[Senate Document 110-5]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




110th Congress                 SENATE DOCUMENT                        
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              Craig Thomas

                          LATE A SENATOR FROM

                                 WYOMING

                                   


                           MEMORIAL ADDRESSES

                           AND OTHER TRIBUTES

                           hon. craig thomas



                               1933-2007

                           hon. craig thomas

                                   


                               1933-2007



             [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


                              Craig Thomas


                               Memorial Addresses and

                                   Other Tributes

                                 HELD IN THE SENATE

                            AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                OF THE UNITED STATES

                          TOGETHER WITH A MEMORIAL SERVICE

                                     IN HONOR OF

                                    CRAIG THOMAS

                      Late a Senator from Wyoming

                       One Hundred Tenth Congress

                             First Session

                                   







                            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....................
                                                                     54
                    Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee.................
                                                                     27
                    Allard, Wayne, of Colorado.....................
                                                                     20
                    Barrasso, John, of Wyoming.....................
                                                                    104
                    Baucus, Max, of Montana........................
                                                                     79
                    Bingaman, Jeff, of New Mexico..................
                                                                     29
                    Bond, Christopher S., of Missouri..............
                                                                 57, 92
                    Bunning, Jim, of Kentucky......................
                                                                     55
                    Byrd, Robert C., of West Virginia..............
                                                                     63
                    Chambliss, Saxby, of Georgia...................
                                                                     32
                    Cochran, Thad, of Mississippi..................
                                                                     58
                    Coleman, Norm, of Minnesota....................
                                                                     72
                    Collins, Susan M., of Maine....................
                                                                    100
                    Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota..................
                                                                 50, 84
                    Cornyn, John, of Texas.........................
                                                                     42
                    Craig, Larry E., of Idaho......................
                                                                     38
                    Crapo, Mike, of Idaho..........................
                                                                 62, 91
                    Dole, Elizabeth, of North Carolina.............
                                                                    103
                    Domenici, Pete V., of New Mexico 
                     .......................................
                                                             22, 80, 90
                    Dorgan, Byron, L., of North Dakota.............
                                                                     43
                    Durbin, Richard, of Illinois...................
                                                                 68, 69
                    Ensign, John, of Nevada........................
                                                                     99
                    Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming 
                     ................................
                                                    6, 92, 97, 105, 106
                    Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin.............
                                                                     71
                    Feinstein, Dianne, of California...............
                                                                     59
                    Grassley, Chuck, of Iowa.......................
                                                                    101
                    Gregg, Judd, of New Hampshire..................
                                                                 19, 96
                    Hagel, Chuck, of Nebraska......................
                                                                     26
                    Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
                                                                     61
                    Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
                                                                     46
                    Inhofe, James M., of Oklahoma..................
                                                                     12
                    Isakson, Johnny, of Georgia....................
                                                                     17
                    Kerry, John F., of Massachusetts...............
                                                                    105
                    Kyl, Jon, of Arizona...........................
                                                                 65, 76
                    Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana................
                                                                     34
                    Lincoln, Blanche L., of Arkansas...............
                                                                     48
                    Lott, Trent, of Mississippi....................
                                                                     40
                    Lugar, Richard G., Indiana.....................
                                                                     24
                    Martinez, Mel, of Florida......................
                                                                     18
                    McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky 
                     ..............................................
                                                              3, 67, 98
                    Murkowski, Lisa, of Alaska.....................
                                                                     56
                    Murray, Patty, of Washington...................
                                                                     63
                    Nelson, Bill, of Florida.......................
                                                                 67, 91
                    Obama, Barack, of Illinois.....................
                                                                     58
                    Reid, Harry, of Nevada 
                     ...............................................
                     ........
                                                           5, 6, 69, 98
                    Roberts, Pat, of Kansas 
                     ...............................................
                     ..........
                                                             45, 87, 90
                    Rockefeller, John D., IV, of West Virginia.....
                                                                     73
                    Salazar, Ken, of Colorado......................
                                                                     36
                    Schumer, Charles E., of New York...............
                                                                     75
                    Sessions, Jeff, of Alabama.....................
                                                                     66
                    Shelby, Richard C., of Alabama.................
                                                                     74
                    Smith, Gordon H., of Oregon....................
                                                                     83
                    Snowe, Olympia J., of Maine....................
                                                                     77
                    Specter, Arlen, of Pennsylvania................
                                                                    101
                    Stabenow, Debbie, of Michigan..................
                                                                     72
                    Stevens, Ted, of Alaska........................
                                                                     14
                    Thune, John, of South Dakota...................
                                                                     70
                    Voinovich, George V., of Ohio..................
                                                                     98
                    Warner, John, of Virginia......................
                                                                     52
                    Whitehouse, Sheldon, of Rhode Island...........
                                                                     70
                    Wyden, Ron, of Oregon..........................
                                                                     97
             Proceedings in the House of Representatives:
                Tributes by Representatives:
                    Cubin, Barbara, of Wyoming.....................
                                                                    109
             Memorial Services.....................................
                                                                    113




















                                      BIOGRAPHY

               Craig Thomas was Wyoming's senior voice in the U.S. 
             Senate. His efforts in job creation and economic growth 
             were the foundation of his work to improve the quality of 
             life for people in rural America. During his tenure in 
             Congress, he forged a distinguished legislative record on 
             issues as diverse as public land management, agriculture, 
             fiscal responsibility, and rural health care.
               In 1989, after years of involvement in public policy and 
             rural advocacy, Craig Thomas won a highly competitive 
             special election to replace Dick Cheney in the House of 
             Representatives, when Cheney was appointed Secretary of 
             Defense. Mr. Thomas was first elected to the U.S. Senate 
             in 1994, and to a second term in 2000 by an overwhelming 
             74 percent majority--one of the largest margins in Wyoming 
             election history. He was re-elected to a third term in 
             2006 with 70 percent of the vote.
               In the U.S. Senate, Senator Thomas built a solid 
             reputation as one of the most fiscally conservative 
             Members of Congress with a particular emphasis on 
             addressing quality of life issues facing families in the 
             rural American West. Senator Thomas positioned himself on 
             committees which had the greatest impact on the 
             legislation of concern to Wyoming.
               The Thomas record includes authoring, as chairman of the 
             National Parks Subcommittee, landmark legislation to 
             provide critical funding, and management reforms to 
             protect America's national parks into the 21st century. As 
             a result, his visionary legislation has helped to ensure 
             quality visits to our national parks. In addition, the 
             legislation serves to protect natural and cultural 
             resources, and direct new resources to our Nation's parks 
             system. Senator Thomas's efforts have been routinely 
             recognized by the National Parks and Conservation 
             Association who honored him with their ``William Penn Mott 
             Jr. Park Leadership Award'' and subsequently with the 
             National Parks Achievement Award.
               As a senior member of the Senate's influential Finance 
             Committee, he made his mark on issues such as Social 
             Security, trade, rural health care, and tax reform. As 
             cochair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, Senator Thomas 
             worked successfully to improve health care opportunities 
             for rural families. His legislative initiatives have been 
             instrumental in reforming and strengthening the rural 
             health care infrastructure by encouraging greater equity 
             with urban counterparts, better affordability of services, 
             and by attracting qualified health care professionals.
               Craig Thomas was raised on a ranch near Cody, but made 
             his home in Casper for more than 20 years. He attended 
             public schools and graduated from the University of 
             Wyoming in Laramie with a degree in Agriculture. After 
             college, he served 4 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He 
             has served as vice president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau 
             and general manager of the Wyoming Rural Electric 
             Association. Before his election to the U.S. House of 
             Representatives, he held office for 5 years in the Wyoming 
             State Legislature. Craig is survived by his wife Susan 
             Thomas, a public school teacher for special needs 
             students, and his four grown children, Lexie, Patrick, 
             Greg, and Peter.


                                           

                                 MEMORIAL ADDRESSES

                                         AND

                                   OTHER TRIBUTES

                                         FOR

                                    CRAIG THOMAS
                              Proceedings in the Senate
                                                  Tuesday, June 5, 2007
                                       PRAYER
               The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following 
             prayer:
               Let us pray.
               Eternal Lord God, whose love upholds and sustains us, 
             thank You for revealing Yourself to us through the 
             faithfulness of the people we see each day. Today, we 
             think of our Senators who labor for liberty. Thank You for 
             their dedication. Thank You, also, for our doorkeepers, 
             who use exceptional diplomacy to assist the visitors who 
             seek to view the legislative process. Thank You for our 
             Senate pages, who remind us that we can excel in serving 
             even in life's morning and that You are honored by 
             youthful enthusiasm.
               We express our gratitude for the many staffers who serve 
             with unsung heroism behind the scenes. Bless all who serve 
             You faithfully and whose work helps make our lives 
             meaningful.
               Lord, we pause this morning to remember our friend and 
             colleague, Senator Craig Thomas. Console us, console his 
             family, and console his staff during this time of grief. 
             We pray all this in Your comforting Name. Amen.

               Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, a visitor to the rodeo 
             in Cheyenne, WY, just last summer would have seen a 
             strong, confident, 73-year-old man holding the reins under 
             a cowboy hat riding past the grandstand with a smile. A 
             few weeks earlier, visitors to rustic Cody, WY, would have 
             seen the same tough cowboy riding down Sheridan Avenue in 
             the Cody Stampede Parade. Just a few days ago, a tourist 
             here in Washington, getting an early start on the 
             monuments, could have seen Craig Lyle Thomas racing off 
             395 near the 14th Street Bridge in another kind of Mustang 
             on his way to the Capitol for a hard day's work.
               In recent years, Craig Thomas led an effort here in the 
             Senate to honor the deeds and the spirit of the American 
             cowboy, and his very full American life came to a sad end 
             last night. We, his friends and colleagues, remember him 
             as the modern-day embodiment of the cowboy ideals he 
             celebrated and loved.
               He was raised on a ranch just outside Cody, the rodeo 
             capital of the world, in the Big Horn Basin, a windy town 
             in the northwest corner of the Cowboy State. He grew up in 
             the shadow of Heart Mountain to the north and Carter 
             Mountain to the south and under the memory of Cody's 
             founder, William Frederick Cody, known to history and to 
             schoolchildren from Butte to Boston as Buffalo Bill.
               Craig Thomas was a humble man with an adventurous spirit 
             from a lonely corner of the country who put his family, 
             his country, and his State above all else. He served as a 
             Marine from 1955 to 1959, retiring as a captain. He 
             married a woman with a generous heart. My wife Elaine is a 
             good friend of Susan's, and one of the joys of Elaine's 
             time in the last few years was being invited out to 
             Susan's school to speak to her students.
               Craig was the proud father of four children--Lexie, 
             Patrick, Greg, and Peter--who today mourn their father's 
             death.
               Craig was as much at home on horseback, roping, and 
             ranching, as he was in a committee hearing room. How many 
             times he must have daydreamed about being back home, out 
             of a suit, with a rope in his hand and a steer in his 
             sights.
               Craig had served in public office 22 years when he fell 
             ill at a church service with Susan last November in 
             Casper. Shortly after that, the people of Wyoming elected 
             him to his third term in the Senate, with 70 percent of 
             the vote. A born fighter, Craig's doctors said he would be 
             back here in January. He beat their predictions by a 
             month. He was here in December. He suffered quietly over 
             the last half year, as all of us hoped for the best. It 
             wasn't to be.
               Every year he pressed for a day that would memorialize 
             the iconic status of the cowboy in American history, a day 
             that honored their courage, hard work, honesty, and grit. 
             I can think of no better way of honoring that spirit than 
             by honoring this man who embodied it to the fullest. By 
             his devotion to family, country, constituents, and 
             friends, Craig Lyle Thomas showed us what it means to be 
             an American. He embodied the best ideals of a Wyoming 
             cowboy and made the Senate and those who had the privilege 
             of knowing him far better for it.
               We mourn with Susan, his children, and his staff here in 
             the Senate. We honor them today, too, for their model of 
             professionalism and caring concern they have shown over 
             the last difficult months. We will miss Craig terribly, 
             his calm toughness, his drive, and his cowboy spirit, but 
             we are consoled by the thought that he will ride again, 
             restored in body and flashing a smile as he goes.

               Mr. REID. Madam President, I appreciate the remarks of 
             my distinguished counterpart. I think his words convey how 
             we feel about Craig Thomas.
               Madam President, we hear it often said that this is a 
             Senate family, and it is times such as these when we do 
             realize we are a family, a very small family of just 100--
             99 today.
               I can remember early last December I called and talked 
             to Craig in the hospital, and he said, ``I am getting 
             better.'' And he was. He did get better. It just didn't 
             last, and we all feel so badly about that.
               I remember Craig Thomas for his legislative efforts. 
             Wyoming, like Nevada, is a public land State. Wyoming has 
             a lot of public land issues dealing with Federal agencies. 
             I see his colleague here, Mike Enzi, and I can remember 
             working with them on an issue which, to most people, 
             seemed like not much, but to the two Senators from Wyoming 
             and to the Senator from Nevada, it meant a lot. We were 
             dealing with a place called Martin's Cove, and even 
             Senators from Utah were called in to see if we could 
             resolve this, and we were able to resolve it eventually. 
             But Craig was really tough when it came to public lands 
             issues.
               I can remember, as can Lula, whom we all know, Craig 
             Thomas's persistence on a piece of legislation on an issue 
             dealing with the potash of a mining company in Wyoming. He 
             would ask us if we had been able to get it cleared. If he 
             asked us once, he asked us 50 times, and we eventually got 
             it cleared. I worked hard on this side for that for a 
             couple of reasons: First, it was the right thing to do, 
             and second, Craig wanted it so badly. So we were able to 
             work that out.
               I will miss Craig Thomas. He was the kind of person with 
             whom I liked to deal. He told you how he felt--he wanted 
             this done; he didn't want that done. I recognized that he 
             was very proud of being a Senator.
               I would have to say, however, that he was just as proud 
             of being a Marine. His Marine Corps service was certainly 
             commendable. He was in the Marine Corps in the late 
             1950s--1955 to 1959. He went in as a private and came out 
             as a captain. He was a graduate of the University of 
             Wyoming with a degree in agriculture, and that is why he 
             was one of the leading experts in the Senate--in the 
             Congress, I should say--on agriculture and, of course, 
             issues affecting rural communities.
               Madam President, I will ask for unanimous consent in 
             just a few minutes to do away with the votes we had 
             scheduled this morning and reschedule them for later this 
             afternoon so people have the opportunity to come and speak 
             about Craig. And those who aren't able to come, there will 
             be a time set aside where we will recognize the service 
             Craig Thomas rendered to the State of Wyoming and to the 
             country.
                 MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF SENATOR CRAIG THOMAS
               Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask that the Senate now 
             stand for a moment of silence in recognition of Senator 
             Craig Thomas.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it 
             is so ordered.
               (Moment of silence.)

               Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask that you now recognize 
             Senator Enzi.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from 
             Wyoming.

               Mr. ENZI. Madam President, when my plane touched down 
             last night, I received an e-mail that told of the fate of 
             a great man. It was a tremendous surprise to me. I just 
             completed a week in Wyoming of explaining to people that 
             he even timed his chemotherapy so he didn't have to miss 
             votes, and what a tough and strong man he was.
               Craig Thomas was a Marine at heart, but he was a cowboy 
             in his soul. He was quiet, he was focused, he was 
             independent, he was hard-working. He loved the Senate and 
             he loved the Marines and he loved his horses. The flags 
             have been lowered, and there is a great deal of sadness in 
             our hearts today as we mourn his loss and celebrate his 
             life. I have had a lot of thoughts, but I haven't had a 
             chance to put them together. They come gushing back, 
             together with a lot of tears.
               For those of us from Wyoming, Craig Thomas was more than 
             just our Senator. He was our voice in the Senate, and he 
             was never one to back off from a fight, especially when he 
             was battling for two things most dear: what was best for 
             Wyoming and what was best for America.
               Craig had long Wyoming roots, and he was very proud of 
             them. He grew up in Cody and became friends with Al 
             Simpson. Later on the two of them would serve together in 
             the Senate. After he graduated from the University of 
             Wyoming, he immediately began his service to the country 
             he loved. He joined the Marine Corps. I am convinced that 
             experience helped to shape his character and molded his 
             destiny. I think his steely resolve and firm will took 
             shape during those days that helped guide him and prepare 
             him for the battles that would come later in his political 
             life.
               When Craig's service in the Marine Corps was through, he 
             began what was to be his life's work, which was serving 
             the people of Wyoming to ensure their best interests were 
             taken care of and their needs were addressed.
               His first efforts for Wyoming brought him to the Wyoming 
             Farm Bureau and the Wyoming Rural Electric Association.
               He was proud of his service with both of these 
             organizations. It kept him actively involved in issues 
             that meant a great deal to him and, more important, it 
             kept him in touch with the people of Wyoming and their 
             day-to-day problems. It also set him on the road to doing 
             anything and everything he could to make life easier for 
             his fellow citizens in Wyoming.
               I remember the days we served together in the Wyoming 
             House. I was a mayor and had municipal electrical 
             experience. He was with the Rural Electric Association. We 
             worked a lot of electrical bills together at that time. We 
             could bring in both perspectives, find the middle ground, 
             and make sure all of the people, rural and urban--I use 
             the term ``urban'' for Wyoming rather loosely, but urban--
             would be able to have low-cost and consistent electricity.
               Nobody knew energy or electricity better than Craig. 
             That led him to run for the Wyoming House seat. Dick 
             Cheney was appointed Secretary of Defense, and Craig ran 
             for it and won his seat. It was not an easy victory, but 
             it showed what a fighter and battler he was as he took on 
             that challenge, which was done in a relatively short 
             period of time. The executive committee just has a few 
             days to select candidates, and then there is a very short 
             time for an election for the position in the House. He 
             used his usual toughness, went around the State, talked to 
             everybody, and won that election.
               Incidentally, the person he ran against in the primary, 
             Tom Sansonetti, became his chief of staff, which shows how 
             people get along in Wyoming.
               To no one's surprise, Craig focused on Wyoming issues in 
             the House and he was reelected. Then when Malcolm Wallop 
             decided to retire, Craig was such a popular choice he 
             didn't have any opposition in the primary. He did face 
             another battle in the general election, but once again his 
             fighting spirit prevailed and he found a way to win. 
             Interestingly enough, the person he defeated in the 
             general election was a very popular Governor of Wyoming 
             who was just ending his term. That Governor was later 
             appointed Ambassador to Ireland by President Clinton. To 
             Craig Thomas's credit, the hearing was scheduled for that 
             Ambassadorship before the papers ever got to the Capitol. 
             Ambassador Sullivan did a fantastic job in Ireland.
               Craig won the Senate seat, and 2 years later I ran for 
             the Senate and won. He is one of the few Wyoming residents 
             who ever served both in the House and in the Senate. It 
             has not been a tradition in Wyoming to move from the House 
             to the Senate. I was elected and then got a chance to work 
             with him again. He was a remarkable man of vision on how 
             to make Wyoming and our country better places to live. He 
             spent a good deal of his time traveling Wyoming. He was 
             one of the most ardent travelers we have ever had in the 
             Senate, going back virtually every weekend, traveling to a 
             different part of the State, talking to people and trying 
             to get their vision for the future.
               One of his efforts on that was called Vision 2020. He 
             challenged the people of Wyoming. He stretched the 
             people's imagination on what our State ought to be like in 
             the year 2020. That was in 1998, but we are getting a lot 
             closer to 2020, and I think the State is moving toward the 
             vision that he predicted at that time. It was a goal he 
             cherished and fought for. Many of the things he 
             envisioned, or the people of Wyoming envisioned, have been 
             achieved through his efforts on the Senate floor.
               Craig Thomas will long be remembered as one of Wyoming's 
             toughest and fiercest advocates. Craig knew that much of 
             our work gets done in committees, so he pursued those 
             committees that would help him fight for Wyoming in the 
             Senate. He served on the critical Finance Committee. He 
             was a staunch fiscal conservative, and he believed very 
             strongly that people in Wyoming and across the Nation know 
             better how to spend their hard-earned money than does the 
             Federal Government. He used his position on the committee 
             to lighten the tax burden and to make our Tax Code more 
             fair.
               He was the ranking member on the Indian Affairs 
             Committee. He served as chairman of the National Parks 
             Subcommittee where he was a tireless advocate for our park 
             system. I think he visited most of the parks. Earlier, 
             when our Republican leader was talking about horseback, it 
             was even possible sometimes to see him with the park 
             policemen on horseback taking a look at the parks of the 
             Capitol.
               I would mention also that usually when you saw him on 
             horseback you also saw his wife Susan on horseback. She 
             was a tireless traveler and an outstanding campaigner and 
             another person who searches for the visions of Wyoming. In 
             parades, they always rode horses. They had special saddle 
             blankets that helped to say who they were--as if people in 
             Wyoming wouldn't know who they were. I would mention that 
             she was thrown from a horse a couple of times, too. Bands 
             and horses don't always go well in hand. But, as Craig 
             always said, she was the real campaigner in the family. 
             She actually liked it. She does a marvelous job for our 
             State, as well as did Craig.
               Craig was very active on all of the agricultural issues 
             and international trade, particularly country-of-origin 
             labeling. He supported our cattlemen with grazing rights 
             and responsible environmental quality incentive programs 
             for runoff issues. He has worked tirelessly to get changes 
             in the Endangered Species Act. He realized that was a 
             national program with national goals and it should not 
             punish individuals or counties or even the States, and 
             that there ought to be responsibility at the Federal 
             level.
               With energy, he was the lead sponsor of our soda ash 
             royalty relief bill. He was the lead sponsor on the 
             Recreational Fee Demonstration Program that allowed the 
             national parks to keep a higher percentage of the receipts 
             that were received on public lands where they were 
             collected, and he specifically made efforts to include 
             section 413 of the Energy Policy Act, which authorizes 
             Federal cost-share for the building of a coal gasification 
             project above 4,000 feet. That would help get a clean coal 
             plant built in Wyoming, which would prove the technology 
             with Wyoming coal at high altitude. We have huge resources 
             of coal. We ship over one-third of the Nation's coal--over 
             1 million tons a day.
               The reason we ship so much coal is because it is very 
             low sulfur. He was providing a mechanism to be able to 
             have some assurance that coal gasification of this clean 
             coal would be included in projects that we did in the 
             United States. It would help to prove the technology at 
             high altitude and show its viability and would make a 
             difference for all the United States in all their energy 
             in the future.
               He was also instrumental in writing the electricity 
             title of EPAct. Recently, his efforts to get a coal-to-
             liquids section of whatever energy bill we will be 
             debating, although unsuccessful thus far, advanced the 
             debate to the furthest point it had moved.
               During the last FAA reauthorization, Craig was very 
             instrumental in radar upgrades for the Jackson Airport, 
             which was imperative for the growth of the city and 
             airport, especially related to tourism. I think Jackson is 
             the only city in Wyoming that has long distance direct 
             flights. Most of them come through Salt Lake or Denver or 
             Minneapolis. But Jackson actually has flights that come 
             from Houston and Atlanta direct.
               He also did a lot for Wyoming with two big 
             transportation authorization bills to ensure that the 
             large land area, low-population States received a fair 
             amount of highway funding. As I mentioned, on fiscal 
             issues he was a staunch conservative who believed the 
             people knew how to spend their money better than the 
             Federal Government.
               A few months ago, Craig shared his medical situation 
             with us. He was in for another difficult fight, but he was 
             used to them. He has been a battler all his life. He took 
             the fierce determination that he learned as a Marine and 
             brought it to this latest battle against leukemia. 
             Unfortunately, it was a battle this great fighter was not 
             to win.
               Although that last battle of his life was lost, there 
             were so many victories in his life that we will long 
             remember. Craig died as he lived, with his spurs on, 
             fighting for Wyoming to the very end. I am sure we all 
             have our favorite instant replay memories of Craig and his 
             unique style.
               I have always believed you can get a lot done if you 
             don't care who gets the credit. That was Craig--never one 
             to seek the limelight or to draw attention to himself. He 
             was the one working in committee to assure that the voices 
             of the Wyoming people and America were heard and heard 
             clearly.
               For me, I will always remember Craig's spirit, for his 
             spirit in life was a great illustration of the spirit of 
             Wyoming. His life became a living portrait of the American 
             West. He saw the world from the saddle of his horse and 
             from under the brim of his cowboy hat. He was proud of 
             Wyoming and Wyoming was proud to be represented by him.
               Craig was my senior Senator. He was my confidant and 
             mentor. But most of all, he was a very good friend. Diana 
             and I will always feel appreciation for the fact that 
             Craig and Susan made us part of their family. Our prayers 
             are with Susan and their family during these difficult 
             times.
               I will miss him. But because he was such a special 
             presence in my life and the lives of so many others, I 
             have a long list of instant replay memories I will always 
             cherish of him: the times we were out on the campaign 
             trail, the legislation we worked on together and, more 
             important, the impact he had on my life personally, as he 
             had on so many others.
               Wyoming is a different place today because of this great 
             loss of ours. There is great sadness in the State and also 
             great joy as we celebrate the life of one of our special 
             citizens. He was with us for all too short a time, but he 
             will never be forgotten.
               I received a book called Give Me Mountains for My 
             Horses, by Tom Reed. But what I always ask for is that 
             they give us men to match our mountains and our horses--
             and that would be Craig.
               I want to share just a little piece of this because I 
             know that Craig is already riding in a far better place. 
             It says:

               There is a taste to this place, this time. Nothing is 
             behind you. Everything is ahead. But you don't really 
             think about what is ahead, you only think of now, for this 
             partnership you have entered into is one of the moment, of 
             now. Now has you in a saddle on a bay horse, heading up a 
             trail of pines and spruce and mountain, of stream and 
             meadow.
               Behind you, connected by only your hand and a lead rope 
             but carrying everything important to you, is another bay 
             horse, an almost identical match to the one you are 
             riding. You call them nicknames as if they were human 
             compadres, drinking buddies. You cluck and coo and talk to 
             them as if they give a damn about what you have to say. 
             You think they do and maybe, just maybe [they do].
               Right now they are stepping out, heads nodding, down the 
             trail and through the stream and all you have to do is 
             ride. So you ride.
               That evening as dusk brings the mosquitoes out of the 
             willows--the same dusk that put the horse flies to bed--
             you choose a camp. It is a good place, save for the bugs, 
             with room for the horses in the broad, deep green meadow 
             and camp back against the lodgepoles and your kitchen down 
             a ways. So you ease off the bay's back and stretch your 
             muscles with that stiff-good, worked-hard feeling, and you 
             begin to unload the packhorse, talking to him, thanking 
             him. In a while he has on his hobbles and is out there 
             with his buddy, snorting contentedly in the tall grass and 
             swishing a long, coal-black tail at the mosquitoes.
               It goes like this for days, the ride, the squeak of the 
             saddle leather, the smell of dust, the taste of it on your 
             tongue. The smell of horse sweat and your own and the soft 
             muzzles nuzzling you after a long day. Good camp after 
             good camp. Muscles turning hard. Eyes becoming sharp for 
             wildlife. And riding, always riding.
               One evening a big sow grizzly and her cub cross a broad 
             meadow far out there. A tough gal, rambling, giving you 
             and your horses a wide berth. But still the binoculars 
             sweat in your hands and your mouth is dry.
               ``Boy, what a beautiful animal.''
               The next morning a moose walks the same path. You have 
             not seen another human in days but there's a jet contrail 
             reminding you that yes, this is the modern world. You 
             ride.

               Craig loved the modern world. He worked hard in this 
             body. He would have liked to have been out there in those 
             mountains on those horses enjoying the smell and the 
             sounds. Now he is riding. Ride on my friend, ride on.
               I yield the floor.

               Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I got a very early phone 
             call from my daughter in Italy. Of course, their time is 6 
             hours ahead of ours, and they heard about Craig before we 
             did.
               I have listened to some of my colleagues talking about 
             Craig. You know, there are some people you have more in 
             common with than others. I can recall Craig and I both 
             came to the House of Representatives about the same time. 
             Then we both decided we would run for the Senate in 1994. 
             That was a decision we made. We talked to each other and 
             we decided that would be the best thing for us to do and 
             perhaps we would be able to articulate our concerns a 
             little bit more.
               He was a Marine, I was in the Army. We had a lot in 
             common. I think it was Mitch McConnell or perhaps Harry 
             Reid this morning who talked about his calm toughness, his 
             way of expressing himself. I have always been very 
             envious. I would come down, and I would watch Craig Thomas 
             on the floor. He would say things as antagonistically, as 
             offensively as I would, except people loved him when he 
             said it and they hated me when I said it. I was never able 
             to master that. I watched him day after day, month after 
             month, and year after year being able to do that.
               I think Mike Enzi is right when he said Craig Thomas was 
             the voice of the Senate. Let me correct Senator McConnell 
             on one thing he said. I chaired the Environment and Public 
             Works Committee when Craig Thomas was on that committee. 
             This morning Mitch McConnell said he was as much at home 
             on a horse as he was in a committee meeting. Well, let me 
             correct you because he was much more at home on a horse 
             than he would be in that committee meeting. I can remember 
             seeing him staring off, and then I would go over and visit 
             while some people were testifying, perhaps on the other 
             side, and he would tell me his stories. He was a real 
             cowboy. A lot of us ride horses in parades; he was a real 
             cowboy and such a great guy.
               Many years ago, I was mayor of Tulsa. We had our annual 
             meeting in Ketchum, ID. I was flying a plane up there when 
             we were weathered in in Saratoga, WY. Saratoga, WY, is a 
             town that Lewis and Clark came through at the bend of the 
             river. I fell in love with that town. For the next 7 years 
             that I served in the capacity of being mayor, I always 
             purposefully stayed in Saratoga, WY.
               I went up to him in the House of Representatives in the 
             1980s, and I said: Craig, you know when I was in--when I 
             would stop, make my stop in Saratoga, WY, and stay at the 
             Wolf Hotel--I might add, I would stay at the Wolf Hotel in 
             the presidential suite; it was the only one with a 
             bathroom in it. I told him almost everyone I would run 
             into on the streets of Saratoga, WY, reminded me of Craig 
             Thomas. These are salt-of-the-earth people, wonderful 
             people, people I learned to dearly love.
               Kay told me this morning, when we heard about Craig, she 
             said: ``You probably forgot this, but when you were in 
             voting on the day that we had the spouses dinner, that was 
             2 weeks ago today, on Tuesday, I saw him walking across 
             the parking lot while I was waiting for you to vote, and 
             he was walking a little slower than usual. I said: `Hey, 
             handsome.' And his whole face lit up.'' And he came over 
             and he embraced Kay. That is the way that he was to a lot 
             of people. So let me say this to Peter, Greg, Patrick and 
             Lexie and Susan. Susan, you have some people you have 
             heard from this morning who dearly love you and would love 
             to have some way of comforting you. We know how difficult 
             it is. We will pray for you, for your kids. I have to say 
             this also, I do not think it has been said yet about 
             Craig.
               Craig Thomas was probably the most consistent Member of 
             the Senate prayer breakfast because he was always there. 
             Mike Enzi knows this because he is the chairman now. He 
             was always there. I give the Scripture at this thing. So 
             we knew that if we did not see Craig Thomas anyplace else 
             during the week, we would see him at the Senate prayer 
             breakfast.
               The Senate prayer breakfast is similar to a lot of these 
             things. It is based on Acts 2:42. Acts 2:42 is the genesis 
             of these meetings you do on a regular basis. You get 
             together and you do four things: eat together, pray 
             together, fellowship together, and talk about the precepts 
             of Jesus together. We talked about the precepts of Jesus 
             together every Wednesday morning.
               That is the comfort I had with Craig Thomas. Some 
             people, you wonder if they are going to be there. But 
             Thomas you didn't wonder, you knew. So, Craig, all I can 
             say is, this is not goodbye, this is, ``We will see you 
             later.''
               I yield the floor.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Who seeks recognition? 
             The Senator from Alaska is recognized.

               Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, it was with great sadness 
             that Catherine and I learned of Senator Craig Thomas's 
             passing last night. The people of Wyoming have lost a 
             tireless advocate and a skilled leader. Those of us in the 
             Senate have lost a true friend and a genuine inspiration.
               Craig and I remained close throughout our time as 
             colleagues. I visited with him on matters pertaining to 
             resource development and ranches probably more than any 
             other Member of the Senate. These weren't visits 
             concerning legislation, but simply to share experiences 
             and to get advice.
               Although Craig came to the Senate much after I did, he 
             possessed a wealth of knowledge, particularly about the 
             West. I had the privilege of marrying into a family with 
             small ranches in Arizona. Craig and I talked often about 
             horses, the problems facing ranches and cowboys, and how 
             they can endure in today's economy.
               In each of the past several years, Craig has introduced 
             a resolution designating a National Day of the American 
             Cowboy. More than any other member of this body, Craig 
             recognized there is more to cowboys than roping, riding, 
             and branding. From the Wild West to the Last Frontier, 
             cowboys have long symbolized the spirit and determination 
             which makes our Nation great. It was my pleasure to help 
             sponsor Craig's resolutions, and this year, on July 28, we 
             will pay special tribute to a man who truly embodied the 
             American cowboy.
               Craig was always mindful of the best interests of other 
             Western States. As a Senator from Wyoming, he represented 
             a State with a great many problems in common with those of 
             us from Alaska. Craig was renowned for his legislative 
             efforts regarding national parks. His efforts to improve 
             rural health care greatly benefited his constituents and 
             continue to serve as a model for our Nation.
               Above all, I remember working with Craig on resource 
             issues related to coal, oil, and land management. He was 
             steadfast in his efforts to increase domestic energy 
             production. He fought to secure funding for a coal 
             gasification plant in his home State, and he also 
             supported exploration and development in the Arctic 
             National Wildlife Refuge.
               To deal with Craig Thomas was to deal with a gentleman, 
             a person who had absolute knowledge of the topics he spoke 
             on. You couldn't talk to him without becoming aware you 
             were talking to a Marine. As far as I am concerned, 
             Marines have something special about them--an absolute 
             steadfastness, honesty, and integrity. Craig exemplified 
             these qualities.
               It is hard for me to realize he is now gone. Just before 
             I left to go home this past recess, I stopped Craig and 
             told him we are praying for him and to hang in there. Our 
             great friend Susan Butcher also died of leukemia. She went 
             through the same process Craig did. He told me he was 
             going to stick with it. He thought he was going to be able 
             to beat it. Everyone who met with Craig in the period 
             after he was diagnosed with leukemia had to admire his 
             absolute courage.
               Craig's concept of life impressed me most. He lived life 
             to the fullest. He had a wonderful family, four wonderful 
             children, and a wonderful wife in Susan. He was also the 
             essence of a Westerner. I have known many Westerners in my 
             day, but never one who was as consummate a Westerner as 
             Craig Thomas. The people of Wyoming were blessed to have 
             him representing their interests. Whenever he went home, 
             Craig traveled throughout his State, from one small 
             community to the next. We compared notes about how Wyoming 
             residents faced problems similar to those of the people of 
             Alaska.
               With Craig's passing, the Senate has lost a great leader 
             in terms of Western values. But we have also lost a man 
             who was a friend. He had the qualities everyone cherishes 
             in a friend. And as the Senator from Oklahoma has said, he 
             was very devout. You couldn't talk to Craig without 
             realizing he had tremendous faith in our Maker. He was 
             guided by this faith, and it kept him going during the 
             past few months.
               It is also hard to understand that leukemia is such a 
             violent disease. This year alone, more than 44,000 
             Americans will be diagnosed with leukemia. The type of 
             cancer which afflicted Craig, acute myeloid leukemia, has 
             a 5-year survival rate of just 21 percent.
               If there is anything I would add to what is going to be 
             said today, it is that we must do more. We must do more to 
             prevent this disease. We must learn as much as possible, 
             and apply as much research as possible, because very few 
             people survive their tremendous battle with leukemia. Of 
             all people, I really believed Craig might. When I left for 
             the Memorial Day recess, I had a good feeling--Craig was 
             going to make it. He told me he would soon start another 
             round of chemotherapy, but because of his strong faith, he 
             had no fear of what lay ahead.
               I hope the Senate takes a lesson from Craig Thomas's 
             attitude as he faced this adversity. After being diagnosed 
             with leukemia, Craig faced trials and tribulations we can 
             hardly imagine, and we will remember him as an example of 
             a man with great moral strength and great faith in God. In 
             honor of his memory, it is my hope we will join together 
             and find a way to apply more funds to research leukemia, 
             whose devastating impact has now taken a good friend from 
             our Senate family.
               This morning, the Casper Star-Tribune published several 
             individuals' recollections of Craig. One of his former 
             staff members, Liz Brimmer, said,

               In unassuming and generous ways, he did more for 
             Wyoming, more for Wyoming people, than most people knew. 
             His positive spirit permeated every interaction. Fiercely 
             loyal and generous of spirit, Craig was funny and 
             tenacious all in the same moment . . . He loved people and 
             loved to make a difference. What better mark of a man?

               I wish I could find words as eloquent and as fitting to 
             describe this extraordinary Senator.
               We all mourn his death, and we send our love and best 
             wishes to his family. Susan had a husband, and his 
             children had a father, without equal. Craig Thomas was a 
             family man through and through, and I am deeply saddened 
             by his passing.
               When I thought about him this morning, who he was and 
             what he meant to the Senate, a few words came to mind. In 
             a place of great debate and heightened political 
             excitement, Craig Thomas was always a gentleman. That says 
             something. It certainly is something we will remember. In 
             a time and place where we often raise our voices in anger 
             and emotion, Craig Thomas was always soft spoken, but he 
             was always heard. In a time when many of us fail even our 
             own standards in terms of integrity, he was a man of high 
             integrity, honorable and humble. In a place where many 
             show weakness, he always showed strength, that quiet 
             strength of a Wyoming cowboy.
               I thought about his last battle with cancer. You could 
             tell, when you saw him on the floor or passed him in the 
             hallway, the therapy had taken its toll on him personally. 
             Yet there was always a smile on his face, a determination 
             to overcome the odds, and a very optimistic and positive 
             word when you asked him how he was doing. Those are the 
             things I remember about Craig Thomas.
               We serve with many people. They come and go. The annals 
             of history do not record them all as great, but each one 
             of us is lucky to be here and lucky to develop the 
             friendships and relationships we do. Politically, Craig 
             Thomas and I were worlds apart. There might not be any 
             starker contrast in voting records than Craig Thomas and 
             mine, but it didn't make much difference when it came to 
             his friendship and his personal relationship. I am going 
             to miss him. I am going to miss that Wyoming cowboy who 
             had the Remington bronzes in his office that I walked by 
             and looked at every time I came down the corridor. I will 
             miss his smile and his courage. But I am going to be 
             reminded by his example of how we can all be a little bit 
             better in what we do here in the Senate.
               I extend my sympathies to his wife Susan, his family, 
             his staff, and all of his friends. He was truly a great 
             Senator. I was honored to count him as a friend.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from 
             Georgia.

               Mr. ISAKSON. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to 
             address the Senate as in morning business.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it 
             is so ordered.

               Mr. ISAKSON. In the third chapter of the book of 
             Ecclesiastes, the Bible teaches us that ``there is a time 
             for everything; a time to live and a time to die, a time 
             to reap and a time to sow.'' Last night became the time 
             that Craig Thomas left us. For that we are all sorry and 
             extend our sympathy to Susan and all his family and the 
             people of Wyoming. But for all of us today and for years 
             to come, it will be a time for us to reap the benefits of 
             having known Craig Thomas, having benefited from his 
             service as a colleague in the Senate, but for the people 
             of Wyoming as a great servant to that State. I don't know 
             if there are two finer people who ever served the Senate 
             than Mike Enzi and Craig Thomas. To have a matched set of 
             rock-solid, quiet but humble, and strong men to serve a 
             State is quite a unique privilege for that State and a 
             unique privilege for all of us who serve.
               On this sad occasion of the passing of a great Senator 
             and a great friend, I know I will benefit and reap for 
             years to come from the service, the passion, and the 
             integrity of Craig Thomas.
               I honor his life.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from 
             Florida.

               Mr. MARTINEZ. Madam President, I rise to address the 
             Senate in morning business.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it 
             is so ordered.

               Mr. MARTINEZ. I am saddened by the passing of a good 
             friend, Senator Thomas. I express my condolences to his 
             family, the people of Wyoming, Senator Enzi, and to all of 
             us who knew him and loved him. I have not served long with 
             Senator Thomas. It was a joy to hear this morning how he 
             was described by Senator Enzi, who has known him for a 
             long time. My memories of him are as someone who always 
             was kind, always friendly, offered me a helping hand on my 
             first days in the Senate. I know he has been described as 
             an authentic cowboy. I certainly always viewed him as 
             that. He seemed to be the real deal, the real McCoy.
               I remember speaking before the break with the Senator, 
             telling him how good he looked. Of course, he already knew 
             he was headed back to another bout of chemo, but he didn't 
             dwell on that. He was telling me that he was feeling good, 
             and he did look good. He looked a lot better than he had 
             been, and we were all encouraged. He certainly believed in 
             that assessment as well.
               In the last few months, he has been ``down the road'' 
             from us, and he has been responsible for the candy drawer, 
             a little Senate tradition. As we were talking before the 
             break, standing there, he was commenting on his pride in 
             the Wyoming taffy candy he had introduced to the candy 
             drawer. He was a Wyoming promoter to the very end.
               I relish the good memories. I know we are all sad today 
             at this incredible loss. My heart goes out to the members 
             of his family. We will do all we can to support all those 
             who loved him.
               I yield the floor.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New 
             Hampshire.

               Mr. GREGG. Madam President, I rise to speak as in 
             morning business.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it 
             is so ordered.

               Mr. GREGG. Madam President, on behalf of Kathy and 
             myself, we send our deepest condolences and expressions of 
             sympathy to Susan and her family on Craig's passing. Susan 
             and Craig were good friends of ours. Susan is and Craig 
             still is. They are special people. They are people whom 
             you like to call friends, the type of people who are 
             there. And they had a special relationship. I don't know 
             how many votes we cast together. It was a lot. Craig 
             arrived 2 years after I had. We would walk out of this 
             Chamber together very often, and Susan, because she was 
             here in Washington, would almost always be right out 
             there, right outside the door, with a great smile to greet 
             us, even though we probably just lost the vote.
               Craig was special because, as has been mentioned and 
             said so well by his partner Senator Enzi and his 
             colleagues, Senator McConnell, Senator Inhofe, Senator 
             Stevens, Senator Isakson, Senator Martinez, and the 
             Democratic leader, Senator Reid, everybody respected him. 
             You may not have agreed with him, but you could not help 
             but respect him. He was quiet but accomplished and 
             understood the issues. He was a man of inordinate common 
             sense. When he would look at an issue, he would cut 
             through all the puffery, all the theater, of which there 
             is a fair amount around here, and he would get to the 
             essence of the question. Then he would bring common sense 
             to the question. Yes, it was common sense born out of a 
             philosophy, which is our side of the aisle, which is 
             conservative, but it was a common sense that cut across 
             ideology most often because it was usually so obvious what 
             the conclusion would be as presented by Craig.
               I had the great good fortune--I don't know how it 
             happened, but it was good fortune for me--to end up 
             spending almost every Tuesday lunch, where we do policy, 
             and almost every Wednesday lunch sitting next to Craig, 
             where we do steering and get together as Members of the 
             Republican Senate to discuss whatever is happening. We 
             sort of gravitated to each other. That is sort of ironic, 
             me being from New England and him from Wyoming, but I 
             think there is a certain identity of our approaches to 
             events. I am certainly proud to say that. The great fun 
             about sitting beside Craig was that not only did he have 
             this wonderful common sense, but he had an extraordinary 
             sense of humor. He would listen to statements made, often 
             by our leadership--I do not wish to be disparaging here; I 
             am simply being kind--and he would make some smiling, 
             thoughtful comment that was usually fairly humorous and a 
             touch irreverent about comments made by our leadership as 
             to what we should be doing. You couldn't help but laugh 
             because he was a person who had a sense of self, a sense 
             of humor, a focus on what was right and what was wrong and 
             what life should be about.
               This disease attacked him, but honestly, you couldn't 
             convince him that it attacked him. You would ask him how 
             he was doing. He would say: ``I am OK.'' Even though you 
             knew he was going through extraordinary pain, you would 
             never, ever--at least I never, ever--hear him complain. He 
             was a genuine Marine in that sense.
               He will obviously be missed around here. He was a low-
             key person who had a high-level impact. I will certainly 
             miss him. I will miss him at those lunches and I will miss 
             seeing Susan outside the door.
               To Susan and his family, Kathy and I say: He was a great 
             friend, and we will miss him.
               I yield the floor.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from 
             Colorado.

               Mr. ALLARD. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to 
             speak as in morning business.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it 
             is so ordered.

               Mr. ALLARD. I rise to honor my friend Craig Thomas, the 
             Senator from Wyoming who passed away last night, and to 
             express my sympathy to Susan, his wife, and to his family 
             and to the people of Wyoming. Joan and I and my staff feel 
             we have had a very special relationship with Craig and 
             Susan and his staff.
               Two weeks ago the Senate passed S. Res. 130 declaring 
             July 28 as National Day of the American Cowboy. This was 
             the last piece of legislation Senator Thomas pushed 
             through the Senate. It is so true to his spirit. Senator 
             Thomas was himself a cowboy, a roper. He understood that 
             as a symbol of the American West, cowboys represent much 
             more than men on horses. They stand for courage, 
             determination, hard work, and respect for nature. They 
             stand for the West itself and for those who wish to 
             protect and preserve it.
               His work on the Energy and Environment Committees was a 
             testament as well to his belief that the land we have been 
             blessed with needs stewardship and care, and that those 
             who live on and work with the land are often the best at 
             doing so. Craig tried to take care of the land, especially 
             the Wyoming he loved so much. This connection with the 
             West, his concern for land management, and the way of life 
             of those who lived on the land, should be his legacy. 
             Craig rode forward into the end of his life so bravely 
             that most of us never knew how bad his health was. He told 
             us he was seeking treatment, but the end came quickly and, 
             for him, stoically.
               It was always a pleasure serving with Senator Thomas--
             first in the House of Representatives, then in the Senate, 
             where we collaborated on a whole range of issues. The 
             proximity of our home States and our shared interest and 
             passion for natural resources and energy issues provided 
             many opportunities to partner on legislative efforts.
               During the 2001 anthrax attack on the Hart Senate Office 
             Building that pushed several Senators out of their 
             offices, I was happy to offer Senator Thomas and his staff 
             space in my office for several months until his office was 
             deemed safe again. During that time I was able to get to 
             know him and his staff even better.
               I offer my condolences now to his staff. He was the type 
             of man who was not just a boss but a friend as well. I 
             know they are hurting. He will be remembered for being the 
             quintessential Wyoming cowboy, a gentleman with quick wit 
             and humility of spirit that endeared him to his colleagues 
             and made him a joy to us all.
               Any man who can list cowboy, U.S. Marine, husband, and 
             father on his life's accomplishments lived life well. The 
             Senate has lost a gentle giant who served his State and 
             Nation with honor and distinction. Joan and I are keeping 
             Susan and the family in our thoughts and prayers. I will 
             miss my friend, Craig Thomas.
               Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest the 
             absence of a quorum.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call 
             the roll.
               The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the 
             roll.

               Mr. DOMENICI. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent 
             that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it 
             is so ordered.

               Mr. DOMENICI. Madam President, I ask to speak for up to 
             10 minutes in morning business.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New 
             Mexico is recognized.

               Mr. DOMENICI. Madam President, I first note the presence 
             on the floor of the distinguished Senator from Wyoming, 
             Mr. Enzi. I note also present in the Senate is a beautiful 
             bouquet of flowers on the desk that was occupied by the 
             other Senator from Wyoming, Mr. Craig Thomas.
               I want to say to Senator Enzi, first, we will all have 
             an opportunity in the next few days and weeks to speak 
             about the Senator who was your colleague who left us last 
             night, and we all will have an opportunity to speak with 
             you and see you on more occasions than this to express to 
             you our heartfelt sorrow for the loss of your colleague.
               You will suffer a lot of things that will be downers 
             during your life in the Senate--and because we all live 
             our lives, things happen, go up and go down--but I am 
             quite sure you will not have an opportunity to suffer any 
             more severe a loss than the loss of your colleague who was 
             at the same time a cowboy, a Marine, a Senator, a father, 
             and, clearly, a husband.
               He had a wife named Susan. Everybody who knows her loves 
             her. My wife loves her. I called my wife early this 
             morning, after I heard, and I was so pleased she answered 
             the phone herself because I thought: Where will I get her? 
             We may get caught up in the maze of today and maybe I will 
             not be able to talk to her until tomorrow, or maybe Nancy 
             will not be able to talk to me. But, sure enough, it was 
             at 8:30 this morning I was able to talk to her.
               Her first words, after knowing who I was, were words 
             coming out of her mouth saying: ``He did a good job for 
             Wyoming, didn't he?'' I said: ``You bet.'' Then: ``I am 
             sure, not knowing the rest of his life, he must have done 
             a good job in a lot of other areas. Probably he was a good 
             husband--,'' to which there was no answer because that was 
             not intended as a question. He obviously was a wonderful 
             man. Quiet, sort of unassuming, but he was a very involved 
             Senator, especially when it came to Wyoming.
               Very early on, as he worked his way from the House, 
             where he replaced Dick Cheney, over to the Senate, where 
             he had been elected, he decided he would work for his 
             State. You did not hear of him a lot on national news 
             because he was busy doing what he thought was best for him 
             as a Senator, and that was, representing that great State 
             of Wyoming. What a State that is, and what a Senator they 
             had.
               From my standpoint, I served with him on two committees. 
             The one I know the most and remember the most is the one 
             we served the longest on: Energy and Natural Resources, 
             which the occupant of the chair has served on with us. But 
             when it came to this man, he frequently worked with 
             Democrats on serious issues because he wanted to get 
             things done.
               If there is one thing I noticed as we worked together, 
             shoulder to shoulder on this committee, it was that he was 
             impatient because he did not understand when we wasted 
             time and he did not understand why we were doing some 
             certain things. He would ask: ``Why don't we get on with 
             what we are supposed to do? What are we talking about this 
             for? This is not policy. We are talking about a bunch of 
             little things we ought not be involved in.'' I think I 
             remember that more than anything else: ``Can't we get on 
             with it?''
               I remember he was burdened with the fact there is a 
             substance in his State called trona. The other Senator 
             from Wyoming might know about it. He must know about it. 
             Apparently, they were having competition in the world, and 
             he thought the royalties were too high. I don't know. 
             Anybody who served on the committee must have heard the 
             word ``trona'' because he was all over that issue, wanting 
             to get somebody to listen to him about the unfairness of 
             it and to help solve it.
               I did not get to serve with him on the Finance Committee 
             and other committees he served on, but it would be my 
             guess he was the same way on all of them, that he showed 
             up when he should and did his job as best he could, and 
             that when the chips were down, you could count on him. 
             When the chips were down, he did what he said. He voted 
             the way he would tell you. He worked the way a dedicated 
             person works.
               For me and my wife, on this day, shortly after his 
             death, I want to say in the Senate that Wyoming sent us a 
             true man. I do not know whether it was the Marines who 
             made him a man or what it was, but he was truly different. 
             He was tough minded. He was quiet. But he was impatient, 
             and he wanted to get good things done.
               I am positive his relatives and his great State will 
             never forget him. He will be remembered by them, just as 
             we remember him. He will leave them, and they will have a 
             big void, without a question, because a giant part of 
             their lives leaves. That goes for Wyoming, and that goes 
             for his wife Susan and their children. I think there are 
             four of them. I did not get to meet them. But if they are 
             like their mother and father, they could not help but be 
             great.
               With that, I say goodbye to the Senator, and I extend my 
             sorrows to his wonderful wife, and, hopefully, I will be 
             part of whatever ceremony there is for us to send him on 
             his way.
               May God bless his family and him, and may whatever he 
             aspired to get done, get done by others who follow him 
             because he set such a wonderful basis to get those things 
             completed for his State.
               I thank the Senate and I thank the junior Senator from 
             Wyoming for the kind man he is. I will be seeing him, and 
             I say to the Senator, if I can help you during these 
             times, please call on me. I am available.
               I yield the floor.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from 
             Indiana.

               Mr. LUGAR. Madam President, the thoughts and prayers of 
             my wife Charlene and myself are with Susan today and their 
             four children, as we think about Craig Thomas, our dear 
             friend, our colleague, a man who has been such a wonderful 
             presence in our lives in the Senate.
               Much has been said, and quite correctly so, about 
             Senator Thomas as a cowboy, and certainly he was, and his 
             rich heritage of experience in the Marine Corps, as he 
             volunteered to serve his country after college. But I want 
             to stress two or three things that perhaps have not come 
             to the attention of Senators in the same way this morning, 
             one of which is that Craig Thomas was a person who was 
             vitally interested in the Far East. He served for a period 
             of time on the Foreign Relations Committee, and during 
             that period of time, as I recall, was either the 
             subcommittee chairman or heavily involved in hearings and 
             in working with our Ambassadors to countries in Asia.
               For a variety of reasons, because Craig always sought 
             opportunities to serve Wyoming in whatever committee 
             assignments seemed most appropriate at the time, his 
             service on the Foreign Relations Committee was not a long 
             one, but he continued that service by holding breakfasts 
             in his office. I was privileged to be invited to those 
             breakfasts in which famous people from abroad, especially 
             the Far East, were his guests. These are ladies and 
             gentlemen he had met during his foreign travels or during 
             his work in Wyoming in which they might have been of value 
             to his State.
               It was an extraordinary set of experiences. I stress 
             ``experiences'' because there were many of these 
             breakfasts. I encouraged him to continue on. I enjoyed the 
             fellowship of the people he brought together as well as 
             Senators he brought into an orbit of understanding about 
             the Far East, through his own ministry in this case.
               I have been impressed in addition--speaking of 
             breakfasts and the fact that Senator Thomas was a regular 
             at the Aspen Institute breakfasts that are held right here 
             in the Capitol on Wednesdays and Thursdays frequently 
             throughout the legislative year. I am advised as many as 
             24 of these breakfasts are held on the subjects which the 
             Aspen Institute congressional group is focusing.
               Among the things on which the group has been focusing in 
             recent years have been problems with Russia and the 
             Balkans and developments in Eastern Europe, the problems 
             certainly in education generally as a subject for our 
             schoolchildren in this country, problems in Latin America, 
             the problems of the environment and energy, and, 
             appropriately, problems in Asia and especially China in 
             the Far East.
               I noticed Craig Thomas, when it came to these 
             breakfasts, usually was there on time and listened to the 
             lecture or the paper that was being given by the speaker, 
             and that he frequently proceeded on, perhaps, to another 
             breakfast or another appointment without severely 
             questioning either other Members of Congress or the 
             speaker at the time, but was intensely interested. Because 
             we frequently saw and listened to the same people, this 
             led to many rich conversations which I was privileged to 
             have with him. I would ask him: ``What did you think? What 
             were your impressions of that speaker today?'' He always 
             had some very concise impressions.
               But a third thing I simply want to mention, in addition 
             to these breakfasts, is the sense of good humor with which 
             those impressions were cast. He had his own unique sense 
             of humor, and yet it was clearly there and very much a 
             part of the personal association each one of us enjoyed 
             with the Senator.
               Likewise, that sense of humor was shared by Susan, 
             appropriately. I can remember so many times outside the 
             door to this Chamber Susan would be standing there at 
             about 6:30 at night or some such time. It was obvious she 
             and the Senator were going to dinner or had some activity. 
             But one of the delightful things was that so many of us 
             had been visiting with Susan over the years. We had a lot 
             to say to her and she to us, always with a wonderful sense 
             of humor, with a sense of the work we are about, how 
             unusual to some this schedule seems, how absurd it may be 
             to others, someone who had her own vocation as a very 
             remarkable teacher and someone who understood the needs of 
             children.
               It is not surprising that Craig would attend the Aspen 
             Education Conferences in addition to his far-flung 
             interests in Asia and most important, obviously, the land 
             use issues and the remarkable ability of people to make a 
             living off the land in his home State. It was finally in 
             that capacity that I enjoyed the best conversations with 
             Craig Thomas because he was deeply interested in 
             agriculture, as I am. We come from very different kinds of 
             agriculture, yet there was a profound understanding of the 
             challenges and the joys of people who make their living 
             from the soil; likewise, from the husbandry of animals and 
             the combination of forestry, and even the mineral uses of 
             lands--much more abundant, I must say, in the State of 
             Wyoming than in Indiana. But we both understood the nature 
             of that income, the nature of the challenge, and the 
             importance of State and Federal legislation as it 
             pertained to those farmers. So I will miss those 
             conversations especially because that is a heritage of 
             land in which both of us have been involved in our 
             families, and I suspect his will continue.
               Our thoughts are with the family today. We are never 
             prepared for such a day. That is why many of us perhaps 
             are rambling on occasion in our thoughts as we collect 
             them about this outstanding Senator and wonderful friend. 
             But it truly is a privilege to have this opportunity on 
             the floor of the Senate to pay tribute to my dear friend 
             Craig Thomas.
               I thank the Chair.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from 
             Nebraska is recognized.

               Mr. HAGEL. Madam President, this is a sad day for all of 
             us. Wyoming and the Senate have lost Craig Thomas. He was 
             a neighbor. He was a friend. He was an individual whose 
             life was committed to his country and his State.
               Often, when he would refer to my State of Nebraska, he 
             would say: ``Oh, yes, that State of Nebraska; that is 
             where Wyoming sends all of its wind.'' He said other 
             things as well. Many times, he and Senator Enzi were 
             responsible for stealing Nebraska's water. Other than 
             those obvious flaws, Craig Thomas was one of those unique 
             individuals whom we have heard his colleagues speak of 
             this morning. None has exaggerated in their descriptions 
             of this remarkable man. He, as has been noted, was a 
             Marine. He was a straight shooter. He was born and raised 
             on a ranch in Wyoming. When you add all of that up, what 
             else could he be but a straight shooter?
               He worked hard, as has been noted here this morning. 
             Chairman Lugar outlined some of his participation on the 
             Foreign Relations Committee where I, too, had an 
             opportunity to serve with him. No one was ever better 
             prepared when he spoke, more knowledgeable of the subject 
             matter, and more a joy to be around because he never lost 
             the most important element of each of us; that is, a 
             humanness, the human dynamic. He had a special humanity 
             that is not always easy to retain in this town and in this 
             business. But that is what Craig Thomas was, and I think 
             that is what most of us admired most about him.
               If service to America is one of America's highest and 
             most important values, then Craig Thomas's legacy speaks 
             volumes because that was his life. Lilibet and I offer our 
             sympathy and our prayers to Susan and to the family. He 
             served with great distinction and always put others first.
               One last comment about a memory of Craig Thomas for me. 
             In 1996, when I was campaigning for my first elective 
             office to the U.S. Senate and when there was a very 
             legitimate question of whether I was worthy of election 
             and whether I could win, Craig Thomas flew over from 
             Wyoming to central Nebraska and spent a day campaigning 
             with me in 1996. Craig was the first U.S. Senator to help 
             me, to come into my State, and that day I spent with him 
             talking about water issues, agricultural issues, the 
             Marine Corps, and service to our country inspired all who 
             were around him. I noted that those ranchers and those 
             water resource specialists and others whom we visited on 
             that campaign tour that day responded to him in a way that 
             was rather special. I later learned through my almost 11 
             years in the Senate why people responded to him in such a 
             special way.
               We will miss him. He leaves our institution, his State, 
             and his country better than he found them.
               Thank you.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from 
             Tennessee is recognized.

               Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam President, we will miss Craig 
             Thomas. Craig Thomas would want it to be said that he was 
             a conservative. He enjoyed expressing conservative views 
             on this floor. He enjoyed expressing conservative views in 
             our Energy Committee on which we served together, and the 
             Senator from Louisiana and I served with Senator Thomas. 
             He kept his feet firmly planted on the ground in Wyoming 
             from which his conservatism came. He obviously well 
             represented the people of Wyoming because he barely 
             noticed there was an election last year. When Craig Thomas 
             ran, he was elected by an overwhelming margin.
               Craig Thomas was a conservationist. He was chairman of 
             the National Parks Subcommittee during the time I served 
             on the Energy Committee, and he enjoyed that very much. I 
             am not a bit surprised because he took great pride in the 
             fact that Yellowstone, a great, premier park--I can say 
             that even though we have the Great Smokies in Tennessee--
             but Yellowstone, which has such a special place in the 
             hearts of all Americans, Craig Thomas took special pride 
             in his jurisdiction of that responsibility. He was honored 
             by the National Parks Association a couple of years ago. 
             Craig Thomas was awarded the singular honor of the 
             National Parks Association for his stewardship of our 
             national parks.
               Craig Thomas was no-nonsense. That came from several 
             places, I suspect. One was, as the Senator from Nebraska 
             noted, he was a Marine. One was that he was a cowboy, a 
             real cowboy. I saw Senator Inhofe talking about him in 
             that respect. Another reason is he came from Wyoming. I 
             see that Senator Enzi from Wyoming is here. Wyoming 
             citizens, I have noticed, don't waste words. They think 
             about them before they say them, and they often don't say 
             them. They don't feel a need to fill every vacuum with a 
             string of words, which is an unusual characteristic on the 
             floor of the U.S. Senate, but Craig Thomas was such a 
             person. I think, in fact, he grew up in Wyoming, came from 
             Wyoming, lived in Wyoming, kept his feet planted in 
             Wyoming, and helped contribute to that no-nonsense 
             approach to life he had which enriched the Senate.
               Craig Thomas was also interested in working across party 
             lines. Earlier this year, Senator Lieberman and I and 
             others began a breakfast on Tuesday morning at 8 o'clock 
             for those Senators who had time to come, not for the 
             purpose of passing legislation but for the purpose of 
             getting to know each other better across party lines so 
             that we could perhaps come to solutions more quickly in 
             other areas. It was interesting to see who came to that 
             breakfast. We all are busy. We all have tremendous demands 
             on our time. We started off with 40 Senators of both 
             parties. Sometimes it got to be 10 or 12 or 14. But almost 
             every Tuesday morning at the bipartisan Senators' 
             breakfast, Craig Thomas was there, and he always had a 
             contribution to make. He was there 2 weeks ago, in the 
             week before our recess, which is why it was such a 
             surprise to learn that he died yesterday, because when he 
             was there, he sat quietly, but you could tell he had 
             something to say, and he finally said it before he left. 
             The subject was immigration. He had some questions, and he 
             had some comments. He looked the perfect picture of 
             health. He looked as if he would last forever. That was 
             the last I saw of Craig Thomas.
               We are a family here in the Senate. We say that often to 
             one another, but it is true. We have breakfast together, 
             as we did this morning at the bipartisan breakfast or as 
             we will tomorrow morning at the prayer breakfast where we 
             will remember Craig Thomas. We have lunch together, which 
             we are about to do, Republicans on one side and Democrats 
             on the other. We have committee hearings and meetings all 
             day long and little visits, and then in the evenings, if 
             that weren't enough, why, we get together and we go to 
             receptions for each other. That is how we live our lives 
             here. So it is a surprise to us to suddenly find ourselves 
             without Craig Thomas, whom we saw at breakfast, whom we 
             saw at lunch, whom we saw at committee meetings, and whom 
             we saw in the evenings. We will miss him, but we greatly 
             respect his presence here in the Senate for such a long 
             period of time.
               When he got sick last year, we heard that he was soon 
             doing fingertip pushups again. So all of us thought--at 
             least I thought--well, Craig is going to be fine. He is 
             going to be fine. But, as will be the case with each of 
             us, in the end, his life has come to a conclusion. It has 
             been a life of public service, one I greatly respect.
               To Susan and to his family, Honey and I offer our 
             sympathy and our respect for his life. We will be thinking 
             and praying for them, and we will be remembering how much 
             joy our friend Craig Thomas brought to the U.S. Senate.
               Thank you, Madam President.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New 
             Mexico is recognized.

               Mr. BINGAMAN. Madam President, I appreciate the 
             opportunity to say a few words about Craig Thomas. He was 
             a friend of mine and of all of us in the Senate. His death 
             is a shock to this institution and to all of us. I heard 
             the news this morning on the radio, as many of us did, I 
             believe, and I was genuinely shocked to hear that he had 
             died. My last encounter with him was the week before we 
             had our recess where I had the chance to be with him in 
             the Energy Committee, and he was there and very much 
             participating in that committee hearing. He had a great 
             deal to say, as he usually did, and an interest in what 
             was going on.
               I think the first thing that comes to my mind about 
             Craig is that he was an example of courage in the face of 
             adversity. I have seen several interviews recently where I 
             was very admiring of Elizabeth Edwards and the tremendous 
             example she is presenting for the entire country about 
             carrying on in the face of adversity after having been 
             diagnosed, as she has been. I think the American people 
             appreciate that, and understandably. I appreciate it, and 
             I am sure everyone who is aware of her circumstance 
             appreciates it greatly.
               The same can be said about Craig Thomas. Craig was 
             diagnosed with leukemia shortly before his reelection this 
             last fall, and I think everybody had to know that this was 
             not a minor illness that was easily overcome. Craig took 
             it in stride. He was here working in the Senate. He went 
             through the chemotherapy and he was back, regaining his 
             strength, and all of us admired that. All of us admired 
             the way he faced that adversity, and he did all that he 
             could, all that was humanly possible, to overcome that 
             adversity.
               I had the good fortune to serve with Craig on two 
             committees, including the Energy Committee, where he was 
             chair of the National Park Subcommittee. He took a great 
             interest in issues affecting not only national parks but 
             our public lands generally and, of course, our energy 
             issues as well. I also had the good fortune to serve with 
             him on the Finance Committee. The chairman of the Finance 
             Committee this year appointed a new Subcommittee on Energy 
             and Natural Resource Tax Issues. I was fortunate to be 
             named chair of that, and Craig was named as the ranking 
             member. So he and I spent a lot of time together, both in 
             the Energy Committee and in the Finance Committee, sitting 
             in hearings and talking about the agenda of the committees 
             and generally interacting.
               I had the other great good fortune of taking a trip last 
             year that Senator Warner and Senator Levin sponsored--a 
             trip to Iraq and Afghanistan, in April 2006, with Craig 
             Thomas. Craig and I were both invited to be on that trip. 
             So I spent time with him and interacted with him in 
             Afghanistan and in Turkey, where we made a short stop, and 
             also in London, where we met with some British defense 
             officials.
               Three things came through to me that I think are my 
             recollection of Craig Thomas: First, his decency as a 
             human being. When you are with a person for a substantial 
             period of time, you get a sense of their decency as a 
             human being. I have spent a lot of time with Craig Thomas 
             in this Senate and on that trip to which I just alluded. I 
             can vouch for his basic decency. He was always 
             considerate, always civil, always concerned about the 
             feelings of others and the reaction of others.
               The second characteristic I would allude to is his 
             ability to ask tough questions. Craig liked to think of 
             himself as a conservative. I would characterize him, as 
             much as anything, as sort of a skeptic. Whenever the 
             experts were telling us what the solution to a problem 
             was, or what their analysis of a problem was, he was one 
             who would stand back and say: ``Wait a minute, let's 
             question some of that expert advice and expert analysis 
             that you are giving us.'' That is very much needed by 
             people in public office. You need people who will ask the 
             tough questions, and Craig Thomas asked the tough 
             questions.
               Third is the characteristic that others have spoken of 
             here--that he was a straight shooter; he was 
             straightforward in his view of the issues. You didn't have 
             to guess what Craig thought about an issue. He would tell 
             you, and it was a heartfelt view that he was expressing. 
             So this is a very great loss to this Senate, to the people 
             of Wyoming, and to the country. I consider him to have 
             been a superb public servant. The people of Wyoming were 
             extremely well served by him, the country was well served 
             by him, and this Senate was well served by having him as 
             one of our distinguished members.
               I extend my condolences to Susan and the family and, of 
             course, to all of the people who are friends of his in his 
             home State. He will be fondly remembered in this Senate.
               Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Casey). The clerk will call 
             the roll.
               The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

               Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 
             that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.

               Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise this morning with a 
             very heavy heart, like all the rest of my colleagues, 
             about the loss of our dear friend Craig Thomas. Craig was 
             an inspiration in such a quiet way to all of us, a guy 
             from the true Wild West, the great State of Wyoming. He 
             had such an easy manner about him that is so indicative of 
             a lot of people who come from that part of the country. It 
             was indeed a privilege and a pleasure to have the 
             opportunity to serve with him.
               I had a number of interests in common with Craig. First 
             of all, we served on the Agriculture Committee together. 
             In the past 2 years, as chairman of the Agriculture 
             Committee, Craig was one of those guys I called on from 
             time to time to seek his advice and counsel because in the 
             area of Wyoming and in the western part of the country, 
             they grow different kinds of crops than what we grow in 
             the Southeast. Craig was always willing to give his time 
             to talk to me about the thoughts of farmers and ranchers 
             in his part of the country and what we needed to do from a 
             policy perspective on the Agriculture Committee relative 
             to his farmers and ranchers that would also be beneficial 
             to my farmers and ranchers. I cannot overemphasize the 
             value of that kind of relationship with a Member of this 
             body.
               I grew up in my law practice and in the rural 
             electrification business. Craig was a strong advocate of 
             rural electrification and the REA Program and had been 
             involved with it in Wyoming for decades. We had the 
             opportunity to talk about this issue and long-term policy 
             relative to providing electricity and other assets to 
             people in rural America, and whether it was rural Wyoming 
             or rural Georgia made no difference. Craig was an advocate 
             of making sure that people in rural America all across our 
             great country had the opportunities that folks in the 
             urban parts of America have. I had a special opportunity 
             to work with Craig.
               Earlier, I heard folks talk about Craig's love for the 
             country and his love for the land. We were both 
             outdoorsmen. He used to ride a horse a lot, and I like to 
             shoot a shotgun at quail, pheasant, and a few other things 
             that I have been blessed to be able to do over the years. 
             We talked about our enjoyment of the outdoors on any 
             number of different occasions.
               Craig was the chairman of a major committee during the 
             last Congress. He was in charge of an issue that has been 
             very near and dear to my State, an issue of designating 
             property with a heritage designation in Georgia. I worked 
             on this for about 6 years. We got right up to the brink 
             last year, and all of a sudden we ran into a roadblock. 
             Craig, as chairman, said, ``Saxby, here is the problem.'' 
             Then he went through it and explained the very complex 
             side of the issue that I had never thought of before.
               What it made me realize about Craig was that he was a 
             lover of the land of America, irrespective of whether it 
             was in Wyoming, Georgia, or the State of New York. He 
             wanted to make sure future generations had the same 
             opportunity to enjoy lands as our generation and previous 
             generations have had the opportunity to do. Once he 
             explained his position to me, we again worked through the 
             issue. It took us a little longer than I wanted it to, but 
             I had to be patient because Craig was very thoughtful. I 
             knew his thinking was the right way of thinking on any 
             issue like this, particularly with the designation of 
             heritage areas, because there are other connotations to it 
             than just saying we are going to leave this land for 
             future generations.
               Craig was such a great ally in this process. At the end 
             of the day, I remember when he gave his consent through a 
             unanimous consent resolution. He and I sat right here near 
             one another. He used to sit right there, and he moved 
             behind me here. We sat across the aisle, and we had a long 
             conversation that night about this particular piece of 
             property for which he had now come to have a great 
             appreciation. It is something that Georgians and America 
             are going to enjoy for generations to come, and it simply 
             would not have happened without Craig Thomas.
               Last, the desk that is right behind my desk is one of 
             the more notable desks on this side of the aisle in this 
             great institution because it is our candy drawer. His desk 
             is our candy drawer. Of course, Rick Santorum from 
             Pennsylvania had that desk in the two previous Congresses, 
             and he kept it full of candy. Craig could not wait to get 
             that desk when Rick left the Senate. Now, when a lot of us 
             walk into the Senate door, the first thing we do is open 
             that desk drawer to see what kind of candy Craig has put 
             in there for us. He has never failed us. It was always a 
             delight of his to be able to make folks happy, and this 
             was a simple and easy way to encourage and get a smile on 
             the faces of Senators as we walked in the door.
               Craig's wife Susan is such a great lady. I don't know 
             his sons, but Susan is such a wonderful person. Again, as 
             this body is such a small body, we all become friends 
             regardless of our political differences. At the end of the 
             day, we are a family, and we truly do have Susan and all 
             of her other family in our thoughts and prayers as they go 
             through what we know is a very difficult time.
               Craig and I also had in common the fact that we were 
             both cancer survivors. I went through a process about 3 
             years ago, and Craig was one of the first ones to come to 
             me and give me his thoughts and encouragement, which I 
             really respected and greatly appreciated. That is the kind 
             of family thought process that we go through here.
               So as we reach this day when Craig has lost that last 
             battle--and, boy, did he ever fight good ones through the 
             years. He fought this one very well, too. But as we think 
             about him today, knowing his love of the outdoors in our 
             conversations about his riding horses--even riding horses 
             with the Capitol Police on the grounds of the Capitol--I 
             am always going to have those very fond memories of Craig 
             Thomas as a great friend, a great Member of this 
             institution, and a truly great American. We know he is 
             riding off into the sunset for a better life even as we 
             speak today.
               With that, I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana is 
             recognized.

               Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I had the great privilege 
             of presiding this morning. I got to listen to my 
             colleagues come to the floor to pay tribute to our friend, 
             an outstanding Senator and a wonderful man, Craig Thomas 
             from Wyoming.
               So many things were said this morning, but I wanted to 
             add a few more. First of all, as I sat in the chair to 
             listen to the tributes, I want to give a compliment to the 
             Senator from Wyoming, who spoke on behalf of his 
             colleague. I have heard many tributes in the 10 years I 
             have been in the Senate but, to me, it was one of the most 
             beautiful tributes that a partner and colleague has made 
             for another. Senator Enzi will continue to carry on the 
             great traditions of the State, and I am sure he, as we all 
             have, will be inspired by his friend that we lost. It was 
             evident in his heartfelt and beautifully executed remarks 
             this morning.
               I wanted to rise as a Member who served with Senator 
             Thomas on the Energy Committee, someone who worked fairly 
             closely with him, although we are not of the same 
             political party, to reiterate just a few things about his 
             character.
               This life we choose to live in public life is not the 
             easiest life to live, and sometimes it is harder on our 
             families than it is on us individually. It is a life that 
             we choose because we want to serve our constituents. We 
             believe we can do that job.
               I heard so many of our colleagues rise to pay tribute to 
             the Senator but mention Susan, his wife, that I wanted to 
             restate for the record how inspirational their 
             relationship has been to me and to many of us. Not only 
             did Susan wait for him, many times outside of this door, 
             to greet him always with a smile or encouragement, they 
             often were able to travel together as a couple, to share 
             both the joys and the burdens of this life. I think it is 
             a tribute to both of them and particularly to Craig 
             Thomas, who shared his life in such a special way with his 
             spouse, which stands as an inspiration to us all, and 
             Susan to him.
               I also wanted to say what a strong and steady voice, an 
             unflinching champion for Wyoming he was, in fact, even in 
             the twilight of his life, within the last few weeks, as 
             was mentioned by some of us who were with him at the 
             prayer breakfast, some of us who were with him at the 
             bipartisan conference, and some of us who were with him in 
             one of his last Energy Committee meetings. I recall the 
             memory of his voice, although weak in body, strong in 
             spirit, fighting for Wyoming, talking about coal, talking 
             about a new energy policy, talking about how the country 
             depended so much on the resources of Wyoming and how he 
             was determined to continue to fight and provide that point 
             of view on our committee. So on the Energy Committee we 
             will miss him, always there, always on time, always 
             steady, always strong, and never forgetting the State he 
             came to represent and did so, so completely and so 
             consistently.
               Finally, some of us have mentioned the inspiration he 
             has been to us in terms of his quiet and gentle spirit, 
             knowing that he was facing a very difficult time, with his 
             time perhaps not that long to be here. As many of our 
             colleagues have said, however, he never complained. He 
             always said how well he was feeling and how much better 
             and how thankful he was for his doctors, for his family's 
             support, and he was always thanking us for being there 
             when we could.
               I wish to mention the strength of his spirit in having 
             come to terms and making peace in his life, that God was 
             his friend. He had a great faith in God Almighty. It was 
             evident by the way he walked, not agitated and not 
             nervous, not anxious and not afraid, but basically the 
             quiet confidence of a person who was at peace with God and 
             with whatever God would have in store for him. I think 
             those of us in the Senate family, for all we remember of 
             him--as a cowboy, as a Marine, as a Senator--we will 
             always remember the last few weeks of that quiet 
             confidence of a man who knew why he was born and where he 
             was going. That was our good friend Craig Thomas.
               Mr. President, I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado.

               Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to 
             join my colleagues in tribute to the memory of a wonderful 
             friend, Senator Craig Thomas from Wyoming. For me, Craig 
             Thomas was not only a member of the Senate family, he was 
             a neighbor to the north. Because of the similarities 
             between Wyoming and Colorado in terms of the rural nature 
             of our States, Senator Thomas and I had the opportunity to 
             work on many matters during the time we both served in the 
             Senate. I wish to comment on two or three of those issues 
             which were very important to us as we worked on them 
             together.
               I always saw Senator Craig Thomas as someone who was 
             truly a fighter for the land, water, and people of this 
             Nation, and the people of the State of Wyoming. I remember 
             very clearly the debate we had in the Senate Energy 
             Committee and the National Parks Subcommittee, which he 
             chaired, about whether we were going to abandon the 100-
             year principle that had guided the conservation philosophy 
             of our national parks. It was Senator Craig Thomas who, at 
             the point of the spear, made sure that the conservation 
             doctrine of our national parks' policy remained intact.
               I also remember the leadership role Senator Thomas took 
             in the last several years when there were efforts to try 
             to sell off our public lands in order to make that part of 
             the deficit reduction for our Nation. While he was a true 
             fiscal conservative, he also understood the importance of 
             the legacy of our public lands, protecting our public 
             lands, and making sure those public lands were not used 
             simply for deficit reduction. It was through his 
             leadership that we were able to turn back the efforts of 
             those who wanted to sell off the public lands of our 
             Nation.
               I wish to also comment with respect to Senator Thomas's 
             efforts for rural America.
               There are some significant differences between the 
             Senate family and the House family. I think the House of 
             Representatives, because of the makeup of that body--many 
             of them come only from metropolitan and urban areas. Here 
             in our Chamber, many of our Senators represent States that 
             are very rural in nature, and there are very few States 
             that are as rural as that great State of Wyoming. So it 
             was natural for Senator Thomas to be a champion for rural 
             America, and it was my honor to join with him in working 
             on a number of other things where we stood together and 
             said that the America that had been forgotten by so many, 
             rural America, was never going to be forgotten on the 
             floor of the Senate. It was in that vein that Senator 
             Thomas took a leadership role, along with our good friend, 
             Senator Larry Craig from Idaho, to make sure we were doing 
             right with payment in lieu of taxes so that those rural 
             communities in the West, which are so dependent upon 
             payment in lieu of taxes because so much of our land is 
             owned by the Federal Government, that we would be 
             providing them with the kind of compensation needed to 
             keep them afloat.
               It was also in that regard that I had the honor of 
             joining Senator Thomas last year and Senator Craig in 
             moving forward with the creation of the Office of Rural 
             Veterans Affairs. That is because Senator Thomas 
             understood that there was a great disparity in how 
             veterans were being treated in the urban-suburban areas of 
             our society and those in rural communities. The fact is 
             that the VA had done a study that demonstrated the great 
             disparity in health care services that were forthcoming 
             from the VA to those veterans who lived in the urban 
             communities as opposed to those who lived in rural 
             communities. So it was his effort and his leadership that 
             helped lead to the creation of the Office of Rural 
             Veterans Affairs.
               Finally, his work on the Agriculture Committee. When I 
             think about Wyoming, a State that I often travel, a State 
             where I have often worked, I think about its natural 
             resources and I think about its people, but I also think 
             about its agricultural base. Certainly, Senator Craig 
             Thomas will always be remembered for his great advocacy 
             for agriculture and making sure we have sustainable 
             agriculture here in our Nation.
               I would like to thank Senator Thomas for the 
             contributions he made to my State, even though I am a very 
             new Senator here in this body. We worked on a number of 
             different issues. It was through his leadership that we 
             were able to hold hearings and move forward on legislation 
             that created the Sangre De Cristo National Heritage Area, 
             the Clark County National Heritage Act legislation, the 
             Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Act, and the Betty 
             Dick Resident Protection Act, and I could go on and on 
             listing a whole host of other matters that were moved 
             forward because of the advocacy of Senator Thomas.
               Last, I would say this: We get to know each other in a 
             number of different ways here on the floor of the Senate 
             and while working together. I fondly remember traveling 
             with Senator Reid and with Senator Thomas to Iraq and 
             spending 8 or 9 days with him in that troubled part of the 
             world. I remember the conversations about his yearning for 
             a more peaceful and stronger world, where we would create 
             a legacy for our children that was a legacy of peace for 
             the world.
               I was honored to often go to the prayer breakfast on 
             Wednesday mornings and listen to the speakers. I knew 
             Craig Thomas was a man of faith and that he was doing the 
             duty of the people of this country and the duty of the 
             people of Wyoming.
               So from his neighbor to the south, I conclude by simply 
             saying that I am proud of that cowboy. I am proud of Craig 
             Thomas, and I am proud of the contributions he made not 
             only to the State of Wyoming but the contributions he made 
             to this Nation.
               Madam President, I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. McCaskill). The Senator from 
             Wyoming.
               I am sorry, the Senator from Idaho.

               Mr. CRAIG. Madam President, today I take that comment 
             with respect and honor because I am here, like many of my 
             colleagues, to join in speaking about the loss of Senator 
             Craig Thomas, a friend from the neighboring State of 
             Wyoming.
               Over the course of years in working with Craig on the 
             floor of the House and here in the Senate, I must tell you 
             that notice of his death late yesterday evening was a real 
             loss to me and my wife Suzanne. And I say to his wife 
             Susan and their four children that we stand in quiet 
             prayer for strength for you through this difficult time in 
             the loss of a truly marvelous American.
               The Senator from Colorado just mentioned the word 
             ``cowboy,'' and I oftentimes, when at a gathering with 
             Craig, if the opportunity arose where we were both 
             speakers and I was to introduce him--and that happened on 
             several occasions--I would say: And now, ladies and 
             gentlemen, let me introduce the cowboy from Wyoming. And 
             he would stand with a big smile on his face because he 
             viewed that as a statement of respect. I think we 
             Westerners, who work closely together on issues that are 
             uniquely Western, appreciate and understand that 
             expression.
               Craig came to the House in 1989, just as I was leaving 
             the House, so I got to know him then. And, of course, when 
             he came to the Senate and came to the Energy and Natural 
             Resources Committee, where we both grew in seniority, we 
             began to work very closely together on so many issues that 
             were important to the West but also issues that were 
             important to the Nation.
               CQ, Congressional Quarterly, in its ``Political Profiles 
             of American Politicians,'' said this about Craig, and I 
             think it is so typical of the man. They said:

               While Thomas pursues his State's interests, he does it 
             in a quiet, methodical way that has made him remarkably 
             few enemies after nearly two decades in Congress. Known 
             for his courtesy and diplomacy, even on bitterly contested 
             issues, he is no pushover.

               That is the Craig Thomas whom we all got to know. He 
             could be tough in his position. He knew exactly where he 
             was on almost all issues, and he very seldom gave ground. 
             But he would give ground when he knew it would bring the 
             issue to resolution. Now, I say that is the art of a 
             talented policymaker, and Craig Thomas, representing his 
             State of Wyoming and the Nation, was truly that.
               He filled big shoes. When he came to the House, he 
             filled the shoes of the departing Dick Cheney, and, of 
             course, when he came over here, he filled the shoes of 
             Malcolm Wallop, who was well known here as a very clear 
             conservative and often very partisan Member of the Senate. 
             But in filling those shoes--and more important, he brought 
             his own boots--he made his own mark for his State and for 
             the Nation. So whether it was park issues, whether it was 
             natural resource issues, whether it was differences 
             between that boundary line that sometimes is fairly 
             indistinguishable out West between Idaho and Wyoming, 
             Craig Thomas served the citizens of his State extremely 
             well.
               Oftentimes known as an open, multiple-use advocate, as 
             both he and I are on the utilization of our public lands 
             and their management, when it came to Yellowstone National 
             Park and the Grand Teton National Park, they were 
             something special in Craig's mind. Oftentimes I would say: 
             ``Craig, you are siding with the environmentalists on that 
             issue.''
               He would laugh or smile and say: ``Larry, nothing is too 
             good in protecting Yellowstone National Park and the Grand 
             Teton. They are the crown jewels in the Nation and they 
             are a major part of my State.''
               While we were very seldom in disagreement, there were 
             times when there was a bump-up now and then, as is typical 
             amongst all of us who serve in the Senate, even though on 
             most issues we found great compatibility.
               I am one amongst all who will miss Craig Thomas. He was 
             a friend of long standing, a colleague. His wife Susan and 
             my wife Suzanne had become good friends over the years, as 
             so many of us do while working in the Senate. His life is 
             taken from us and from the citizens of his State and from 
             his family at a time when Craig Thomas was serving his 
             State and his Nation well.
               Again, to his wife and children, we are going to miss 
             Craig a great deal in the Senate. I, personally, as a 
             friend, will miss Craig Thomas.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.

               Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I, too, rise today to pay 
             tribute to our fallen friend, the distinguished Senator 
             from Wyoming, Mr. Craig Thomas. My wife Tricia and I were 
             greatly saddened this morning when we rose and found out 
             that Craig had lost his battle with this form of leukemia. 
             The four of us have been together many times, socially and 
             in business settings. We have had some great experiences 
             together in other parts of the world. We were so sad to 
             learn he had passed away. It was heightened by the fact 
             that he seemed to have done so well after his first round 
             of treatment. It was a great pleasure to come on the floor 
             over the last couple months and see him looking better 
             every day. He seemed to feel good. So I was personally 
             excited that he was going to whip this thing. That was his 
             attitude, as a true Marine. He was fighting a battle to 
             win.
               He brought to the Senate a special down-to-earth Wyoming 
             wisdom, reflective of the unique part of the country he 
             represented so well. Cody, WY, where he was born, is a 
             special place. Craig was the epitome of the people in that 
             part of our great country. In a legislative body of 
             sometimes showboats, lightning rods, and mavericks, Craig 
             was an engine of the Senate. He was not flamboyant. He 
             didn't try to be. He kept plodding along, trying to find a 
             way to get the right results and help the Senate do its 
             job.
               I have learned over the years there are some people in 
             life, and some Members of the Senate, who are tried and 
             true, who can be depended on no matter what the issue is. 
             Craig Thomas was one of those. He kept the Senate on point 
             when we strayed from the big picture--with his goodness, 
             his common sense, and his affable manner. It is very easy 
             to get fired up and lash out at an institution where we 
             all come from so many different backgrounds and are so 
             passionate sometimes about issues. But Craig kept it cool, 
             kept a level head, and kept moving forward. When we 
             drifted off message, when we were too much into the weeds 
             with our competing agendas, he didn't complain or rail or 
             make demands to fix it, he rounded up several of his 
             colleagues, came to the floor, and before long he had a 
             way of helping us get back on track.
               His resilience and self-reliance were emblematic of the 
             open range country in which he was born. He was Wyoming to 
             me, in all its rugged zest for community, Nation, and 
             faith.
               I was particularly interested in hearing our colleague, 
             Senator Larry Craig, from Idaho, talk about his love of 
             the outdoors, of Yellowstone, and his effort to preserve 
             and improve that great national park. It was one of the 
             things he truly did love. He didn't talk about himself 
             very much, but he spoke eloquently about the quality-of-
             life issues of his mostly rural West neighbors. He was, 
             after all, a farmer. That is what he got his degree in, in 
             college--agriculture.
               Of course, he served his country for 4 years in the 
             Marines. That was kind of how he approached his job in the 
             Senate. He came to get things done, to get results for 
             Wyoming, and the Nation. He was on the right committees to 
             do that. He was on the Energy Committee, and I tangled 
             with him, one time in particular I remember, on the Energy 
             Committee. I came away knowing that, when you get in a 
             tussle with Craig Thomas, you better bring your lunch 
             because it will not be quick. It will take a long time to 
             work it out. But work it out we did.
               He also served on the Finance Committee, where I had the 
             pleasure of serving with him. He provided, again, good, 
             solid, calm counsel and participation. It was that self-
             reliance, that selflessness that diverted our attention 
             from the tragedy his family was facing over recent months. 
             But that is how he wanted it. He was riding the Senate 
             range, keeping us on the trail, and helping us to stay 
             with the big picture, to improve the quality of life of 
             all those we represent.
               Tricia and I extend our love, our thoughts, and our 
             prayers to Susan, their children, and Craig's loyal staff. 
             We have lost a solid statesman, and we will dedicate 
             ourselves to keeping his spirit of goodness alive in the 
             Senate for all of those to come.
               I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
               The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

               Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent 
             that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.

               Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, this is a sad time for the 
             Senate. As we continue with the important business of the 
             Nation, we pause for a few moments to think about our 
             common loss of one of our kindest, most dedicated, and 
             most thoughtful colleagues, Senator Craig Thomas of 
             Wyoming. All of us have our own private memories of our 
             relationship with Craig. Mine is of him as a kind of 
             silent leader, kind of an atypical character, if you will, 
             in the Senate.
               When I got here 4\1/2\ years ago, someone alleged--and 
             this is a broad characterization--someone said: ``Welcome 
             to the Senate, a place that has 100 large egos and 200 
             sharp elbows.''
               I think what that person forgot to do was account for 
             somebody such as Craig Thomas, who was never jockeying for 
             the headlines and spotlight but always focused on his work 
             and quietly, every day, made a difference.
               I learned firsthand in recent months, as I began working 
             with a number of Senators on this side of the aisle, 
             trying to encourage their active participation in the 
             floor debates, Craig understood it is open debate and 
             discussion in this, the world's greatest deliberative 
             body, that protects and extends democracy. Indeed, every 
             week as we met, Senator Thomas would simply ask: ``What 
             can I do, John?'' It is that fundamental desire to serve 
             the public, the most basic and fundamental question of all 
             that best characterized Senator Craig Thomas: ``What can I 
             do?''
               He was a defender of American values. From his service 
             in the Marine Corps to his time in the House and the 
             Senate, he served with courage and integrity. Nowhere was 
             that more apparent than in the way he served and handled 
             his final illness. You never would have known that he had 
             been through chemotherapy or that he was not feeling well. 
             The only way you would know is because his hair had fallen 
             out as a result of the chemotherapy. It was almost back in 
             its original form. But you never would know from his 
             attitude, which was always upbeat, always positive, never 
             looking for sympathy but simply, day in and day out, doing 
             his dead level best to represent the people of Wyoming in 
             the Senate.
               He was known as one of the people's most staunch 
             advocates, leading the charge against government waste and 
             always fighting higher taxes.
               In many ways, Senator Thomas was an example to all of 
             us. In an environment that can sometimes turn too nasty, 
             his friendly demeanor and his dedication to his country 
             was always a reminder that public service is more than a 
             duty, it is a privilege. It can be conducted in a way that 
             does not turn political adversaries into personal enemies. 
             It can be done without bitterness, without anger, and with 
             dignity.
               I know Craig was honored to be able to represent the 
             State of Wyoming and that the State of Wyoming was 
             privileged to be served by such a man. Wyoming and the 
             Nation now mourn the loss of this great Senator, this 
             great patriot, this fine husband and father, and this good 
             man. He left an indelible mark on the Halls of the Senate 
             and America in general. He will be missed.
               For Susan and all the Thomas family, Sandy and I say to 
             you, you are in our thoughts and prayers, as I know you 
             are in the thoughts and prayers of countless millions of 
             people all across this great land. In these trying times, 
             we are all comforted by the strong faith in God that Craig 
             exemplified, as well as the enduring legacy he left and 
             his positive impact upon the Nation.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.

               Mr. DORGAN. Madam President, I listened to my colleague 
             from Texas. I come to the floor to add a word about my 
             friend whom we have lost, Senator Craig Thomas. Craig was 
             from the State of Wyoming. He was from the Northern Great 
             Plains. Last evening, when I heard he had died, I spent a 
             lot of time thinking about Craig and about this place.
               Most Americans see the partisanship. This is actually a 
             political body, so it is not unusual there would be some 
             partisanship. What most Americans never have the 
             opportunity to see is the friendship. This is a small 
             community of 100 Members of the Senate, men and women who 
             come from every part of our country who are elected to 
             serve. There is a great deal of friendship that exists in 
             this Chamber, even in the middle of all of the politics 
             that exists in our political system.
               Senator Craig Thomas was an interesting and a wonderful 
             man. I have had, especially the last 6 months, an 
             opportunity to work very closely with him. I knew him as a 
             Member of the House of Representatives. I knew him as a 
             Member of the Senate and a colleague in both the House and 
             the Senate. But the last 6 months we worked together, I as 
             chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee and Craig Thomas 
             as vice chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee. We sat 
             next to each other, hour after hour, hearing after 
             hearing, and I got to know a lot about Craig Thomas that I 
             had not previously known.
               His word was his bond. He was quick with a smile. A 
             quiet man in many ways, he cared deeply about his home 
             State of Wyoming and cared deeply about the future of his 
             country.
               Craig was a proud son of the American West who never, 
             ever forgot about the people he represented. His 
             commitment to American Indians, and especially and 
             particularly to those living on the Wind River Reservation 
             in Wyoming, was evident as I worked side by side with him 
             on the Indian Affairs Committee, as was his strong support 
             for Indian health care and for all of the other services 
             to Native Americans.
               I was pleased to have the opportunity to work with him 
             and to get to know him and to admire his work. In recent 
             months, of course, Senator Thomas faced some very 
             challenging health care issues with a very challenging 
             illness. He met those challenges with courage and with 
             grace. He never complained. I never heard him complain. In 
             fact, it was just about 3 weeks ago at a hearing that I 
             turned to him and said: ``You look great. You really look 
             terrific.'' He said: ``I feel good. I feel great.''
               He was a person with that kind of attitude. What a 
             wonderful contribution to the Senate. I think all of us 
             here will miss a terrific friend.
               Let me end as I started by saying this is a political 
             body. I know most Americans see the evidence of that 
             politics, so they see sometimes the politics and the 
             partisanship. What most Americans never have the 
             opportunity to see is the friendship that exists on the 
             floor of the Senate. Yes, even between those who from time 
             to time are adversaries in debate but who understand each 
             other and are friends with each other.
               I had the privilege of working with Senator Thomas for 
             many years in the House and in the Senate, and 
             particularly in the last 6 months as chairman and vice 
             chairman of the committee. I will miss him dearly. I 
             considered Senator Craig Thomas a friend. My thoughts and 
             prayers today are with his wonderful family as well.
               Madam President, I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kansas.

               Mr. ROBERTS. Madam President, I join my colleagues in 
             paying tribute to our friend and colleague, Senator Craig 
             Thomas. I always said if I got into a tough situation--
             using the allegory, a gunfight on Front Street in my 
             hometown of Dodge City, KS--I would want Craig Thomas by 
             my side. I also knew that he would be there.
               In that regard, it was only 2 weeks ago that he and 
             Susan, his wife, corralled a group of supporters for me 
             and we talked about his personal battle. He was confident. 
             As Senator Dorgan has indicated, he looked good. And we 
             joked with him of no longer being a member of the 
             folliclely challenged caucus.
               His turn for the worse and sudden passing comes as a 
             great shock to all of us. We served together in the House 
             where, as in this body, he was always a voice of reason, a 
             man of trust, decency, and commitment.
               I do not know of anyone who did not like or respect 
             Craig Thomas. In this day of rough and tumble public 
             service and the Congress overflowing, it seems, in a 
             cauldron of partisan discontent, Craig transcended all of 
             that.
               In the end, the only thing any of us who have the 
             privilege of public trust has going for us is our word. 
             Craig Thomas set the gold standard in keeping his word and 
             our trust and our admiration.
               The Senate, Wyoming, and our Nation have lost a steady 
             hand and a man who did much for his special State. He was 
             dependable in the finest sense of the word. He never 
             sought the center ring or the spotlight; that was not his 
             style. He was the epitome of a workhorse, not a show 
             horse.
               I remember and I treasure our times together, especially 
             when I first came to the Senate. We both agreed the length 
             of a conversation does not tell anything about the size of 
             the intellect. We also agreed that no matter who says 
             what, you should not believe it if it does not make sense. 
             Craig made sense. He did not need decorated words to make 
             his meaning clear. He spoke Wyoming, and Kansas for that 
             matter.
               Craig would take the floor during morning business, and 
             in his calm, reasonable manner then discuss an issue of 
             the day. And you sort of had to sit on the edge of your 
             seat and lean forward, and as they say in his beloved 
             Marine Corps, listen up. He talked softly, he talked low, 
             he talked slowly, and he said a whole lot without saying 
             too much.
               To some of us in this body he was, and is, a fellow 
             Marine. In this case, Semper Fidelis, always faithful, is 
             most appropriate. As I said, if anyone faced trouble in 
             their life, the one person you would want by your side 
             would be Craig Thomas. I shall miss him greatly as a 
             personal friend, confidant, and supporter.
               Both of the offices I have occupied in the Senate were 
             previously occupied by Craig. I just thought if they were 
             good enough for Craig, I would fit right in. There is a 
             short book by Bix Bender called, ``A Cowboy's Guide to 
             Life.'' In it, he describes the code of the West and urges 
             men of this common background to write it in hearts, to 
             stand by the code, and that it would stand by you. Ask no 
             more and give no less than honesty, courage, loyalty, 
             generosity, and fairness.
               Madam President, Craig Thomas embodied that code. Now, 
             while our minds are full of sorrow and our hearts 
             certainly heavy with his loss, Craig would not want that. 
             In this regard, the words of Helen Steiner Rice come to 
             mind as our thoughts and prayers are with his supporter, 
             friend, and his wife Susan; his sons, Patrick, Peter, and 
             Greg; and his daughter Lexie.

             When I must leave you
             for a little while,
             Please go on bravely
             with a gallant smile
             And for my sake and in my name,
             Live on and do all things the same.
             Spend not your life in empty days,
             But fill each waking hour
             in useful ways.
             Reach out your hand
             in comfort and in cheer,
             And I in turn will comfort you
             and hold you near.

               Bless Craig Thomas.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.

               Mrs. HUTCHISON. Madam President, we did not think, 
             coming back to the Chamber a week after we had all gone 
             our separate ways back to our States, that we would come 
             back with one of our Members not here. There is a drape 
             over Craig Thomas's chair and a beautiful flower 
             arrangement.
               But all of us who go through the day-to-day workings of 
             the Senate, working with our constituents at home, the 
             pressures which we all know we feel being 24/7 in a job 
             that we love, but we all know the stresses and strains and 
             therefore we bond because of the similarity of experience. 
             So when we all said goodbye at the end of last week, we 
             did not expect to come back and have one fewer Member. So 
             I want to rise today to express my sadness for the passing 
             of Senator Craig Thomas and to express my deepest sympathy 
             for his wife Susan, their family, and the people of 
             Wyoming.
               Senator Thomas served in Congress for 18 years, 6 years 
             in the House and 12 years in the Senate. He had just been 
             reelected to his third term. But his service to the United 
             States did not begin when he came to the Nation's Capital. 
             It began in the Marine Corps, where he served from 1955 to 
             1959. Then he went back to Wyoming to work at the Wyoming 
             Farm Bureau and then the Rural Electric Association. 
             Later, he began a career in public service, winning an 
             election to the Wyoming House of Representatives. Five 
             years later he won a special election to succeed then-
             Congressman Dick Cheney as a Member of the U.S. House, and 
             5 years after that in 1994, then-Congressman Thomas won 
             election to the Senate.
               Craig Thomas used his real-life, rural background to 
             champion a positive agenda for America's rural community. 
             As a former chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee, 
             Craig Thomas authored legislation to provide funding and 
             management reforms to protect America's national parks in 
             the 21st century.
               He was honored by the National Parks and Conservation 
             Association with their William Penn Mott Jr. Park 
             Leadership Award. As a senior member of the Senate Finance 
             Committee, Senator Thomas was instrumental in vital issues 
             such as Social Security, trade, and tax reform. He was 
             cochair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus.
               These are impressive accomplishments, but Senator Craig 
             Thomas, the man, was just as impressive. Every time I 
             called Craig to fill in for me when I was vice chairman of 
             the Republican Conference, he was there. He was on the 
             executive committee as the vice chairman of the 
             conference. Craig was the one I turned to the most to 
             chair a meeting if I could not be there. He would talk on 
             the Senate floor about the specific issues that we were 
             wanting to focus on at the time.
               He was so well liked by everyone in this Chamber. I 
             cannot imagine anyone ever saying they did not like Craig 
             Thomas. His wife Susan is a very special lady as well. She 
             works with children who have disabilities. She has made 
             that her lifelong mission. She is so loved and respected 
             in the teaching community for the great work that she has 
             done.
               So when all of us learned about Craig Thomas's illness 
             late last year, we all thought: Gosh, he is going to be a 
             fighter. He is going to do so well. And he did. He did do 
             well. He fought it with immediate chemotherapy. He came 
             back with less hair than he started with in the month of 
             November, but we knew, as we were watching him progress, 
             that he was looking better and better and his color was 
             getting better and better. Then when we all left last 
             week, some knew he was going back for another round of 
             chemo. Many of us did not know. But no one in our body 
             realized how serious it was.
               Yesterday, God did call him home. At the moment that he 
             was called, his wife Susan; his sons, Patrick, Peter, and 
             Greg; and his daughter, Lexie, were all there with him. So 
             our prayers shift now from recovery to comfort, and we 
             hope his family knows and the people of Wyoming know what 
             a mark he made on this body. He will be remembered, and he 
             certainly is where the angels are because of his good 
             nature and his good deeds. We wish Susan and the family 
             our condolences and our best wishes, and we hope all of us 
             will be able to have the good memories when time begins to 
             heal.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.

               Mrs. LINCOLN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent 
             to speak as in morning business for 5 minutes.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.

               Mrs. LINCOLN. Madam President, I join my colleagues in 
             expressing my heartfelt condolences to Susan, the entire 
             Thomas family, and the people of Wyoming over the passing 
             of our dear friend, Senator Craig Thomas. We have lost one 
             of the truly great statesmen from this body who always had 
             a kind word and a smile for me in the hallway or here in 
             the well or in this body and anyone else he came across 
             during the day. He had a wonderful way of calming people 
             down and making people feel at home. I personally felt a 
             kinship with Senator Thomas. Our offices were not merely 
             located in the same corner of the third floor of the 
             Dirksen Building, we were neighbors in every sense of the 
             word. We also had the distinction of serving together on 
             both the Senate Finance and Energy Committees. Not a day 
             would go by that we didn't share a ride in the elevator or 
             cross pathways in the hall or stand and visit with our 
             staffs together.
               We also both came from rural States with similar needs, 
             and we worked together to address many of the same issues 
             the citizens of Wyoming and Arkansas face. As one of the 
             cochairs of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, Senator Thomas 
             was a true leader and a fighter, consistently fighting to 
             improve access to health care for rural communities, 
             especially for seniors. We worked on several issues 
             together to make sure our rural constituents had a voice 
             on health care and many other important issues. Senator 
             Thomas and I also were delighted to work together to 
             improve tax fairness for the numerous disabled veterans 
             who served our country with dignity and honor and call 
             Arkansas and Wyoming their home.
               Senator Thomas was a tireless advocate for Wyoming and 
             fought to ensure that the interests of his State were 
             always protected throughout the legislative process. I 
             can't tell you how many times I saw different constituent 
             groups from Wyoming lined up in the hallway to visit with 
             their very respected Senator. He was always accessible and 
             always made time for folks who traveled so far to see him. 
             But he also made time to visit with those who were there 
             in the hallway, oftentimes my constituents or staff 
             members. He was never in too big of a hurry that he 
             couldn't stop and take the time to visit with someone, to 
             share with them a kind word or listen to what was on their 
             mind or in their busy schedule.
               He has a tremendous staff. They all reflect the 
             Senator's good nature. Working with his staff so closely 
             in the neighborhood of the third floor of Dirksen, they 
             exemplify the courage and kindness of this incredible 
             Senator they have served.
               He was a tremendous public servant, and he served our 
             Nation courageously as a U.S. Marine. He was a true 
             gentleman and one of the kindest and most genuine people 
             you would ever meet.
               I am truly saddened by the loss of my friend, and my 
             thoughts and prayers are with his dear wife Susan and the 
             entire Thomas family. This Senate body, the State of 
             Wyoming, and the American people have been truly blessed 
             by his life and his service.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.

               Mr. CONRAD. I ask unanimous consent to speak about the 
             passing of our colleague.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.

               Mr. CONRAD. Madam President, I was deeply saddened to 
             learn last night that Senator Thomas had lost his 
             courageous battle against leukemia. Over the years, Craig 
             and his wife Susan have become very good friends to both 
             me and my wife Lucy. I will greatly miss him in this 
             Chamber and, more than that, as a friend.
               Senator Thomas and I cochaired the Senate Rural Health 
             Caucus. We have worked closely, along with our staffs, on 
             rural health care issues. You couldn't find a more decent 
             and honorable person than Craig Thomas. He is from 
             Wyoming; I am from North Dakota. We didn't always agree 
             politically, but we always got along. I always felt I had 
             a friend in Craig Thomas.
               On health care, he and I partnered over several years to 
             produce comprehensive legislation to improve reimbursement 
             levels for health care providers in rural areas. During 
             the legislation that passed on comprehensive drug 
             legislation, there were provisions included to, for the 
             first time in many years, improve reimbursement for rural 
             providers. It is not well known in the country or perhaps 
             even in this Chamber that rural institutions often get 
             one-half as much to provide the same treatment as more 
             urban institutions. Senator Thomas and I focused on those 
             issues in the Finance Committee. Much of the legislation 
             that was included in the comprehensive drug legislation to 
             for the first time address that unfairness in 
             reimbursement was legislation that Senator Thomas and I 
             had offered.
               We spent hours and hours together agreeing on the 
             elements of these legislative packages. Our staffs worked 
             closely together. They became friends.
               This week we were planning to introduce together the 
             latest version of our comprehensive rural health care 
             legislation. This week will be a poignant one for me and 
             my staff as we consider what might have been.
               In the Senate Finance Committee, Craig and I worked 
             closely together on other issues that are important to our 
             States. We had a shared interest in the impact of trade on 
             U.S. agriculture, whether it was unfairly subsidized 
             foreign sugar or the Japanese and Koreans unfairly 
             blocking exports of American beef. We also shared a deep 
             interest on energy policy because Wyoming is an energy 
             State, as is North Dakota. We worked together to boost 
             transmission capacity and to support clean coal 
             technologies and to develop coal to liquid fuel 
             technologies.
               I can tell you Craig Thomas was a determined and 
             principled Member of this body. He had real convictions. 
             They were never far from his heart. Craig Thomas was 
             somebody who cared deeply about the people of Wyoming and 
             the people of this country. He also was someone who could 
             understand that others might have a different point of 
             view. While Craig Thomas might not agree with you, he was 
             willing to listen. He was always willing to debate, but to 
             do it in a gentlemanly way. I knew many times when Craig 
             and I were debating legislation we were going to 
             introduce, there were simply places he wasn't going to go. 
             He was not going to go against certain deeply held 
             principles. But he was willing to have a discussion about 
             how we might accomplish the goal. That is something I 
             admired deeply about Craig Thomas.
               He was a tenacious advocate for improving health care 
             for the many rural communities in his State and across the 
             country. He was a fierce fighter for the people of 
             Wyoming. Nobody could ever doubt that. He brought that 
             same strength and tenacity to his fight with leukemia. 
             Although he must have been in pain in the last several 
             weeks, he never let it show. In fact, one of the last 
             conversations I had with him was right here in the corner 
             of this Chamber. I asked him how he was doing. He was 
             upbeat and positive. I sensed he was on the mend. So it 
             was a real shock to me to find out last night that we lost 
             him. He continued to the very end to pursue his goals with 
             courage and strength and as a true gentleman. We will miss 
             Craig Thomas as a friend and a colleague. We will miss 
             that wry sense of humor. We will miss his ability to find 
             amusement in the daily workings of this body.
               Most of all, we will miss his quiet smile and that 
             twinkle in his eye, because all of us know that is the 
             Craig Thomas who became our very good friend.
               Lucy and I express our deepest condolences to Susan and 
             to his four children and to the larger Thomas family. We 
             also take this moment to express our condolences to his 
             very dedicated, loyal, and highly competent staff. Craig 
             Thomas had around him people with the same qualities he 
             demonstrated, people of quiet dignity and people of real 
             competence who worked very hard for the people of Wyoming 
             and this country.
               I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
               The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the 
             roll.

               Mr. WARNER. I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
             the quorum call be rescinded.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.

               Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I thank the distinguished 
             presiding officer for allowing me to come over at this 
             point in time. I shall take but a few minutes to address 
             the Senate and the American public about the passing of a 
             dearly beloved colleague with whom I and other Members of 
             this great Senate have shared a friendship through the 
             many years.
               Each of us is deeply saddened at the passing yesterday 
             evening of this valued friend and colleague. I first came 
             to know him in 1995, when he took the seat of Malcolm 
             Wallop. I had known Malcolm Wallop very well, still know 
             him quite well. He was a very strong-minded, able, tough 
             U.S. Senator, tough in the sense that he was a man of 
             resolute convictions.
               We wondered who would take his place. Craig Thomas took 
             Senator Wallop's place, and I think even Senator Wallop, 
             were he here today to address the Senate, would agree he 
             has followed in the footsteps of many great Senators who 
             have come from the great State of Wyoming.
               He also served as a Marine officer from 1955 to 1959. He 
             entered as a private and was released as a captain. I say, 
             with a sense of humility, I entered the Marine Corps as a 
             private and parted, many years later, as a captain. 
             Therefore, we had a special bond.
               But he was able, through the years, to carry on I think 
             one of the great attributes of the Corps--taught to all of 
             us--and where I failed, he succeeded. I used to have a 
             nickname for him. I called him ``Ramrod.'' He did not have 
             to say ``I was a Marine'' because you could tell by the 
             way he walked, the way he carried himself, and the way he 
             had his chin always projecting. That is the way we were 
             taught in the Marines. It fell by the wayside with this 
             humble Senator, but it never left the posture of that 
             great Marine and great Senator.
               As Marines served over the past 5 years on the tip of 
             the spear around the world, all of our Marines, 
             particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan of recent, it was 
             helpful for the Senate to have Senator Thomas's 
             perspective in looking out for our Marines in a very 
             special way.
               He was very active in the Marine Caucus, meeting for 
             breakfast at 0800 in the morning, getting together, 
             talking about years past, years present, and years in the 
             future. Each year, the Commandant of the Marine Corps 
             would come over, and, quite understandably, the job fell 
             to Senator Thomas, which he loved, to introduce the 
             Commandant of the Marines.
               I refer then to our Marine Corps Hymn, which all of us 
             sing. And I quote one stanza: ``Our flags unfurl'd to 
             every breeze, From dawn to setting sun.'' The Sun has set 
             on this great Marine, and that is how I shall always 
             remember him. Whatever the challenges facing us in the 
             Senate, he was steadfast, unruffled, and committed to the 
             task at hand, like the Marine he was and always will be in 
             our memories.
               It is interesting, another characteristic of Marines--
             our good friend, Conrad Burns, being one, and to some 
             extent myself--we tend to be rather gregarious, somewhat 
             undisciplined and rough and ready. But Senator Thomas was 
             a very quiet man, very introspective in his thinking, with 
             a smile on his face. But he could project his persona 
             without some of the other attributes we Marines pride 
             ourselves in.
               He chaired the Senate Rural Health Caucus. I am a member 
             of that caucus, and I stop to think--I do not know how 
             many are members of it--it was an effective caucus. We got 
             together particularly on issues of medical care and how, 
             through the past decades, that care has shrunk in the 
             rural areas because of the lack of young men and young 
             women going in and practicing medicine and accepting the 
             hardships and indeed the less pay the rural areas have. 
             But he left his hallmark trying to encourage better 
             medical care in those regions which are in every State of 
             our Union.
               We both loved fishing. How many times we talked about 
             trout fishing. He always said to me: ``John, I have a very 
             special stream, almost untouched, largely unknown, but I 
             will take you there someday, and you will experience a 
             trip you will never forget.'' I have missed that trip.
               His constituents, his loving family, and, above all, his 
             wife Susan, are in our thoughts and prayers. I ask 
             colleagues to stop and think on those evenings when we got 
             our evening engagements and we were, fortunately, going to 
             be accompanied by our wives, that Susan would stand watch 
             at the door of the Senate. I can see that spot. As you 
             approach the Chamber, it is on the left, right there next 
             to the column. I would always see her and wave a 
             ``hello.''
               So I say to her and her family, thank you for sharing in 
             our lives the richness of the life of your Craig Thomas.
               From one Marine to another, I simply say: ``Fair Winds 
             and Following Seas to you, sir. Semper Fi.''

               Mr. AKAKA. Madam President, I am deeply saddened at the 
             passing of my dear friend, Wyoming's senior Member, 
             Senator Craig Thomas. We have lost a truly dear and 
             courageous member of this body, whose absence will be 
             felt. I had the pleasure of serving with Senator Thomas 
             for many years, both in the U.S. House of Representatives 
             and here in the Senate since his election in 1994. I found 
             him to be a true statesman, of great character, with a 
             passion for serving others.
               He grew up on a ranch in Cody, WY, and never forgot his 
             roots, as he continuously advocated for rural communities 
             and our natural resources. He graduated from the 
             University of Wyoming with a degree in agriculture, and 
             served our country proudly for 4 years in the Marines.
               During his tenure in Congress, he forged a distinguished 
             legislative record on issues as diverse as public land 
             management, agriculture, fiscal responsibility and rural 
             health care. It was a great pleasure and honor to serve 
             with Senator Thomas on the Senate Subcommittee on National 
             Parks, both when he was chairman and I was the ranking 
             member, and most recently, when our roles were reversed 
             this Congress. Working with Senator Thomas was a joy and 
             privilege due to his positive and optimistic attitude. We 
             were able to accomplish many notable things during our 
             tenure together, as we always worked in a bipartisan 
             manner, putting the needs and challenges of the parks and 
             public lands before all else.
               I also had the privilege of working with Senator Thomas 
             on the Indian Affairs Committee. As the ranking member of 
             the committee, he took seriously his responsibility to 
             address the needs of our country's indigenous people. 
             Knowing of the challenges faced by our Native communities 
             throughout the country, he worked tirelessly to improve 
             their quality of life.
               I extend my heartfelt condolences and deepest aloha to 
             Senator Thomas's wife Susan and their four children. They 
             should be proud that he lived a full and purposeful life, 
             and had a positive impact on the lives of so many. He will 
             be sorely missed. Our prayers and support are with them as 
             they walk down this difficult path.

               Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, words cannot express how 
             sad I am that my good friend Craig Thomas passed away last 
             night. We will all truly miss his tenacious advocacy on 
             issues, his incredible sense of humor, and his upstanding 
             character and integrity. The Senate will not be the same 
             without him.
               I have known Craig for almost 20 years. I first became 
             friends with him when we both served in the House of 
             Representatives. We continued our friendship in the 
             Senate, where I had the great fortune of serving with him 
             on both the Senate Finance and Senate Energy Committees.
               Craig was a tireless advocate for Wyoming issues. He was 
             an effective leader in energy, public lands, tax, trade, 
             health, and rural community issues. We stood side by side 
             on many issues, and I always felt we could accomplish any 
             project because I had Craig by my side.
               He and I worked closely on energy issues in both 
             committees. Craig was skilled at keeping his eyes on the 
             details that mattered to the people back home in Wyoming. 
             Recently, we worked together on a small issue in the 
             landmark Energy Policy Act of 2005 that he helped craft. 
             We learned that western coals, because of their naturally 
             low sulfur content, would be excluded from certain clean 
             coal programs for failing to remove the high percentage 
             mandated by the bill. This was one of those little things 
             that slipped by many people but not Craig. We have already 
             fixed the problem in the Tax Code and are now working to 
             do the same in the Energy Committee. It was the little 
             things he did for the people of Wyoming that made him such 
             a great Senator for his State.
               Craig also pushed to make sure that both his State and 
             the Nation had an effective energy policy. Just a couple 
             of weeks ago, Craig and I sponsored an amendment during 
             markup of the Energy Committee biofuels bill to attempt to 
             push coal-to-liquids technology into reality. Thomas 
             believed this would help both the people of Wyoming by 
             providing more jobs and cheaper energy costs and would 
             help the Nation by reducing our reliance on Middle East 
             oil. And although this amendment failed in committee, his 
             dogged determination showed through because he planned to 
             continue fighting this issue on the Senate floor.
               My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Susan and his 
             children, Lexie, Greg, Patrick, and Peter. They have shown 
             incredible courage and strength the past few months.
               I am honored to have known Senator Thomas. He impacted 
             all of our lives and will be sorely missed.

               Ms. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, I appreciate this 
             consideration. I realize we must move to the legislation 
             before us, the issue of immigration, but I wanted to take 
             just a few minutes this afternoon to stand in tribute to 
             my friend, to our friend and colleague, Senator Craig 
             Thomas.
               I think it is fair to say that this is very difficult 
             for all of us here in the Senate. It has been described 
             that we are a family. We are friends. My neighbor Senator 
             Thomas and I have sat on this back row together for this 
             past year. I sit next to him in the Energy Committee. I 
             sit next to him in the Indian Affairs Committee. He is a 
             friend and a man whom I will miss very deeply. To learn 
             this morning of his passing leaves me truly with a hole in 
             my heart. I can't imagine the depth of loss the family and 
             his wife Susan are feeling at this point.
               We recognize that we were privileged to serve with a 
             truly incredible man. I haven't served with him as long as 
             many of my Senate colleagues. I came to know him really 
             from a very personal perspective. I was fascinated with 
             the fact that he is a true cowboy. I have always kind of 
             thought that cowboys never die. He was claimed by a very 
             terrible disease, a very terrible cancer, leukemia. Alaska 
             mourned the loss of a young woman just last year who was 
             claimed by leukemia. She was a world-famous dog musher. In 
             Alaska, we say dog mushers, real famous dog mushers never 
             die, either. So, again, my heart is very heavy.
               When I got up this morning and saw on my BlackBerry the 
             news of Senator Thomas, there was a second BlackBerry 
             message that came to me from one of the pages who served 
             here in the Senate just last fall. She was one of the 
             winter pages. I was very touched by the note she sent to 
             the head of the page program, and she forwarded me a copy 
             of it as well. I want to read just a paragraph from her e-
             mail to me because I think it reflects how Senator Thomas 
             touched the lives of so many--not just his colleagues and 
             not just the people of Wyoming but a young 16-year-old 
             page from Alaska. She wrote:

               My class and I witnessed some of the stages of Senator 
             Thomas's sickness, but we never witnessed him getting 
             upset or angry because he was feeling down and overtired 
             due to his symptoms and treatments.
               Senator Thomas was a cheerful man, always smiling and 
             personable, even when he was not being approached. He did 
             not have to address us at all; we were pages, mere peons 
             in the infrastructure of what we know as the Senate. Yet, 
             every time he entered the Senate, he warmed the room with 
             his smile and a warm glow that protruded gently from his 
             kind eyes. When he would speak to us, he did so with the 
             utmost respect and thoughtfulness, truly treating us as 
             equals. He never looked down on us, and I believe that is 
             why his memory has stayed with me and will continue to do 
             so in the future.
               What made Senator Thomas remarkable, aside from all 
             this, was that at the end of the day when we were at our 
             lowest point and we felt so tired we couldn't help but 
             frown, he was the one that no one ever caught frowning. He 
             was a great Senator, and from what I have had the chance 
             to witness firsthand, a great man. I am deeply sorry for 
             this loss, and I hope that this e-mail will attest to 
             that. His actions and his kindness were not lost on us.

               This was signed:

               With utmost respect and deepest sincerity, former U.S. 
             Senate Page, Lily George from Anchorage, AK.

               I thought it important to share that e-mail with my 
             colleagues because, again, Senator Thomas was one who 
             generated warmth with everybody he reached out to, whether 
             they were pages or Senators or people in the airport. We 
             will miss him very deeply here in the Senate.

               Mr. BOND. Madam President, today we pay tribute to 
             Senator Craig Thomas, whom we unfortunately lost to cancer 
             last night.
               Our thoughts, prayers, and sympathy go out to his wife 
             Susan and their children during this difficult time.
               I had the opportunity to work closely with Senator 
             Thomas on the Environment and Public Works Committee.
               He was a leader in the energy, agriculture, water 
             resources and agricultural issues that affected his State.
               I highly respected his low-key, behind-the-scenes manner 
             of getting things done.
               He was forward looking: he believed that ``clean 
             technologies'' were a solution both to environmental 
             pollution and to our dependence on foreign oil.
               On the Finance Committee, he was a dependable vote for 
             fiscal sanity, tax simplification and cutting spending.
               It is said around here that there are ``workhorses'' and 
             ``show horses.'' By that measure Senator Thomas was 
             certainly a workhorse. He did not aggressively seek the 
             limelight. Instead he worked quietly and diligently, with 
             integrity, to get things done for Wyoming.
               We will miss his knowledge, competence, and his 
             friendship.

               Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, I am deeply saddened by 
             the death of my friend, Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming.
               Craig Thomas was a popular figure in his home State of 
             Wyoming, winning a third term last November with 70 
             percent of the vote. He was known both at home and in 
             Washington as honest, hard-working, decent, and effective.
               He came to the Senate in 1989 through a special election 
             to fill the vacancy left by Dick Cheney, who had been 
             named Secretary of Defense. He won that race with 52 
             percent of the vote. By the year 2000, Senator Thomas's 
             popularity had soared, and he won reelection with 74 
             percent of the vote--one of the largest margins of victory 
             in Wyoming history.
               Senator Thomas's record of public service reaches back 
             well before his tenure in the U.S. Senate. Prior to his 
             election to the Senate, he served 5 years in the Wyoming 
             Legislature, and 4 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.
               His positions on the Finance Committee, Energy and 
             Natural Resources Committee, and Environment and Public 
             Works Committee allowed him to be an advocate for issues 
             such as conservation and fiscal conservatism. He was a 
             champion of issues of concern to rural America such as 
             affordability and access to quality health care services.
               Senator Thomas's home State of Wyoming is not unlike my 
             State of Mississippi, and we often worked side by side on 
             issues that face our States. He fought to improve the 
             quality of life for the people of Wyoming and was a strong 
             advocate for the agricultural sector of our economy. He 
             was tireless in urging the importance of public land 
             management and conservation of our natural resources.
               Craig Thomas will truly be missed in the U.S. Senate. He 
             reflected great credit on this body. It is my hope that 
             the spirit of fairness and decency he represented will 
             continue to be mighty valued in the Senate as a mark of 
             our continued appreciation of him and his exemplary 
             service to our Nation.
               (At the request of Mr. Reid, the following statement by 
             Mr. Obama was ordered to be printed in the Record.)

               Mr. OBAMA. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute 
             to a dear colleague and a tireless advocate for the people 
             of Wyoming, Senator Craig Thomas.
               Muhammad Ali once said, ``Service to others is the rent 
             you pay for your room here on Earth.'' Senator Thomas paid 
             his rent in full.
               No truer to his State could a man be than Craig Thomas 
             was. Born and raised on a ranch outside of Cody, WY, he 
             grew up in the Wyoming public school system, attended the 
             University of Wyoming, served as vice president of the 
             Wyoming Farm Bureau, and general manager of the Wyoming 
             Rural Electric Association. He served in both the House 
             and Senate and returned to his State every weekend, 
             visiting hometowns and parks, never losing sight of his 
             constituents and their needs.
               His commitment to this country led him to serve with 
             great distinction in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1955 to 
             1959. Before being elected to the U.S. Congress, he held 
             office for 5 years in the Wyoming State Legislature, where 
             he got his start in politics. And throughout his 
             distinguished political career, Craig Thomas became known 
             for his leadership on issues so critical to the well-being 
             of Wyoming, issues like rural health care access, fiscal 
             responsibility, and the protection of our Nation's park 
             lands. As cochair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, he 
             urged Congress to continue its support for rural health 
             programs like the Community Health Centers Program, which 
             provides services to over 16 million people living in 
             underserved areas. This is only one of the many legacies 
             he leaves behind.
               I am sorry I could not have served longer with Senator 
             Thomas. My memories of him are as a kind, quiet, and 
             humble man. He commanded enormous respect from us all, and 
             had a clarity of vision that did not go unnoticed. In the 
             face of a life-threatening illness, he returned to work 
             this year with the conviction of a cowboy who knows that 
             if you get thrown from a horse, you have to get up and get 
             back on. His courage throughout this tremendous battle 
             will continue to inspire those of us who follow him.
               On this sad occasion of his passing, Michelle and I 
             extend our deepest condolences to the members of his 
             family, especially his wife Susan and his four children, 
             to his staff, and to the people of Wyoming. I join my 
             colleagues and fellow Americans who are praying for them 
             and mourning their loss during this time of grief.

               Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President. I rise to honor the 
             memory of Senator Craig Thomas, who passed away last 
             night, Monday, June 4, at National Naval Medical Center in 
             Bethesda, MD.
               I knew Senator Thomas--as we all did--as a quiet 
             gentleman, and a dedicated advocate for the people of 
             Wyoming.
               My heart goes out to his wife Susan and to their four 
             children.
               Senator Thomas died of acute myeloid leukemia, which he 
             had been fighting for several months.
               All of us are familiar with Senator Thomas's courage, 
             because we saw it here, in the Capitol, and on the floor 
             of the Senate.
               He came here to do his duty, even though he was fighting 
             a disease that would ultimately take his life. That is the 
             mark of true courage--not at all surprising, coming from 
             this son of the American West.
               Senator Thomas was raised on a ranch near Cody, WY. He 
             attended public schools, and graduated from the University 
             of Wyoming at Laramie, earning a degree in agriculture.
               After college, he served 4 years in the Marine Corps. 
             Then he went on to become vice president of the Wyoming 
             Farm Bureau, and general manager of the Wyoming Rural 
             Electric Association.
               He served 5 years in the Wyoming State Legislature. In 
             1989, he was elected to the House of Representatives in a 
             special election to replace Dick Cheney, who had been 
             named Secretary of Defense. He was elected to his first 
             term in the Senate in 1994.
               Senator Thomas was reelected to his third term last 
             year, with 70 percent of the vote.
               Here, Senator Thomas was a strong voice for the people 
             of his home State.
               This included working to improve health care 
             opportunities for rural families, work he pursued as a 
             senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, and as 
             cochair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus.
               Senator Thomas served as chairman of the National Parks 
             Subcommittee, and his work was recognized many times by 
             the National Parks Conservation Association.
               The organization honored him with its William Penn Mott 
             Jr. Park Leadership Award, and with the National Parks 
             Achievement Award.
               I had the distinct pleasure of working together with 
             Senator Thomas on some issues close to my heart.
               Earlier this year, he was part of a bipartisan coalition 
             that joined with me, and with Senator Kay Bailey 
             Hutchison, to extend the sale of the breast cancer 
             research stamp, which has raised $54.9 million for breast 
             cancer research.
               Last year, Senator Thomas joined with me to cosponsor 
             legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to His 
             Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, in recognition of his 
             message of compassion and peace.
               And Senator Thomas and I collaborated on a plan to use 
             Wyoming Powder River Coal to produce cleaner electricity, 
             which would be sold to Western States, including 
             California.
               Senator Thomas served Wyoming and the Nation well. He 
             will be greatly missed.

               Mr. HATCH. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute 
             and bid farewell to my colleague and friend, my neighbor 
             from the great State of Wyoming, Senator Craig Thomas.
               Craig brought a quiet dignity to this august Chamber. He 
             was a Senator with the heart of a cowboy. We all knew that 
             he would rather have been on horseback in the Wyoming 
             prairie than in Washington, DC, but this was where the 
             people of Wyoming needed him to be. Indeed, all citizens 
             of America benefited greatly from his presence in 
             Washington, DC.
               Craig was the champion of rural America. He quietly but 
             tirelessly fought for the hard-working people of rural 
             America, the people who provide us with food and energy, 
             the woolgrowers, the cattlemen, and the farmers. If ever 
             there were a question on agriculture, Craig was the man to 
             see. During his tenure in the U.S. Senate, we all relied 
             heavily on Senator Thomas's expertise and leadership on 
             agriculture, rural development, and many other important 
             topics debated by this body.
               We served together on the Senate Finance Committee where 
             he would often entertain us with his stories and 
             experiences. I truly enjoyed listening to him and hearing 
             about his great State of Wyoming. Craig had a way of 
             dealing with the complex issues facing the Finance 
             Committee that was very direct and meaningful. He had a 
             way of distilling the complex tax, trade, and health care 
             issues down to their core and ensuring that real people, 
             with real concerns were addressed by the policies created 
             in the Finance Committee.
               I have had the distinct privilege of sitting next to 
             Craig in committee meetings, in briefings, in lunches, on 
             the floor, and in several other settings, and I can tell 
             you he was always a gentleman. He was always a caring 
             legislator, and he was always a true and loyal friend.
               Craig earned great stature and prestige in the time he 
             spent as a leader in the U.S. Marine Corps, the Wyoming 
             Farm Bureau, the Wyoming State Legislature, the U.S. House 
             of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate. I am honored to 
             have served beside him for so many years in the Senate, 
             and I will miss my friend dearly.
               I join with my colleagues in offering my condolences to 
             Senator Thomas's family, especially his widow, Susan. My 
             thoughts and prayers are with them on this day as we mourn 
             the loss of a great Senator but celebrate the life of our 
             great and dear man. The people of Wyoming will certainly 
             thank Susan and the rest of the Thomas family for sharing 
             their beloved Craig with them, and I believe the entire 
             Nation would join with me in thanking Susan for sharing 
             her great husband with us. He represented the good people 
             of Wyoming in such a capable and dignified manner, and I 
             know they are going to miss him. In fact, the entire 
             Nation is going to miss him.
               In this instance, I believe it is appropriate to quote 
             the beloved cowboy song and say to Craig, ``Happy trails 
             to you, till we meet again.''

               Mr. CRAPO. Madam President, I was deeply saddened to 
             hear of the sudden passing of my colleague from Wyoming, 
             Senator Craig Thomas. The loss we all feel at his passing 
             is tempered by the happy memories I have of working with 
             him on so many issues of mutual interest. His efforts and 
             his leadership on the panels on which we served together--
             the Senate Finance Committee, Senate Agriculture 
             Committee, and Senate Environment and Public Works 
             Committee--will remain foremost in my memory. I 
             particularly admired his staunch advocacy for the needs of 
             rural communities and farmers. Craig brought a special 
             passion and expertise to issues affecting ranching 
             families. His focus on their unique needs spanned the 
             trade, economic, environmental, and public lands 
             management issues of rural communities.
               Craig brought to Congress his vision for the needs of 
             Wyoming and rural States, and he became a strong advocate 
             of effective resource and energy policies. I am pleased to 
             have partnered with him in applying technologies to 
             improving our Nation's energy generation. Although he 
             lived his life modestly, he became a leader in national 
             park stewardship, and the American people owe him a debt 
             of gratitude for his promotion of the underserved National 
             Park System. I also appreciated his long and thoughtful 
             counsel on ways to update the Endangered Species Act.
               In recent months, Craig took a prime role on the Finance 
             Committee in working to simplify the Federal Tax Code and 
             improve entitlement and health care assistance to the 
             least fortunate. As one who took to heart the importance 
             of protecting the taxpayers' dollars, Craig was a strong 
             proponent of restoring the sustainability of our Nation's 
             welfare system. And Craig understood that economic 
             development in rural States like Wyoming was inextricably 
             linked to trade promotion that ensured open and fair 
             markets abroad. I will miss his stalwart and consistent 
             advocacy for farming communities as the Senate considered 
             trade legislation.
               As a man who represented a small State in population, 
             Craig towered large over the landscape of thoughtful 
             conservative Members of Congress. I think a fitting 
             tribute and legacy to our late friend would be to adopt 
             his resolution making July 28 National Day of the Cowboy. 
             My thoughts and prayers are with Craig's family and 
             friends. I will miss my good friend and colleague.

               Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, last night, the State of 
             Wyoming lost a fine statesman and a true gentleman with 
             the passing of Senator Craig Thomas. Senator Thomas was a 
             strong advocate for his State and its interests. He fought 
             hard for his priorities, and I especially admired his 
             tireless advocacy for our Nation's beautiful parks and 
             wilderness. He also worked hard for the priorities of 
             rural Wyoming and indeed all of rural America, fighting 
             hard to improve health care infrastructure.
               Senator Thomas dedicated his life to serving his country 
             and his State. After graduating from the University of 
             Wyoming, he joined the Marines and began his long career 
             of service. Even when faced with his final battle with 
             cancer, he continued to fight on for Wyoming and serve 
             with distinction.
               But the Senate lost not only an outstanding advocate but 
             a wonderful person. More than anything, I will remember 
             Senator Thomas as a man who carried himself with dignity 
             and who treated all of his colleagues with respect, 
             despite party differences. More than any debate, committee 
             hearing or piece of legislation, it is his warm smile that 
             I will remember most. I know he did a fantastic job 
             representing the State of Wyoming, and I am honored to 
             have known and worked with him.
               My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends 
             during this difficult time.

               Mr. BYRD. Madam President:

             I saw the sun sink in the golden west
             No angry cloud obscured its latest ray.
             Around the couch on which it sank to rest
             Shone all the splendor of a summer day.
             And long though lost to view, that radiant light
             Reflected from the skies, delayed the night.

             Thus, when a good man's life draws to a close,
             No doubts arise to cloud his soul with gloom,
             But faith triumphant on each feature glows,
             While benedictions fill the sacred room;
             And long, long do men his virtues wide proclaim
             And generations rise to praise his name.

               It is with deep sorrow--deep sorrow--that I note the 
             passing of our colleague Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming. 
             He was my friend. He always passed here and I would say: 
             ``How are you doing today, Cowboy?''
               First elected to the Senate in 1994, Senator Thomas was 
             twice reelected to the Senate by some of the widest 
             margins in his State's history, one time reaching 75 
             percent of the vote. It is hard to beat that.
               As has already been mentioned today, he was one of the 
             very few people from Wyoming to have represented his State 
             in both houses of the Congress, over there and over here. 
             Here in the Senate, I found him to be a most considerate 
             and patient colleague. He was always willing to step aside 
             for another Senator who sought recognition. He was a nice 
             man, a very quiet man with a radiant smile, staying out of 
             the spotlight, working behind the scenes, always ready to 
             cooperate and work with others for the good of our 
             country. He was a good, decent human being.
               Yes, we represented different political parties. Yes, we 
             sometimes held different political views, and we came from 
             vastly different parts of the country, but we shared 
             important common interests and objectives. With his State 
             of Wyoming being the No. 1 coal-producing State in the 
             Nation and my State of West Virginia being No. 2, I always 
             appreciated his support for clean coal technologies and 
             legislation that promoted the use of coal. I always 
             appreciated his interest in and support of our country's 
             beautiful and magnificent national parks. As chairman of 
             the National Parks Subcommittee on the Energy and Natural 
             Resources Committee, he sponsored legislation that both 
             protected and promoted these national treasures.
               Just as this former Marine dedicated his life to his 
             country, he dedicated his career in the Senate to 
             improving the quality of life for rural America. As 
             cochairman of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, he worked 
             tirelessly to improve the quality of rural health care. He 
             was truly a fine Member of this institution and a great 
             American who will be missed by his colleagues, certainly 
             by me, and by the people of Wyoming.
               I express my sincere condolences to his wife Susan, to 
             his sons and other members of his family, to his staff, 
             and to the people of Wyoming. All of us will miss Senator 
             Thomas. But we will always retain our very fond memories 
             of him, Craig Thomas. Bless his soul. May God bless him.
               I repeat these few verses in his memory:

             Let Fate do her worst,
             There are relics of joy,
             Bright dreams of the past,
             Which she cannot destroy;
             Which come, in the night-time
             Of sorrow and care,
             And bring back the features
             That joy used to wear.

             Long, long be my heart
             With such memories filled,
             Like the vase in which roses
             Have once been distilled;
             You may break, you may shatter
             The vase, if you will,
             But the scent of the roses
             Will hang round it still.

               Goodbye, Craig. I will miss you. But we will meet again 
             on that far shore where the roses never wither and the 
             flowers never fade.

               Mr. KYL. Madam President, I am going to have a statement 
             printed in the Record, but I did wish to say something 
             this evening before the evening is over about our 
             colleague, Craig Thomas. Craig was a wonderful friend of 
             all of us. In my case, being a fellow Westerner, I had a 
             special affinity for Craig. He was a fellow I could talk 
             to--without talk. Particularly a cowboy such as Craig can 
             communicate with you in a real Western way that doesn't 
             require a whole lot of ``jibber-jabber,'' as he would say.
               Craig was a man of the earth. He really was a cowboy, 
             and a good one at that. He took that kind of set of 
             Western values, of not talking a whole lot but meaning 
             what he says and saying what he means, into the political 
             life. When he came to the Senate, I think everyone 
             appreciated that quality in him.
               By the way, I would say he reminds me of my colleague, 
             the Senator from Alabama, in that regard. You never have 
             any doubt about where the Senator from Alabama stands and 
             you never had any doubt about where Senator Craig Thomas 
             stood. That is a quality we need in our public officials 
             today.
               Craig's wife Susan is a wonderful friend of mine and of 
             my wife Carol. Our hearts go out to her and their family 
             tonight. But she does have, at least, I think, the solace 
             in knowing that people all over this country--not just 
             from their home State of Wyoming--have tremendous respect 
             for the achievements of her husband Craig and the way in 
             which he handled himself as a Member of the Senate, never 
             letting an ego take over what he understood to be his 
             primary responsibilities.
               He was quiet and he was humble. He was serious and he 
             was very hard-working. He stood up for the interests of 
             the people of his State. He was a great patriot for the 
             United States of America. But he never took himself so 
             seriously that he gave even a hint of pomposity or being 
             someone who didn't understand where he was grounded.
               We will miss Craig Thomas immensely. We will never 
             forget him as a loyal friend, a patriot, and someone who 
             was quintessential in the way he represented his area of 
             the United States and, in particular, his constituents in 
             the State of Wyoming.
               I thank the Senator from Alabama.

               Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, I thank Senator Kyl for 
             his good remarks. I thought perhaps tomorrow I would have 
             the ability to focus on our loss, but I will attempt 
             tonight to say a few words about our colleague, Craig 
             Thomas. I loved Craig Thomas. He was a person who came 
             from the West. He understood where he came from. He 
             understood the values with which he was raised, and he 
             reflected those daily in his work in the Senate without 
             ever bragging about it or talking about it. People just 
             knew it. He was a man of character and integrity, a man 
             who, as Senator Kyl indicated, never allowed personal ego 
             to interfere with his commitment to serve his constituents 
             and his Nation.
               We had a visit to Iraq together not too long ago. Things 
             had not been going well. He would ask penetrating 
             questions. He would ask: ``When are the Iraqis stepping up 
             and how much are they doing so? How long do we continue to 
             put our troops at risk if they are not carrying their 
             load?''
               He did it in a way that was sincere and raised 
             fundamental questions of great importance.
               Craig liked issues. He believed in a series of 
             principles that made America great. He cared about those 
             principles. For a time, he volunteered to come to the 
             floor and be a part of a message team for the Republican 
             Senate Members and spent a good bit of time at it--over a 
             year or two. During that time he would articulate the 
             basic premises and values that I think are fundamental for 
             the Republican Party and for most Americans.
               I would say to our wonderful friend Susan, our prayers 
             and our sympathies are with you. We can only imagine the 
             loss you have sustained. We have watched in these past 
             months the courage that Craig had displayed as he suffered 
             from the terrible disease that he had. We saw the strength 
             that he had, his refusal to stay at home, his 
             determination to be at work. I had several examples of it 
             in which I talked to him, and I said it is not necessary 
             for you, you need to rest up. He knew he was susceptible 
             to infection. But he was determined to fulfill his 
             responsibilities as a Senator and he did so in a way that 
             all could be proud.
               He ran the race and he fought the fight. He served his 
             country with great skill and ability. Our respect and love 
             is extended to the family and our prayers are with him and 
             the family.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida.

               Mr. NELSON of Florida. Madam President, I am aware of 
             the hour of the recess, and I will be very brief. But I 
             wished to come and express my condolences to the family of 
             Senator Thomas and to share for them, spread upon the 
             pages of the Congressional Record, the fact that a 
             faithful member of the weekly Senate prayer breakfast was 
             Senator Thomas.
               The gathering is private, Senators only. All Senators 
             check their egos and check their partisanship at the door 
             and join together as friends in a spiritual setting.
               What a delight it was for this Senator to share that 
             collegiality with Senator Thomas on a weekly basis in the 
             proceedings of the Senate. For that friendship, that 
             collegiality, I am especially grateful.
               Madam President, I yield the floor.
                                SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
             SENATE RESOLUTION 220--HONORING THE LIFE OF SENATOR CRAIG 
                                       THOMAS
               Mr. McCONNELL (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Enzi, Mr. 
             Akaka, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Allard, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, 
             Mr. Bennett, Mr. Biden, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Bond, Mrs. 
             Boxer, Mr. Brown, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Burr, 
             Mr. Byrd, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, 
             Mr. Chambliss, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cochran, Mr. 
             Coleman, Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Corker, Mr. Cornyn, 
             Mr. Craig, Mr. Crapo, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Dole, Mr. 
             Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Ensign, Mr. 
             Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mr. 
             Gregg, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, Mrs. Hutchison, 
             Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. 
             Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, Ms. 
             Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. 
             Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Lott, Mr. Lugar, Mr. 
             Martinez, Mr. McCain, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Menendez, Ms. 
             Mikulski, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of 
             Florida, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Obama, Mr. Pryor, Mr. 
             Reed, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Salazar, Mr. 
             Sanders, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Smith, 
             Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, Mr. 
             Sununu, Mr. Tester, Mr. Thune, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Voinovich, 
             Mr. Warner, Mr. Webb, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Wyden) 
             submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
             and agreed to:
                                     S. Res. 220
               Whereas Senator Craig Thomas had a long and honorable 
             history of public service, serving in the United States 
             Marine Corps, the Wyoming State Legislature, the United 
             States House of Representatives, and the United States 
             Senate;
               Whereas Senator Craig Thomas represented the people of 
             Wyoming with honor and distinction for over 20 years;
               Whereas Senator Craig Thomas was first elected to the 
             United States House of Representatives in 1989;
               Whereas Senator Craig Thomas was subsequently elected 3 
             times to the United States Senate by record margins of 
             more than 70 percent; and
               Whereas Senator Craig Thomas's life and career were 
             marked by the best of his Western values: hard work, plain 
             speaking, common sense, courage, and integrity: Now, 
             therefore, be it
               Resolved, That--
               (1) the United States Senate has heard with profound 
             sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of 
             the Honorable Craig Thomas, a Senator from the State of 
             Wyoming;
               (2) the Senate mourns the loss of one of its most 
             esteemed members, Senator Craig Thomas, and expresses its 
             condolences to the people of Wyoming and to his wife, 
             Susan, and his 4 children;
               (3) the Secretary of the Senate shall communicate this 
             resolution to the House of Representatives and transmit an 
             enrolled copy thereof to the family of Senator Craig 
             Thomas; and
               (4) when the Senate adjourns today, it shall stand 
             adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of 
             Senator Craig Thomas.

               Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
             the Senate now proceed to consideration of S. Res. 220, 
             which was submitted earlier today.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the 
             resolution.
               The assistant legislative clerk read S. Res. 220.
               There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to 
             consider the resolution.

               Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
             the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, 
             and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.
               The resolution (S. Res. 220) was agreed to.
               The preamble was agreed to.
                        ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 9:30 A.M. TOMORROW
               Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, if there is no further 
             business today, I now ask unanimous consent that the 
             Senate stand adjourned under the provisions of S. Res. 
             220, as a mark of further respect to the memory of our 
             late colleague, Senator Craig Thomas.
               There being no objection, the Senate, at 8:53 p.m., 
             adjourned until Wednesday, June 6, 2007, at 9:30 a.m.
                                                Wednesday, June 6, 2007
               Mr. REID. . . . This week, we have conducted four 
             rollcall votes, adopted four other amendments by voice 
             vote, and we probably would have done more but for the 
             unfortunate death of our colleague and friend, Senator 
             Thomas. Yesterday morning, in memory of our friend, we 
             decided not to work here, and that was the right thing to 
             do. This morning, we have two more votes that are 
             scheduled . . .
               We do a lot of business in this body by unanimous 
             consent--in fact, most everything. The cloture vote is 
             scheduled for tomorrow morning, an hour after we come into 
             session. We can change that. It is my hope that we can 
             finish the [immigration] bill this week. I am very 
             confident we can.
               I personally feel an obligation to go to the funeral in 
             Wyoming. Craig Thomas was a Republican with whom I worked 
             very closely on a number of issues, and I had great 
             appreciation and admiration for him. Out of respect for 
             him and Susan, I feel that I need to go to that funeral, 
             and I am sure many others feel the same way. So that is 
             going to change our schedule. It is my understanding that 
             the funeral is going to be Saturday. I have notified my 
             caucus, and I have explained to the distinguished 
             Republican leader that we may have to work longer hours 
             this week. But let's try to finish this bill. . . .

               Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, this is my first time 
             speaking on the floor since the passing of our colleague, 
             Senator Thomas. I know we are all very conscious of the 
             desk draped in black across the way, next to Senator 
             Cornyn. I extend my condolences to his many friends, my 
             many esteemed colleagues who knew and admired Senator 
             Thomas and mourn his loss and know he will be sorely 
             missed by his friends in the Senate and his friends and 
             family in his native State of Wyoming. . . .

               Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I rise to honor Senator 
             Craig Thomas, who, very sadly, passed away Monday evening. 
             As all of us in the Senate know, Craig was a respected 
             Member of this body. A number of my colleagues have made 
             very kind remarks on the floor about their relationship 
             with Craig. While I have not served as long in the Senate 
             as have many of my colleagues who knew and worked with 
             Craig over the years, I did have an opportunity to get to 
             know him since being elected to the Senate in 2004.
               I think one of the most important things we have all 
             witnessed with Craig's passing is the outpouring of 
             support and stories about the people he impacted in the 
             Senate, in Wyoming, and across the country.
               Without question, the Senate is a lesser place today 
             without Craig's presence. One of the clearest indications 
             of any politician's popularity is his or her support back 
             home. Craig's leadership as the senior member of the 
             Wyoming delegation was overwhelming--primarily due to the 
             confidence he earned from his constituents back in 
             Wyoming. That confidence was something he fought to keep 
             since first being elected to Congress back in 1989.
               Craig's battle with leukemia was very indicative of the 
             way he led his life and how he worked on behalf of his 
             State and our Nation. I also believe if his diagnosis 
             hadn't been made public following his reelection last 
             November, I doubt anybody would have known of the battle 
             he waged as he underwent his chemotherapy treatments.
               Craig did timeless work on behalf of the citizens of 
             Wyoming and our Nation. His absence from the Senate will 
             be greatly felt. Kimberley and I are deeply saddened by 
             Craig's passing and extend our prayers to Susan and her 
             family. Craig's hard work over the years on behalf of 
             Wyoming and our Nation is a testament to his character and 
             gives all of us something to strive for.
               Craig Thomas was a man of the people. He was a Wyoming 
             original. He represented the very heart and soul of the 
             people of his State and of our Nation. He personified hard 
             work and integrity. He was a ``what you see is what you 
             get'' kind of a guy. Wyoming and America are a better 
             place because of his service.

               Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise to join the many 
             Senators who have paid tribute to our colleague Craig 
             Thomas. Many of my colleagues have come to the floor since 
             Senator Thomas's passing, and it is clear how many friends 
             he had in this Chamber and how well everyone thought of 
             him and the work he did.
               We all knew him as a hard-working Member of the Senate 
             who quickly earned his colleagues' respect. That respect 
             was grounded in the way Craig Thomas served his country 
             throughout his life. He spent 4 years in the U.S. Marine 
             Corps and served in the Wyoming State Legislature, the 
             U.S. House of Representatives, and since 1995, the U.S. 
             Senate.
               During his years in the Senate, Senator Thomas served 
             Wyoming with great dedication. Raised on a ranch, Senator 
             Thomas understood the concerns of rural Americans, and I 
             appreciated his efforts in the Senate to stand up for the 
             people who keep our rural communities strong. That is an 
             important concern in my State, and I know it is in Wyoming 
             as well.
               I was very pleased to work with him to improve 
             competition and fair treatment for farmers and ranchers. I 
             know that he was committed to giving farmers and ranchers 
             a fair shake in the marketplace, and his constituents 
             appreciated that dedication.
               Senator Thomas also worked on a range of health care 
             issues important to rural Americans. He well understood 
             the challenges that people in rural areas face as they 
             seek access to health care services and helped to address 
             those concerns. The Senate benefited from his leadership 
             as cochair of the Senate's Rural Health Caucus, where he 
             showed tremendous commitment to these issues. He led the 
             push to maintain full funding for several rural health 
             discretionary programs, and I am grateful for his efforts. 
             That was just one of the many ways he contributed to the 
             work of the Senate and served the people of Wyoming.
               As we remember Senator Thomas, we can all be grateful 
             for the life he led and his outstanding service to the 
             Senate and to our country. To his wife, his family, his 
             staff, and his many friends, I offer my condolences and my 
             deepest sympathies.

               Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise to join others in 
             paying tribute to a wonderful colleague, Senator Craig 
             Thomas. Tragically, last night, he lost his battle with 
             leukemia. I want to send my heartfelt condolences to his 
             wife Susan, his children, Patrick, Greg, Peter, and Lexie, 
             and to his staff.
               Since January, I had the pleasure to serve with Senator 
             Thomas on the Finance Committee. I found him to be a hard-
             working Senator and very concerned about his constituents' 
             struggling to get health care in rural areas.
               I also had a chance to work with him last year on the 
             Michigan Lighthouse and Maritime Heritage Act. This 
             legislation sets up a process whereby the National Park 
             Service would work with the State of Michigan to create a 
             lighthouse tourist trail.
               As my colleagues know, he was chairman of the National 
             Parks Subcommittee, which had jurisdiction over this 
             legislation. During consideration of this bill, he was 
             helpful to me and the people of Michigan even though these 
             lighthouses are thousands of miles away from his home. He 
             held a hearing on this legislation, worked with me to get 
             it to the floor and ultimately to the President's desk.
               On behalf of the people of Michigan, we appreciate his 
             support of this legislation.
               Senator Thomas was a wonderful man--kind and decent to 
             everyone. We will all miss him.

               Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, with a combination of great 
             sadness and admiration, I join my colleagues in honoring 
             the life of Craig Thomas, a person of strength, passion, 
             and integrity.
               Those who have had the blessing of traveling to the 
             State of Wyoming appreciate its amazing beauty and 
             variety. Craig Thomas reflected the geography of his 
             State. He could be as peaceful and serene as Wyoming's 
             rolling prairie grass lands, and he could be as striking 
             and powerful as its majestic mountains.
               Growing up, he learned the creative dynamic of frontier 
             life: rugged individualism joined with an ethic of 
             neighbor-helping-neighbor when the need was great.
               In this sometimes stuffy and frustrating Washington 
             world, he was a fresh breeze of unconventionality. He 
             maintained his Wyoming vision of life throughout many 
             years in this city, and the people of Wyoming deeply 
             appreciated his strong immunity to the political disease 
             called Potomac fever.
               Craig Thomas lived a very meaningful life and made the 
             State and country he loved a better place in which to 
             live. From his young days as a Marine to his last days as 
             a Senator, his heart was service and he put everything he 
             had into making a difference for generations to come.
               Because of his service here, our national parks are a 
             legacy that will be passed to future generations in better 
             shape than he found them. Because of his fiscal 
             conservatism, fewer dollars of debt will be passed on to 
             our children. Because of his vision and integrity, a model 
             of public service will be available to those who come 
             after.
               Laurie and I send our prayers to the Thomas family. We 
             thank them and the people of Wyoming for sharing Senator 
             Thomas with the Nation.
               Every one of us on this floor can learn a lesson from 
             his life and remember Craig Thomas by living the values 
             and commitments he taught us.

               Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, when Craig Thomas passed 
             away on Monday evening, the U.S. Senate lost more than a 
             Member; our institution has lost a good man and a good 
             friend--someone who was proud to be called an American 
             cowboy. Sharon and I extend our deepest sympathy to his 
             wife Susan, his family, his friends, his staff, and the 
             people of Wyoming whom he served with such complete 
             dedication.
               Over the last few years, I worked closely with Senator 
             Thomas. I came to know him well and came to respect him 
             enormously. We both represented small, rural States with 
             critical constituencies--his most emblematic being the 
             farmer, mine the miner. We both maintained a deep 
             commitment to our home States. Perhaps most important, we 
             both had a history of public service.
               Throughout our careers, I would say that we had a very 
             good partnership. We served together on the Senate Finance 
             Committee and fought to make this country more independent 
             of foreign energy, to promote the development of clean 
             coal technologies, and to preserve the rural American 
             lifestyle.
               Through it all, I greatly liked and admired Senator 
             Thomas and appreciated him for the fine human being he 
             was. He was a man of strong principle, one who knew the 
             bottom line and didn't hesitate to consult his colleagues 
             on the other side of the aisle. What I will remember most 
             about him, however, wasn't his ability to work with his 
             so-called foes or our tough fights in the Senate, but for 
             his deep affinity for the beauty of this country.
               In fact, over the years, when I have traveled to Wyoming 
             and looked up at that towering, earthly skyline of the 
             Grand Tetons, I have often thought of Craig.
               Craig, after all, was perhaps one of the people who 
             shared my deep love of the Grand Tetons. It was in those 
             mountains and the Gros Ventre that we found a common bond. 
             Together, we exchanged our marvels about the Alpine Lakes, 
             the cutting glaciers, wind-swept glaciers and sparkling 
             rivers.
               I will never forget his advice on enjoying the beauty of 
             Jackson Hole or his stories about long horseback rides or 
             camping in the cool shadows of the mountains. I will never 
             forget his interest in the wildlife and his appreciation 
             for the foliage. Nor will I forget how passionately he 
             protected the autonomy of the park, and how much he 
             cherished the culture and beauty of his home.
               Senator Craig Thomas held my deepest respect; and, to 
             his family and the people of Wyoming, I offer my deepest 
             sympathies. He was a valuable public servant, a true 
             fighter and a friend--and, more than anything, a true 
             American.

               Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute 
             to our colleague, our friend, and a great statesman, 
             Senator Craig Thomas.
               It is a somber day in the Senate Chamber as we mourn 
             this loss.
               His passing leaves a significant mark on the many lives 
             he touched throughout his life. On behalf of myself and my 
             wife Annette, I send my deepest sympathies to his wife 
             Susan, his four children, and the entire Thomas family.
               Craig was an influential force in the Senate for the 
             people of Wyoming, as well as a thoughtful leader on 
             national issues.
               Craig served the people of Wyoming with distinction and 
             honor.
               His roots in the State ran deep, and Wyoming had no 
             greater advocate. He has built his reputation as a fiscal 
             conservative while focusing on the unique issues affecting 
             the American West.
               He was honest, humble, good natured, and loyal. It was 
             these characteristics that he brought to the Senate and to 
             his work. He was an effective leader because he believed 
             you could get a lot accomplished when you did not care who 
             took the credit.
               Craig was committed to the values and principles he 
             believed in deeply. He loved his State, and it showed. He 
             was committed to protecting our Nation's natural 
             resources, improving the lives of those in rural America, 
             and a leader in advocating a sound national energy policy.
               It was my true privilege to have served with Craig over 
             the past 13 years in the Senate. While we continue to 
             mourn his passing, we should try to carry on with the same 
             determination and energy he brought every day to the 
             challenges he faced.
               He will be remembered as a dedicated American, a Marine, 
             a public servant, and the quintessential American cowboy 
             who gave so much of his life in service to the Nation.
               I offer my thoughts and prayers to those close to Craig 
             in this difficult time, especially to his family.
                                                 Thursday, June 7, 2007
               Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, it is with a heavy heart 
             that I rise today to honor the service and memory of my 
             friend, Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming. His exemplary 
             service in the Congress over the past 18 years is a 
             shining example of the good that can be accomplished for 
             the public benefit. A 1955 graduate of the University of 
             Wyoming, Senator Craig Thomas demonstrated considerable 
             leadership early in his life; he entered the Marine Corps 
             soon after graduation and rose in rank from private to 
             captain in just 4 years. Following his service, Senator 
             Thomas returned to Wyoming to make a difference in his 
             native State, serving as vice president of the Wyoming 
             Farm Bureau and later as general manager of the Wyoming 
             Rural Electric Association. In 1984, Senator Thomas first 
             entered public service as a State representative, was 
             elected to the House of Representatives in 1989, and 
             finally ascended to the Senate in 1995.
               It was my honor to work with Senator Thomas during his 
             Senate career. He was a firm believer in compromise and 
             bipartisanship. This was no more evident than when he and 
             I introduced legislation to protect taxpayer privacy. We 
             worked together on a broad range of issues from protecting 
             consumers to stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons 
             to Iran. Senator Thomas and I shared a belief in this body 
             and what it can achieve. I am very saddened by this 
             tremendous loss, but the memory of Senator Thomas and his 
             good deeds remind us all of a long, rich life that should 
             be celebrated, and I respectfully request that this 
             statement be entered into the Record.

               Mr. KYL. Madam President, Senator Craig Thomas was a 
             wonderful friend to all of us. He was an accomplished 
             Senator, and he was a true cowboy. It is that spirit that 
             won't be replaced in the Senate, and it is that spirit 
             that I would like to remember today. Craig's record in the 
             Senate will reflect his significant accomplishments, and I 
             wish to honor the quality of the man who achieved them.
               I had a special affinity for Craig. Not only did he and 
             I come to the Senate at the same time, we had also served 
             in the House of Representatives together. Craig came to 
             the House in 1989, 2 years after I did, when he won a 
             special election to replace our current Vice President, 
             Dick Cheney, who had been made Secretary of Defense.
               We, of course, were also fellow Westerners, and I 
             admired the manner in which he embodied the values of the 
             West: the self-reliance, grit, and quiet determination of 
             pioneers that shape Americans still today.
               These values were impressed into Craig as he grew up on 
             a ranch near Cody, WY. Those values of the American West, 
             instilled by the rugged landscape of Wyoming, would serve 
             him well in the Marine Corps and in the Senate.
               Craig did not talk a whole lot, but he always meant what 
             he said. He communicated in a way that didn't require a 
             whole lot of ``jibber-jabber,'' as he would say. Everyone 
             appreciated this quality in him. You never had any doubt 
             about where Craig stood, something our public officials 
             could learn from today.
               Craig understood that words and rhetoric easily vanish 
             from our memories. He recognized that honor is not won by 
             keeping up appearances but by working hard and 
             accomplishing what you set out to do. He understood that 
             the best way to accomplish difficult things was to get 
             busy doing them. To Craig, this was common sense, but 
             oftentimes common sense is all too uncommon.
               In his commonsense manner, he served the people of 
             Wyoming who overwhelmingly elected him to the Senate on 
             three occasions. Craig let the interests of the State 
             guide his work in the Senate. He never let his ego get in 
             the way of doing what was best for Wyoming and the 
             country.
               My wife Caryll and I grieve with Craig's wife Susan and 
             their family. But, in our grief, we also celebrate his 
             life. There is much to celebrate not only in Craig's 
             accomplishments--whether on behalf of our national parks, 
             farmers, or rural families, to name only a few of his 
             legislative priorities--but also in his character. He was 
             a humble servant for Wyoming who stood up for the people 
             of his State. Even in his illness, he never waivered from 
             his duties as a legislator.
               The values of the American West are the commonsense 
             values that make self-government possible. Craig Thomas, 
             the cowboy and statesman, embodied these values that made 
             this country what it is and are needed to sustain it in 
             years to come.

               Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I join with my fellow Senators 
             and so many in Wyoming and throughout the country in 
             expressing my profound sadness on the passing of my 
             colleague and good friend, Senator Craig Thomas. I also 
             want to offer my most sincere condolences to his wife 
             Susan, their four children, and the entire Thomas family 
             at this most difficult of times.
               Today, we mourn the loss of a true patriot whose love of 
             country and loyalty to its principles were always an 
             inspiration and example to us all. A U.S. Marine captain, 
             an advocate for rural concerns with the Wyoming Farm 
             Bureau, American Farm Bureau, and the Wyoming Rural 
             Electric Association, and an indefatigable public servant 
             as a Member of the Wyoming House of Representatives, the 
             U.S. House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate--
             Senator Thomas always placed a premium on bettering the 
             lives of the citizens of his state, ensuring that their 
             concerns were not only heard--but were addressed 
             vigorously, effectively, and with results.
               I recall the distinct honor and privilege of serving 
             with Craig for more than 17 years both in the U.S. House 
             and U.S. Senate. Indeed, we entered the Senate in the same 
             class of 1994, and I remember with tremendous regard our 
             service together on the Senate Foreign Relations and 
             Senate Finance Committees. Time and again, regardless of 
             the issue, Craig exhibited a stalwart dedication to his 
             country and his constituents--with a steadfast devotion 
             that was ever mindful of the public trust placed in his 
             hands.
               Senator Thomas was unwavering in his allegiance to the 
             tenets that guided his life. True to his core beliefs and 
             unshakable in the values he drew from his beloved Wyoming, 
             Senator Thomas held fast to his philosophy of fiscal 
             conservatism. And yet when he advanced his arguments, he 
             did so without rancor and with the utmost respect and 
             cordiality. He possessed an unyielding decorum that 
             contributed to his esteemed presence in the Senate, and he 
             had at his disposal that indispensable tool of politics--
             humor, which he used to great effect and at times with 
             incredibly disarming outcomes. Even when we disagreed, he 
             was never disagreeable, rather choosing to give no more 
             than an occasional good-natured ribbing--always with a 
             smile on his face.
               As my colleague Mike Enzi stated in his tribute, Craig 
             Thomas was not one who necessarily sought the limelight. 
             He lived his life and comported himself in a manner that 
             exemplified the words President Ronald Reagan displayed on 
             his desk in the Oval Office: ``There's no limit to what a 
             man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets 
             the credit.'' Whether on matters of rural health, 
             safeguarding the interest and concerns of farmers, or 
             reducing the deficit, Craig focused on making concrete 
             strides, not amassing accolades.
               In the arena of public life, regardless of trial, 
             tribulation, or triumph, Senator Craig Thomas remained a 
             compassionate person of immense caliber who served the 
             best interests of the people of Wyoming with unyielding 
             advocacy, integrity of purpose, and uncommon civility. We 
             will miss his benevolent nature, his good will, and his 
             great deeds. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family 
             and staff here in Washington and in Wyoming.
                               MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
               At 2:58 p.m., a message from the House of 
             Representatives, delivered by Ms. Niland, one of its 
             reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the 
             following bills, in which it requests the concurrence of 
             the Senate: . . .
               The message further announced that the House has agreed 
             to the following resolution:

               H. Res. 454. Resolution relative to the death of the 
             Honorable Craig Thomas, a Senator from the State of 
             Wyoming. . . .
                                                  Monday, June 11, 2007
               Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I honor a colleague, a 
             friend, and a great Senator, Senator Craig Thomas.
               No words that I can speak will ease the sadness of this 
             loss. Nothing my colleagues and I say can fill the 
             emptiness that his passing has left or lessen the pain 
             that so many feel.
               I feel compelled to speak of Senator Thomas not for the 
             effect of my words. Instead, I speak to recognize the 
             effect of his words, his actions, and his service.
               His were words, actions, and service that have improved 
             the lives and futures of Americans. His words and actions 
             will leave a legacy long after our sadness passes.
               Senator Thomas represented Wyoming effectively and with 
             dignity. I was proud to work with him.
               We both loved the open beautiful spaces of our home 
             States, and we worked to keep them clean, safe, and 
             sustainable. We collaborated to improve the Endangered 
             Species Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.
               We also worked to safeguard our constituents' 
             livelihoods--establishing the wool trust fund, keeping 
             open global beef markets, and making sure that our trading 
             partners played by the rules.
               We worked together to safeguard our natural resources, 
             improve rural energy infrastructure, and plan for a 
             sustainable energy future with clean coal technologies.
               These and many other accomplishments will be Senator 
             Thomas's legacy. It is a legacy for which he deserves 
             recognition, remembrance, and honor. It is a legacy for 
             which our Nation is grateful.
               But many will remember Senator Thomas more for who he 
             was than for what he did. They will remember someone with 
             a quick wit, an easy smile, and a generous helping hand.
               I will remember Senator Thomas as I met him when he 
             first joined the Senate in 1989. Back then, I recognized 
             in him something very familiar. Senator Thomas was a man 
             of the American West. He embodied the values and the 
             character of the people whom he represented.
               You always knew where Senator Thomas stood. Like many in 
             the West, Senator Thomas was quiet, unassuming, and 
             unpretentious--but he was never intimidated.
               He was gentle and decent. When he gave you his word, he 
             kept it. And as we all saw in these final months of his 
             life, when he had to, he could fight like hell.
               That is the man I will miss and it is the man I wish to 
             recognize today--an honorable Senator and a great man of 
             the American West.

               Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, this last Saturday, I 
             traveled with my wife Nancy and many of our colleagues in 
             the Senate to Casper, WY, for the funeral service of my 
             friend Senator Craig Thomas.
               During the service I was particularly impressed by the 
             words of Minority Leader McConnell and I would like to 
             thank him for so eloquently eulogizing Senator Thomas. So 
             appropriately did his words honor Senator Thomas that I 
             hope all our colleagues in the Senate will take the time 
             to read them.
               I ask unanimous consent that this transcript of Senator 
             McConnell's comments be printed in the Record.
               There being no objection, the material was ordered to be 
             printed in the Record, as follows:
                   Service in Honor of Craig Thomas, June 9, 2007
               Reverend [Moore], Susan, Lexie, Patrick, Greg, Peter; 
             distinguished guests, colleagues and friends of Craig Lyle 
             Thomas.
               There are people that we can't ever imagine dying 
             because they're so alive, and there are people we can't 
             imagine dying because they seem so healthy and so strong. 
             Craig Thomas's death is doubly hard because he was both of 
             these people. But death has done its work, and so we come 
             back to the place that he was always so eager to return 
             to, to accompany him on one last trip back.
               It was here that he first heard his calling to serve in 
             public life, and here that he first tasted the bitterness 
             of loss. But Susan always told him, ``If you sign up to be 
             a cowboy, you can't complain when you draw a raw, bucking 
             bronco.'' He couldn't have imagined in those early years 
             that one day he'd be known to America as the senior 
             Senator from Wyoming. But he was never one to dwell on his 
             achievements. So it falls to us, his friends, to speak 
             well of this good man.
               One of the great things about this country is that so 
             many of its leaders come from such surprising places: a 
             candle shop in Boston, a cabin in Kentucky--and a one-room 
             schoolhouse in Wapiti, WY. Senator Enzi tells me that the 
             Wapiti School is still standing, but that it's surrounded 
             now by 10-foot fences and a ring of barbed wire--not to 
             keep the kids in, but to keep the grizzlies out. That 
             fence wasn't there when Craig was in school. They were 
             tougher then.
               Craig Thomas was always the tough guy--not tough to deal 
             with, not tough on others, just tough. When his family 
             moved to Cody, he signed up for two sports: wrestling and 
             football. One of his teammates on the football team, Al 
             Simpson, was also his neighbor. It may be the only time in 
             American history that two U.S. Senators grew up a block 
             and half from each other.
               There was a time when it was normal for tough guys to be 
             studious too. And if you went back to Cody in the 1940s, 
             you'd find the son of Craig and Marjorie Thomas as 
             attentive to his football plays as he was to Mrs. 
             Thompson's English lessons. He'd remember and benefit from 
             both many years later during hundreds of legislative 
             battles or on countless nights by the campfire along the 
             North Laramie River, reciting the ``Cremation of Sam 
             McGee.''
               As a young man, Craig would have heard about the days 
             when an unwritten code of honesty, bravery, and chivalry 
             governed daily life in Cody. And he was inspired by 
             stories of another code of bravery that guided young 
             Americans of his own day in exotic places like 
             Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Tarawa, and Guam. World War II 
             cost the Marines nearly 87,000 dead and wounded. But as a 
             young man fresh out of college with his whole life ahead 
             of him, Craig Thomas wanted in. Fifty years later, he 
             still proudly wore the anchor and the globe on his lapel.
               He was happiest when he was here, but 18 years ago 
             history called him to Washington and he responded 
             dutifully. It was anything but inevitable. His opponent in 
             the campaign to replace an outgoing congressman who's done 
             pretty well himself over the last 18 years had about 99-
             percent name recognition and had just lost an election for 
             U.S. Senate by about 1,200 votes. The lowest point in the 
             race was the early polling, which suggested that Craig 
             didn't have a chance. But over the next 40 days, the 
             Marine and his staff pulled it off. Craig set the tone, he 
             led the way, and he let others take the credit. That was 
             his way.
               Four days after the election, Craig and Susan packed 
             their bags, headed east, and 2 days after that Craig was 
             sworn in as a Member of the U.S. Congress. It wasn't the 
             easiest transition. As soon as Craig got to Washington, he 
             froze with a sudden realization--he didn't have any suits. 
             So he did what anybody from Wyoming would do. He called Al 
             Simpson, who told him where to find one.
               A few months later, he had a similar predicament. He and 
             Susan got an invite to the White House and Craig didn't 
             have a tuxedo. So he told one of his staffers to go to a 
             dry cleaning store up the street and rent one--but not to 
             worry about the shirt. When the staffer came back, she 
             found Craig in his office with a buck knife. He was 
             cutting holes into his cuffs for where the cufflinks would 
             go. Craig just laughed that big laugh of his, that full 
             body laugh, and then went to the White House with a tuxedo 
             shirt of his own making.
               The gentleman from Wyoming took an office on the top 
             floor of the Longworth Office Building, but he didn't get 
             too comfortable. Some Members of the Senate boast about 
             visiting every county in their State over the course of a 
             year. Craig visited all 23 counties in Wyoming--the ninth 
             largest State in America in just 2 weeks during that first 
             August recess. He enjoyed every minute of it: driving west 
             from Casper, looking out at the Wind River Range, and 
             thinking about what an honor it was to serve this big, 
             beautiful place he loved.
               This was his home, and he loved it. He loved the land, 
             he loved the people. But anyone who knew him knew what his 
             greatest love was.
               Craig met Susan in 1978. She was working on a statewide 
             campaign, he was working for the State Republican Party, 
             and she invited him over to talk about the race. When she 
             looked out the window and saw a man riding toward her 
             office on his bicycle, she turned to the woman next to her 
             and said, ``Now who would that be?'' She soon found out, 
             and thanks to her loving support, so did the rest of the 
             country. Everything they did, they did together. She was 
             with him for every race he won. Craig always said Susan 
             was the one who liked campaigning.
               They were like children, but they were deadly serious 
             about their work. Craig viewed politics as a high calling, 
             and he viewed Susan's work the same way. He admired her 
             deeply. He never failed to mention her. I remember my wife 
             Elaine telling me after giving the commencement speech one 
             year at Susan's high school, how devoted to her the 
             students there were.
               We honor Susan today for her devotion to Craig. We'll 
             miss seeing her outside the Senate Chamber waiting for him 
             to finish up his votes. The Senate's a lonelier, less 
             joyful place without Craig. It's already a lonelier, less 
             joyful place without her too.
               The people of Wyoming sent Craig to the Senate in 1994, 
             and those of us who've served with him there are grateful 
             they did. It was the first time since 1906 that every 
             statewide office in Wyoming was held by a Republican, and 
             the credit, of course, goes to Craig. He led the ticket, 
             and he worked tirelessly to bring everyone else along with 
             him.
               But again, he didn't take the credit. And the victory 
             and the higher office did nothing to change the man. If 
             there was any chance of that, Susan made sure to nip it in 
             the bud. She made him hang a photo of himself falling off 
             a horse. She knew the Scripture that ``pride cometh before 
             a fail'' But Craig knew it too, and he wouldn't 
             disappoint. He was a simple, humble son of Wyoming and he 
             remained one to the end.
               He was always eager to get home. So eager, in fact, that 
             one time when his Mustang broke down on the way to the 
             airport, he left it on the side of the highway and 
             hitchhiked the rest of the way. They let him on the plane 
             to Cheyenne without a ticket or anything. He called his 
             staff from the airport to see if someone could get the 
             car. When they found it, the keys were still in the 
             ignition. They sent his clothes on the next plane.
               We'll never forget his toughness, his goodness, his 
             humor, his steady reassuring hand. Nor his kindness, which 
             he always showed toward everyone--from Presidents to 
             doormen. He was straightforward and honest. In a phrase 
             that Craig might have recalled from Mrs. Thompson's 
             Shakespeare lessons, he was not a man ``to double business 
             bound.'' His only business was his dut[ies]--to God, 
             country, family, and friends. And he fulfilled them 
             beautifully.
               He was strong, humble, and full of faith. And here is 
             why. As a boy Craig Thomas looked out at the majesty of 
             the canyons and the falls of Yellowstone and knew there is 
             a God. As a teenager he saw the hard work and dedication 
             of his parents and learned that giving is more admirable 
             than taking. And as a man he could hear the rumble of the 
             herd even from his desk in Washington, and know that the 
             movements of men were nothing compared to the power of the 
             wild.
               I am not a cowboy. But I've come to know and admire a 
             few of them in my 22 years in the Senate. And I've come to 
             know a little bit about their pastimes. I've heard that 
             holding down a steer takes two kinds of ropers--a header 
             and a heeler, and that there's an old saying that the 
             header may be the quarterback, but that the heeler makes 
             the money. The idea is that there may be more glory in 
             roping the head, but that the heeler has the harder, more 
             important, and less glamorous job. No one who knew Craig 
             Thomas is surprised to know that he preferred to be a 
             heeler.
               The most impressive thing in Washington is also the 
             rarest: and that's a man whose position and power has no 
             effect on the person he was when he got there. I've never 
             met a man who was changed less by what the world calls 
             riches or power than Craig Lyle Thomas.
               Now this great American life has come to an end. Yet we 
             know it continues: This husband, father, lawmaker, mentor, 
             and friend goes to the Father's house. We take comfort 
             entrusting him to the Lord of Mercy, who tells us that in 
             the life to come, every question will be answered, every 
             tear wiped away. And we are confident in the hope that he 
             will ride again, healthy and strong, along a wider, more 
             majestic plain in a land that's everlasting.
                                                 Tuesday, June 12, 2007
               Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, there is a term that is often 
             used here in the Senate when Members refer to one another. 
             That term is ``gentleman.'' No one fit that term better 
             than Senator Craig Thomas. I join with all my colleagues 
             from both sides of the aisle in mourning the loss of 
             Senator Thomas, and in extending our condolences to his 
             wonderful wife Susan and the entire Thomas family.
               In the 10 years I was privileged to serve with Senator 
             Thomas in this Chamber, I never once heard him raise his 
             voice, and I never once saw him lose his temper. But that 
             doesn't mean that Senator Thomas was not a fighter for his 
             beloved Wyoming. In fact, he was a very effective advocate 
             for the people of Wyoming and all of rural America. His 
             accomplishments were not the result of shouting. They were 
             the result of perseverance, integrity, and a whole lot of 
             hard work.
               I was privileged to serve with Senator Thomas on a 
             number of committees, where I saw firsthand the scope of 
             his interests and his effectiveness. On the Finance 
             Committee, I saw how he was a champion for better health 
             care for rural Americans, and I saw how he worked to open 
             markets for the cattlemen, farmers, and soda ash producers 
             of Wyoming.
               On the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, he 
             brought Wyoming's unique perspective to the forefront on 
             the energy debate, and, as chairman and ranking member of 
             the National Parks Subcommittee, he brought the first 
             reform overhaul to the National Parks Service in 20 
             years--a vital step in a State that is home to the 
             Yellowstone National Park, one of the crown jewels of our 
             park system.
               And I served with Craig on the Indian Affairs Committee, 
             where the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes of 
             Wyoming's Wild River Reservation and Native Americans 
             across the country could always count on his commitment to 
             improving their lives.
               Although Craig Thomas spent the last 18 years of his 
             life working in the corridors of the U.S. Capitol, he 
             never forgot where he came from. He was a true Westerner, 
             a straight-talker, and he was always just ``Craig'' to his 
             constituents. Always at Craig's side was his wife and 
             partner Susan, who is a remarkable, eloquent advocate for 
             Wyoming. The last several months have been difficult and 
             challenging ones for Craig, and Susan was always there for 
             him.
               Mr. President, my wife Sharon joins with me in extending 
             our condolences to Susan, the Thomas family, and the 
             people of Wyoming. I can say without hesitation that the 
             ``gentleman from Wyoming'' will always be remembered by 
             those of us who were fortunate to serve with him, and by 
             all those he served with such diligence and distinction.
                                               Wednesday, June 13, 2007
                STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
               By Mr. CONRAD (for himself, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Harkin, Mr. 
             Salazar, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Smith, Mr. Nelson 
             of Nebraska, Ms. Snowe, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Thune, Mr. 
             Dorgan, Ms. Collins, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Enzi, and Mrs. 
             Lincoln):
               S. 1605. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social 
             Security Act to protect and preserve access of Medicare 
             beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers 
             under the Medicare program, and for other purposes; to the 
             Committee on Finance.

               Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, it is with mixed emotions 
             that I rise today to introduce the Rural Hospital and 
             Provider Equity Act of 2007, or R-HoPE. This proposal is 
             the result of months of work with my friend and colleague, 
             Senator Craig Thomas, who just passed away. In fact, 
             Senator Thomas and I were getting ready to introduce this 
             bill the week we lost him.
               This particular legislation is the product of work that 
             Senator Thomas and I have done over many years as cochairs 
             of the Rural Health Caucus. So it is a poignant moment for 
             me to come to the floor to introduce this bill. I am 
             asking my colleagues that we name this bill the Craig 
             Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2007, as 
             we pay tribute to the service of our colleague, Senator 
             Thomas.
               I can think of no better champion of rural health than 
             Senator Craig Thomas, and there is not a more appropriate 
             way to honor his Senate career than by enacting this 
             legislation that will carry his name.
               As Senator Thomas and I continually argued in this 
             Chamber, Medicare shortchanges many rural hospitals and 
             providers. Before the Medicare Modernization Act, rural 
             providers received one-half the payments that urban areas 
             received--one-half to provide exactly the same treatment 
             for exactly the same illness. That was unfair.
               Senator Thomas and I teamed up at the time to make 
             changes that were in the Medicare prescription drug bill 
             that began to level the playingfield, but those provisions 
             are about to run out.
               I would be the first to admit that health care can be 
             more expensive in urban areas than rural areas, but it is 
             not twice as much. When I ask the doctors and hospital 
             administrators of my State if they get a rural discount 
             when they buy technology for hospitals, they laugh, they 
             chuckle, they say, no, they don't get any rural discount. 
             We know now it actually costs more to recruit doctors to 
             rural parts of the country than it does more urban 
             settings, and we know while there is some cost 
             differential, it is not a 100-percent cost differential.
               The Medicare bill, the prescription drug bill, 
             recognized this disparity in reimbursement and took steps 
             to close the gap. Even with the additional funding, many 
             rural hospitals and providers continue to experience 
             negative margins.
               If we are to maintain access to health care in rural 
             areas, we cannot allow providers to lose 3 percent on 
             nearly every patient they see. But that is what is 
             occurring in rural America today.
               Congress needs to take steps to fairly reimburse rural 
             providers for the care they provide. The Craig Thomas R-
             HoPE bill will build on the progress made in the Medicare 
             Prescription Drug Act and add new provisions that would 
             protect access to rural health care.
               First, the bill will fulfill the promise made to those 
             living and traveling in rural areas that they don't have 
             to travel far for hospital care. The bill would also 
             provide more reflective reimbursement for the cost of 
             labor in rural areas. I should say reimbursement that more 
             fairly reflects the costs in rural areas since they are 
             often competing with more urban areas in the global health 
             care marketplace.
               In addition, our proposal would provide the resources 
             currently lacking in rural hospitals to repair crumbling 
             buildings. It also includes two changes to the Critical 
             Access Hospital Program and will put these facilities on a 
             sounder financial footing.
               Second, R-HoPE will promise that rural Americans can see 
             a doctor when they are sick. As is the case with most 
             rural States, much of North Dakota is designated as a 
             health professional shortage area. Recruiting doctors is 
             extremely difficult. Our bill would extend the provision 
             in current law that provides incentive payments for 
             doctors who practice in rural areas. Third, our bill would 
             guarantee that when there is an emergency, there is an 
             ambulance there to respond. Many rural ambulance services 
             are closing because of lower Medicare reimbursement, 
             resulting in response times far above the national 
             average. R-HoPE would protect rural ambulance services and 
             those living and traveling in these parts of the country 
             by providing a 5-percent bonus payment for 2008 and 2009.
               Finally, our bill takes a number of steps to help 
             protect the availability of other health care providers, 
             such as rural health clinics, home health agencies, and 
             mental health professionals. This bill achieves the goal 
             Senator Thomas and I have had for a number of years, that 
             rural America enjoy the same level of health care access 
             and affordability more urban areas enjoy. Rural America is 
             the heart of our country. We cannot turn our backs on 
             these areas and their health care needs.
               Before I close, I also want to recognize Senator 
             Thomas's staff member, Erin Tuggle, who has worked 
             tirelessly on this legislation on behalf of rural health 
             care and served Senator Craig Thomas so very well. She 
             played a key role in developing this legislation, along 
             with my staff, and I thank her for her efforts.
               It is my hope this legislation, which will carry Senator 
             Craig Thomas's name, will help strengthen our rural health 
             care system. I can't think of a better tribute to my 
             friend and our colleague, Senator Craig Thomas.
               At this point, I wish to indicate that Senator Roberts 
             is my leading cosponsor, Senator Roberts of Kansas, and we 
             are joined by Senator Harkin, Senator Salazar, Senator 
             Domenici, Senator Bingaman, Senator Smith, Senator Nelson 
             of Nebraska, Senator Snowe, Senator Murray, Senator Thune, 
             Senator Dorgan, Senator Collins, Senator Johnson, and 
             Senator Enzi. I ask unanimous consent that they all appear 
             as cosponsors of this legislation.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.

               Mr. CONRAD. I should also indicate before I close that 
             this bill has now been endorsed by the National Rural 
             Health Association, the American Hospital Association, the 
             American Ambulance Association, the American Telemedicine 
             Association, the National Association for Home Care & 
             Hospice, the American Association for Marriage and Family 
             Therapy, the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, 
             the North Dakota Hospital Association, and the Federation 
             of American Hospitals, all of them joining together to 
             send a message that this legislation is needed and it is 
             needed now.
               This is one way we can pay a tangible tribute to the 
             service of Senator Craig Thomas. I think all of us who 
             knew him and worked with him knew him as a quintessential 
             gentleman, and I hope very much that others of our 
             colleagues will join us in cosponsoring this legislation 
             in this tribute to Senator Thomas.
                                                Thursday, June 14, 2007
               Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, today I am very proud and 
             honored to cosponsor legislation along with my colleagues, 
             Senators Conrad, Harkin, and several members of the Senate 
             Rural Health Caucus, to honor Senator Craig Thomas.
               The bill is the Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider 
             Equity Act. As we all know, last week the Senate lost a 
             steady hand and man who has done much for his State of 
             Wyoming. Craig was dependable in the finest sense of the 
             word. He was the epitome of what I believe a Senator 
             should be.
               On a personal note, he was not only a colleague but a 
             dear friend, and I will cherish that always. He was also a 
             fellow Marine. In this case, Semper Fidelis, ``always 
             faithful,'' is always appropriate. If anyone faced trouble 
             in their life, the one person they would want by their 
             side riding shotgun would be Craig Thomas. The people of 
             Wyoming and all of Craig's colleagues knew that he fought 
             for rural America and always put the needs of his State 
             above all else.
               On the health care front, Craig was truly a champion for 
             strengthening our rural health care delivery system and 
             provided much needed relief to our hospitals and other 
             providers in our rural areas. He served for 10 years as 
             the cochair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus. He actually 
             took the reins over as cochair after my fellow Kansan, 
             Senator Bob Dole, retired from the Senate. As I know 
             personally, certainly, it is hard to follow in the 
             footsteps of Senator Dole. But Craig Thomas did this with 
             great ease and with great pride. His steady leadership put 
             the caucus on the map, and he made great strides in 
             showing all of our colleagues the true needs of rural 
             health care. I know the members of the caucus will miss 
             him and his leadership greatly.
               One of the biggest accomplishments for Craig in the 
             Rural Health Caucus was passage of the Medicare 
             Modernization Act of 2003, which provided a big boost to 
             our rural hospitals and our providers. Never before have I 
             seen such recognition and support for our colleagues from 
             all geographical areas--large, small, urban, rural--for 
             including these badly needed rural health care provisions.
               However, you would never know that Craig Thomas's hard 
             behind-the-scenes work caused these rural health care 
             provisions to be included in the Medicare bill. Craig 
             Thomas was more concerned with getting the work done 
             rather than taking any credit. So instead of taking 
             individual credit for his hard work and dedication on the 
             Medicare bill, Craig simply applauded the entire Senate 
             Rural Health Caucus and patted everybody else on the 
             back--so typical of Craig.
               However, Craig knew that while the passage of the 
             Medicare bill was a giant step for rural health, we still 
             have much more work to do to ensure our rural health care 
             system can continue to survive. That is why we are proud 
             and honored to carry on his legacy by introducing the 
             Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act.
               Craig and his staff have worked extremely hard over the 
             last 6 months, getting this bill together, working with 
             other members of the Rural Health Caucus to identify their 
             top priorities. I thank his health staffer, Erin Tuggle, 
             for being such a champion alongside of Craig. I know my 
             staff worked extremely closely with Erin, as many others 
             in the Senate  staff  have  done.  I  have  a  great  
             amount  of  respect for her hard work. Erin, we are proud 
             of you and we thank you for everything you have done on 
             behalf of rural health care.
               We had actually planned to introduce this legislation 
             last week with Craig leading the charge, but now Senators 
             Conrad, Harkin, and I and the other members of the Rural 
             Health Caucus will do our best to lead in his absence. I 
             have made a personal commitment to making sure we get this 
             bill done and ultimately provide the much needed relief to 
             our rural communities.
               The Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act 
             recognizes that rural health care providers have very 
             different needs than their urban counterparts and that 
             health care is not one size fits all.
               The Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act 
             of 2007 makes changes to Medicare regulations for rural 
             hospitals and providers recognizing the difficulty in 
             achieving the same economies of scale as large urban 
             facilities. This legislation equalizes Medicare 
             disproportionate share hospital payments to bring rural 
             hospitals in line with urban facilities. This bill 
             provides additional assistance for small, rural hospitals 
             who have a low volume of patients. Often, these hospitals 
             have trouble making ends meet under the Medicare payment 
             system.
               The Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act 
             also provides a capital infrastructure loan program to 
             make loans available to help rural facilities improve 
             crumbling buildings and infrastructure. In addition, rural 
             providers can apply to receive planning grants to help 
             assess capital and infrastructure needs.
               The bill extends to January 1, 2010, two incentive 
             programs aimed at improving the quality of care by 
             attracting health care providers to health professional 
             shortage areas. The first is the Medicare Incentive 
             Payment Program, which provides 10-percent bonus payments 
             to physicians practicing in shortage areas. The second is 
             the physician fee schedule work geographic adjustment, 
             which brings rural doctors' Medicare fee schedules for 
             wages more in line with urban doctors'.
               This bill also recognizes that other providers play a 
             great role in the rural health delivery system. Our bill 
             increases the payment cap for rural health clinics to keep 
             them in line with community health centers, provides a 5-
             percent add-on payment for rural home health services and 
             provides a 5-percent add-on payment for ground ambulance 
             services in rural areas.
               One of the provisions in the bill Senator Thomas 
             particularly championed is a provision to allow marriage 
             and family therapists  and  licensed  professional  
             counselors  to  bill Medicare for their services and be 
             paid the rate of social workers.
               Currently, the Medicare Program only permits 
             psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and clinical 
             nurse specialists to bill Medicare for mental health 
             services provided to seniors. However, most rural counties 
             do not have a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Marriage and 
             family therapists and licensed professional counselors are 
             much more likely to practice in a rural setting and are 
             often the only mental health professionals available.
               Finally, this bill uses technology to improve home 
             health services and quality for care by creating a pilot 
             program providing incentives for home health agencies to 
             purchase and utilize home monitoring and communications 
             technologies and facilitates telehealth services across 
             State lines.
               Mr. President, today I am proud and honored to coauthor 
             this bill on behalf of Craig Thomas. We all miss him 
             greatly as a personal friend, confidant, and strong 
             supporter. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife 
             Susan, his sons Patrick, Peter, and Greg, and his daughter 
             Lexie. With this legislation, Craig is still with us.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New 
             Mexico.

               Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask for 2 minutes as in 
             morning business.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it 
             is so ordered.

               Mr. DOMENICI. Senator, let me say before you leave, 
             first, I would appreciate it if you would add me to the 
             legislation, and, second, I thank you so much for doing 
             this, for offering this piece of legislation. That is the 
             best we can do. We can't bring him back--we can't do much. 
             We just hope everything will go well with his family, and 
             this will be something that in truth indicates how much we 
             cared for him and what a true gentleman he was--strong of 
             will and yet very kind and decent. We want to do this in 
             his behalf. Thank you for doing it.

               Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I would like to associate 
             myself with the remarks of the distinguished Senator from 
             New Mexico, who is himself a strong champion for rural 
             health care, and thank him very much for those personal 
             remarks that are shared by every Member of this Senate.
               I thank my colleague.

               Mr. DOMENICI. I yield the floor.
              ORDER FOR PRINTING AND SUBMISSION OF TRIBUTES TO SENATOR 
                                    CRAIG THOMAS
               Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous 
             consent that the tributes to Senator Thomas in the 
             Congressional Record be printed as a Senate document and 
             that Senators be permitted to submit statements for 
             inclusion until June 29, 2007.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.
                                                  Friday, June 15, 2007
               Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I was deeply saddened to hear 
             of the sudden passing of my colleague from Wyoming, 
             Senator Craig Thomas. The loss we all feel at his passing 
             is tempered by the happy memories I have of working with 
             him on so many issues of mutual interest. His efforts and 
             his leadership on the panels on which we served together--
             the Senate Finance Committee, Senate Agriculture 
             Committee, and Senate Environment and Public Works 
             Committee--will remain foremost in my memory. I 
             particularly admired his staunch advocacy for the needs of 
             rural communities and farmers. Craig brought a special 
             passion and expertise to issues affecting ranching 
             families. His focus on their unique needs spanned the 
             trade, economic, environmental, and public lands 
             management issues of rural communities.
               Craig brought to Congress his vision for the needs of 
             Wyoming and rural States, and he became a strong advocate 
             of effective resource and energy policies. I am pleased to 
             have partnered with him in applying technologies to 
             improving our Nation's energy generation. Although he 
             lived his life modestly, he became a leader in national 
             park stewardship, and the American people owe him a debt 
             of gratitude for his promotion of the underserved national 
             parks system. I also appreciated his long and thoughtful 
             counsel on ways to update the Endangered Species Act.
               In recent months, Craig took a prime role on the Finance 
             Committee in working to simplify the Federal Tax Code and 
             improve entitlement and health care assistance to the 
             least fortunate. As one who took to heart the importance 
             of protecting the taxpayers' dollars, Craig was a strong 
             proponent of restoring the sustainability of our Nation's 
             welfare system. And Craig understood that economic 
             development in rural States like Wyoming is inextricably 
             linked to trade promotion that ensure open and fair 
             markets abroad. I will miss his stalwart and consistent 
             advocacy for farming communities as the Senate considers 
             trade legislation.
               As a man who represented a small State in population, 
             Craig towered large over the landscape of thoughtful 
             conservative Members of Congress. I think a fitting 
             tribute and legacy to our late friend would be to adopt 
             his resolution making July 28, National Day of the Cowboy. 
             My thoughts and prayers are with Craig's family and 
             friends. I will miss my good friend and colleague.
                                                 Tuesday, June 19, 2007
               Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on behalf 
             of the Bunning coal to liquid fuel amendment. This was an 
             amendment cosponsored and championed by our dear late 
             friend, Senator Craig Thomas. If we could adopt this 
             amendment and pass it into law, I think it would be a 
             fitting tribute to the memory of this very fine servant of 
             the people of Wyoming and of the United States. . . .
               So I urge my colleagues to give a hard look to the 
             Bunning-Domenici coal to liquid fuel standard amendment. I 
             would add Craig Thomas's name to that list as well. . . .

                   GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK EXTENSION ACT OF 2007
               Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, it was just a few days ago when 
             we heard the news that we had lost our dear friend and 
             colleague, Senator Craig Thomas. We lowered our flags and 
             joined together as a family to say goodbye to someone who 
             fought for what he believed in and worked to the end to 
             make Wyoming and the West better places to live.
               Craig is now gone, but the work he began lives on. That 
             is why I am pleased to offer an amendment to S. 277, the 
             Grand Teton National Park Extension Act of 2007. My 
             amendment builds on the work begun by Craig and the 
             efforts of Chairman Bingaman and Ranking Member Domenici 
             who worked so hard to shepherd this bill through the 
             legislative process. In addition, I also thank Majority 
             Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell for bringing 
             this bill to the floor so we can make one of Craig's 
             legislative goals a reality.
               It is no surprise that Craig worked so hard to develop, 
             draft, and introduce this legislation. No one understood 
             the needs of Wyoming and the West better than he did. 
             Craig was a cowboy from the top of his hat to the tip of 
             his boots. There was nothing he enjoyed more than riding a 
             horse through our national forests and spending time in 
             the great outdoors.
               Craig's love for the wide open spaces of our State led 
             him to introduce the Grand Teton National Park Extension 
             Act of 2007. When it is signed into law, it will allow the 
             Secretary of the Interior to accept the donation of 
             approximately 50 acres of private land that will be added 
             to Grand Teton National Park. In addition to Craig, we 
             have the Halpin family to thank for their generosity. It 
             will truly be a gift enjoyed by the people of Wyoming and 
             the West, and the whole country, by all who come to visit 
             our national parks every year.
               When that land is added to Grand Teton National Park, it 
             will have another little addition to it. That addition is 
             to rename the visitors center the Craig Thomas Discovery 
             and Visitor Center. It will provide the people with a 
             place to stop and visit during their trips to Grand Teton 
             where they can learn about the history of the park and the 
             life of Craig Thomas. I cannot think of a better way to 
             remember Craig's life than to share it with all who 
             benefited from his many years of hard work and public 
             service.
               Craig dedicated his life to protecting and preserving 
             our State's natural resources, especially our parks. He 
             was a tireless and true advocate for those important and 
             precious facilities, and he fought for their protection 
             when he served as chairman and later as ranking member of 
             the National Park Subcommittee of the Committee on Energy 
             and Natural Resources.
               Craig had a proud history on the committee and in the 
             Senate as he constantly and consistently advocated for the 
             best administration and management of our park system. He 
             authored legislation that provided critical funding and 
             mandated management reforms that were necessary to keep 
             our parks pristine and ensure they would be available for 
             future generations to enjoy. He worked with all of his 
             colleagues, regardless of their party affiliation, to 
             increase funding for our parks so they could better deal 
             with the maintenance backlog that exists. Now that he is 
             gone, our parks have lost one of their best friends.
               Renaming the visitors center will ensure Craig's legacy 
             will continue and never be forgotten. As noted in a letter 
             by the Grand Teton National Park Foundation:

               Senator Thomas championed this project since 1997. His 
             leadership in securing an $8 million appropriation 
             inspired the Foundation to raise $13.6 million in private 
             funds for the project.

               For his efforts on this and so many issues of importance 
             to our national park system, the Grand Teton National Park 
             Foundation supports the naming of the center after Senator 
             Thomas.
               I ask unanimous consent that a copy of their letter of 
             support be printed in the Record.
               There being no objection, the material was ordered to be 
             printed in the Record, as follows:

                          Grand Teton National Park Foundation,
                                           Moose, WY, June 12, 2007.
             Hon. Michael B. Enzi,
             Senate Russell Office Building,
             Washington, DC.
               Dear Senator Enzi: On behalf of the Board of the Grand 
             Teton National Park Foundation I am writing to endorse the 
             idea of naming the new Visitor Center in Grand Teton 
             National Park after the late Senator Craig Thomas.
               Senator Thomas loved the national parks and was a 
             tireless advocate for them. The beautiful Grand Teton 
             Discovery and Visitor Center which will open this summer 
             is a model public/private partnership. Senator Thomas 
             championed this project since 1997. His leadership in 
             securing an $8 million appropriation inspired the 
             Foundation to raise $13.6 million in private funds for the 
             project.
               The ribbon cutting on August 11th will be a special day 
             for everyone who has been involved with this project. It 
             will also be a very sad day because Senator Thomas will 
             not be there with us to celebrate the culmination of years 
             of work.
               Feel free to contact me if you require any additional 
             information.
                Sincerely,
                                        Leslie Mattson-Emerson,
                                                 Executive Director.

               Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for 
             the newly constructed Grand Teton Visitors Center is 
             August 11, 2007. It will be a day that will be long 
             remembered by all who come to honor the memory of one of 
             the park's greatest champions. By passing this 
             legislation, we are making that day possible and ensuring 
             that those who attend that special ceremony will be the 
             first to enjoy all the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor 
             Center will have to offer. This is an honor which I know 
             would have pleased Craig and made him very proud. I can 
             also see him riding tall in the saddle of a horse, taking 
             it all in under the brim of his favorite cowboy hat.
               Naming the visitors center for Craig Thomas will also 
             mean a great deal to everyone who knew and loved him. It 
             will be a tribute to a special American that will last for 
             a long time to come. Many years from today, when people 
             come to the park and stop by the visitors center that 
             bears his name, they will know that Craig Thomas was so 
             many things in life--a Marine, a Senator, a rancher, and a 
             dedicated father and husband. But most of all, they will 
             know Craig loved Wyoming and the West and fought with 
             everything he had to maintain our precious resources.
               I always said God saved some of his best handiwork for 
             Wyoming. We are fortunate that he also gave us the best 
             champion to fight to protect and preserve it all.
               Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
             proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 41, 
             S. 277.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by 
             title.
               The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

               A bill (S. 277) to modify the boundaries of Grand Teton 
             National Park to include certain land within the GT Park 
             Subdivision, and other purposes.

               There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to 
             consider the bill.

               Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
             the Enzi amendment at the desk be agreed to; that the 
             bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; that 
             the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; and that 
             any statements relating to the bill be printed in the 
             Record.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.
               The amendment (No. 1709) was agreed to, as follows:

             (Purpose: To designate the Grand Teton Discovery and 
             Visitor Center as the ``Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor 
             Center'')

               Strike section 4 and insert the following:
             SEC. 4. CRAIG THOMAS DISCOVERY AND VISITOR CENTER.
               (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
               (1) Craig Thomas was raised on a ranch just outside of 
             Cody, Wyoming, near Yellowstone National Park and Grand 
             Teton National Park, where he--
               (A) began a lifelong association with those parks; and
               (B) developed a deep and abiding dedication to the 
             values of the public land of the United States;
               (2) during his 18-year tenure in Congress, including 
             service in both the Senate and the House of 
             Representatives, Craig Thomas forged a distinguished 
             legislative record on issues as diverse as public land 
             management, agriculture, fiscal responsibility, and rural 
             health care;
               (3) as Chairman and Ranking Member of the National Parks 
             Subcommittee of the Committee on Energy and Natural 
             Resources of the Senate and a frequent visitor to many 
             units of the National Park System, including Yellowstone 
             National Park and Grand Teton National Park, Craig Thomas 
             was a strong proponent for ensuring that people of all 
             ages and abilities had a wide range of opportunities to 
             learn more about the natural and cultural heritage of the 
             United States;
               (4) Craig Thomas authored legislation to provide 
             critical funding and management reforms to protect units 
             of the National Park System into the 21st century, 
             ensuring quality visits to units of the National Park 
             System and the protection of natural and cultural 
             resources;
               (5) Craig Thomas strongly supported public-private 
             partnerships and collaboration between the National Park 
             Service and other organizations that foster new 
             opportunities for providing visitor services while 
             encouraging greater citizen involvement in the stewardship 
             of units of the National Park System;
               (6) Craig Thomas was instrumental in obtaining the 
             Federal share for a public-private partnership with the 
             Grand Teton National Park Foundation and the Grand Teton 
             Natural History Association to construct a new discovery 
             and visitor center at Grand Teton National Park;
               (7) on June 4, 2007, Craig Thomas passed away after 
             battling cancer for 7 months;
               (8) Craig Thomas is survived by his wife, Susan, and 
             children, Patrick, Greg, Peter, and Lexie; and
               (9) in memory of the distinguished career of service of 
             Craig Thomas to the people of the United States, the 
             dedication of Craig Thomas to units of the National Park 
             System, generally, and to Grand Teton National Park, 
             specifically, and the critical role of Craig Thomas in the 
             new discovery and visitor center at Grand Teton National 
             Park, the Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor Center should 
             be designated as the ``Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor 
             Center''.
               (b) The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center.--
               (1) Designation.--The Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor 
             Center located in Moose, Wyoming, and scheduled for 
             completion in August 2007 shall be known and designated as 
             the ``Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center''.
               (2) Reference.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
             document, paper, or other record of the United States to 
             the Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor Center referred to 
             in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
             ``Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center''.
             SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
               There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
             such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.

               The bill (S. 277), as amended, was ordered to be 
             engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, 
             and passed, as follows: . . .

               Mr. ENZI. I yield the floor.

               Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from 
             Wyoming for bringing forward this bill on behalf of 
             Senator Thomas, who was such a force in this Chamber and 
             especially a force on behalf of his State. It is a very 
             appropriate thing to do.
                                               Wednesday, June 20, 2007
               Mr. WYDEN. . . . In the last Congress, for the first 
             time in many years, the executives of the major oil 
             companies--we are talking about Shell and BP and Exxon, 
             the big five companies--were in front of the joint hearing 
             I attended, a joint hearing of the Energy Committee and 
             the Commerce Committee. . . .
               So what we have is essentially a time now when the 
             companies are making record profits, and they are charging 
             record prices when clearly they do not need record 
             subsidies. That is what the Senate Finance Committee 
             legislation does with respect to the tax provisions. I 
             have reviewed them. They are clearly targeted at the major 
             companies. They are not targeted at the independents and 
             the small companies, and we ought to be taking steps to 
             help them. In fact, I particularly credit our friend and 
             colleague, the late Senator Thomas, for doing 
             extraordinary work over the years, some of which I was 
             privileged to work on with him, to help those small 
             independent companies. Our good friend, the late Senator 
             Thomas, championed that work. This is not going to affect 
             those small independents. This is targeted at the major 
             companies, the companies that, when I asked them--the 
             first time they had been asked in years--admitted they did 
             not need the billions of dollars worth of subsidies they 
             were getting. . . .
                                                  Friday, June 22, 2007
                          WELCOME TO WYOMING'S NEW SENATOR
               Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, minutes ago a new Senator for 
             the State of Wyoming was officially appointed by the 
             Governor of Wyoming, and I want to welcome Dr. John 
             Barrasso, now Senator Barrasso, and introduce him to the 
             Senate. . . .
               He is quiet but efficient and has worked across the 
             aisle in Wyoming, and I am sure he will continue to do 
             that here, much the way Senator Thomas and I have done. We 
             have always worked as a team, the Wyoming delegation, and 
             he will become a very strong team member. . . .
               Of course, no one is going to be able to replace Craig 
             Thomas, but working with John, we can ensure the 
             representation of Wyoming in the Senate will remain second 
             to none. . . .
                                                  Monday, June 25, 2007
                                      SCHEDULE
               Mr. REID. . . . At 3:15 the newest Member of the Senate 
             will be sworn in, John Barrasso, who is an orthopedic 
             surgeon from Wyoming. We welcome him here but with some 
             degree of sadness, because you are forced to comprehend 
             and think about Craig Thomas whom I had such great 
             admiration for. As I have said before, Craig Thomas and I 
             did not vote very much alike, but we shared a great belief 
             in the sovereignty of our two States, two sparsely 
             populated States, Wyoming and Nevada, and of course this 
             great country of ours that we both have such affection 
             for. . . .

               Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, let me say briefly a warm 
             welcome to the new Senator from Wyoming, Senator Barrasso. 
             He has big shoes to fill with our departed colleague Craig 
             Thomas. . . .

               Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, all of us in the Senate 
             will miss Craig Thomas. I got to know Craig when we both 
             served on the Senate Ethics Committee. During that time, I 
             came to admire him as a wonderful human being, a man of 
             character and integrity, and someone who spoke plainly on 
             how he felt about things.
               I also admired Craig for speaking up at policy lunches 
             and at the steering committee on so many occasions. He 
             always got to the nub of the problem and never failed to 
             tell it just as he saw it. On many occasions, I sensed he 
             had a great frustration with the system, but he stayed in 
             there and was an encouragement to many.
               When he got sick, Janet and I put him on our prayer 
             list. I also looked at some health care alternatives for 
             him in Cleveland, but he felt he had great care at the 
             Bethesda Naval Hospital. The last time I saw him, he 
             looked like the old Craig, full of vim and vigor. We were 
             shocked when we heard of his passing. It is said that it 
             is not the number of years one lives that counts but what 
             one does with those years that matters. We will all miss 
             Craig but know that he is in heaven with our Father 
             eternally happy.
                                                 Tuesday, June 26, 2007
               Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute 
             to a colleague and a friend--someone whose presence is 
             missed but whose legacy will undoubtedly endure.
               Senator Craig Thomas was a Westerner through and 
             through. The story of his life reflects the spirit of the 
             West--his work ethic, his strength of character, and his 
             love for the land and resources of his cherished Wyoming.
               Craig's life lessons were formed as a summer horseback 
             guide, as a competitive wrestler, as a Marine, as a 
             husband, and as a father. He brought those lessons with 
             him to Washington, DC, as a Congressman and a Senator, and 
             he never forgot them or strayed from them. That is clear 
             from the issues he held closest to his heart.
               As a fellow Westerner, I always admired Craig's 
             commitment to being an exemplary steward of our national 
             parks. His love for them probably developed during his 
             childhood summers around Yellowstone National Park, but he 
             was able to translate that passion into monumental 
             improvements that generations of Americans will enjoy.
               He also worked tirelessly on issues impacting public 
             land management, agriculture, rural health care, and 
             fiscal responsibility--all issues that greatly benefited 
             his constituents in Wyoming. And they understood and 
             appreciated his advocacy for their well-being by electing 
             him time and again to represent them in the Nation's 
             Capital.
               Craig definitely had a special presence on Capitol Hill. 
             He never gave up a fight; he had a certain grit that drew 
             others to him; and he loved to joke around--all tributes 
             that led to his being described as a cowboy or a Western 
             hero.
               The epitome of the American cowboy, John Wayne, has 
             inscribed on his headstone: ``Tomorrow is the most 
             important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very 
             clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in 
             our hands. It hopes we've learnt something from 
             yesterday.''
               Craig Thomas treated every ``tomorrow'' as a new and 
             exciting opportunity to make a difference for the people 
             of Wyoming and the United States. He loved his work; he 
             loved his family; and he loved life. While he is no longer 
             serving as the voice of the Westerner in the Senate, his 
             years of dedicated service ensured that his legacy will 
             survive.
               Craig was a statesman and a leader, a fighter and a 
             friend. The Thomas family, the people of Wyoming, and 
             those of us who worked with Craig will always remember the 
             spirit of Western freedom, trusted integrity, and 
             heartfelt kindness that he embodied. We are all fortunate 
             to have known such a remarkable person.
                                               Wednesday, June 27, 2007
               Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, it has been said that we all 
             have a birth date and a death date, with a dash in 
             between. It is what we do with our dash that counts.
               Senator Craig Thomas made his count. He was a dedicated 
             public servant, a vigorous advocate, a compassionate 
             leader, a Marine, a proud patriot. To the citizens of his 
             beloved Wyoming and to his colleagues in the Senate, he 
             was a cherished friend.
               Although my State and his are miles apart, with vastly 
             different geography and history, I am struck by the 
             similarities in the character of our people. Both the 
             rugged Maine Yankee and the tough Wyoming cowboy are 
             steadfast and modest. Both are determined, committed to 
             doing what is right rather than what is easy. An old 
             cowboy proverb says, ``The best way out of a tight spot is 
             to go straight through it,'' and Craig Thomas always faced 
             challenges head on. I have no doubt that he would have 
             been just as at home on the deck of a lobster boat as he 
             was on horseback, riding the range.
               As a Senator representing a large rural State, I deeply 
             appreciate Craig's devotion to preserving and enhancing a 
             way of life that is such a vital part of the American 
             spirit. His tireless work on such issues as agriculture, 
             Indian affairs, natural resources, rural health care, and 
             educational opportunity will help ensure a better future 
             for people in small communities throughout our Nation.
               The courage and integrity with which he led his life 
             were evident until the very end. Although stricken with a 
             terrible disease, Craig always put his Nation and his 
             State first. There was no time for self-pity or regret 
             while there was still work to be done. He stayed in the 
             saddle.
               Craig was a public man, but, first and foremost, he was 
             a loving husband, a devoted father, and a proud 
             grandfather. In this time of sorrow, I know that his 
             wonderful family finds strength in his honorable legacy. 
             Senator Craig Thomas filled his dash with service, 
             courage, and commitment, with life and love. May his 
             memory inspire us all to do the same.
                                                Thursday, June 28, 2007
               Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, Senator Craig Thomas was a 
             very good friend. He served in the Senate with great honor 
             and respect for the institution.
               I got to know Senator Thomas best through the work of 
             the Finance Committee. Senator Thomas was an active and 
             dedicated participant in the business of the committee 
             from tax policy, to health care, Social Security and 
             international trade. When I was chairman of the committee, 
             I could always count on his diligent, steadfast and 
             valuable involvement in the issues before us. I 
             appreciated greatly his commitment to conservative 
             principles and the responsibilities of governing.
               In particular, as chairman of the Trade Subcommittee, 
             Senator Thomas was a strong voice for opening new markets 
             and opportunities for U.S. exports. He went above and 
             beyond and engaged himself fully in efforts to achieve 
             ambitious outcomes from trade negotiations. He 
             demonstrated his commitment time and again with his own 
             personal time and his personal resolve.
               Senator Thomas was a true representative for his Wyoming 
             constituents. He worked hard and sincerely for their good 
             and for the good of our Nation every day. He will be 
             missed so very much. Barbara and I extend our sincere and 
             deep sympathies to his family and his staff.

               Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I seek recognition to honor 
             the life of my colleague, Senator Craig Thomas.
               Craig, a real outdoorsman, would say he enjoyed nothing 
             more than a horseback ride through Wyoming's spectacular 
             wilderness area. Despite that, he found himself here in 
             Washington, DC, working for the betterment of his home 
             State and the Nation. He was outspoken on Government's 
             need to provide adequate funding for national parks, a 
             subject he knew well as chairman and ranking member of the 
             National Parks Subcommittee on the Energy and Natural 
             Resources Committee.
               Senator Thomas was also a strong defender of his State's 
             cattle industry and was a firm believer in the virtues of 
             rural America. This passion stems back to his time at the 
             University of Wyoming, where he received a degree in 
             animal husbandry. Senator Thomas also served as an officer 
             in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1955 to 1959, achieving the 
             rank of captain, an experience that taught discipline and 
             reinforced his commitment to the United States.
               Before Craig came to Congress, he served as vice 
             president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau, and once headed the 
             Rural Electric Association of Wyoming. After 5 years in 
             the Wyoming House, Thomas won a special election to 
             replace Dick Cheney, who was appointed to be Secretary of 
             Defense. As Wyoming's lone Member in the U.S. House of 
             Representatives, he had the responsibility of representing 
             over 450,000 constituents. Craig was reelected to that 
             seat in 1990 and 1992, a testament to his ability to serve 
             the people of Wyoming effectively. In 1994, he ran for the 
             U.S. Senate and won, defeating popular Democratic Governor 
             Mike Sullivan by 20 percentage points. He was elected to a 
             second term in 2000 with a 74-percent majority, one of the 
             largest margins in Wyoming election history. He was 
             reelected to a third term in 2006 with 70 percent of the 
             vote.
               Senator Thomas had no doubts about who he was or what he 
             represented. He was not one to pick a fight, but if asked 
             how he felt about a given issue, he would be sure to give 
             his typically candid and honest response. When it came to 
             issues he was passionate about, such as public lands and 
             private property, he left little doubt as to his 
             priorities. As a member of the Senate Energy Committee, 
             and particularly in his leadership of the National Parks 
             Subcommittee, Craig asked tough questions and made strong 
             statements about the responsibility of the Federal 
             Government to care for the land it already owned; the 
             fundamental nature of private property rights; and 
             Congress's need to consider the interplay between these 
             principles when contemplating new national parks or 
             historic sites. He was always a fair broker, and I found 
             on many occasions that he would give my priorities fair 
             consideration and due process.
               I very much regret that Senator Thomas lost his battle 
             to cancer. In 1970, President Nixon declared war on 
             cancer. Had that war been prosecuted with the same 
             diligence as other wars, my former chief of staff, Carey 
             Lackman, a beautiful young lady of 48, would not have died 
             of breast cancer. One of my very best friends, a very 
             distinguished Federal judge, Chief Judge Edward R. Becker, 
             would not have died of prostate cancer. All of us know 
             people who have been stricken by cancer, who have been 
             incapacitated with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's, who have 
             been victims of heart disease, or many other maladies. I 
             sustained an episode with Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer 2 
             years ago. That trauma, that illness, I think, could have 
             been prevented had that war on cancer declared by the 
             President of the United States in 1970 been prosecuted 
             with sufficient intensity.
               On a personal level, Senator Thomas had an extraordinary 
             relationship with his wife Susan. As many of my colleagues 
             can attest, Craig and Susan were quite inseparable and 
             quick with humor. Even as Craig battled with acute myeloid 
             leukemia he continued to serve in the Senate with extreme 
             vigor and a smile. He leaves behind many friends and 
             admirers who have tried to emulate his courage, his 
             tenacity, and his integrity.
               I extend my deepest condolences to Susan, their four 
             children, the whole Thomas family, and his very able 
             staff.

               Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, it is with a heavy heart that 
             I join so many Americans in mourning the passing of my 
             dear friend and esteemed colleague, Senator Craig Thomas. 
             Craig served the people of Wyoming with great integrity, 
             honesty, and common sense. He was a true American patriot 
             and dedicated public servant who never failed to put the 
             best interests of his beloved State and country above 
             personal ambitions.
               Craig came from humble beginnings, working summers on 
             his family's dude ranch near Yellowstone National Park. He 
             earned a degree from the University of Wyoming, where he 
             was a respected student and accomplished athlete, and from 
             there he went on to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps. It was 
             these life experiences that taught Craig the values of 
             hard work, perseverance, and personal responsibility. 
             These principles guided him throughout his remarkable 
             career, during which he worked for the Wyoming Farm 
             Bureau, the American Farm Bureau, and the Wyoming Rural 
             Electric Association before winning a special election to 
             the U.S. House of Representatives.
               In 1994, Craig was elected to the U.S. Senate, and went 
             on to make his mark in a number of areas. He served with 
             distinction on the Energy, Finance, and Agriculture 
             Committees--posts he used to promote issues important to 
             his constituents in the rural West and their quality of 
             life. As the chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee, 
             Craig worked tirelessly to protect America's natural 
             treasures, and as the cochairman of the Senate Rural 
             Health Caucus, he made significant strides in improving 
             rural health care infrastructure. No question, Craig's 
             numerous accomplishments truly speak volumes about his 
             commitment to the people of Wyoming and our entire Nation.
               Craig's greatest commitment, however, was to his family. 
             He was unwavering in his devotion to his dear wife Susan 
             and his children Peter, Patrick, Greg, and Lexie. My 
             husband Bob and I are blessed to have known and worked 
             with Craig, and we keep Susan and the entire Thomas family 
             in our thoughts and prayers.
               Craig's memory and legacy indeed live on, across 
             Wyoming, throughout the halls of Congress, in the 
             countless lives he touched, and in the public servants who 
             follow in his footsteps. Our Nation is grateful for his 
             many years of service and positive contributions. May God 
             bless the entire Thomas family in this time of sorrow, and 
             may God continue to bless his beloved Wyoming and this 
             great land of the free--America.
                                                 Tuesday, July 17, 2007
               Mr. BARRASSO. Thank you, Mr. President.
               This is the first time I am addressing this body. I am 
             filling the seat of former U.S. Senator Craig Thomas, a 
             Marine, a warrior, and an American hero. He was a 
             gentleman from Wyoming who has left large boots to fill. . 
             . .
               This past weekend, I was home in Wyoming. I had a town 
             meeting in Douglas. I was also home over the Fourth of 
             July. I had town meetings in Jackson and in Lander. I went 
             to a couple of rodeos, community activities, as I am sure 
             you do as well. I talked to hundreds of folks traveling 
             around the State. When I went to the rodeos--whether in 
             Casper, or on the Fourth of July in Cody, where I attended 
             it with a former U.S. Senator from Wyoming who has served 
             on the Iraq Study Group--when they ride into the arena 
             holding the American flag, people stand, take off their 
             hat, and put their hand over their heart. The announcer 
             does not have to tell them to do that. They just do it.
               At both of those rodeos, in Casper and in Cody, they 
             dedicated the ``Star Spangled Banner'' with a salute to 
             Craig Thomas, former Marine. Susan Thomas was there at 
             both events and received the love of the crowd. Then, at 
             both events, the announcer asked for prayers for the 
             bravest men and women in the world, those who are fighting 
             to keep us free. . . .

               Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I just wanted to congratulate 
             the Senator from Wyoming on the speech he gave this 
             morning. It is his first speech on the floor since he 
             arrived. It is not necessarily his official first speech, 
             but it is his first speech. I wish to congratulate him on 
             doing a very admirable job. He accurately reflected the 
             feelings of Wyoming which he has collected from his 
             extensive travels in the 3 weeks since he has been in 
             office. He has held a lot of town meetings; he has been to 
             a lot of places; he has listened to a lot of people. I 
             also appreciate very much the comments he made about 
             Senator Thomas and also the tribute that has been paid to 
             Susan Thomas at the events he has attended.
               I appreciate the indulgence of the Chair, and I thank my 
             fellow Senator for his excellence comments.

               The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from 
             Massachusetts is recognized.

               Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I join with the senior Senator 
             from Wyoming in congratulating the new Senator, the junior 
             Senator, for his comments. All of us miss Senator Thomas. 
             I had the occasion to work with him on committee. He was a 
             very fair, decent person and really looked for the center 
             ground here and tried to make things happen. I certainly 
             hope his successor will follow in that good tradition. We 
             thank him for his comments. . . .
                                                  Monday, July 23, 2007
               Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an 
             Albert Caswell tribute entitled ``The Promise of Thomas'' 
             be printed in the Record.
               There being no objection, the material was ordered to be 
             printed in the Record, as follows:
                                The Promise of Thomas
             The promise of Thomas
             Wyo, Craig Thomas, Cowboys and The Marines
             Are some of the greatest damn things, this our country has 
               ever seen

             Walk soft,
             But, carry a big heart . . . A straight shooter, The 
               Promise of Thomas
             Surely, this was Craig's greatest of parts . . . as what 
               his life so surely means

             A cowboy, from the great wide west
             A hero who wore the uniform, A Marine . . . one of 
               America's Best
             Then, upon House and Senate floors . . . as a legislator . 
               . . his state and country he'd bless

             He was so kind, and ever so cool . . .
             He was nobody's patsy nor anybody's fool, following The 
               Golden Rule
             Understated, not complicated . . . just the way God 
               created, a beautiful calm western scene

             A Father and a Friend,
             A Devoted and Loving Husband . . .
             As has been this life of a patriot, time and again . . .

             A man of the land,
             For nature and wildlife he'd take a stand . . .
             Like a beautiful Yellow Stone sunset . . . as was so this 
               man

             A leader of woman and man,
             A quiet, and classy kind of guy . . . like a Gary Cooper 
               he'd stride . . .
             Making many a fan, under control, a thoughtful soul, as 
               wherever you'd find honor . . . he'd stand

             For he was as real as it gets,
             The happiest, when in his cowboy boots and hat, in his 
               jeans and belt buckle . . . heading for home on a jet
             Yea, you my fine son . . . Craig . . . you were quite the 
               one . . . we will never forget

             About a week before you died,
             Meeting inside, how you stopped to provide a warm moment 
               still yet . . .
             What does that say, about a man on death's way . . . 
               nothing but greatness, yea you conveyed!

             Now Marine, this is your life's final scene,
             High and Tight, with our Lord up in Heaven . . . ready to 
               fight . . .
             As an Angel in The Army of Our Lord, on this night

             In Yellow Stone, when on a quiet night all alone . . .
             As the river runs through you in tone, and the wind in the 
               branches to all heart so moans . . .
             All in serenity, and in peace, among our Lord's beautiful 
               beasts . . . you'll find Craig there at home! What to 
               our world, such promises unfurled . . . do we so leave 
               behind?
                                                Thursday, July 26, 2007
                         NATIONAL DAY OF THE AMERICAN COWBOY
               Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise to remember my dear 
             friend and colleague, Senator Craig Thomas. Craig was a 
             champion for Wyoming, the West, and its values. Every 
             year, for the last several years, Craig championed a 
             resolution honoring the American cowboy. A true cowboy in 
             his own right, Craig sought to honor those who serve as 
             stewards of the land, embody the courageous and daring 
             spirit of the West, and uphold the values of freedom and 
             responsibility that we all cherish.
               I was proud to support my friend in this endeavor over 
             the years to honor these great individuals, and today I am 
             pleased the President has also stated his support for the 
             National Day of the American Cowboy. As cowboys, cowgirls, 
             family, and friends gather on July 28, 2007, to celebrate 
             at Cheyenne Frontier Days and nationwide, I extend my best 
             wishes to all.
                     Proceedings in the House of Representatives
                                                  Tuesday, June 5, 2007
               Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution 
             (H. Res. 454) and ask for its immediate consideration.
               The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
                                     H. Res. 454
               Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow 
             of the death of the Honorable Craig Thomas, a Senator from 
             the State of Wyoming.
               Resolved, That a committee of such Members of the House 
             as the Speaker may designate, together with such Members 
             of the Senate as may be joined, be appointed to attend the 
             funeral.
               Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions 
             to the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of 
             the deceased.
               Resolved, That when the House adjourns today, it adjourn 
             as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased 
             Senator.

               The resolution was agreed to.
               A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
                                     ADJOURNMENT
               Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now 
             adjourn.
               The motion was agreed to.

               The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 
             454, the House stands adjourned until 10 a.m. today, as a 
             further mark of respect to the memory of the late 
             Honorable Craig Thomas.
               Thereupon (at midnight), pursuant to House Resolution 
             454, the House adjourned as a further mark of respect to 
             the memory of the late Honorable Craig Thomas until today, 
             Wednesday, June 6, 2007, at 10 a.m.
                            PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
               Under clause 2 of rule XII, public bills and resolutions 
             were introduced and severally referred, as follows: . . .
               By Mrs. CUBIN:
               H. Res. 454. A resolution expressing the condolences of 
             the House of Representatives on the death of the Honorable 
             Craig Thomas, a Senator from the State of Wyoming; 
             considered and agreed to. . . .
                                                Wednesday, June 6, 2007
                               MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE
               A message from the Senate by Ms. Curtis, one of its 
             clerks, announced that the Senate agreed to the following 
             resolution.
                                     S. Res. 220
               In the Senate of the United States, June 5, 2007.
               Whereas, Senator Craig Thomas had a long and honorable 
             history of public service, serving in the United States 
             Marine Corps, the Wyoming State Legislature, the United 
             States House of Representatives, and the United States 
             Senate;
               Whereas, Senator Craig Thomas represented the people of 
             Wyoming with honor and distinction for over 20 years;
               Whereas, Senator Craig Thomas was first elected to the 
             United States House of Representatives in 1989;
               Whereas, Senator Craig Thomas was subsequently elected 3 
             times to the United States Senate by record margins of 
             more than 70 percent; and
               Whereas, Senator Craig Thomas's life and career were 
             marked by the best of his Western values: hard work, plain 
             speaking, common sense, courage, and integrity: Now, 
             therefore, be it
               Resolved, That the United States Senate has heard with 
             profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the 
             death of the Honorable Craig Thomas, a Senator from the 
             State of Wyoming;
               Resolved, That the Senate mourns the loss of one of its 
             most esteemed members, Senator Craig Thomas, and expresses 
             its condolences to the people of Wyoming and to his wife, 
             Susan, and his 4 children;
               Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate shall 
             communicate this resolution to the House of 
             Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy thereof to 
             the family of Senator Craig Thomas; and
               Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it shall 
             stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory 
             of Senator Craig Thomas.
                 MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF SENATOR CRAIG THOMAS
               The SPEAKER pro tempore. The House will rise and observe 
             a moment of silence in memory of Senator Craig Thomas.
                                                  Monday, June 11, 2007
                APPOINTMENT OF MEMBER TO ATTEND FUNERAL OF THE LATE 
                               HONORABLE CRAIG THOMAS
               The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 
             454, and the order of the House of January 4, 2007, the 
             Chair announces the Speaker's appointment of the following 
             Member of the House to the committee to attend the funeral 
             of the late Honorable Craig Thomas:
               Mrs. Cubin, Wyoming
             Departure Ceremony for Senator Craig Thomas

             Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland

             Friday June 8, 2007, 10 am

             Presiding, Dr. Barry C. Black,

             Chaplain, U.S. Senate

             Prelude

             Procession
             Psalm 46:1-5, 10-11
               God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in 
             trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be 
             removed, and though the mountains be carried into the 
             midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be 
             troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling 
             thereof. Selah.
               There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad 
             the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the 
             most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be 
             moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
               Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted 
             among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The 
             LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. 
             Selah.

             Psalm 90:1-2, 4, 10, 12
               Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all 
             generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or 
             ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from 
             everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
               For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday 
             when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
               The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and 
             if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is 
             their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, 
             and we fly away.
               So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our 
             hearts unto wisdom.

             Old Testament reading. Psalm 23
               The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me 
             to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the 
             still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the 
             paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
               Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of 
             death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod 
             and thy staff they comfort me.
               Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine 
             enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth 
             over.
               Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days 
             of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for 
             ever.

             Instrumental Interlude: Amazing Grace

             New Testament reading. John 14:1-3
               Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, 
             believe also in me.
               In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not 
             so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for 
             you.
               And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come 
             again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there 
             ye may be also.

             Homily. Going Home to a Prepared Place.

             Closing Prayer

             Benediction

             Recession

             Revelation 21:1-4
               And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first 
             heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was 
             no more sea.
               And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down 
             from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for 
             her husband.
               And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, 
             the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with 
             them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall 
             be with them, and be their God.
               And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and 
             there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, 
             neither shall there be any more pain: for the former 
             things are passed away.
                                Memorial Services for

             The Honorable Craig Thomas

             United States Senator


                          Saturday, June 9, 2007 -- 3 p.m.

                            First United Methodist Church

                               322 East Second Street

                                   Casper, Wyoming

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                                United States Senator

                                   Craig L. Thomas

             1933-2007
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              God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot 
             change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to 
              know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying 
              one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway 
              to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, 
               not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all 
               things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be 
             reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him 
                             Forever in the next. Amen.

                                                     --Reinhold Niebuhr

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                                     Officiating

                                 Reverend Bill Moore

                             Reverend Margaret Gillikin



                                     Honor Guard

                     U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

                          Diemer True, Words from a Friend



                 Old Rugged Cross, United Methodist Hymnal, page 504

                The Apostles Creed, United Methodist Hymnal, page 88



                    Miss Katelynn Thomas, Grandchildren's Tribute

                U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, a Poem from Men to Match My 
                                      Mountains

              U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Cubin, the Twenty-Third Psalm

              Celebration of Life, Affirmation of Faith, Reverend Bill 
                                        Moore



                                       Prayer

                                  The Lord's Prayer

                  Amazing Grace, United Methodist Hymnal, page 378

                             Benediction--Sending Forth
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                                Honorary Pallbearers

               Peter Thomas    Greg Thomas    Patrick Thomas    Lexie 
                                       Thomas
                     Bill Martin    Lynn Martin    Harry Roberts



                                       Ushers

               Ken Marken  Jeff Bennett  Bill Schilling  Jeff Clark  
                                    Steve Cathey
                    John Scherlin    Sean Boril    Lester Lebsock
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             Beginning at 5 p.m., please join family and friends for a 
                reception at The Casper Petroleum Club, 1301 Wilkins 
                                       Circle.

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             In memory of U.S. Senator Craig Thomas, his family asks 
             that memorial donations be given to the Leukemia & 
             Lymphoma Society or the Special Olympics of Wyoming.
             [The following was part of the Casper, WY, program.]

               Wyoming's U.S. Senator Craig Lyle Thomas passed 
             peacefully June 4, 2007, surrounded by his family. By the 
             age of 74, the senior Senator from Wapiti, Wyoming 
             achieved his life's dream--to make a lasting difference 
             for the State of Wyoming and the people who proudly call 
             it home.
               His was a humble beginning. Born February 17, 1933, he 
             was the son of school teachers in Cody, Wyoming who in the 
             summers operated a small dude business on the edge of 
             Yellowstone National Park. It was there and then that he 
             developed a child's love of special places that would 
             later inspire his parenting of our National Parks.
               During those summers guiding on horseback, he also 
             learned to work hard and to earn one's way in the world. 
             Those who knew him, either closely or observing from a 
             distance, witnessed the same quality of Craig Thomas: a 
             cowboy's tireless work ethic and respect for those around 
             him. He held that ethic throughout his career. Without 
             doubt, his modest start in life shaped his nature as a 
             fiscal conservative and his lifelong dedication to 
             advocate for the average Wyoming person.
               It will surprise no one who knew him politically that 
             Craig was a wrestler, and a good one at that. Following 
             high school in Cody, he attended the University of Wyoming 
             and joined its wrestling team. The University's legendary 
             wrestling coach Everett Lance was an important influence, 
             training Craig's competitive focus with an ethic of how to 
             win with more than simple strength, but with honor and 
             strength of character.
               Academically, Craig studied agriculture at UW and earned 
             a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry, thinking perhaps 
             he might later try his hand in the ranch business. But 
             like most men in the late 1950s, first came military 
             service, and for an athletic man with determination and 
             drive, the Marine Corps was a perfect fit. Trained at 
             Quantico, Craig was stationed in Japan in the later part 
             of that more peaceful decade, rising to the rank of 
             Captain.
               He returned home with a broadened view of the world and 
             the powers that shape it. Agriculture policy and the 
             issues of the West compelled him and he began work for the 
             Wyoming Farm Bureau, the American Farm Bureau in 
             Washington, DC, and later the Wyoming Rural Electric 
             Association. Reflecting his roots in small business, he 
             also bought a small hotel in Torrington, Wyoming which 
             would ground him squarely in the state's tourism policy 
             for years to come.
               It was during these Wyoming years, based in Casper, that 
             he met a young educator of high school children with 
             special needs. Susan Roberts and Craig Thomas found much 
             in common. Raised on a ranch in Barnum, Susan also shared 
             Craig's love of Wyoming, horses, politics and people. 
             Theirs was a remarkable marriage as life partners and each 
             other's best friend.
               Craig's political ambitions took hold with races for the 
             State Treasurer's Office and the Wyoming State House of 
             Representatives. Like the wrestler he was trained to be, 
             Craig tried each of these matches persistently. Coach 
             Lance taught him that each match trains you for the next, 
             and Craig joked often that he had learned those early 
             political lessons the hard way.
               In 1989 came the match of his life. A special election 
             to replace then-U.S. Congressman Dick Cheney for Wyoming's 
             at large House seat. Forty long and hard fought days 
             later, Craig won the race. Elected on a springtime 
             Wednesday and sworn into Congress the following Monday, 
             Craig became a member of the Wyoming Congressional 
             Delegation, serving with his boyhood friend, U.S. Senator 
             Al Simpson, and U.S. Senator Malcolm Wallop. Then in 1994 
             with Wallop's retirement, Craig chose to run for the U.S. 
             Senate, winning that race, then in 2000 and again in 2006. 
             Over that time, U.S. Senator Craig Thomas became one of 
             Wyoming's most popular and beloved public servants.
               While he ran successfully in statewide election after 
             election, he also ran every morning with his wife Susan in 
             the early hours, long before most alarm clocks were set to 
             ring. He arrived eager to work just about the time wake-up 
             buzzers sounded for the rest of the city. Their fitness 
             passion and focus on health helped him look younger than 
             his age, a fact of which he was proud. It would also help 
             him as he fought his disease. His doctors said men of 
             lesser strength would not have been able to battle as well 
             as he did the aggressive cancer in his blood.
               Tough country breeds uncompromising values, tested by 
             experience. The grit of Craig Thomas is legendary. He 
             never backed down from a challenge. On the floor of the 
             Senate or the rodeo arena, he continued to fight and rope, 
             wrestle and win with honor. Those close to him knew that 
             behind his strength was a constant faith that carried him 
             through each brave experience. He was devout, quietly and 
             steadfastly with abiding hope. Craig knew where he came 
             from, knowing exactly the man he was. Craig's Senate 
             colleague and friend, Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi, said on 
             the floor of the Senate, ``Although that last battle of 
             his life was lost, there were so many victories in his 
             life that we will long remember. Craig died as he lived, 
             with his spurs on, fighting for Wyoming to the very end.''
               As Wyoming's senior U.S. Senator, Craig positioned 
             himself on the committees with the greatest legislative 
             importance for Wyoming. In addition to serving on the 
             Energy Committee, he served on the Senate's most powerful 
             panel--the Senate Finance Committee, as well as 
             Agriculture, Indian Affairs, and Ethics. In his work, 
             Wyoming and Wyoming people were central. His efforts in 
             job creation and economic growth are the foundation of his 
             vision to improve the quality of life for a better future 
             for people in communities across the state.
               His distinguished legislative record on issues as 
             diverse as public land management, agriculture, fiscal 
             responsibility and rural health care have made a 
             difference in the lives of Wyoming people. He valued 
             resources--the energy resources with which Wyoming is 
             blessed as well as the scenic resources that help create 
             special places and tourism.
               From his position on the highly coveted chairmanship of 
             the Senate Energy Committee's National Park Subcommittee, 
             Craig Thomas worked tirelessly on National Park policy . . 
             . to help the parks with infrastructure--from management 
             reforms to landmark improvements in concessionaire policy 
             to roads to visitors centers. National visitors and state 
             residents have benefitted dramatically from Craig's work 
             for quality national parks. His efforts resulted in many 
             national recognitions and awards.
               The character of Craig Thomas as a public servant was 
             based on a Marine's sense of responsibility to the people 
             who elected him. Early on in his career Craig . . . 
             [developed] the profound accountability he felt for the 
             people who elected him his bond. He talked often about the 
             obligations each of us has to achieve something better 
             through hard work and leadership. He and Susan would say 
             they work in Washington, but they live in Wyoming. He 
             traveled persistently to Wyoming each weekend so that he 
             would know what Wyoming people needed and wanted. Craig 
             Thomas worked, fought and led every day within this ethic: 
             that it was an honor to serve Wyoming and Wyoming people.
               Outside of his duties as a Legislator, Congressman and 
             Senator, Craig was active in the community in other 
             important ways. He involved himself in volunteer efforts 
             that included the Special Olympics of Wyoming, the State 
             Developmental Disabilities Council, the Susan G. Komen 
             Breast Cancer Foundation on which he and his wife Susan 
             shared roles as Honorary Chairmen. He helped countless 
             organization[s] in raising money for locally and state 
             based causes. And from 4-H to Girls State, rodeo clubs to 
             the spelling bee teams, vo-tech to valedictorian, Craig 
             gave his time, kindness and inspiration to thousands of 
             Wyoming school kids.
               While tough and tested as an individual, there was 
             another side, a lighter one that distinguished him. What 
             many will tell you about Craig Thomas is that he loved to 
             laugh and loved to collect jokes, both good and bad. He 
             flashed a mischievous smile each time he told one and he 
             relished in the reaction he would raise. He laughed with 
             his whole body, broad shoulders and bright eyes.
               His life was blessed with four children and later, with 
             their growing families, nine grandchildren. His sons, 
             Peter, Patrick, Greg, and daughter, Lexie, shared their 
             father with an entire state and nation. They wish to thank 
             the people of Wyoming and this great country for the love 
             and support given so generously during their father's 
             illness and passing. Each of Craig's children carries the 
             hope that his legacy will live on, in the ways that their 
             father wanted, both small and large, for generations to 
             come.
               Many dignitaries from far and wide mourn his passing. 
             President of the United States George W. Bush called Craig 
             ``a man of character and integrity known for his devotion 
             to the values he shared with the people of Wyoming.'' But 
             in the halls of the U.S. Capitol, there are others, many 
             others who share a common pain of his loss. Ask the 
             elevator operators, the cashiers, the janitors and they, 
             like most, would say what a wonderful person Craig Thomas 
             was. His staff and the people who have had the privilege 
             to work for him over the years will tell all you of his 
             kindness and the open family character that is the nature 
             of his office. Each will say what a great, good guy Craig 
             Thomas was. Because no matter who you were Craig took time 
             each day, every day, to talk to you, to say hello and not 
             to simply pass by. In Wyoming, people in each town, each 
             county, feel a loss because Craig gave so much of himself. 
             He gave his time, his passion, his leadership and his 
             tireless energy to make Wyoming a better place.
               Craig Thomas represented Wyoming with honor and dignity. 
             Admired by those who knew him, he gives us a legacy of 
             unmatched legislative accomplishments--a brilliant example 
             of what one can do with a life lived with determination, 
             strength of character and vision. How Craig Thomas lived 
             was as a success, achieving unassumingly what he set out 
             to do: to make a difference for the state and the people 
             he loved. Many people might hope to live as they dream. 
             Craig did. He was an honorable man who loved his wife 
             Susan dearly, gave tirelessly to his state and country and 
             left his beloved Wyoming a better place. He leaves behind 
             a family of thousands and the unparalleled legacy of a 
             humble, true western hero.



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