[Senate Document 110-26]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



 
110th Congress, 2nd Session ------------------- Senate Document 110-26

                    TRIBUTES TO HON. GORDON H. SMITH


                                   Gordon H. Smith

                        U.S. SENATOR FROM OREGON

                                TRIBUTES

                           IN THE CONGRESS OF

                           THE UNITED STATES




                                   Gordon H. Smith






                                                      S. Doc. 110-26

                                      Tributes

                                Delivered in Congress

                                   Gordon H. Smith

                                United States Senator

                                      1997-2009

                     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:
                    Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee.................
                                                                     17
                    Bunning, Jim, of Kentucky......................
                                                                     17
                    Chambliss, Saxby, of Georgia...................
                                                                     24
                    Coleman, Norm, of Minnesota....................
                                                                     19
                    Collins, Susan M., of Maine....................
                                                                      3
                    Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota..................
                                                                      9
                    Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut...........
                                                                      7
                    Dorgan, Byron L., of North Dakota..............
                                                                     16
                    Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming...................
                                                                     20
                    Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin.............
                                                                      8
                    Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
                                                                     15
                    Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
                                                                     24
                    Kohl, Herb, of Wisconsin.......................
                                                                     17
                    Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana................
                                                                      3
                    Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont..................
                                                                     18
                    McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky..................
                                                                   4, 7
                    Reid, Harry, of Nevada.........................
                                                                      7
                    Smith, Gordon H., of Oregon....................
                                                                      6
                    Snowe, Olympia J., of Maine....................
                                                                     22
                    Specter, Arlen, of Pennsylvania................
                                                                     12
                    Warner, John, of Virginia......................
                                                                     13
                    Wyden, Ron, of Oregon..........................
                                                                      9
                                      BIOGRAPHY

               Gordon Smith served his home State of Oregon in the U.S. 
             Senate from 1997 to 2009. He earned a reputation for 
             independence and effectiveness, working with both 
             Republicans and Democrats to do what is right for Oregon.
               Helping grow the Oregon economy was a top priority. As a 
             member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, Gordon 
             Smith cut taxes and helped working families keep more of 
             their hard-earned money.
               When it comes to health care, he was a leading advocate 
             for mental health programs, expanding access to children's 
             health care, and providing coverage for the uninsured 
             while protecting Medicaid. The Oregonian called Gordon 
             Smith the ``leading Republican voice against dismantling 
             the nation's health-care safety net.''
               Oregon's farmers, fishermen, and outdoor enthusiasts 
             have come to know Gordon Smith as a friend. While others 
             were looking to shut down the forests or fence off our 
             farmers, Gordon Smith was making public policy that does 
             not leave Oregonians high and dry. Whether writing salvage 
             logging legislation or preserving landmarks like Mt. Hood, 
             he balanced the use of natural resources to protect 
             Oregon's treasures and people's livelihoods.
               From preschool to college education, he worked to make 
             sure Oregon's schools are strong. In the Senate, he fought 
             budget cuts to Head Start Programs for preschoolers and 
             worked to make student loans more accessible for college 
             students. As the chairman of the Senate Hunger Caucus, the 
             Senator worked to alleviate hunger in Oregon and address 
             the problem around the globe.
               Gordon Smith was the preeminent Republican advocate in 
             the U.S. Senate for bringing our troops home from Iraq and 
             focusing their mission on fighting terrorists. The 
             Register Guard said Smith has ``the courage to back up 
             criticism'' and that he spoke ``honestly'' about Iraq. La 
             Grande Observer said he ``spoke with conviction and 
             sincerity'' when calling for a change in tactics in Iraq.
               Known as Gordy to his nine brothers and sisters, he grew 
             up in Pendleton and later in Bethesda, MD, where his 
             father Milan served in the Eisenhower administration. 
             Gordon Smith played basketball and was an Eagle Scout. 
             After serving on a church mission in New Zealand, he 
             graduated from Brigham Young University and Southwestern 
             University School of Law.
               Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate in 1996, Smith 
             operated his family's frozen food processing company in 
             Pendleton. He first entered public service in 1992 serving 
             in the Oregon Senate, where he became Senate president in 
             1995.
               A native Oregonian, he and his wife Sharon live in 
             Pendleton where they raised three children--Brittany, 
             Garrett, and Morgan.
?

                                           

                                      TRIBUTES

                                         TO

                                   GORDON H. SMITH
                              Proceedings in the Senate
                                           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.
                                           Wednesday, November 19, 2008
               Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, for nearly 70 years the film 
             ``Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' has inspired Americans 
             and people around the world with its uplifting story of 
             how one man of conviction and character can make a 
             difference. Today, I am honored to offer a few words to 
             the Mr. Smith of our time: Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon.
               Senator Smith came to Washington to make a difference--
             and he has. He and I were sworn into the U.S. Senate on 
             the same day, January 7, 1997. Although his State and mine 
             are a continent apart, we quickly found that we had a lot 
             in common.
               It has been a joy to work with Gordon Smith on so many 
             important issues. Of course, where I come from, the name 
             Senator Smith conjures up not just the beloved movie but 
             also a towering, real-life figure, and my inspiration in 
             public service. Although Margaret Chase Smith of Maine and 
             Gordon Smith are separated by time, they are united in a 
             spirit of independence and integrity. Both served with 
             strong convictions but with respect for the principles of 
             others. Both spoke up when they saw wrongdoing. Both had 
             extraordinary courage that allowed them to speak out when 
             they thought their own party was in error. Both saw the 
             aisle not as a barrier to progress but as a bridge to 
             reaching consensus on behalf of the American people.
               This focus on moving forward is especially apparent in 
             Gordon Smith's effective work on issues of great 
             importance in Maine, in Oregon, and everywhere in 
             between--health care, tax relief, small business, equal 
             rights, and foreign policy. These challenges are ones that 
             require careful consensus building, a responsible approach 
             that has defined Gordon Smith's service here.
               Gordon Smith is simply a wonderful person and an 
             extraordinary leader. We all remember the terrible tragedy 
             he suffered with the loss of his son during his service 
             here, a terrible tragedy that gave him and his family such 
             sorrow. But it is typical of Gordon Smith that out of that 
             tragedy, he chose to do something to help prevent other 
             families from enduring the tragedy of the loss of a child. 
             That is so typical of Gordon Smith--always thinking of 
             others, always trying to do what is right, always 
             committed to public service.
               Smith is one of the more common names in the English 
             language, but in this Chamber the name has special 
             meaning, one of uncommon principles and extraordinary 
             accomplishments. It reminds us of a cherished film, of the 
             great lady from the State of Maine, Senator Margaret Chase 
             Smith, and now of Senator Gordon Smith. I thank him for 
             his service and his friendship, and I wish him all the 
             best in the future.

               Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I rise with sadness to 
             say goodbye to our friend the Senator from Oregon, Gordon 
             Smith. For 12 years he has made the people of Oregon proud 
             by serving as a model legislator: thoughtful, independent, 
             and focused on getting results for our country and his 
             State.
               Gordon heard the call to serve others early in life, 
             becoming an Eagle Scout as a boy and taking a 2-year 
             mission to New Zealand for his church. He earned his 
             bachelor's degree at Brigham Young University and his law 
             degree at Southwestern University.
               He then bought back the family business, a frozen 
             vegetable company, and transformed it into one of the 
             largest and most profitable in the country. With Gordon's 
             departure, we are losing the Senate's only member of the 
             Frozen Food Hall of Fame.
               Gordon's desire to serve led him to run for the Oregon 
             State Senate in 1992. His peers recognized the star in 
             their midst when they elevated him first to minority 
             leader, then to senate president during his first term in 
             office.
               Gordon then entered a special election to fill a vacant 
             U.S. Senate seat. Election day fell in January 1996, and 
             Gordon lost that race--the winner was our colleague, his 
             fellow Senator from Oregon.
               But then Gordon did something no one else has ever done, 
             and proved to the people of the Beaver State how much he 
             cared about making sure every Oregonian's voice was heard 
             in Washington.
               He ran for the Senate again in the regularly scheduled 
             election later that year, making him the only American in 
             history to run for two Senate seats in the same year. The 
             people of Oregon gave him their trust and Gordon has never 
             let them down.
               Oregonians can rightfully be proud of his conservation 
             record, as he championed legislation to successfully 
             secure the protection of 170,000 acres of wilderness on 
             Steen Mountain and the Bull Run watershed.
               While protecting our natural resources, he also 
             understands the importance of the many working Oregonians 
             who depend on his State's natural resources for their 
             livelihood. The foremost example of his work in that 
             regard is his tireless effort to protect the farmers of 
             the Klamath Basin area, and to keep their agricultural 
             lands in production.
               He has fought to lower the number of uninsured and drive 
             health care costs down, and has been a tireless advocate 
             for the disabled and mentally ill.
               He has sponsored legislation to strengthen the 
             prosecution of child exploitation cases, fought for new 
             protections against Internet predators, and led the effort 
             to increase funding for programs that help victims of 
             rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
               Gordon has also been a leading voice on issues of 
             education, and has fought to secure rural schools 
             throughout Oregon. He has fought for lower taxes, so more 
             Oregonians can keep more of what they earn.
               But there is one issue in particular where Gordon led 
             the way in a very personal manner for a cause close to his 
             heart. In 2003, Gordon's son, Garrett, committed suicide 
             just one day before his 22d birthday.
               The torment a parent must feel after losing a child must 
             be the worst horror imaginable. No amount of sympathy, no 
             words, nothing any of us could do could possibly ease the 
             pain in Gordon's and his family's hearts.
               Yet even in his grief, Gordon showed us the strength of 
             his character when he wrote about his loss in his moving 
             memoir, ``Remembering Garrett.'' And he channeled his 
             sadness into successful legislation, the Garrett Lee Smith 
             Memorial Act, to create screening programs to identify and 
             help youths at risk for suicide.
               I'll never forget his powerful words on behalf of that 
             legislation in this very Chamber. He said, ``[There's] no 
             owner's manual to help you bury a child, especially when 
             the cause is suicide. So I've committed myself to trying 
             to find meaning in Garrett's life.'' Gordon, with that 
             brave act you prevented the tragedy of suicide from 
             befalling countless other families. I can think of no more 
             profound example of strength and leadership than that.
               Every Senator knows what a pleasure it is to work with 
             Gordon. He believes we were sent here to find solutions, 
             not confrontations. And for every day he has served in 
             public office, finding solutions has been his goal.
               Gordon, it has been a privilege to work with you these 
             many years, and to spend time with you and your wife 
             Sharon. America is a stronger Nation thanks to your 
             dedication and spirit of public service. Please don't 
             forget you have many friends here, and we all wish you 
             well in your bright future.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Cantwell). The Senator from 
             Oregon is recognized.

               Mr. SMITH. Madam President, I thank my leader, Mitch 
             McConnell. Winston Churchill observed that ``Democracy is 
             not always a polite employer.'' That is the case in my 
             reelection effort. Yet I feel nothing but gratitude to the 
             people of my State.
               I acknowledge the wisdom of the people of Kentucky in 
             your reelection and of the wisdom of my colleagues for 
             electing you again as our leader. You are an articulate 
             advocate for causes that I think are important for America 
             not to forget in the coming days. It is one of the high 
             privileges of my life that I have been able to serve with 
             you as a friend and as a colleague.
               I thank you and I thank my Senate family, without 
             respect to party, for the help that was given to Sharon 
             and me at the most painful time of our lives--to find 
             additional meaning in the life of our son by helping the 
             sons and daughters of others. I hope and pray that my 
             Senate colleagues, while I am gone, will not forget those 
             who struggle with mental illness. I am so proud of Senator 
             Domenici, Senator Kennedy, and others who championed 
             mental health parity. It has been a privilege to be on 
             their team in this cause. It is a silent cause. It is one 
             that does not get a lot of ink or much attention because 
             America is still opening its mind to this important area 
             of medicine. But we have blazed a new trail, and much of 
             it was because of your leadership, sir.
               For the privilege of serving with you, of serving my 
             State, of serving with these colleagues here, I thank God, 
             and I thank the State of Oregon, and I say God bless 
             America.

               Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, may I just add a word to 
             my friend from Oregon. He has had an extraordinarily 
             successful tenure here. In my view, I would say to my 
             friend from Oregon, you can always look back on these 12 
             years with a sense of accomplishment. You have been a 
             major player in this institution on a variety of 
             different, extremely important matters that will affect 
             each generation to come. So on behalf of all of our 
             Republican colleagues, and I am sure on behalf of everyone 
             in the Senate, I thank you for your extraordinary service.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is 
             recognized.

               Mr. REID. Mr. President, before the Senator leaves the 
             floor--I am sorry I had to leave, I was called away from 
             my desk--I wanted to say through the Chair to my friend 
             Gordon Smith that I, of course, watched all the election 
             results very closely. But my wife watched one election 
             result, and that was yours, because of the long-standing 
             relationship she has with you and Sharon. The record is 
             very clear of our long-standing friendship and our having 
             had a similar experience with our loved ones following 
             suicide.
               I am sorry I didn't have more time to maybe write 
             something out that may have been more meaningful, but I 
             hope the Senator from Oregon will always understand the 
             affection, respect, and admiration I have not only for 
             what you did in your Senate service but for what you do in 
             your personal life.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut is 
             recognized.

               Mr. DODD. Let me say as well, I don't have a prepared 
             statement to make either, but I want to tell my friend 
             from Oregon how much I have enjoyed my work with him over 
             the years on a number of very important issues dealing 
             with the issue that the Senator can speak of not only with 
             eloquence but with a great deal of passion, and that is 
             the issue of mental illness. We were able to pass, in the 
             waning days of our session, of course, the mental health 
             parity bill. How important that was. Pete Domenici, Ted 
             Kennedy, Paul Wellstone, and others worked on it, but 
             Gordon Smith was invaluable in that discussion.
               I enjoyed immensely my work with him during his two 
             terms in the Senate. I will say to my friend, the Good 
             Lord is not through with you yet. There are a lot of 
             things you can do for our country. You have done a lot 
             already. So I hope you come back often and see us and know 
             you have friends who care about you and cherish you very 
             much. Although there is an aisle here that separates us 
             politically, the aisle doesn't exist when it comes to 
             respect and admiration. In those terms, I am your seatmate 
             in terms of my respect for you. I thank you for all you 
             have done.

               Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I want to thank 
             Senator Gordon Smith for his service to the people of 
             Oregon. During my time on the Senate Foreign Relations 
             African Affairs Subcommittee I have watched Senator Smith 
             fight ardently for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS 
             Relief that has saved countless lives around the globe. 
             His leadership on legislation to fight HIV/AIDS and other 
             diseases has been vital to our efforts to bring help to 
             many African nations.
               I also applaud his work to pass the Employment Non-
             Discrimination Act, which I was also pleased to co-
             sponsor. His efforts to end employment discrimination 
             based on sexual orientation represent an important step 
             toward ensuring equal rights for all Americans.
               Finally, I want to recognize Senator Smith's work on 
             legislation to require health insurers to include mental 
             health benefits in their health insurance coverage. This 
             excellent example of bipartisan cooperation, the Paul 
             Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and 
             Addiction Equity Act, was made possible in part by the 
             commitment of Senator Smith to ensuring those suffering 
             from mental illness have access to medical treatments that 
             will improve their quality of life.
               Once again, I thank Gordon Smith for his dedication to 
             the people of Oregon and the country while in the Senate, 
             and I wish him all the best in the future.

               Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, when a departing colleague 
             has been a strong working partner as well as a friend, 
             saying goodbye is not easy. I have had the pleasure of 
             serving on several committees with Gordon Smith over the 
             course of his career. We have sat across the dais from 
             each other at the Budget Committee, the Indian Affairs 
             Committee, and the Finance Committee.
               I am proud of what Senator Smith and I have been able to 
             accomplish in promoting savings and capital preservation 
             for people in their retirement years. He recognized a long 
             time ago that the sooner workers begin saving for 
             retirement--and the longer they sustain that commitment--
             the better off they and their families will be when they 
             have to depend on those savings.
               The successes we enjoyed in getting some of our ideas 
             included in the Pension Protection Act of 2006 led to more 
             ambitious proposals to address the special retirement 
             savings and income needs of women and older workers. And 
             Gordon Smith was the first to join the effort to promote 
             lifetime income instruments as a response to longevity 
             advances, which constitute the greatest threat to the 
             retirement income security of the baby boom generation.
               In view of the economic situation the country now faces, 
             the efforts that Senator Smith and I began must continue. 
             I sincerely regret that he will not be my primary partner 
             on this agenda in the 111th Congress. I certainly hope 
             that he will continue to use his influence and 
             intelligence to keep the focus on this clear national 
             priority.
               Finally, I want to salute Senator Smith for the 
             character of his service to his State, this body, and to 
             the Nation. He is the kind of deliberate, open-minded, and 
             thoughtful public servant the Founders must have had in 
             mind when they conceived the Senate. We will truly miss 
             this distinguished gentleman from Oregon.
                                            Thursday, November 20, 2008
               Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, at this moment, exactly 13 
             years ago, I was locked in the toughest political battle 
             of my life against Gordon H. Smith. I went on to narrowly 
             win that race and continue to hold that Senate seat today. 
             But Gordon Smith dusted himself off only a few months 
             later and took on yet another very tough battle, and that 
             time he won the Senate seat that had been held for 30 
             years by our remarkable Senator Mark Hatfield.
               At that point, Oregonians did not know what to make of 
             their Senate delegation. They had two Senators, myself and 
             Senator Smith, who were replacing Bob Packwood and Mark 
             Hatfield. Those two individuals were the chairman of the 
             Finance Committee and the chairman of the Senate 
             Appropriations Committee. And, of course, the old story 
             was that Bob Packwood got to raise all of the money 
             because he was chairman of the Finance Committee, and Mark 
             Hatfield got to spend it all because he was chairman of 
             the Appropriations Committee.
               Of course, I was very much concerned about what was 
             ahead because I thought it was very possibly going to be a 
             long and uncomfortable 6 years serving with the fellow 
             with whom I had just duked it out over many months of a 
             political campaign that, as the two of us like to say, was 
             not exactly for the fainthearted.
               One of the great surprises of my career came, however, 
             when I discovered that my new colleague, Gordon Smith, was 
             as thoughtful and kind and decent outside the political 
             arena as he was tough and competitive inside the political 
             arena. It was that charm and that decency and his desire 
             to meet me halfway on Oregon's interests that got me 
             closer to Gordon over the years and led to an unusually 
             strong working relationship and what became a strong and 
             genuine friendship.
               Gordon lost a very tough reelection race a few weeks ago 
             in a State that has changed rapidly from what was a very 
             small Democratic voter edge, back when we ran against each 
             other in 1996, to what has become a significant Democratic 
             voter edge in 2008. Gordon and his skillful campaign team 
             battled hard and tough as they always have. They did 
             everything they could to withstand a formidable political 
             tide and a very strong Democratic challenger, a challenger 
             whom I support. So it is with mixed and conflicting 
             emotions that I come today to pay tribute to my colleague 
             and my friend of 12 years, Gordon H. Smith.
               Gordon and I have had plenty of political differences, 
             enough differences, differences that we knew would be the 
             case, that made us say from our very first meeting, when 
             Gordon won that race to replace Mark Hatfield, that we 
             would be supporting each other's opponents in years ahead.
               Political campaigns are important, and each of us was 
             called upon to separate our friendship from our beliefs 
             every 2 years. Yet I will say this afternoon that I have 
             come to genuinely loathe much of what has become of the 
             political process in our country. The relentless and 
             omnipresent negative ads obscure and distort to the point 
             that it can be difficult for the typical citizen to 
             maintain anything resembling a healthy perspective on 
             fundamentally good and decent individuals who seek public 
             office.
               Thankfully, the negative ads are now off the air, and I 
             want to make sure Oregonians once again remember the 
             Gordon Smith I have known for 12 years. Gordon has been a 
             good and decent and selfless public servant.
               The fact is, Gordon Smith did not need to serve another 
             term in the Senate. He and his wife Sharon have built a 
             strong and prosperous business, and they could have done 
             countless things with their time that would have been more 
             glamorous and certainly produced less strain and wear and 
             tear on their personal lives. But Gordon ran because of 
             his belief in the role that he believed he could play in 
             shaping our country's future. That, in my view, is the 
             essence of being a good public servant. No one in this 
             body or in the State of Oregon ought to lose sight of the 
             extraordinary sacrifices that Gordon and his wife Sharon 
             have made over the course of almost two decades of public 
             service.
               Among Gordon's many personal triumphs in the Senate, I 
             would like to highlight two that are especially important 
             to our State, to our country, and to me personally. I 
             wanted to remind my colleagues and the people of our 
             country of the very difficult decisions made by Gordon and 
             Sharon to share with the public and the Congress their 
             heartrending struggle on behalf of their son, Garrett. 
             They did this selflessly to further the cause of mental 
             health treatment, and particularly the cause of mental 
             health parity.
               If not for Gordon's courage in sharing their family's 
             story, I believe Congress might not have acted on mental 
             health parity this past fall, and thousands of parents 
             might never know that they are not alone in their 
             difficult struggle.
               There were other critical tasks that Gordon shouldered 
             and one that I was especially appreciative for his 
             leadership on, and that was being the voice for rural 
             folks, for people whose way of life and quality of life is 
             connected to natural resources that are bountiful in our 
             State.
               Gordon spoke for the farmer, and he spoke for the 
             rancher. He spoke for the logger, for the millworker, and 
             the miner. He spoke for the rural communities they live 
             in, communities that struggle to retain a voice in 
             increasingly urban America.
               It was written fairly frequently in Oregon's papers, and 
             was in the New York Times at one point, that there was 
             something in the State of Oregon that people came to say 
             was the Senate's odd couple. In fact, I think the headline 
             in the New York Times when they talked about us was wildly 
             inflationary, and Gordon and I came to laugh about it. I 
             think the headline was, ``Oregon's Odd Couple Makes It 
             Work.'' It was essentially all about how there were two 
             Senators from Oregon; one of them was a Mormon fellow. He 
             was a Republican. He was from somewhere called Pendleton. 
             Gordon and I were never convinced that folks in the New 
             York Times knew exactly where Pendleton was, but that is 
             how Gordon was described.
               Then they said the other Senator was a Jewish guy, and 
             he was from Portland and he was a legal aid lawyer for the 
             senior citizens, and he was an activist with the Gray 
             Panthers. What in the world would these two people ever 
             have in common?
               Well, I want people to know that gentle spirit, that 
             Mormon from wheat and pea country taught this Jewish 
             fellow from the city an awful lot about the too often 
             forgotten voices, particularly those in our rural 
             communities.
               In his absence, I will do everything I can to remind 
             colleagues, particularly Democratic colleagues on my side 
             of the aisle, of the challenges faced in rural 
             communities, of the people and the issues that Gordon H. 
             Smith championed every single day in the Senate. I wish 
             Gordon and Sharon well in whatever their future endeavors 
             are. I have already made it clear they will always have my 
             friendship and assistance in any project they pursue in 
             the days ahead. But most important, I come to the floor 
             and thank Gordon for his personal friendship to me and his 
             service to our State. I ask my colleagues here and the 
             people of our home State to voice their thanks today to 
             two very special people, Sharon and Gordon H. Smith.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania.

               Mr. SPECTER. Madam President, I have listened to the 
             eloquent comments of the Senator from Oregon, Mr. Wyden. I 
             had planned to insert a statement in the Record 
             complementing Senator Gordon Smith on his tenure, but I 
             would like to add my voice of laudatory comments at the 
             conclusion of the statement of Senator Wyden. I agree with 
             him that Senator Gordon Smith has made an enormous 
             contribution to the Senate in his two terms, and he will 
             be sorely missed. He is a member of a small band of 
             moderates on this side of the aisle. I suggest that Gordon 
             Smith's brand of Republicanism is very much in need in 
             this body. Very frequently, Members on the Democratic side 
             of the aisle seek co-sponsors. I have been told on a 
             number of occasions that the ``pickins are slim.'' 
             Gordon's absence will make it more difficult.
               Gordon Smith has been outspoken on many of the very 
             important causes that require bipartisanship. He was one 
             of the few on this side of the aisle to sponsor 
             legislation to fight hate crimes, for example. At the 
             outset, support for Federal funding for embryonic stem 
             cell research was limited. Gordon Smith was at the 
             forefront of that effort, as I was. Gordon Smith made a 
             very eloquent speech from his chair a few rows behind me 
             on the Iraq war. He was moved one day to come over and 
             spoke from the heart, something which happens relatively 
             infrequently in this Chamber. Sometimes people in this 
             Chamber speak from the head. Even that has its limited 
             aspects, if we take a close look at the Congressional 
             Record. But Gordon Smith was a big plus here.
               I would like to associate myself with the remarks of 
             Senator Wyden. I know Gordon is a young, vigorous man. He 
             has a bright future ahead of him. I think he will live to 
             fight another day on the political wars. Some of us have 
             had an election loss or two. It is a learning experience, 
             not one I recommend, but there are ways to move forward. 
             That can be a lesson that could stand anyone in good 
             stead. I am sure Senator Gordon Smith has a great future 
             ahead of him.

               Mr. WARNER. Madam President, today may mark the last day 
             of this session, although I shall not try to make that 
             prediction. However, I would not want this day to pass 
             without availing myself of the opportunity and the 
             privilege to come to this floor and say a few words on 
             behalf of the very dear and valued friends whom I have 
             served with in this Chamber as they depart and go on the 
             road of life to, I expect, in each case great challenges.
               Gordon Smith and I have become friends for ever so many 
             reasons. One, we both love the outdoors. He and his 
             devoted wife Sharon and my wife have all been close 
             friends through these years. As I look back, I will always 
             remember Gordon. I remember when I was chairman of the 
             Armed Services Committee and entrusted with the 
             extraordinary responsibilities--along with other committee 
             members, as well as, indeed, every Member of this 
             Chamber--entrusted with those decisions relating to this 
             Nation's Armed Forces who were fighting so valiantly then, 
             today, and for the foreseeable future--I hope the short 
             future--in Iraq.
               Gordon and I had many very quiet and private 
             conversations about his deep concerns and convictions. His 
             convictions emanated from the depths of his heart. 
             Politics played no role in his approach to the conflict in 
             Iraq. He was gravely concerned about the loss of life and 
             limb, the image of this Nation, and, indeed, the families 
             of the loved ones who are fighting in that conflict. So I 
             say: Gordon, we had our differences, but I respected your 
             stance. I can see him standing back there as erect as he 
             always was, standing and voting against me and voting 
             against others, but again, drawing on his own deeply held 
             personal convictions. Time will tell and history will tell 
             if I was right or if I was wrong, but I found his counsel, 
             his willingness to listen, his willingness to share with 
             me his most inner thoughts about that conflict a very 
             valuable asset as I and others in leadership positions 
             carried the heavy burden of that conflict. So I am 
             grateful to him. He is a very sensitive man, and he showed 
             that sensitivity every so often as he plunged into the 
             complex issues with regard to health care, the almost 
             insoluble problems--problems that he recognized have to be 
             solved, particularly so that people of lesser means can 
             achieve a measure of health care equivalent to those who 
             have the means can receive for themselves. It is a 
             hallmark of how this man proudly walked his way through 
             life, with a loving wife by his side and the family whom 
             he loves so dearly, and always thinking about those who 
             perhaps have not had the opportunities that he and I and 
             others have had, particularly as it relates to health 
             care.
               He also loves the outdoors. A great golfer, we played 
             together from time to time. His skill is far superior to 
             mine in every way. He is a lover of art. We shared our 
             interest in paintings, particularly paintings that had 
             come from Scotland. To have had the friendship of Gordon 
             Smith is to have shared the life of a wonderful human 
             being, and I thank Gordon for all that he has done for me 
             and for this great Nation, and for his beloved State. I 
             wish him well in his next venture, and I look forward to 
             meeting him along the way.

               Mr. HATCH. Mr. President. I thank you for the 
             opportunity today to pay tribute to a very special man, 
             caring husband and father, and great Senator, Gordon 
             Smith.
               Sadly, he will be leaving this august body soon and 
             returning to private life. The U.S. Senate will be losing 
             a great leader, a man of high integrity, and a true 
             statesman.
               Gordon joined the U.S. Senate in January 1997, after 
             winning an election as a rural conservative in a State 
             defined by a more liberal landscape. After his election, 
             Senator Smith quickly made his mark as someone both sides 
             of the aisle could work with for the good of his State and 
             our Nation. He displayed the characteristics of what I 
             believe makes a truly great Senator--someone who is 
             willing to roll up his sleeves and battle for what he 
             believes is right.
               His commitment to Oregon was exemplary. He focused on 
             issues that were critical to the citizens of his State 
             including education, health care, natural resources, and 
             bridging the rural-urban divide. Along the way he 
             displayed a true independent streak, bucking his party 
             when he believed he needed to go a different direction for 
             the good of those he represented.
               Senator Smith's leadership and abilities were greatly 
             appreciated by the committee members he served with, and 
             the positions he was asked to assume. As chairman of the 
             Senate Special Committee on Aging he presided over 
             critical issues facing our Nation's aging population. In 
             addition, he made tremendous contributions to four 
             additional committees: Commerce, Science, and 
             Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Indian 
             Affairs; and Finance.
               He was also selected four times by the leadership of our 
             party to become the deputy whip, an important position we 
             could all look to for guidance and support.
               I had the distinct pleasure of traveling with Senator 
             Smith on two occasions to Iraq to assess the situation 
             first hand, visit with the troops, and become more 
             intimately familiar with the challenges facing our country 
             overseas. We shared a genuine interest and concern in the 
             events taking place in that country, and I will forever be 
             grateful to Senator Smith for taking that journey with me.
               Before joining the Senate, Gordon made his mark in the 
             business world--assuming the helm of his family's frozen 
             vegetable processing company. His strength and commitment 
             steered this company to new success, and established 
             himself as a business leader with qualities to emulate.
               You can't talk about Gordon Smith without talking about 
             the love he has for people, especially his wonderful 
             family. Gordon and his wife Sharon have raised three 
             wonderful children: Brittany, Garrett, and Morgan. Even 
             while meeting the demands of his job, you always knew his 
             thoughts and actions centered on home.
               During his second term in office, Gordon and Sharon had 
             to face a tragedy almost impossible to bear. Their son 
             Garrett lost his battle with depression and grief. As I 
             watched this deeply grieving father, I was so powerfully 
             reminded that life isn't always about what happens in the 
             walls of the U.S. Capitol but it is about our families, 
             our friends, and the love we share with those closest to 
             our souls.
               Senator Smith didn't just let his grief consume him--he 
             took action. Perhaps his proudest accomplishment in Senate 
             service would be the passing of a suicide prevention law 
             named after his son. This law passed unanimously and has 
             made a real difference in programs across the country that 
             are designed to help those in critical emotional need.
               I am truly grateful that I have had the opportunity to 
             serve with this great man for 12 years. In a town where 
             true friendships can be rare, I have been blessed to find 
             a true friend in Gordon Smith. Although we didn't always 
             agree, our deepest fundamental beliefs were shaped in the 
             same bedrock of less government, opportunities for all, 
             and integrity in public service.
               I always knew that whether in times of trouble or 
             success, I had found a true comrade in service, someone I 
             could trust to do what is right and hold fast to the 
             notion of public service for the people.
               Robert Louis Stevenson stated, ``We are all travelers in 
             the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in 
             our travels is an honest friend.'' Gordon has been just 
             that friend to me.
               I will miss working alongside this great Senator, and 
             true American. However, I know that throughout his life he 
             will continue to work for the good of others in whatever 
             endeavors he chooses to follow. I want to wish Gordon and 
             his wife Sharon and their children many years of continued 
             success, happiness and peace as they travel life's path 
             together. Thank you for the opportunity to honor this 
             extraordinary man.

               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.
                                               Monday, December 8, 2008
               Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I would like to honor my 
             friend and colleague from Oregon, Senator Gordon Smith.
               I have worked with Gordon since coming over to the 
             Senate in 1998. It has been an honor and privilege to 
             serve on both the Senate Finance Committee and Energy and 
             Natural Resources Committee with him. Gordon has a long 
             list of accomplishments to show for the people of Oregon 
             and the Nation. He has served the people of Oregon well, 
             and I know they are proud to call him one of their own. 
             His leadership in the Senate will be missed, and it has 
             truly been an honor serving with him.
               I thank Gordon for all of his contributions to the U.S. 
             Senate, and I wish him and his family the best of luck in 
             their future endeavors.

               Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, four of our most valuable 
             Senators will not return next year and we will miss them. 
             ...
               Gordon Smith is the most eloquent among us Senators. 
             Every Republican Senator would say that, and any Democrat 
             who had heard him would agree. He has a quiet way, an 
             intelligence and a way of speaking that commands attention 
             and respect. He has his feet firmly planted on the ground 
             in Pendleton, OR. He understands the private sector. He 
             has been courageous in his willingness to support and 
             chide and criticize his party when needed. He will be 
             sorely missed.
                                           Wednesday, December 10, 2008
               Mr. KOHL. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute 
             to my colleague, Senator Gordon H. Smith of Oregon. We 
             have served together on the Special Committee on Aging 
             since he came to the Senate in 1997. For the past 4 years, 
             I have had the distinct pleasure of leading the committee 
             alongside him.
               Our committee has a proud history of bipartisanship. 
             Both the chair and the ranking member have the power to 
             hold hearings, lead investigations, and conduct oversight 
             for the good of older Americans. In every effort, the 
             majority and minority staff involve each other, offering 
             insights and inviting witnesses. The work we have done as 
             leaders of the committee very much reflects the 
             partnership we forged. And I am pleased to have had the 
             opportunity to share many successes with Senator Smith, 
             the most recent of which--a 2-year extension of 
             Supplemental Security Income, SSI, benefits for refugees 
             and other humanitarian immigrants--was signed into law by 
             President Bush this fall.
               As the end of our era comes to a close, I wish to 
             applaud Senator Smith for his commendable leadership of 
             the committee, and thank him for the comity he ensured as 
             we worked together to support older workers, improve rural 
             health care and Medicare accountability, and strengthen 
             elder justice. I will be honored to push forth on these 
             issues, which represent just a few of the many priorities 
             we shared, though I will certainly regret the absence of 
             my collaborator, Senator Smith.
               I wish Senator Smith nothing but success and happiness 
             as he leaves this institution. I, along with millions of 
             older Americans, owe him a debt of gratitude for the work 
             he has done here.
                                            Thursday, December 11, 2008
               Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I would like to pay tribute 
             today to the service of Senator Gordon Smith, who has 
             served the people of Oregon and his country with honor. I 
             have had the pleasure of serving with Senator Smith during 
             his two terms here in the Senate, and during that time he, 
             and his wife Sharon, have been become dear friends. 
             Marcelle and I have often enjoyed traveling with Senator 
             Smith and his wife Sharon, including a couple of trips to 
             Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum.
               Senator Smith began his political career in 1992 when he 
             was first elected to the Oregon State Senate. There he 
             served as minority leader and the president of the senate 
             during his first term in office. Since his election to the 
             U.S. Senate, Senator Smith has always been willing to 
             reach across the aisle to bring our colleagues together, 
             and his leadership has produced a list of impressive 
             legislative accomplishments.
               During his two terms here in the Senate Senator Smith 
             has committed himself to efforts on behalf of the people 
             of Oregon, supporting both criminal justice reform and 
             expansion of youth services. Following the tragic death of 
             his son Garrett, Senator Smith worked tirelessly as an 
             advocate for the early intervention and prevention of 
             youth suicide, establishing a grant program for youth 
             mental health programs through the Garrett Lee Smith 
             Memorial Act, which was signed into law by President Bush 
             in 2004. I also appreciate the partnership that we forged 
             in advancing the Innocence Protection Act, a package of 
             modest procedural reforms relating to the death penalty, 
             which I introduced in 2000, and much of which was enacted 
             several years later.
               Marcelle and I have valued his friendship and wish 
             Gordon and Sharon all of the best.

               Mr. COLEMAN. Madam President, when the Founders 
             envisioned this Senate, I believe they hoped it would be a 
             place where strong opinions, established life skills and 
             varied experience would come together to serve the Nation. 
             Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon has matched that standard, 
             and the whole Nation has benefited.
               I have always been encouraged and inspired by Senator 
             Smith's forward-looking mind and his energetic advocacy of 
             a better life for all Americans. He has fought for better 
             schools for our children. He confronted the reality of 
             America's ``drop-out culture'' and fought for 
             individualized attention for at-risk kids.
               We have worked together to ensure that the Medicaid 
             Program fulfills its promise to America's less fortunate, 
             and to extend the excellent quality of American health 
             care to a broader and broader share of the population.
               It has been an honor to work with Gordon Smith on the 
             Aging Committee in particular. His tireless advocacy to 
             ensure that our seniors are afforded the dignity and 
             respect they deserve has been an inspiration.
               Gordon Smith has also been a strong voice for Oregonians 
             on the environment and the natural treasures in their 
             State. And he turned personal tragedy into a nationwide 
             effort to prevent suicide.
               On issue after issue, Gordon Smith has demonstrated a 
             boundless enthusiasm for the process of reform, and a 
             confidence that we can always make government programs 
             more responsive, more relevant, and more effective for the 
             American people.
               Like the modern day Oregon pioneers he represents, 
             Gordon Smith has always demonstrated both a fierce 
             independence and a strong belief that there is a better 
             way--if we dream big, work hard, and stick together, there 
             is no problem too big for America.
               In ``Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,'' Hollywood 
             memorialized the commonsense man of impeccable character 
             as the ideal Senator. Gordon Smith would have fit the part 
             perfectly. I will dearly miss his integrity, his 
             enthusiasm, and his friendship in this place. But I am 
             excited for what the next chapter of his leadership will 
             mean to Oregon and this country. I hope we can all bring 
             more of his can-do spirit and positive energy to the 
             urgent challenges we face in the days ahead.
                                              Friday, December 12, 2008
               Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, we have come to the end of 
             another legislative session and we are all preparing to 
             return home to celebrate the holidays with our friends and 
             families back home. As we close the books on the 110th 
             Session of Congress, it is good to have this opportunity 
             take a moment to say goodbye to our colleagues who will 
             not be with us when the gavel opens the next session of 
             Congress. We will miss them all.
               One Senator we will particularly miss when the next 
             session of Congress begins is Gordon Smith. Gordon is a 
             remarkable representative of his home State and he has 
             been an important voice for the people of Oregon during 
             his 12 years of service in the Senate.
               I have enjoyed coming to know Gordon and having a chance 
             to work with him on several issues of concern to the 
             people of our States. During his service, he has compiled 
             a remarkable record of success that has earned him a 
             reputation for his ability to get things done in both the 
             private and public sector.
               Gordon and I have something in common--a love of numbers 
             and the intricacies of the law and how they impact the 
             small businesses of our Nation. We are both aware of the 
             importance of the small business community and the jobs 
             they provide to the people of this Nation. Without them 
             our local, State, and national economies would be in even 
             worse shape than they are right now. With them, there is 
             great hope and confidence that we will be able to find a 
             solution to the economic problems facing our country.
               Gordon knows something about running a small business 
             from the days he spent trying to revive the frozen 
             vegetable processing company that had been in his family's 
             hands. Because of the strength of his will, his 
             determination to succeed, and his commitment to 
             excellence, he was able to produce amazing results. He 
             took what had been an unprofitable business and turned it 
             into one of the largest frozen food companies in the 
             United States. His incredible ride to the top earned him a 
             place in the Frozen Food Industry Hall of Fame.
               It also earned him a spot on the Senate Finance 
             Committee, where he has worked tirelessly to protect the 
             small businesses of our Nation. His business sense and the 
             practical experience he had of meeting a payroll and 
             planning a budget helped him to master all of the details 
             of our tax policy. He has an uncanny sense and a profound 
             understanding of what works and what doesn't--and why. 
             Fortunately, he has been at the right place at the right 
             time and has known what to do to fix things and right our 
             country's economic ship.
               Gordon's commitment to our families has shown itself in 
             many ways, most notably by his work to tackle the problem 
             of uninsured children. He offered an amendment that passed 
             the Senate providing for an increase in Federal cigarette 
             taxes to fund a program to cover some 6 million uninsured 
             children who were eligible for but were not enrolled in 
             State health insurance programs or Medicaid.
               He fought for our children because Gordon understands 
             full well that they are our most important resource. If we 
             don't provide them with affordable health care, a good 
             education, and a supportive home environment that will 
             make it possible for them to be successful in school and 
             later in life, then nothing we do, no matter how well we 
             do it, will matter much in the long run.
               Gordon knew it would not be easy to pass that amendment, 
             but he was ready for a fight. He made it clear that if 
             anything was worth fighting for, that was it. It really 
             was no wonder, therefore, when he won a clear and decisive 
             victory, not for himself, but for those 6 million children 
             who now have a chance to live a happier and healthier life 
             thanks to Gordon Smith. It's another proud chapter in his 
             legislative career--and it's part of a legacy of service 
             to the people of Oregon that will never be forgotten.
               As I have come to know Gordon, I have thought that he is 
             a little like me because we both love to confound those in 
             both parties who are surprised to see us working so well 
             with Members on both sides of the aisle. We have both 
             worked with Ted Kennedy and thanks to his willingness to 
             help us pursue a common agenda, we have both been able to 
             make progress on the issues that concern us and the people 
             back home.
               In the months to come, I believe we will most remember 
             Gordon for the way he faced the personal tragedy of losing 
             a son. I can only imagine the pain that comes with such a 
             loss. Gordon handled that time in his life with great 
             strength and shared his experience with us, not to draw 
             attention to himself, but because he knew that ``his 
             having been there'' would enable him to reach out to help 
             those who might be facing a similar struggle in the lives 
             of their own families.
               As he began to heal from that painful wound, he took 
             that personal tragedy and gave it added meaning by working 
             to pass a suicide prevention bill that now bears his son's 
             name. It was another battle he fought because it was the 
             right thing to do. He took up the cause because he 
             believed in it with all his heart. As a result, the 
             Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act will forever serve as a 
             loving testament of a father to the life of his son. It 
             will encourage us all to reach out to those facing similar 
             problems so they can receive the help and support they 
             need to go on with their lives.
               I have always known Gordon to be a man of great 
             spiritual strength, a former Mormon bishop who has deep 
             personal and moral convictions. He has a strong sense of 
             right and wrong and his inner compass has helped to guide 
             him in the direction that he felt was best for his State 
             and the Nation. He is an individual blessed with a strong 
             and determined spirit who has a special place in his heart 
             and his life for his God and his country.

               Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to 
             Senator Gordon Smith, with whom I have had the privilege 
             of working throughout his 12 years of service in the U.S. 
             Senate. Gordon has been a great friend to me as he has to 
             so many of us--but most important he has been a tremendous 
             asset to the Senate, the Nation, and certainly the great 
             State of Oregon.
               Since his election to the U.S. Senate in 1996, the 
             people of Oregon have benefited immeasurably from Senator 
             Smith's leadership. Throughout his service on numerous 
             committees, including the Commerce and Finance Committees 
             where we have served together, Senator Smith has been a 
             credit to this body and has left a positive and lasting 
             mark--exemplified by his tireless work on the State 
             Children's Health Insurance Program, and the leadership he 
             took in defending the Medicaid Program from misguided 
             budget cuts.
               Above all else, Senator Smith always perceived his 
             responsibility as representing his country before his 
             party. There is no doubt that as we move forward into the 
             next Congress, I, for one, will miss his independent 
             perspective.
               Since 1992, when he won election to the Oregon State 
             Senate, Senator Smith has devoted his life to public 
             service--and his integrity and dedication to the finest 
             ideals of service make him a role model for all Americans. 
             Few who have held the position of U.S. Senator have been 
             able to combine his candor, civility, aptitude, and 
             absolute dedication to the public good that have allowed 
             him to be such an effective, bipartisan Member of the 
             Senate.
               What many may not understand is the camaraderie that we 
             build with our fellow Members of the Senate. We spend 
             aggregate months each year separated from our homes, 
             families, and friends and in doing so, each of us becomes 
             a part of an extended family. So it was the most acute and 
             profound sadness that we all felt in our hearts upon the 
             loss in 2003 of Gordon's son, Garrett Lee. And, having 
             read Senator Smith's book, ``Remembering Garrett, One 
             Family's Battle with a Child's Depression,'' I still find 
             it almost unimaginable--the grace and courage he displayed 
             in continuing his work during the most difficult of times 
             after Garrett's tragic passing.
               As a testament to his humble nature, Senator Smith 
             turned from his own loss to help others. And he forged a 
             remarkable and indelible legacy for his son with the 
             Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act--legislation to which 
             Senator Smith has dedicated his life. This act, which the 
             President signed into law on October 21, 2004, authorized 
             $82 million for suicide prevention and awareness programs, 
             and represented just the first step Senator Smith has 
             taken to help prevent other families from having to 
             experience what his has endured.
               Our government is supposed to work for the people, and 
             few individuals during my tenure in public service have 
             exemplified this truism more so than Senator Smith. In the 
             Senate, Gordon never allowed a party label to determine 
             who he works with on critical legislation affecting our 
             Nation. He had the skill to work across the aisle with 
             intelligence and grace, and most of all, his highest 
             priority was his constituents in Oregon. Whether he was 
             fighting for transit funding in urban Portland or 
             assistance in coastal fishing communities and rural timber 
             towns, Gordon always knew where his roots were, and he was 
             invariably an eloquent champion for those issues that 
             truly mattered for the people of Oregon.
               Gordon, we thank you, we will miss you, and please know 
             that you have left a positive and indelible mark on the 
             Senate. All the best to you, Sharon, and your entire 
             family for the future.

               Mrs. HUTCHISON. Gordon Smith has served the people of 
             Oregon extremely well.
               Before coming to the U.S. Senate, he served as director 
             of the family-owned Smith Frozen Foods Company in Weston, 
             OR, where he created jobs and spurred economic growth.
               Gordon Smith entered politics with his election to the 
             Oregon State Senate in 1992, and he became president of 
             that body in 1995.
               Since winning election to the U.S. Senate in 1996, 
             Senator Smith has worked with his colleagues on both sides 
             of the aisle on critical issues.
               Senator Smith chaired the Special Committee on Aging, 
             and he also served on the following Senate committees: 
             Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Energy and Natural 
             Resources; Finance; and Indian Affairs.
               Senator Smith has also courageously used family tragedy 
             as a way to educate and encourage Americans on a very 
             important subject: suicide prevention for young men and 
             women.
               In 2004, I was so proud when President Bush signed the 
             Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, authorizing $82 million 
             for suicide prevention and awareness programs at colleges.
               Senator Smith also distinguished himself by championing 
             rural Oregonians, including the many farmers and ranchers 
             throughout the mountains and lake areas of his beautiful 
             State.
               I thank Gordon Smith for his dedication and service, and 
             I wish him well.

               Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I too wish to speak of my 
             good friend, Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon. Senator Smith 
             came to the Senate for all the right reasons, most 
             important to represent the people who elected him, and he 
             has done an outstanding job of doing just that. Gordon 
             never shied away from the controversial issues and often 
             went against the majority position of his own party. Every 
             time he did so he articulated in a very professional way 
             his reason why he was voting and the way he did. This 
             always takes courage and conviction, and Gordon Smith 
             possesses both.
               I will always admire Gordon's faith, which allowed him 
             to survive personal tragedy as well as deal with the day-
             to-day decisions of the Senate.
               Senator Gordon Smith is one of those Members who makes 
             serving in the Senate a pleasure. I will miss his counsel, 
             his advice, and his friendship. Godspeed to him, Sharon, 
             and their family.
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