. His hard work and 
             dedication have made a valuable contribution to the Senate 
             and to the American people.

               Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I wish to join my fellow 
             Senators to honor a colleague and a friend, Senator Larry 
             Craig, who is departing the U.S. Senate at the close of 
             this Congress. I have enjoyed working with Senator Craig 
             over the last 20 years--first in the U.S. House of 
             Representatives and later in the U.S. Senate.
               While in the Senate, I have had the great fortune of 
             serving with Larry on the Senate Energy Committee. He is a 
             revered advocate of energy, public lands, and rural 
             community issues. The two of us have stood together on 
             numerous issues--most notably energy--and I have always 
             believed that we could achieve any task because I had his 
             voice of reason and intellect by my side.
               Senator Craig has shown the ability to keep a close eye 
             on issues that matter most to citizens back in Idaho, 
             while also looking out for all Americans. Whether the 
             issue of the day was rural schools, western ranchers, 
             public water, innovative forms of energy, and yes, even 
             wolves, Senator Craig has proven that he is up for any 
             challenge.
               I would be mistaken to not mention the extraordinary 
             work Senator Craig has done as a member of the Senate 
             Veterans' Affairs Committee. His work has been 
             instrumental to ensure that all citizens who are part of 
             our armed services--including servicemembers, family 
             members and survivors of veterans--are provided the world-
             class care and benefits they have earned. I thank him for 
             his relentless efforts to improve the lives of those who 
             have worn the uniform.
               I thank the senior Senator from Idaho for his leadership 
             and contributions to public service for the people of 
             Idaho and all Americans. I honor Senator Larry Craig not 
             only for his length of service but more important his 
             quality of service. I wish him and his loved ones all the 
             best of health for many years to come.
                                             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. ...
               My longtime colleague on the Energy and Natural 
             Resources Committee, Senator Craig, has been a valuable 
             voice for Idaho for decades. He served in his State's 
             legislature for 6 years before coming to the House of 
             Representatives 28 years ago where he served for 10 years.
               In 1990, he was elected to the Senate. We worked very 
             closely on issues important to energy and natural 
             resources throughout the West. He has been a leader in 
             many national policy areas, including aging and opening 
             trade to Cuba.
               I have appreciated his contributions, particularly in 
             our Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where his 
             opinions have always been clearly expressed and his best 
             efforts are made to represent his State and the Nation.

               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 would be remiss were I not to mention the retirement 
             of another of our colleagues, my friend Larry Craig. 
             Senator Craig and I served together on the Veterans' 
             Affairs Committee, which he chaired in the 109th Congress. 
             I will not forget Chairman Craig's willingness to bring 
             the committee from Washington to my home State of Hawaii, 
             to hear the concerns of Hawaii's veterans first hand. 
             Under his leadership, the committee held an unprecedented 
             series of field hearings on the needs of veterans living 
             in Hawaii, the Nation's only island State. My colleague 
             made this possible, and I will not forget his generosity.
               Senator Craig and I have not always agreed, but I am 
             proud of the relationship he and I maintained as 
             counterparts on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. His 
             willingness to find workable compromises, and to work 
             with, rather than against, those with opposing views, are 
             both qualities in great need here in Washington. I wish 
             him well as he returns to his native Idaho. Surely he will 
             now be able to have more time with his wife, Suzanne, 
             their three children, and their seven grandchildren. I 
             wish him happiness and the best with his future endeavors. 
             ...

               Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise to speak today 
             regarding the retirement of my friend and colleague, the 
             senior Senator from Idaho. At the conclusion of this 
             Congress, Senator Larry Craig will end a political career 
             that has included over three decades of service to the 
             people of his State. I am sure many of my colleagues will 
             agree, Senator Craig's presence in the Senate will be 
             missed.
               Senator Craig is a lifelong citizen of Idaho, having 
             been born in Council, ID, and growing up on a ranch in 
             Washington County. He attended college at the University 
             of Idaho and later served in the Idaho National Guard. 
             These close ties to his home State, I believe, informed 
             almost every decision he made while serving in Congress.
               Larry's career in public service began in 1974 when he 
             was elected to the Idaho State Senate. Six years later, he 
             was elected to the House of Representatives, where he 
             served five terms. In 1990, he was elected to his first of 
             three terms in the Senate, where his devotion to the 
             people of Idaho continued.
               During his time in the Senate, Senator Craig became 
             involved in a number of efforts to serve the people of his 
             State and the country as a whole. He has held prominent 
             positions on the Appropriations, Veterans' Affairs, and 
             Energy and Resources Committees. He also had a brief stint 
             on the Senate Judiciary Committee when I was serving as 
             chairman. Although his time on the Judiciary Committee was 
             short lived, Senator Craig was always an active member of 
             that panel, pursuing immigration reform to help the 
             farmers from his State and throughout the country and 
             vigorously supporting legislation to protect civil 
             liberties.
               In recognition of these efforts, he was inducted into 
             the Idaho Hall of Fame in 2007.
               Of course, no discussion of Senator Craig would be 
             complete without mentioning the Singing Senators, the now 
             famous barbershop quartet that featured Senator Craig 
             along with my good friends Trent Lott, John Ashcroft, and 
             James Jeffords. I think we all enjoyed the exploits of The 
             Singing Senators during their brief moment in the 
             limelight. Sadly, with the departure of Senator Craig, 
             there will be no Singing Senators left. I still have my 
             copy of their album, ``Let Freedom Sing,'' and I can only 
             hope that Larry will be taking home with him his copies of 
             the albums I have recorded. If not, I am sure I can dig up 
             some new ones for him.
               Mr. President, I want to close by saying that I have 
             greatly admired Senator Craig for his devotion to the 
             people of his State and his efforts to improve our 
             country. I want to wish him and his family the best of 
             luck in any future endeavors.

               Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, Larry Craig has a long 
             history of service to the people of Idaho.
               In 1974, he was elected to the Idaho State Senate, where 
             he served three terms before winning the 1980 race for 
             Idaho's First Congressional seat.
               He was reelected four times before winning a U.S. Senate 
             seat in 1990.
               As chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, he 
             assured that the health care needs of our Nation's 
             veterans were addressed, and he helped increase the number 
             of claims processors to try to help veterans receive the 
             benefits they deserve, with fewer delays.
               Throughout his career, Senator Craig has been a forceful 
             advocate for commonsense, conservative solutions to our 
             Nation's problems.
               He has been a leader in the battle for lower taxes, 
             private property rights, and greater accountability in 
             government.
               He has been recognized by national groups, including 
             Citizens for a Sound Economy, Citizens Against Government 
             Waste, Watchdogs of the Treasury, and the National 
             Taxpayers Union Foundation.
               He is also one of America's foremost defenders of the 
             second amendment.
               I wish Senator Craig well in his retirement.
                                           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.
                                             Wednesday, October 1, 2008

               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. ...
                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.
                                              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. ...
               Senator Larry Craig, with whom I had the privilege to 
             serve on the Committee on Appropriations, is someone who 
             has vigorously defended his positions in the Senate. We 
             have disagreed more often than agreed, but our debates 
             have been both vigorous and civil. I can recall managing 
             the legislation, Senator Craig on the opposing side, with 
             respect to issues of guns and firearms. I recall a debate 
             that was vigorous, robust but principled. I appreciate 
             that effort and his service. ...
               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. ALLARD. ... 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.

               Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, as the 110th Congress comes to 
             a close this fall, a chapter in Idaho politics also comes 
             to a close. After serving in public office, first in the 
             Idaho State legislature from 1975 to 1981, then in the 
             U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 to 1990, and 
             finally in the U.S. Senate from 1991 to 2009, my 
             colleague, Senator Larry Craig, is retiring from elective 
             office. Over the years, he has doggedly pursued 
             initiatives important to Idahoans and staunchly defended 
             western values.
               Our colleagues in the Senate know about Senator Craig's 
             work over the years ensuring that the U.S. agricultural 
             community has the support needed to thrive and continue 
             ensuring our food security and playing a major role in the 
             global economy.
               Our colleagues know about Senator Craig's consistent 
             stand on public lands, his unflinching defense of private 
             property rights and his reliable support of those who are 
             caretakers of this invaluable national resource.
               Our colleagues know Senator Craig's stalwart defense of 
             our second amendment rights and his tireless call for a 
             balanced budget and lower taxes.
               Our colleagues in the Senate know that Senator Craig 
             has, on a number of occasions, reached across the aisle to 
             promote bipartisan legislation.
               Our colleagues in the Senate know and have depended on 
             the leadership exhibited over the years by a man with 
             humble beginnings, born in a small Idaho town, on a family 
             farm where he returned after college until the people of 
             Payette and Washington Counties elected him to represent 
             them in the Idaho State legislature.
               What may not be so well known about the senior Senator 
             from Idaho is his commitment to adoption, to our youth, to 
             community service, to our veterans, and to our seniors.
               Senator Craig's three children are adopted. Over the 
             years, he became a congressional leader in promoting 
             adoption and working on policy initiatives that help 
             adoptive parents and young children needing to find loving 
             homes. He also helped found the Congressional Coalition on 
             Adoption Institute.
               Senator Craig did not only champion adoption in 
             Congress, he took a strong leadership role in the 
             Congressional Awards Foundation. This is an outstanding 
             program that encourages young people to set high goals, to 
             work toward them, and then when they have achieved these 
             goals, it gives this body the opportunity to recognize 
             their extraordinary accomplishments. The sense of 
             community service this program grows in young people 
             imparts a lifelong sense of civic duty and responsibility. 
             In short, it grows great Americans.
               Speaking of great Americans, Senator Craig has been a 
             champion of veterans as well, prioritizing their changing 
             needs over the years and helping remind all of us that 
             when a man or a woman defends the United States of 
             America, that individual deserves to have this Nation care 
             for them in their return and in their time of need.
               A believer in bringing Washington to Idaho, Senator 
             Craig has hosted over 300 townhall meetings since his 
             election to the Senate. He has also made national 
             priorities that involve Idaho and his priorities; namely, 
             Department of Energy and Defense operations and research 
             at the Idaho National Laboratory, the Mountain Home Air 
             Force Base, and Gowan Field for the home of the Idaho 
             National Guard.
               Senator Craig has not only supported children, young 
             people, the military, and our veterans, he has also worked 
             to champion the cause of the aging, serving on the Special 
             Committee on Aging and keeping important senior issues at 
             the forefront of our legislative policy.
               Senator Craig's public service demonstrates a rich 
             history of strong, conservative leadership, characterized 
             by an unapologetic defense of democratic ideals of private 
             property and personal liberty, woven together with an 
             abiding and proactive concern for those without a voice in 
             Washington. Idahoans across the State have come to know 
             they can depend on Senator Craig to defend their economic 
             well-being and their values.
               It has been a privilege for me to serve with Senator 
             Craig during my time in the Congress. I wish him and his 
             wife Suzanne well as they enter this new chapter in their 
             lives.
               Mr. President, I yield the floor.

               Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I thank my partner and 
             colleague from Idaho, soon to become Idaho's senior 
             Senator, Mike Crapo. Mike and I have had a working 
             relationship and a friendship for literally decades, and 
             it is one I have greatly appreciated over the years 
             because of his consistent and wise counsel.
               While I came to the Congress before Mike, Senator Crapo 
             was in the legislature during a period of time after I was 
             there, and so he brought with him, first to the House and 
             then to the Senate, the very similar experiences I had as 
             a State legislator. I highly recommend that to anyone who 
             wants to serve in the Senate, that they have that 
             experience on the ground in their home State in a way that 
             brings the reality of State governments and the Federal 
             Government together. Certainly, over the years Senator 
             Crapo has had that experience and has shared it with me. 
             Together, I think we have made a very valuable team for 
             our State.
               There is another aspect of Senator Crapo I have so 
             highly regarded over the years, and certainly the 
             presiding officer from Colorado would appreciate it. There 
             is probably one single most valuable commodity in the high 
             deserts of the West--such as many parts of the Colorado 
             and the State of Idaho--and that is water. There is an old 
             phrase that many have heard over the years, which is that 
             whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting over. 
             And there is a lot of truth to that. Our States 
             historically have that in their background as we sorted 
             out our water problems and began to recognize these 
             phenomenally valuable commodities.
               Mike Crapo, in his other life, spent a lot of time with 
             water law. I always said that when it came to water issues 
             here in Washington, while they best be fought out in the 
             State Capitol in Boise, I wanted Mike Crapo by my side as 
             we worked through water issues that were for our State and 
             certainly for the Nation. Not only does he know the law, 
             coming out of a high desert environment of the kind that 
             is in southern, southeastern, and southwestern Idaho, he 
             knows the reality. He knows the importance. He knows that 
             water is life and death. It is economy or no economy based 
             on its value. That is the kind of partnership we have had 
             over the years.
               I will be replaced by Idaho's Lieutenant Governor, Jim 
             Risch. I am confident he will be elected, for a lot of 
             reasons. First, he is a highly competent person. Idaho 
             knows him well and respects him. He has served Idaho well 
             and he will serve us very well here. He will become the 
             junior partner of the soon-to-be senior Senator, Mike 
             Crapo. That team, that organizational effort, that 
             combining of forces on by far a majority of issues will be 
             held for Idaho's interests.
               Mike and I rarely split our votes. When we do, we talk 
             about them, we know our differences and we understand 
             them. But we have realized over the years that the team 
             approach for Idaho and the Idaho delegation is very 
             important for a small State--small by population, at 
             least, certainly not small by geography. So the friendship 
             and the relationship I have had with Senator Crapo over 
             the years has been personally very valuable to me, but I 
             trust it has been very valuable to the State of Idaho. But 
             that kind of working, teaming partnership is going to 
             continue as I step down and Jim Risch is elected in 
             November to continue to work with Mike Crapo.
               So I say to my colleague, Senator Crapo: Thank you. 
             Thank you for the kind remarks and the working 
             relationship and friendship we have had over the years.
               And to the presiding officer, while he has not served 
             here as long as either of us, I would say to him that he 
             fits in immediately, because he is a westerner who 
             understands our issues, because they are his issues, and 
             we have already begun to work those kinds of partnerships 
             and relationships that are very valuable to the West, to 
             the public lands, and to the interests of our States' 
             people.
               I thank the chair, and I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.

               Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I came down here to pay a 
             tribute to our senior Senator from Idaho, Senator Larry 
             Craig, and you can see the caliber of man he is--he came 
             down and paid tribute to me. That is the way he is.
               I want to add to my remarks by thanking Senator Craig 
             personally for his tremendous assistance to me. From the 
             very first day that I stepped foot on the floor of the 
             Senate--in fact, before that, when I was trying to get 
             elected to the Senate--Senator Craig was there to help. 
             And once I was elected, Senator Craig set about making 
             sure I could be successful.
               As he has indicated by his gracious remarks, that is the 
             kind of man he is. He is a tremendous friend and he is a 
             tremendous advocate and he has the kind of principles and 
             values that have helped him to represent the people of 
             Idaho so well over the years. He has committed his life to 
             public service and has shown the people of Idaho and the 
             people of this Nation the kind of leadership we should 
             have in this country, fighting for those kinds of 
             principles that I have mentioned--whether it be private 
             property rights, a balanced budget, lower, smaller 
             government, protecting those without a voice, working for 
             the veterans, working for senior citizens, and his 
             commitment to working for our newest citizens of our 
             world, those who need adoption. The list goes on and on.
               I want to personally thank you, Larry, for the 
             opportunity to serve with you here in the Senate, and to 
             tell you that I and all of us in Idaho will miss you and 
             look forward to continuing to work with you as you enter 
             this new chapter of your life.
               Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest 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. ...

               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.
               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, the fourth Member of the Senate who will 
             be leaving along with me will be the senior Senator from 
             Idaho, Larry Craig. I have had an opportunity to work with 
             Senator Craig over the years on environmental issues, 
             energy issues, trade issues, agricultural issues. There 
             have been few who have been as forceful and important a 
             voice on behalf of those critical challenges to our 
             country.
               Senator Craig, Senator Allard, Senator Warner, and 
             Senator Domenici all leave the Senate a better institution 
             for their service.

               Mr. LEVIN. I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague 
             from Idaho, Senator Larry Craig. As the chairman of the 
             Armed Services Committee, I can particularly appreciate 
             the vital role played by the Veterans' Affairs Committee. 
             Larry served as the chairman of that important committee 
             from 2005 to 2007, and the ranking member since then. 
             During his tenure, Veterans' Affairs has been challenged 
             by two ongoing wars and, more recently, by public 
             revelations of serious deficiencies in our system for 
             caring for our wounded warriors.
               Helping our Nation's wounded warriors is a cause to 
             which Larry Craig is profoundly committed. He has fought 
             for our deserving and brave veterans by introducing bills 
             to improve educational opportunities and to expand 
             benefits for traumatic injuries. He helped make possible a 
             rare joint hearing between the Veterans' Affairs Committee 
             and the Armed Services Committee to look into the 
             situation at Walter Reed and help formulate the wounded 
             warrior legislation which passed through the Senate with 
             overwhelming bipartisan support as part of the Defense 
             Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008.
               While Larry Craig and I have often been on opposite 
             sides of policy debates, I admire his commitment to his 
             views and to the people of Idaho. In addition to the 
             Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Craig serves as the 
             ranking member on the Subcommittees on Interior and 
             Related Agencies, and Superfund and Environmental Health, 
             legislative areas of great concern to the citizens of 
             Boise, the ranchers of Midvale and the skiers of Sun 
             Valley. And today, I join my colleagues in thanking Larry 
             Craig for his service to his State and his country, and I 
             wish him and Suzanne the very best in the future.

               Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, one of the great sticking 
             points for the Framers of the U.S. Constitution was how 
             small States would be represented in the new government.
               In the end, the compromise that gave small and big 
             States equal representation in the U.S. Senate broke the 
             logjam, paved the way for ratification, and became one of 
             the most distinctive--and best--features of our democracy.
               It has ensured that the interests of all Americans, 
             including those who live in remote or secluded corners of 
             the country, are felt in the halls of power. And, 
             throughout the life of our country, it has meant that men 
             and women who understood those interests and who could 
             communicate them with clarity and purpose would always 
             have a central place in the U.S. Senate.
               For nearly two decades, Larry Craig has been that person 
             for the people of Idaho--a fierce advocate and an 
             effective legislator who understands the needs of his 
             State, and always delivered.
               The grandson of a homesteader, Senator Craig was born on 
             a ranch north of Boise and attended public schools. He 
             graduated from the University of Idaho in 1969 and may 
             have been its most prominent alumnus before the world got 
             to know the current Governor of Alaska a few weeks ago.
               After college, Senator Craig served in the National 
             Guard, worked as a farmer-rancher, and was elected to the 
             Idaho Senate in 1974. Seven years later, Idaho voters sent 
             him to Washington.
               After a decade in the House, they sent him to the Upper 
             Chamber. And he has been fighting their battles here in 
             the Senate ever since.
               One of his favorite targets over the years are the 
             western lands policies favored by big city 
             environmentalists but opposed by the native Idahoans who 
             cherish and live off the land.
               He fought revisions of the Mining Act of 1872 and a 
             Clinton-era proposal to introduce grizzlies into Idaho's 
             Bitterroot Range.
               Over the years, he's fought anyone who tried to impose 
             rules and restrictions on land use that natives oppose. 
             Those battles heated up in the wake of the Supreme Court's 
             2005 Kelo ruling. And over the last 3 years, he's fought 
             hard to protect the private property rights of farmers and 
             ranchers who have been left especially vulnerable by the 
             Court's Kelo decision.
               Senator Craig took a lead role in the farm bill debate 
             over the last 2 years, making sure it included funds to 
             support specialty crop producers in Idaho, one of the 
             Nation's top producers of specialty crops, and about one-
             third of the Nation's potatoes. And he played a vital role 
             in smoothing the way for the bill's final passage earlier 
             this summer.
               As chairman of the Public Lands and Forests 
             Subcommittee, Senator Craig fought to reform the Nation's 
             Forest Service, which drastically reduced the timber 
             harvest on public lands during the Clinton administration, 
             cutting into the livelihoods of Idahoans in small towns 
             across the State.
               For municipalities that couldn't recoup the losses from 
             lost timber revenue, Senator Craig reached across the 
             aisle and worked with Senator Wyden to find compensation 
             that helped them cope. It was a characteristic gesture of 
             bipartisan work, and one he's employed repeatedly over the 
             years.
               He's been a strong defender of free trade.
               As chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, he 
             sponsored a bill that would enable seniors to buy State-
             approved long-term care policies.
               And he has been a good friend to our Nation's veterans, 
             serving as chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
               A new tower at Boise's airport would not have been built 
             without Senator Craig's help. Neither would the new VA 
             clinic that opened in Caldwell just last year. In a long 
             Senate career, Senator Craig has fought with clarity and 
             conviction for Idahoans. Along the way, he has been a 
             friend of veterans, children seeking a home through 
             adoption, and thousands of American farmers and ranchers, 
             particularly those in the Pacific Northwest.
               And, along with three other Senate colleagues who've 
             moved on, he entertained us as a member of the Singing 
             Senators.
               With Senator Craig's retirement, the last of the Singing 
             Senators will have left the building.
               And the people of Idaho will have lost one of their 
             greatest champions.

               Mr. KYL. Mr. President, five colleagues on my side of 
             the aisle are retiring from the Senate at the end of this 
             session. They have served for many years, and I have come 
             to know each of them very well.
               Senator Larry Craig and I served in the House together 
             until 1991 when Senator Craig moved to the Senate. I 
             joined him 4 years later. We represent Western States, so 
             we have had occasion to work together on issues that are 
             important to the American West.
               In his position on the Energy and Natural Resources 
             Committee, he has defended property rights and stood for 
             the prudent use of our natural resources. He has also been 
             a strong advocate of Americans' second amendment rights. 
             And, as a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee-- for 
             a time the ranking member--he has worked to ensure that 
             veterans receive the benefits they were promised.
               Senator Craig has held a number of positions among 
             Senate Republicans. He served as chairman of the 
             Republican Policy Committee, and he participated in the 
             musical effort of Senators Trent Lott, John Ashcroft, Jim 
             Jeffords, and himself--the Singing Senators.
               After almost three decades in the U.S. Congress, Senator 
             Craig is now leaving public service. Idaho has lost a 
             great Senator who always looked out for the interests of 
             the State and its citizens. He has a great record of 
             accomplishment on which to reflect--numerous legislative 
             victories and, of course, one CD.
               We will miss Senator Craig in the Senate, especially the 
             spirited remarks he so often delivered on the Senate 
             floor.
               I wish Larry and Suzanne all the best and hope they have 
             many happy moments with their wonderful family.

               Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the State of Idaho occupies a 
             very special place in my life's career. In the summer of 
             1943, during the height of World War II, I had the great 
             fortune to find a job with the U.S. Forest Service. I was 
             sent to Idaho, along with many other young men, to work in 
             the forests. We performed a wide range of duties, from 
             clearing trails to fighting forest fires.
               After brief service in the Navy in the final year of 
             World War II, I attended college and at my first 
             opportunity, in the summer of 1947, I returned to Idaho to 
             once again work with the Forest Service, helping preserve 
             one of nature's greatest gifts--the mighty trees of the 
             West.
               Those two summers of hard work trained and prepared me 
             to always respect those who labor with their hands.
               Throughout my career in the Senate, I have enjoyed 
             working with Senators from Idaho, and sharing common 
             interests, such as forestry and preserving the great 
             outdoors, with those who represent that State. Senator 
             Larry Craig is one of those.
               Through the years, I have found his perspective on 
             controversial issues, such as forests, mining and 
             agriculture, especially the potato and sugar-beet issues, 
             to be very valuable and informative.
               Larry Craig and I also share an interest in the fine 
             arts. My hobby is painting in oil; his is drawing with 
             meticulous design. His creations are extraordinary in 
             their detail. I hope, as he leaves the Senate, he will 
             have opportunities to further utilize those exceptional 
             talents to create pieces of art to be enjoyed by others.
               I wish him and his family well.
                                              Monday, November 17, 2008
               Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, I rise to recognize the 
             service of a great public servant and an outstanding 
             leader.
               Senator Craig has served his home State of Idaho for 18 
             years in the U.S. Senate. He has been a fervent leader to 
             the people of Idaho with unwavering devotion.
               Senator Craig has sought to establish Federal policies 
             that respond to the needs and interests of Idahoans by 
             constructing strong, sustainable rural communities, 
             seeking access to adequate, affordable health care, and 
             developing natural resource and energy policies that 
             protect the environment and keep consistency with economic 
             growth.
               Senator Craig's leadership in promoting economic 
             development and strengthening American agriculture has led 
             to the improvement of both agricultural studies and 
             programs. His resilient leadership has helped to foster 
             numerous programs in Idaho that will benefit agricultural 
             entrepreneurship and help to strengthen the partnership 
             between State and Federal groups. Senator Craig has truly 
             served the people of Idaho with distinction.
               Madam President, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
             paying tribute to this magnificent Senator.
                                           Wednesday, November 19, 2008
               Mr. SPECTER. Larry Craig has made significant 
             contributions to the Senate during his three terms. He has 
             been a leader on energy, agriculture policy, and veterans 
             affairs. During the debate on immigration, he was a 
             forceful spokesman for a guest farmworkers program. When 
             we next take up important subjects, his leadership will be 
             missed,
               I worked with him closely on veterans affairs where he 
             chaired that committee after I moved from chairman there 
             to chair the Judiciary Committee. His leadership on a 
             codel to the World War II battlefields in France over 
             Memorial Day 2006 was particularly noteworthy. Our visits 
             to U.S. cemeteries in France and inspection of the 
             Normandy beaches were memorable.
               I was glad to see Larry finish out his full third term 
             after the incident at the Minneapolis airport. When I 
             heard the recording of the police officer's questioning 
             him, I immediately thought that there was insufficient 
             evidence of wrongful conduct. I heard the reports that he 
             planned to resign at the end of September 2006 and called 
             him to suggest that he modify his public statement to 
             allow for reconsideration of that decision. He did so, and 
             as the record shows, his legal challenges, well within his 
             rights, enabled him to stay through the conclusion of the 
             110th Congress.
               Since that event, he has weathered the storm, conducted 
             himself with dignity on his official duties and made a 
             real contribution to the Senate. It was definitely in the 
             interests of his Idaho constituents and the Senate for him 
             to stay on and complete his term.
                                            Thursday, November 20, 2008
               Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I appreciate having this 
             opportunity to wish Larry Craig all the best as he retires 
             and returns home to his beloved Idaho. I have enjoyed 
             having a chance to work with him on issues of concern to 
             the people of our States. He has been an important part of 
             the work we have done on many of the issues that have come 
             to the floor of the Senate and he will be difficult to 
             replace.
               Ever since he first arrived in the Senate, Larry has 
             been a champion for the West and a strong and powerful 
             voice on the issues that concern the people of Wyoming and 
             Idaho. His dedication to making his home State a better 
             place to live and his determination to make a difference 
             in the Nation through his service in the Senate have made 
             him a force to be reckoned with for many years.
               Larry has long Idaho roots that date back to his 
             family's arrival in Idaho more than a century ago. He was 
             born on the family ranch that his grandfather had 
             homesteaded back in 1899. The ranch has been the proud 
             home of the Craig family ever since.
               Sometime during the days when Larry was a young man 
             growing up in Idaho, he was bitten by the political bug. 
             It got him started on the path toward what would be a 
             career of public service. Then, in 1974, Larry was elected 
             to the Idaho State Senate. It set him on a path that would 
             take him to the U.S. Senate.
               Because of his background as a rancher and a farmer, 
             Larry knows the importance of the land and the need for us 
             to be good stewards of all the resources under our 
             control. After all, as we have heard so very often, when 
             it comes to the land, they aren't making any more of it. 
             That is why Larry has always been determined to ensure 
             that Idaho's natural treasures were well taken care of. It 
             is not an exaggeration to say that Larry has been the 
             guardian at the gate to ensure the Federal Government 
             didn't overstep its boundaries and overregulate the land 
             in Idaho during his watch.
               His commitment to the land and to the people of Idaho 
             who rely on it for their livelihood particularly showed 
             itself during his service on the Energy and Natural 
             Resources Committee. He took full advantage of the 
             opportunity to work against any effort that would 
             adversely affect the ability of the people of Idaho to 
             make good use of their State's land. Also on his agenda 
             was the Endangered Species Act and the problems that had 
             come with its application. It was a fight Larry was 
             determined to win and he did more than just express his 
             concern. He rolled up his sleeves and got to work. The new 
             law he helped to write is not only more effective, but it 
             is also designed to minimize its impact on property 
             rights, employment, and our State and local economies.
               In the years to come I will most remember Larry for his 
             ability to present his case with power and emotion 
             whenever he would speak in committee or on the floor. 
             Larry's speaking and his debating skills are second to 
             none. He has been called one of the most influential of 
             all the western Senators and his conservative style has 
             proven to be one of his greatest strengths.
               Larry is probably best known for his work on immigration 
             and his support for the ability of seasonal workers to 
             come to the United States to work on our farms. He knows 
             the importance of developing solutions to tough problems 
             like immigration that do not hurt State economies or make 
             life harder for our family farms and ranches.
               The habits that he learned on the family ranch have been 
             with him his entire life and that is why you will usually 
             find him hard at work in his garden. It is his favorite 
             activity when he is away from his office and it is one he 
             can share with his grandchildren. As the grandfather of 
             three children myself, I can identify with his interest 
             and the time he sets aside to be with his seven 
             grandchildren.
               Speaking of his favorite hobby, he once said, ``My wife 
             knows she's not a golf widow or a skiing or a hunting 
             widow. She's a gardening widow.'' Larry is also a 
             tremendous artist. His ``works'' are widely prized and 
             collected.
               Larry, I will be sorry to see you and Suzanne leave, 
             saddlebags flapping in the wind as you ride off into the 
             sunset. Now there will be time for all the things you have 
             been putting off for some day, for now there will be 
             plenty of some days for you to share with Suzanne. Diana 
             and I wish you all the best in whatever you choose to do 
             in the coming years. As we have found, the end of one 
             great adventure is only the beginning of the next. So it 
             will be for you. Good luck and God bless.
                                            Thursday, November 20, 2008
               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.
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