[Senate Document 111-21]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
TRIBUTES TO HON. EVAN BAYH
Evan Bayh
U.S. SENATOR FROM INDIANA
TRIBUTES
IN THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES
Evan Bayh
Tributes
Delivered in Congress
Evan Bayh
United States Senator
1999-2011
a
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Compiled under the direction
of the
Joint Committee on Printing
CONTENTS
Biography.............................................
v
Farewell to the Senate................................
vii
Proceedings in the Senate:
Tributes by Senators:
Akaka, Daniel K., of Hawaii....................
12
Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee.................
3
Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota..................
7
Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut...........
11
Durbin, Richard, of Illinois...................
11
Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming...................
9
Harkin, Tom, of Iowa...........................
14
Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
13
Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana................
7
Levin, Carl, of Michigan.......................
8
Murkowski, Lisa, of Alaska.....................
18
Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
5
Reid, Harry, of Nevada.........................
5, 6
Snowe, Olympia J., of Maine....................
16
Warner, Mark R., of Virginia...................
5
BIOGRAPHY
U.S. Senator Evan Bayh is focused on providing hard-
working Hoosier families with the tools and opportunities
they need to succeed today. From his work to help
stimulate the economy by creating jobs and growing small
businesses to his fight to keep a college education within
the reach of all Hoosiers, Senator Bayh continues to break
through the partisan gridlock of Washington to help more
Hoosiers make a better life for themselves and their
children. His commitment to making real progress instead
of participating in political showdowns has set Senator
Bayh apart as a leader on a wide range of important issues
facing the Nation.
Elected to his second term in November 2004, Senator
Bayh has proven he is ``more concerned with reflecting
what he believes is right for Indiana citizens than with
playing to the Beltway crowd,'' says the Indianapolis
Star. His signature legislative efforts are aimed at
strengthening our national security, creating more jobs
through the growth of small businesses, protecting
American workers from unfair trade practices, encouraging
responsible fatherhood, and providing tax-relief for
families struggling with the rising costs of college,
retirement, and the long-term care of a loved one. Senator
Bayh has taken the lead in providing our troops with the
armored vehicles they need and has visited Iraq and
Afghanistan several times for a firsthand look at the
progress on the ground. He has also led the fight to cut
through the mire of bureaucracy to ensure our Nation's
wounded soldiers receive the high quality care they need
and deserve.
Evan Bayh served on six Senate Committees: Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs, for which he was the chairman
of the Subcommittee on International Trade and Finance;
Armed Services, for which he was the chairman on Readiness
and Management Support; Energy and Natural Resources; the
Select Committee on Intelligence; Small Business and
Entrepreneurship; and the Special Committee on Aging.
While some have been content to let partisanship
continue to threaten progress on the Nation's most
pressing issues, Evan Bayh has continued to look for ways
to build consensus and do what's right for Americans. In
January 2005, he spearheaded the creation of the Third
Way, an organization focused on commonsense legislative
solutions on issues that would otherwise remain bogged
down in political turf wars. Senator Bayh also served for
more than 4 years as chairman of the Democratic Leadership
Council, which offers support to elected officials and
community leaders who take a progressive approach to the
issues facing the country.
Before his election to the Senate, Evan Bayh was elected
in 1988 to the first of two terms as Governor of Indiana,
where he established the State as one of the strongest,
most financially secure economies in the Nation. ``Mr.
Bayh's record,'' reported the Wall Street Journal in 1992,
``is one of a genuinely fiscally conservative Democrat.''
Stressing fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, job
creation, and lean government, Bayh's list of achievements
include 8 years without raising taxes; the greatest single
tax cut and largest budget surplus in State history;
national leadership in moving people from welfare to work;
more dollars for schools every year; high academic
standards and new college opportunities for all, including
low-income students; more than 350,000 new jobs; tougher
laws on crime; and improved environmental quality.
Evan Bayh was born in Shirkieville, IN. He graduated
with honors in business economics from Indiana University
in 1978, and received his law degree from the University
of Virginia in 1981. After clerking for a Federal court
judge and entering private law practice in Indianapolis,
he was elected Indiana's secretary of state in 1986, the
first of his five statewide victories.
Senator Bayh counts as his most important role and
greatest responsibility a position he assumed in November
1995: proud father of twin sons Beau and Nick--a joy he
shares daily with his wife, Susan.
Farewell to the Senate
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, if I could be permitted a few
moments of personal privilege before I begin my formal
remarks, there are so many people to whom I need to
express my heartfelt gratitude today, starting with, of
course, my wonderful wife Susan. I know we are not
supposed to recognize people in the gallery, but I am
going to break the rules for one of the first times here
to thank my wife. We have been married for 25 wonderful
years, and frankly, Mr. President, I wouldn't have been
elected dogcatcher without Susan's love and support.
I often remember a story during my first campaign where
I met an elderly woman who took my hand, looked up into my
eyes, and said, ``Young man, I am going to vote for you.''
I was curious and asked her why.
She said, with a twinkle in her eye, ``Well, I have met
your wife. It seems to me you did all right with the most
important decision you will ever make. I will trust you
with all the other ones too.''
It is not uncommon in our State, as Senator Lugar could
attest, that people say they really vote for Susan's
husband.
Darling, I can't thank you enough.
She was a wonderful First Lady, is a phenomenal mother,
and is my partner for life.
Next, I would like to express my gratitude to my
parents. Even though they were very busy, I never doubted
for a moment that I was the most important thing in their
lives. There is no question that my devotion to public
service stems from their commitment--something, Mr.
President, I think you can relate to as well. I have
always admired my father's selfless commitment to helping
our State and Nation. I am proud to follow in his
footsteps here in the Senate and to share his name. My
mother taught me that even from the depths of adversity
can come hope. She was diagnosed with cancer at age 38,
passed from us at age 46--an age I now recognize to be
much too young. I miss her, but I suspect, as I do often
in my life, that she is watching from on high today.
Next, to my wonderful sons, Nick and Beau. They came
into our lives when I was still Governor and were barely 3
when I was sworn in to the Senate. They are the joys of my
life. I hope that one day they will draw inspiration, as I
did, from their upbringing in public service and will
choose to devote themselves in some way to making our
country and State better places. I am so proud of you, my
sons.
Next, to my devoted staff and to the staff who serves us
here in the Senate. My personal staff has had the
thankless task for 12 years of making me look better than
I deserve, and in that, they have performed heroic
service. They have never let me down. To the extent I have
accomplished anything on behalf of the public, it is
thanks to their tireless efforts and devotion. Each could
have worked fewer hours and made more money doing
something else, but they chose public service. It has been
an honor to work with you. I will miss each of you and can
only hope we will remain in touch throughout the years. No
one has been privileged to have better support than I
have.
To the men and women who work in the Senate and make it
possible for us to do our jobs, I wish to express my
heartfelt gratitude. You have always been unfailingly
courteous and professional. The public is fortunate to
have the benefits of your devotion. On behalf of a
grateful Nation and a thankful Senator, let me express my
appreciation.
Next, to my colleagues. More about each of us later, but
let me simply say it has been my privilege, the privilege
of my lifetime, to get to know each of you. There is not
one of you who is not exceptional in some way or about
whom I do not have a fond recollection. Each of you
occupies a special place in my heart.
I am especially fortunate to have served my career in
the Senate with Senator Richard Lugar. I have often
thought Congress would function better if all Members
could have the kind of relationship we have been blessed
to enjoy. He has been unfailingly thoughtful and
supportive. Even though we occasionally have differed on
specific issues, we have never differed on our commitment
to the people of our State or to the strength of our
friendship. Dick, thanks to you and Char for so much. You
are the definition of a statesman.
Finally, to the wonderful people of Indiana, for whom I
have been privileged to work for almost my entire adult
life. Hoosiers are hard working, patriotic, devout, and
full of common sense. We are Middle America and embrace
middle-class values. The more of Indiana we can have in
Washington, frankly, the better Washington will be.
To my fellow Hoosiers, let me say that while my time in
the Senate is drawing to a close, my love for you and
devotion to our State will remain everlasting.
As I begin my final formal remarks on this floor, my
mind goes back to my first speech as a U.S. Senator. It
was an unusual beginning. I was the 94th Senator to
deliver remarks in the first impeachment trial of a
President since 1868. The session was closed to the
public; emotions ran high; partisan divisions were deep.
It was a constitutional crisis, and the eyes of the Nation
and the world looked to the Senate.
My first day as Senator, I was sworn in as a juror in
that trial. There were no rules. All 100 of us gathered in
the Old Senate Chamber. The debate was hot, but we
listened to each other. We all knew that the fate of the
Nation and the judgment of history--things far more
important than party loyalty or ideological purity--were
in our hands. Consensus was elusive. Finally, we appointed
Ted Kennedy--John Kerry's esteemed colleague--a Liberal
Democrat, and Phil Gramm, a Conservative Republican, to
hammer out a compromise. They did. Their proposal was
adopted unanimously.
The trial of our Chief Magistrate, even in the midst of
a political crucible, was conducted in accordance with the
highest principles of due process and the rule of law. The
constitutional balance of powers was preserved and the
Presidency saved. The Senate rose above the passions of
the moment and did its duty.
Three years later, the Senate was once more summoned to
respond in a moment of crisis. The country had been
attacked and thousands killed in an act of suicidal
terror. This building had been targeted for destruction
and death, and that would have occurred but for the
uncommon heroism of ordinary citizens. I was told not to
return to my home for fear assassins might be lying in
wait. So I picked up my sons from their school, and we
spent the night with a neighbor.
Two days later, those Senators who could make it back to
Washington gathered in the Senate Dining Room. There were
no Democrats or Republicans there, just Americans. Without
exception, we resolved to defend the Nation and to bring
to justice the perpetrators of that horrible crime. The
feeling of unity and common purpose was palpable.
Fast forward another 7 years. In October 2008, I was
summoned, along with others, late at night to a meeting
just off this floor. The financial panic that had been
gathering force for several months had attained critical
mass.
The Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson, spoke
first. He turned to the new head of the Federal Reserve,
Ben Bernanke, and said, ``Ben, give the Senators a status
report.''
Bernanke, in his low-key, professorial manner, said:
The global economy is in a free fall. Within 48 to 72
hours, we will experience an economic collapse that could
rival the Great Depression. It will take millions of jobs
and thousands of businesses with it. Companies with which
all of you are familiar will fail. Trillions of dollars in
savings will be wiped out.
There was silence. We looked at each other, Democrats
and Republicans, and asked only one question: What can be
done?
The actions that emanated from that evening helped to
avoid an economic catastrophe. The jobs of millions of
people were saved, businesses endured. But the measures
required were unpopular. My calls were running 15,000 to
20,000 opposed and only about 100 to 200 in favor of
acting. The House initially voted down the measures. The
economy teetered on the edge of the precipice, but
Senators did their duty. Some sacrificed their careers
that evening. The economy was saved. I recount these
moments of my tenure to remind us of what this body is
capable of at its best. When the chips are down and the
stakes are high, Senators, regardless of party, regardless
of ideology, regardless of personal cost, do their duty
and selflessly serve the Nation we love.
On my office wall hangs a famous print--the Senate in
1850. There is Henry Clay; there is Daniel Webster, Thomas
Hart Benton, John C. Calhoun, William Seward, Stephen
Douglas, James Mason, and Sam Houston. Giants walked the
Senate in those days. My colleagues, they still do.
In ``Profiles in Courage,'' John Kennedy tells the
stories of eight U.S. Senators whose actions of
selflessness and fortitude rescued the Republic in times
of trial. Serving in this body today are men and women
capable of equal patriotism if given a chance--new
profiles in courage waiting to be written. It shouldn't
take a constitutional crisis, a terrorist attack, or a
financial calamity to summon from each of us and from this
body collectively the greatness of which we are capable,
nor can America afford to wait.
We are surrounded today by gathering challenges that, if
unaddressed, will threaten our Republic--our growing debt
and deficits, our unsustainable energy dependence,
increasing global economic competition, asymmetric
national security challenges, an aging population, and
much more. Each of these challenges is difficult, each
complex. The solutions will not be universally popular,
but all can be surmounted, and I am confident they will be
with the right leadership from us and the right ideas. I
am confident because I know our history and I know our
people. I know all of the challenges we have overcome--the
wars, the economic hardships, the social turmoil. I know
the character of the American people--our resiliency, our
innate goodness, and our courage--and I know we can
succeed. But it will not be easy, and it will not happen
by itself. It is up to us.
America is an exceptional Nation because each generation
has been willing to make the difficult decisions and, yes,
the occasional sacrifices required by their times. America
is a great Nation not because it is preordained but
because our forebears, both here in the Senate and across
the Nation, made it so. For 10 generations, the American
people have been dedicated to the self-evident truth that
all of us are created equal and have been endowed by our
Creator with inalienable rights.
From the beginning, it is freedom that has been the
touchstone of our democracy--freedom not from the
benevolence of a king, not by the forbearance of the
majority, not by the magnanimity of the State, but from
the hand of Almighty God; the freedom to enjoy the fruits
of our labors, the freedom to speak our minds and worship
God as we see fit, the freedom to associate with those of
our own choosing and to select those who would govern us.
From the hillsides of ancient Athens to the fields of
Runnymede, to the village greens of Lexington and Concord,
to the Halls of this great Senate, it has always been the
same: The innate human longing for independence now finds
its truest expression in the American experiment. We are
the guardians of that dream.
Each generation of Americans has been called to renew
our commitment to that ideal, often in blood, always with
sacrifice. Now is our time. Now is the time for us to keep
faith with those who have come before and to do right by
those who will follow, to lift high the cause of freedom
in all of its manifestations within its surest sanctuary--
this U.S. Senate.
All of this was put into perspective for me one day on a
visit to Walter Reed Army Hospital. I was visiting wounded
soldiers. There was a young sergeant from Georgia. He had
been married 3 weeks before deploying to Iraq. He was
missing his left arm and both legs. His wife sat by his
side. A look of dignified calm was upon his face. I asked
if he was receiving the care he needed. Yes, he said, he
was. I asked if there was anything I could do. No. No,
there was not. Anything he needed? No.
I had never felt so helpless or so insignificant. I left
his room and made my way to the hospital front door and
walked outside into the bright sunshine, sat upon the
curb, and cried.
All I could think of was what can I do--what can I do to
be worthy of him? What can each of us do? Look at what he
sacrificed for America. What are we prepared to give? Is
it too much to think that while soldiers are sacrificing
limbs on our behalf, that we can look across the aisle and
see not enemies but friends, not adversaries but fellow
citizens?
With service men and women laying down their lives, can
we not lay down our partisanship and rancor but for
awhile? Can we not remember we are but ``one nation under
God,'' with a common heritage and common destiny? Let us
no longer be divided into red States and blue States but
be united once more into 50 red, white, and blue States.
As the civil rights leader once reminded us: ``We may have
arrived on these shores in different ships, but we are all
in the same boat now.''
My friends, the time has come for the sons and daughters
of Lincoln and the heirs of Jefferson and Jackson to no
longer wage war upon each other but to instead renew the
struggle against the ancient enemies of man: ignorance,
poverty, and disease. That is why we are here. That is
why. If I have been able to contribute even a little to
reconciliation among us, then I have done my duty.
My prayer is that in the finest traditions of this
Senate--both in my time and my father's time and in days
before--we may once again serve to resolve our
differences, meet the challenges that await us, and in so
doing forge an American future that is worthy of our great
past. So that when our children's children write the
history of our time, they may truly say of us: Here were
Americans and Senators worthy of the name.
I thank you.
I yield the floor.
(Applause, Senators rising.)
?
TRIBUTES
TO
EVAN BAYH
Proceedings in the Senate
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, 16 Senators will retire
this year. There is a pretty big turnover in this body,
but that is a lot of Senators at once. We are losing an
enormous amount of talent, but, of course, we are gaining
a lot of talent with the new Senators.
I wish to show my respect for those who have served,
which I will do in a summary fashion because we are
talking about 16 individuals with very complex and
distinguished backgrounds.
One might ask, what are the characteristics of a
Senator? There are a lot of different answers to that,
depending on your background and attitude toward politics
and government. First, I have always thought that one
characteristic of almost every Member of the Senate is
that he or she probably was a first grader sitting in the
front row, hand in the air waiting to be recognized. This
is an eager bunch or you would not have gotten here.
Second, it is a group of risk takers. Most people who
end up in the Senate get here because a lot of other
people who wanted to be Senators were standing around
waiting for the right time to run. A lot of people who
were elected to the Senate seemed to have no chance of
winning at the time they decided to run, but the voters
decided differently, and here they are.
Third, we are almost all professional and congenial.
That is a big help. It is almost a requirement in an
organization of 100 individuals who spend almost all their
time with one another, who serve in a body that operates
by unanimous consent, when just one Senator can bring the
whole place to a halt, and whose job basically is to argue
about some of the most difficult issues that face the
American people. So it helps that almost every Member of
the Senate is an especially congenial person.
Back in Tennessee, people often say to me it must be
rough being in that job. They are awfully mean up there.
The truth is, I don't know of a more congenial group than
the Members of the Senate. We begin the day in the gym.
The next thing you know we are at a Prayer Breakfast, and
then we are at a committee hearing. Then we are on the
floor voting, and then we have lunch. It goes through the
day until 7 or 8 o'clock, or sometimes later. We live
together and we get along very well. We know and respect
each other.
Not long ago, the Presiding Officer (Mr. Udall of New
Mexico) and I were having dinner together with our wives.
We were lamenting the loss of families who know one
another, the way it happened when his father was serving
in Congress and when I first came to the Senate to work
for Senator Baker. And that's true. We've lost some of
that. Still, there is an enormous amount of affection and
good will here. You don't always get to be very close
friends in this job, but you get to be very good
acquaintances, and you learn to respect people for their
strengths.
Senator Domenici said, when he left, that we don't do a
very good job of saying goodbye here. That is true. As one
part of saying goodbye, I wish to say at least one good
thing about each one of the 16 retiring Senators. Much
more could be said about each, of course. Mostly, I am
going in alphabetical order. ...
Senator Evan Bayh is one of four Governors leaving the
Senate. I am one who thinks the more Governors, the
better. That is a somewhat parochial attitude on my part.
But Governors have gotten results and are used to working
across party lines. Governor Bayh served two terms as a
Senator. Still young, he obviously has a long career ahead
of him. Whatever direction he chooses to go in, what I
will remember most about Evan Bayh is the civility and
bipartisanship he has shown on numerous occasions--and his
courtesy to me as an individual Senator. ...
It has been my privilege to serve with these 16
Senators. We thank them for their service to our country.
They have had a chance to serve in what we regard as the
world's greatest deliberative body; it is a special
institution. We will miss their leadership, and we hope
they will stay in touch with us because they are not just
retiring Senators, they are all our friends.
I yield the floor.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that
there be printed as a Senate document a compilation of
materials from the Congressional Record in tribute to
retiring Members of the 111th Congress, and that Members
have until Thursday, December 16, to submit such tributes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to
our colleagues who are departing the Senate after
distinguished service on behalf of their States and on
behalf of the Nation. I have been privileged to work with
these individuals, to learn from them, to collaborate and
cooperate with them, and to, in some small way, help them
do what they have done so well--represent their States
with fidelity, with great effort, and to move the agenda
of the Nation forward.
Evan Bayh is a colleague and a friend. We served
together on the Banking Committee and the Armed Services
Committee. His lovely wife Susan and their two children
have contributed extraordinarily to Indiana when Evan Bayh
served as Governor, and then as Senator serving the
Nation.
I can recall very early on in the operations in Iraq,
when it became clear to Senator Bayh that unless we
armored our humvee vehicles, thousands of soldiers would
be at risk, and also marines, sailors, and airmen. He
fought tenaciously to ensure, against initial opposition,
that we were able to begin to armor those vehicles, begin
to develop new generations of armored vehicles to protect
our soldiers. So, quite literally, his efforts saved the
lives of thousands of young Americans. For that alone, we
owe him a huge debt of gratitude.
In every endeavor, from issues of children's health to
education policy, he brought a thoughtful, measured, and
brilliant mind to bear that is hard to match. I wish him
the very best. ...
To all of these colleagues and their families, my
deepest appreciation and my profoundest respect.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise again to recognize the
service of another great Federal employee. This is a
tradition that was started by our friend and former
colleague, Senator Kaufman, and I am proud to carry on
that tradition. But I want to first say that I appreciate
the remarks of the Presiding Officer (Mr. Reed) about our
colleagues who are leaving this body, and I share his
great respect for not only Senator Kaufman but all of the
colleagues who are leaving the body at the end of this
Congress. ...
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Mr. REID. ... Madam President, I first met Evan Bayh
when the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) played for
the National Championship at Indianapolis. But one of the
most remarkable speeches I have ever witnessed was in the
Capitol Rotunda, when we were there meeting the new
Senators. It was the first speech I know of that Senator
Evan Bayh gave in the Capitol complex. He spoke without a
note. It was a speech laying out his philosophy of
government, and it was truly spellbinding. I could not
imagine the talent he had and I have witnessed since that
time.
The State of Indiana is losing a superb Senator in Evan
Bayh. Senator Bayh announced his retirement earlier this
year and is wrapping up his second term, where he has been
a consistent fighter for the Hoosier State.
That fight, however, did not begin when he was first
elected to the Senate. Not long after earning degrees from
Indiana University and the University of Virginia, he was
elected Indiana's secretary of state--the first of five
statewide elections he would win.
He served the people of Indiana for 8 years as Governor
and led the State to its largest budget surplus ever,
while creating thousands and thousands of jobs. He also
created the 21st Century Scholars Program that other
States soon replicated, to ensure that all Hoosiers--rich,
poor, Black, White--would receive a quality education.
He was later elected to the Senate, where he has
admirably put partisan politics aside and fought for the
best interests of Indianans. He has been a champion for
education, for energy, and for fiscal responsibility. He
has supported our troops fervently. Senator Bayh was not
afraid to call out leaders when he felt an injustice was
being done, and he spoke up often for our men and women
overseas when necessary.
Of course, being a public servant was nothing new to
him. His wonderful dad, Birch, held this very same Senate
seat and set a fine example for his son.
Senator Bayh has achieved an incredible amount for the
people of Indiana in his relatively short career, and he
is not done yet. I know he will continue to work to
improve the lives of the people of Indiana and all
Americans.
Senator Bayh is relinquishing the title of Senator, but
the role he cherishes more than anything is that of
father. His twin teenage boys, Beau and Nick, are the joy
of his life, and I am confident they are very proud of
their father. I wish Susan, Evan, and the boys the very
best in all their endeavors.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, this Senate is not going to
be the same place without the Senator from Indiana. In
fact, it will be a lesser place because he has been such
an outstanding Senator. I wish to let him know he will be
very much missed. He contributed enormously, in his very
quiet and dignified but powerful way, to many important
issues, both domestic and international. We look forward
to hearing a lot more from Governor Bayh and Senator Bayh
in the years to come.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to honor my
colleague from Indiana, Senator Evan Bayh, who is retiring
from the Senate. Senator Bayh has been a strong voice for
the people of Indiana, both in two terms as their Governor
and 12 years as their Senator. He has brought a keen
intellect and a commonsense perspective to the Senate that
should make his fellow Hoosiers proud. Building on the
Senate traditions he learned from his father, he has
worked hard to build consensus across party lines to
strengthen our country.
It is clear to me that Senator Bayh never forgets his
other job in life. As a father of twin boys, he often
reminds his colleagues to consider the impact of our
decisions on our children and the following generations.
That is why I admire Senator Bayh's deeply held belief
in fiscal responsibility. Senator Bayh played a key role
in helping push for a fiscal commission to address our
Nation's debt. He also urged that the long-term debt
increase we passed earlier this year include a commitment
to dealing with our debt.
With his experience on the Senate Select Committee on
Intelligence and the Senate Armed Services Committee,
Senator Bayh has been a respected voice on national
security issues. He has used that position to make sure
our troops are properly equipped and supplied while on
duty and to reduce the financial burden on their families.
He has also been a strong supporter for efforts to keep
nuclear weapons out of the hands of dangerous states and
terrorist groups.
Senator Bayh also understands the importance of
education as a source of opportunity to our people and a
key investment in the ongoing prosperity of our country.
As Governor of Indiana, Senator Bayh created the 21st
Century Scholars Program, which offers a path to higher
education at Indiana's State universities for at-risk
students. Senator Bayh continued his strong support of
education in the Senate, working to make college more
affordable through new tax credits for qualified tuition
expenses, higher student aid grants, and more affordable
student loans.
Senator Bayh has served the people of the State of
Indiana with integrity. I will miss having him as a
colleague in the Senate, but I also know that his wife
Susan and his sons, Beau and Nick, will be excited to have
him back home in Indiana. I wish him success in whatever
he chooses to do in the next chapter of his life.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I want to take a few moments
today to congratulate Senator Bayh on a productive two
terms in this body, and thank him for his service, in
particular as a member of the Armed Services Committee and
on issues of importance to both our States.
As chairman of the Armed Services Committee, I have seen
first hand the diligence Senator Bayh brought to his work
on national security. He has been active on one of the
greatest threats to our security, the proliferation of
nuclear weapons and materials, and has sought to support
and extend the work of his Indiana colleague, Senator
Lugar. He has been equally effective in working, on a
bipartisan basis, to pass legislation seeking to hold the
Government of Iran accountable for its egregious human
rights abuses. He has been active in helping the committee
carry out its oversight function, bringing his thoughtful
approach to his role as chairman of our Subcommittee on
Readiness and Management Support over the last 2 years.
The committee, the Senate, and the American people have
greatly benefited from Senator Bayh's efforts in these
areas.
Senator Bayh represents a State that is part of
America's industrial heartland, and he has energetically
sought to ensure that we pursue policies that do not
damage the industrial economy. I would mention two such
efforts in particular.
In 2007, Senator Bayh, along with me and other members
of the Auto Caucus, worked to ensure that negotiations on
a free trade agreement with South Korea addressed the
unfair and unbalanced way in which automotive imports are
treated in South Korea. Barriers to entry make the South
Korean market essentially closed to U.S.-made vehicles,
while Korean automakers have found an open lucrative
market in the United States. He, like I and many others,
is deeply concerned about the impact of any potential
trade agreement on the auto industry, and I have been
privileged to stand with him on this issue.
Senator Bayh also has been a leader in fighting against
intellectual property theft by China and other nations.
Manufacturers in both our States have been harmed by the
ability of foreign companies to copy products and
reproduce them in violation of international standards,
and by the inability or unwillingness of other nations to
combat such piracy. Along with Senator Voinovich and a
dozen other cosponsors, Senator Bayh in 2007 introduced
the Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Act. Although
it did not pass, this legislation would have been an
important safeguard protecting American companies from
intellectual piracy.
Whether the issue was defense of American companies'
rights or defense of our Nation, Senator Evan Bayh has
been a thoughtful, balanced, and capable Member of the
U.S. Senate. The people of Indiana have gained much from
his service. I will miss him as a colleague and a friend,
and I wish him and his family the best of luck as he seeks
to continue to serve his State and Nation.
Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, soon the current session of
Congress will be gaveled to a close. When that happens, it
will also bring to a close the Senate careers of several
of our colleagues. I know we will miss them and their
spirited participation in our deliberations both in
committee and on the floor.
I have always said that every Member who comes to the
Senate has something to teach us--a message that only they
could bring. Evan Bayh, who will be retiring at the end of
this session is such an individual. I will always remember
him as the young Governor who was able to serve in the
Senate without losing sight of his ideals and principles
both as a Hoosier and a devoted and loving father.
Evan's career in politics began after he had clerked for
a judge and practiced law for awhile. An opportunity
presented itself for him to run for office, and he did,
winning an election that made him the secretary of state
at the age of 30. In just 2 years he then became the
youngest Governor in the Nation. He served in that
capacity for 8 years, during which he made a strong
reputation for himself as someone who was able to get
things done.
Then, when term limits prohibited his run for
reelection, he set his sights on a Senate seat and again
found success. He ran a good campaign, took his case to
the people, and they liked what they heard. They also knew
him and what he stood for from his previous service to the
State. They knew they could send him to Washington to the
Senate, and he would champion what they believed in and
fight for what was needed during his service there.
During his Senate career, you could always find him in
the political center looking for a compromise agreement
that would benefit everyone involved. I have always
thought he would agree that it is better to get half of
the loaf rather than none at all, especially when the
available half was the part that was needed the most.
We also agreed on something else. When a Democratic win
at the polls helped them to obtain control of the Senate,
Bayh joined a breakfast group of Senators that was
designed to get Republicans and Democrats more involved in
a regular dialogue. He understood that by getting both
groups to talk more and to get to know each other better
in a context that was separate from our legislative
duties, the Senate would be more productive and it would
be easier to create and promote compromises between the
two parties.
Now that Evan's Senate career has come to a close, he
will be able to do something he has always looked forward
to--spend more time with his family.
In the end, I think that is one of the things that Evan
will always be known for--his great love of his own family
and his understanding of the great love all of his
constituents have for theirs. He believes everyone
deserves their shot at the American dream, no matter their
age, and the best way to do that is to be careful and
cautious in our approach to any sweeping legislation and
to ensure that we do everything we can so our children and
grandchildren will have the same chance we have had to
reach their goals and live their dreams.
Diana joins me in sending our best wishes for a happy
and healthy retirement to Evan and his wife Susan. We wish
them the best. I don't know what Evan has planned for the
future, but one thing I feel certain of--we haven't heard
the last from him. Good luck in all your future endeavors
and in whatever you decide to do. Keep in touch.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that
the order for the printing of tributes be modified to
provide that Members have until sine die of the 111th
Congress, 2d session, to submit tributes and that the
order for printing remain in effect.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to
a colleague and friend of mine--Senator Evan Bayh--who
will be retiring from the U.S. Senate when the 112th
Congress convenes in January. I would like to take this
moment to thank Evan for his service, and wish him, his
wife Susan, and their twin boys Beau and Nick, the very
best as they embark on the next chapter in their lives.
Evan comes from a family tradition deeply rooted in
public service and committed to improving the lives of our
fellow citizens. Our fathers, Birch Bayh and Tom Dodd,
served together in the U.S. Senate, and instilled in both
of us the desire to serve as we grew older.
Evan has dedicated the better part of his adult life to
serving the people of Indiana. He began his career in
public service when he was elected Indiana's secretary of
state in 1986. He then served as Governor of Indiana for
two terms starting in 1988. As Governor he focused on
fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, job creation, and lean
government. In 1998, Hoosiers once again demonstrated
their faith in Evan Bayh by electing him to the U.S.
Senate.
Throughout his career in public service, Evan has been
particularly vocal on issues related to our national
security, economic competitiveness, and job creation. He
has demonstrated his willingness to work hard, a fact
underscored by his membership on six Senate committees--
Aging, Armed Services, Banking, Energy and Natural
Resources, Intelligence, and Small Business. He has
developed a broad range of subject matter expertise, and
has time and again demonstrated his willingness to reach
across the aisle to get things done for the people of
Indiana.
This Congress, as chairman of the Senate Banking
Committee, I had the opportunity to work with Evan on
several vital issues, such as his contributions to the
Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure
(Credit CARD) Act and Wall Street reform.
When Evan leaves the Senate in just a few short weeks, I
believe he will be remembered as a public servant who was
devoted first and foremost to advancing the interests of
Hoosiers, and who was willing to work across the aisle
whenever he saw an opportunity to do the right thing for
our Nation.
Once again, I would like to thank Evan for his years of
service, and wish him well as he leaves the Senate. It has
been a pleasure working with him over the years, and I
firmly believe that this body will not be the same without
him.
Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to bid farewell
to a number of our friends and colleagues who are ending
their service in the Senate. Their contributions are too
numerous to mention, therefore I would like to take just a
few minutes to highlight some of the memories of the
Senators I came to know personally.
Some of the departing Senators I have served with for
decades. Others were here for only part of a term. All of
them worked hard for their constituents and our country.
...
Senator Evan Bayh served with me on the Committees on
Armed Services and on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
He showed his commitment to our national security when he
took over the Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee at the
beginning of this Congress. He was a strong moderate voice
for the people of Indiana. ...
In closing, the end of this Congress is bittersweet,
with so many talented and dedicated public servants
leaving this institution. All of them made a lasting
impact on the Senate and on our country. Mahalo nui loa,
thank you, for all your work.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to offer some
remarks on the departure of my friend, the junior Senator
from Indiana. Senator Evan Bayh has served the good people
of his State for two full terms and will be leaving the
Senate at the end of this session. He will most certainly
be missed.
Senator Bayh was born in Shirkieville, IN, in 1955. He
is, of course, the son of the distinguished Senator Birch
Bayh, who served in this Chamber for 18 years. Evan
attended college at Indiana University, where he graduated
with honors. He received his law degree from the
University of Virginia. After graduating from law school
and serving a year as a clerk to a Federal judge, Evan
returned to Indiana to go into private law practice.
Senator Bayh's career in public service began in 1986,
when he was elected to serve as Indiana's secretary of
state. He held that position for 2 years before he was
elected Governor of Indiana in 1988.
As Governor, Senator Bayh earned a reputation as a
fiscal conservative and a voice of moderation. He was able
to work with members of both parties to achieve the best
results for the people of Indiana. During his tenure,
taxes in Indiana remained low, while the State enjoyed
multiple budget surpluses. He also had great successes in
areas such as education, crime, and job creation. Indeed,
he was a very effective Governor throughout his two terms
in office.
Two years after completing his second term, Evan was
elected to serve in the same Senate seat held by his
father. And he brought with him the reputation and skills
that had made him such a successful Governor.
As Indiana's Senator, Senator Bayh has demonstrated that
one can be a proud member of their party and still find
ways to work with the other side. No one can doubt that
Evan is a Democrat. He comes from a family of Democrats,
and I think his credentials as a supporter of his party's
agenda are beyond dispute. However, he has often been
looked to as a dealmaker here in the Senate. Senator Bayh
has demonstrated sound judgment and strong leadership
throughout his career in public service. That, coupled
with his willingness to reach across the aisle and find
common ground, has made his one of the most respected
voices in the U.S. Senate.
Earlier this year, Senator Bayh announced his
retirement. As he explained his decision not to run for
reelection, he said the following:
For some time, I have had a growing conviction that
Congress is not operating as it should. There is too much
partisanship and not enough progress--too much narrow
ideology and not enough practical problem solving. Even at
a time of enormous challenge, the peoples' business is not
being done.
In a lot of ways, I agree with Senator Bayh's assessment
of Congress. Too often, the peoples' business gets set
aside in favor of politics and partisan agendas. While I
think we all hope that things will get better in the
future, one thing is certain: we need more people like
Evan Bayh in both parties.
I am certain that Senator Bayh will be successful in
whatever endeavor he chooses. But, while I am sure he
doesn't need it, I want to wish him and his family the
very best of luck.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, time and time again I have
come to the floor to give a few remarks about Senators who
are retiring and leaving the Senate. They all contributed
in their unique way one way or the other to the Senate.
Now I find myself with two about whom I want to comment on
their way out of the Senate.
In the closing days of the 111th Congress, we are saying
goodbye to a number of colleagues, including a veteran
Member, much respected on both sides of the aisle. I speak
of the Senator from Indiana, Mr. Bayh.
I listened with great interest to Senator Bayh's
eloquent farewell remarks earlier this month. The Senator
was also kind enough to have them typed up and sent to our
offices.
Looking back on his 12 years in this body, he spoke
about times of national crisis, including after the 9/11
attacks and during the financial meltdown of 2008. He
talked of a time when Senators acted not as Democrats and
Republicans but as patriots concerned of doing one thing:
doing what is right for the American people. He said that
these times of bipartisan action were with the Senate at
its very best.
For more than two decades, Senator Bayh has embodied
everything that is good about this body: a passion for
public service, a sincere desire to reach out across the
aisle, a great talent for forging coalitions and bringing
people together, and a willingness to work long hours to
accomplish important things.
As we all know, Evan is what we might call a ``son of
the Senate.'' He is enormously proud to have been elected
to the same seat his father Senator Birch Bayh held for
two terms and he has remained a great friend of mine after
all these years. He has followed in his father's footsteps
in fighting for quality public schools, student loans,
retirement security, and giving every American access to
quality, affordable health care.
In addition, he has been a leader in strengthening our
Armed Forces and national security. I know that Senator
Bayh takes special pride in having led the charge to
provide our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with much
improved mine-resistant armored vehicles.
As he leaves this body, Senator Bayh is still a young
man with many chapters yet to be written in his life and
career. For more than a quarter century, he has devoted
himself to public service, first as Indiana's secretary of
state, then as an enormously successful two-term Governor
of Indiana, and, of course, since 1999 as a Senator.
I have always been a big admirer of one of his signature
accomplishments as Governor, which was passing legislation
creating the 21st Century Scholars Program. It is a
wonderful program. Thanks to his initiative, every child
in Indiana who is eligible for the Free Lunch Program in
public schools, who graduates from high school, and signs
a pledge not to experiment with illegal drugs is
entitled--get this--is entitled to a full tuition
scholarship at the Indiana public university of his or her
choice.
Over the years, many thousands of Hoosiers of modest
means have been able to attend college thanks to this
remarkable law. That is what I call a great--I hope my
friend does not mind me saying this--populist, progressive
accomplishment. It speaks volumes about Evan Bayh's
priorities and values throughout his 24 years in public
service.
During his two terms in this body, Senator Bayh has
always faithfully served the people of Indiana and the
people of the United States. I hope and expect he will
pursue new avenues of public service after he leaves the
Senate because our country sorely needs public servants of
his caliber, intelligence, and accomplishments.
I will miss the day-to-day friendships, the counsels,
the interchanges we have had together in the Senate. I
wish Evan and his wonderful wife Susan and their twin
sons, Beau and Nick, the very best in the years ahead. ...
Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I wish to join in paying
a well-deserved tribute to my good friend and colleague,
Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana. When it comes to reflecting
on his tremendous experience and influence in this
esteemed Chamber for the past 12 years, the simple truth
is that our Nation and our government would be
exponentially improved by having more like Evan Bayh
serving in the U.S. Senate.
A proud native of the Hoosier State--as well as a son of
the legendary former Senator Birch Bayh--Senator Evan Bayh
is a man of unwavering principle and conviction, who has
been a stalwart legislator and unparalleled guardian of
the first branch of government over his two terms serving
the people of Indiana. Born in Shirkieville, educated at
Indiana University, and a graduate of the University of
Virginia Law School, Senator Bayh went on to clerk for a
Federal court judge, eventually being elected as Indiana's
secretary of state in 1986.
Yet even before Senator Bayh stepped onto the floor of
the U.S. Senate, he had already served two terms as
Governor of Indiana, beginning in 1988. In fact, that is
where I first got to know him as both he and my husband,
John McKernan, were chief executives of their respective
States during much of that same period. The depth and
breadth of Evan's insight and experience that was forged
during his years as Governor would become truly
indispensable as a U.S. Senator.
Having served side by side with Evan for his entire
tenure--including this Congress as fellow members of the
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, where I
serve as ranking member--I can attest first hand to his
intellect, independence, and integrity that will truly
leave an indelible mark on this institution and this
Nation. Evan has also been a next-door neighbor in my
hallway in the Russell Senate Building. So I will
profoundly miss seeing him not only in the Senate, but
also simply walking down the hall outside my office.
Throughout his storied career, Senator Bayh has reached
across the aisle to find consensus on legislation to
advance both Indiana and the Nation. From focusing on job
growth and fighting for America's small businesses to
national security and trade, Evan has been a leader whose
achievements truly leave an indelible mark.
Indeed, I was pleased to work with Senator Bayh on
legislation in 2007 that linked the troop surge in Iraq to
meaningful consequences and telegraphed to the Iraqi
Government that they had to meet the benchmarks they
themselves had set. And just this year, Senator Bayh and I
worked with a number of our colleagues in the Senate to
crack down on unfair currency manipulations in China--
ensuring our government is equipped with the tools to
adequately address inequities and provide consequences for
countries that violate our global trade rules by holding
down the value of their currency.
Earlier, in 2001, Senator Bayh and I introduced a
bipartisan resolution in the Senate, as well as a
subsequent amendment on the Senate floor, to ensure that
decisions on the use of the budget surpluses that were
projected at the time--whether for tax cuts or for
spending--should be linked to the surpluses actually
realized. Simply put, the idea, based on a proposal first
outlined by then-Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan,
was that long-term tax and spending plans should include a
kind of ``trigger'' mechanism that limits the surplus-
reducing impact of those proposals if budget targets
weren't achieved, such as specific levels of debt
reduction.
We believed such a trigger would provide a strong
incentive for Congress to act responsibly in the future
allocation of any surpluses, while also serving as a
``backstop'' should estimates prove too optimistic. As I
said at the time, we should have been utilizing those
surpluses as a window of opportunity to address our most
pressing domestic issues, such as strengthening Social
Security and Medicare. Frankly, how prescient that trigger
mechanism proved to be--just imagine where we might be
today if it had passed nearly 10 years ago.
In multiple facets, Senator Bayh has been an esteemed
colleague and friend in our mutual cause to revitalize and
advance the political center--in our concerted effort to
answer the challenges facing our Nation by producing
results, not rancor, and accord instead of acrimony. His
departure not only diminishes the Senate, but is also a
loss for the country--because we require more voices
seeking to craft compromise and consensus to forge
solutions, not fewer.
I have long argued that the legislative stalemate and
political quagmire that has gripped much of this Congress
has been to the detriment of our country--especially at a
time when our Nation faces a number of challenges, not the
least of which is a struggling economy that has caused far
too many Americans to lose their jobs and their paychecks.
In February, Senator Bayh wrote an op-ed for the New York
Times in which he said, ``The most ideologically devoted
elements in both parties must accept that not every
compromise is a sign of betrayal or an indication of moral
lassitude. When too many of our citizens take an all-or-
nothing approach, we should not be surprised when nothing
is the result.'' I could not agree more--and Senator
Bayh's advocacy of moderation and reason in this body will
truly be missed.
President Theodore Roosevelt once said that ``far and
away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance
to work hard at work worth doing.'' Well, if ever there
were a Senator who epitomizes that sentiment, it is
Senator Bayh as he has given his very best to make an
already great Nation greater still. I wish Evan, his wife,
Susan, and their two sons, Beau and Nick, all the best for
the future.
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, when the 111th Congress
draws to a close, we will bid farewell to 16 colleagues
who have collectively given more than 200 years of service
to our Nation through their service in the Senate. These
include seven of the Senate's most experienced Members.
People like Chris Dodd and Arlen Specter who have each
served five terms in the Senate. Kit Bond who has served
four terms and Bob Bennett, Byron Dorgan, Russ Feingold,
and Judd Gregg, who have each served three terms in this
Chamber. ...
In January we will feel the loss of the great pitching
ace, Jim Bunning, and Evan Bayh, both respected colleagues
on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. They are
among six of my Energy Committee colleagues who are
leaving the Senate this year. ...
It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve with each
of the people who will leave this Chamber when we adjourn
sine die. Each has made substantial contributions to their
States, to the Nation, and to the Senate during their time
here.