[Senate Document 111-25]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




S. Doc. 111-25
 
                     TRIBUTES TO HON. SAM BROWNBACK



                                           

                                    Sam Brownback

                        U.S. SENATOR FROM KANSAS

                                TRIBUTES

                           IN THE CONGRESS OF

                           THE UNITED STATES

 

                                           
                        

             

                                      Sam Brownback


                                      Tributes

                                Delivered in Congress

                                    Sam Brownback

                              United States Congressman

                                      1995-1996

                                United States Senator

                                      1996-2011

          
      
    
          
 

                                           


                            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....................
                                                                     13
                    Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee.................
                                                                      3
                    Bunning, Jim, of Kentucky......................
                                                                     17
                    Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota..................
                                                                      9
                    Cornyn, John, of Texas.........................
                                                                     14
                    DeMint, Jim, of South Carolina.................
                                                                     14
                    Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut...........
                                                                     12
                    Durbin, Richard, of Illinois...................
                                                                     12
                    Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming...................
                                                                     10
                    Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
                                                                     16
                    Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
                                                                     20
                    McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky..................
                                                                      5
                    Murkowski, Lisa, of Alaska.....................
                                                                     21
                    Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
                                                                      8
                    Reid, Harry, of Nevada.........................
                                                                      5
                    Roberts, Pat, of Kansas........................
                                                                     18
                    Warner, Mark R., of Virginia...................
                                                                      9
                                      BIOGRAPHY

               Sam Brownback has spent his life in the service of 
             others. He was born in Parker, KS, and raised on a farm 
             where his mother and father still live. He was a leader in 
             high school, in Future Farmers of America as State 
             president, as student body president at Kansas State 
             University, and as president of his class at University of 
             Kansas Law School.
               Sam served as a White House fellow in the first Bush 
             administration and was the youngest secretary of 
             agriculture in Kansas history. When he was 38, he was 
             elected to the House of Representatives with the 
             Republican Revolution in 1994. In 1996, he was elected to 
             the U.S. Senate seat held by Bob Dole.
               In the U.S. Senate, Sam served on the Appropriations, 
             Judiciary, and Joint Economic Committees. He was the 
             ranking member on the Joint Economic Committee on the 
             Financial Services and General Government Appropriations 
             Subcommittee as well as the subcommittee responsible for 
             the Constitution. He also served on the Helsinki 
             Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, 
             cochaired the Senate Cancer Coalition and the Human Rights 
             Caucus, chaired the Senate Values Action Team, and was a 
             founding member of the Senate Fiscal Watch Team.
               Sam earned a well-deserved reputation for expertise and 
             genuine concern in a wide range of issue areas. His 
             priority is growing the Kansas economy and creating jobs. 
             He strongly supports funding for aviation research and 
             expanding global aviation markets and promotes efforts to 
             strengthen military and veteran services and facilities in 
             Kansas. Sam is actively engaged in re-opening the U.S. 
             beef trade in Asia and increasing markets for Kansas 
             agriculture products while encouraging measures to protect 
             American farmers and food supplies. Sam also focuses on 
             promoting new energy sources and bio-technologies, and on 
             working to revitalize our rural heartland with tax 
             incentives and job creation.
               Sam is pushing for meaningful tax reform and an optional 
             flat tax, a BRAC-like commission to review and terminate 
             failed or completed Federal programs, and to build market- 
             and consumer-based solutions to health care reform. He 
             believes passionately that we must defend and promote 
             traditional marriage, confirm judges who will interpret 
             the law and not legislate from the bench, protect and 
             renew our American culture, and defend human life at every 
             stage of development everywhere in the world. He is 
             actively engaged in stopping genocide in Darfur, 
             incentivizing drug companies to find cures to neglected 
             diseases throughout the world, and spreading democracy and 
             human rights around the world, especially in Iran, North 
             Korea, and China.
               His colleagues say he is one of the most sincere people 
             in Congress, and even those who don't agree with him never 
             doubt his conviction and appreciate the respectful way he 
             debates even the most contentious of issues.
               The Economist called Sam ``The Wilberforce Republican,'' 
             and the New York Times declared that he is ``one of the 
             most conservative, religious, fascinating--and, in many 
             ways, admirable--politicians in America today.'' The 
             Weekly Standard said Sam is ``Mr. Compassionate 
             Conservative,'' and the American Spectator called him ``a 
             model of modern American conservatism.''
               Over the years, Sam has been a radio broadcaster, 
             attorney, teacher, administrator, Congressman, and 
             Senator. Senator Brownback and his wife Mary have five 
             children and live in Topeka, KS.
                               Farewell to the Senate
                             Thursday, November 18, 2010

               Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I thank the majority 
             leader for setting up this period of time. This will be my 
             last speech, probably, to the body. It is a speech I wish 
             to give in talking about leaving the Senate of the United 
             States.
               I was just elected to be Governor of Kansas, and I am 
             very excited about that post. I have served here a period 
             of 14 years, which has been a wonderful chance to be able 
             to serve the people of Kansas--the people of the United 
             States. I love this body and I love this country.
               A lot of folks, when they leave, talk about partisanship 
             and the bickering. I like to think about the beauty of the 
             country and the ability to come together because it does 
             happen. The predecessor of the person sitting in the 
             Presiding Officer's seat (Senator Paul Wellstone) and I 
             worked on one of the flagship pieces of legislation on 
             human rights protection. It was on human trafficking, the 
             initial bill. Senator Paul Wellstone from Minnesota was a 
             delightful individual. It was a great chance for us to 
             work together on something, and we couldn't have been 
             further apart. I think he was ranked the second most 
             liberal Member of the Senate. He aspired to be No. 1, but 
             he was second. He was a delightful man; he dealt from the 
             heart; and we got things done.
               I say that because I think that is how we work in this 
             place; that we fight on about 20 percent of the issues--
             and they are important, big issues--and then we cooperate 
             and work together on a whole host of broad bipartisan 
             issues, such as dealing with things like human 
             trafficking. You do that primarily with people who deal 
             from the heart--people such as Paul Wellstone, Ted 
             Kennedy, and Jesse Helms. There are a lot of others, and 
             many people get many things done in this body, but I think 
             it is best when people deal from the heart. When they do 
             that, then there is a chance for us to come together 
             around key and heartfelt things. This has been a great 
             body to serve in and I have delighted in being able to do 
             that.
               There is much to be done for the country. We have to 
             deal with the creation of jobs in America. We have to deal 
             with our debt and our deficit. We have many issues to deal 
             with. My hope for here, and my hope for our country, is 
             that we go back to the virtues of the Greatest Generation 
             and look to them for ways to move forward. It is looking 
             back at the old path of what worked in tough times and 
             moving it forward on the new path.
               I came into this seat after Bob Dole served in this 
             body. He served in this seat. Senator Dole from Kansas is 
             the iconic figure of the World War II generation, of that 
             ``Greatest Generation.'' He just got out of Walter Reed 
             Hospital. He has been very ill this year. He is coming 
             back, recuperating. I think he is 87 years old.
               Most everybody in America would agree about the Greatest 
             Generation. They would say that World War II generation 
             hit the mark of what it is to be an American, what it is 
             to sacrifice, what it is to fight for a good cause. They 
             did it with a set of virtues that are timeless, that are 
             known, and I think we have to emulate this time for us to 
             deal with the problems we have now. They were courageous; 
             they were selfless; they were courteous; they were people 
             who would fight for a cause. They were the ones who 
             exhibited charity and thrift. That was certainly known in 
             that generation. I think these are things we have to bring 
             back--hard work and compassion.
               It seems to me, when I think of that generation--and 
             nobody is perfect and that generation is not perfect--
             those are ideals I saw in practice, whether it was them on 
             the battlefield in World War II, raising their families at 
             home, or educating their families, saving for future 
             generations; that is what they did.
               If you ask people of that generation, did you do this on 
             purpose, they might say we did or didn't. Most of them 
             would say this was the right thing to do, and it is the 
             thing we needed to do. I think it is what we need to do 
             now. I think we need to emulate those virtues of the 
             Greatest Generation and apply them to our problems.
               Their problems were more foreign than ours. Ours I 
             believe are more domestic, dealing with our own debt and 
             deficit as a country and as a society and as individuals 
             and individual households; us creating and saving for that 
             next generation in the country and investing to do that, 
             and being selfless and sacrificial in doing that. Building 
             family structure and doing that which is for the good of 
             our families is what we need to do, as well as follow that 
             virtue and that old, ancient path they followed. They said 
             they did because it was a thing they needed to do. I think 
             we have to do the same thing. I hope we will as a country.
               There has been a debate that started in America that I 
             do not agree with, and it is whether this is a special 
             country and whether America is an exceptional land. I for 
             one fully embrace the notion that this is a special place. 
             I believe in American exceptionalism and I have been in 
             many places over the world where you see this in action. I 
             have been in many places in America where you see this in 
             action, where somebody selflessly takes care of other 
             individuals.
               Last night I was at the Korean Embassy. We were talking 
             about what is taking place in North Korea, and one of the 
             people working there at the South Korean Embassy was 
             amazed that people in the United States would care what 
             happens to people in North Korea. One of the people with 
             me was saying that is how we look at the world. If 
             somebody else is in bondage, if somebody else is in 
             difficulty, we feel that and we want to help to deal with 
             it. That, to me, is part of what American exceptionalism 
             is all about.
               This is a special place and has a special calling. If it 
             is not us doing it, in many cases around the world it does 
             not get done. I have been in the Sudan and they are not 
             calling on the Chinese to lead Sudan into a freer time 
             period. I have been in other places--in Africa, on the 
             North Korean border. If you are looking for somebody to 
             solve the problem, it is the Americans who go in and do 
             it.
               Our task now is to not only do that around the world, 
             but it is to do it domestically. I think we have to look 
             more and more at ourselves and say we are a special place. 
             We have to look at ourselves as the baby boomer generation 
             that I am a part of and say you have to prove and earn 
             your exceptionalism. I think we have to step up to the 
             mark as the Greatest Generation did and be willing to 
             serve in a tough way, in a sacrificial way, in the best 
             interests of the future of our country. We have to do it, 
             and now is the time to do it.
               I am appreciative that the President had a deficit task 
             force he appointed and that they came up with some ideas, 
             some of which I agree with, and some of which I disagree. 
             But I am glad they started the discussion and the debate. 
             If the figures I have seen are accurate, half the American 
             households receive an entitlement check from the Federal 
             Government--half of the American households. We have a 
             deficit and debt that is structural. It is not based upon 
             one-time war funding, although war funding has contributed 
             to it, but it is structural in that we have more going out 
             than we have coming in. It is time this is dealt with. I 
             think that is part of the message from this last election 
             cycle. The American people are ready to have an 
             intelligent discussion, a difficult discussion of what we 
             are going to do to be able to save ourselves fiscally. Now 
             is the time to do it.
               We actually have the structure set up to do it. With a 
             Republican House, Democratic Senate, Democratic 
             Presidency. This would be the time and the structure to 
             talk about this sort of difficult issue. Our generation 
             should step up and deal with it. I am not going to be here 
             for that discussion and debate, but it is time we have it 
             and it is time we bring back these timeless virtues to 
             deal with our domestic problems the way we have dealt with 
             international problems in the Greatest Generation.
               As I leave this body, one of the rites of passage is to 
             sign your desk, and I just did that. I did it in pencil. I 
             figure that all of us will fade with time and that 
             signature will fade with time as well. But the things you 
             remember are what you touched and that touched you and the 
             souls that are touched. It is people who deal from the 
             heart who are the ones who touch your life and the ones 
             who touch your soul. I want to express my deep 
             appreciation to my colleagues who have touched my heart. I 
             hope I have been a positive statement to many of them.
               The psalm that comes to mind is one that says: ``And his 
             place knew him no more.''
               The psalmist wrote: ``His place knew him no more.'' 
             After a period of time you sign the desk, you move on, and 
             then you look back and see the signatures in the desk and 
             you don't recognize many of them. The place will know us 
             no more. But the hearts that we touch, the hearts that 
             touch ours, we will remember forever, and I certainly 
             will.
               I thank you and my colleagues in the Senate for letting 
             me serve with you. It has been a great joy. It is a 
             fabulous Nation, the greatest Nation on the face of the 
             Earth, and it was an honor to serve here.
               God bless America.
?

                                           

                                      TRIBUTES

                                         TO

                                    SAM BROWNBACK
                              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 Sam Brownback is going the other way, from 
             Senator to Governor of Kansas. During the health care 
             debate, I often said that everybody who voted for the 
             health care law ought to be sentenced to serve as Governor 
             for two terms and try to implement it. Well, Senator 
             Brownback voted against the health care law, but he's 
             going home and will have the opportunity to ``enjoy'' all 
             those unfunded mandates on Medicaid and see how Kansas 
             deals with it. What we'll miss about Sam Brownback, in 
             addition to his extraordinary kindness, is his devotion to 
             human rights, including giving voice to the oppressed 
             people in North Korea and being an outspoken critic of the 
             genocide in Darfur. ...
               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.
                                             Thursday, December 9, 2010
               Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I rise in tribute to my 
             good friend and distinguished colleague, Senator Sam 
             Brownback, or I could also say Governor-elect Sam 
             Brownback of the great State of Kansas.
               Sam promised his constituents that he wouldn't run for 
             more than two full 6-year terms in the Senate, and Sam has 
             honored that pledge.
               Let me just say at the outset that Sam has been an 
             outstanding Senator and an example of principled 
             leadership to all of us. He has served the people of 
             Kansas with great distinction and honor, and I am certain 
             he will continue to do so as he takes on new challenges in 
             Topeka.
               Sam is a born leader. He was raised in the small town of 
             Parker, KS, where his mom and dad still live and farm 
             today, and his many talents were evident early on. In high 
             school, he was State president of the Future Farmers of 
             America. As an undergraduate at Kansas State University, 
             he was elected president of the student body, and he was 
             elected class president in law school, too, at the 
             University of Kansas. After law school, Sam worked as a 
             lawyer in Manhattan, KS, for 4 years before being 
             appointed as the secretary of the Kansas Board of 
             Agriculture.
               From 1990 to 1991, Sam was accepted as a White House 
             fellow under President George H.W. Bush, where he worked 
             for the U.S. Trade Representative. Three years after that, 
             he ran for Congress as part of the Republican Revolution 
             and was overwhelmingly elected to Kansas' Second District. 
             It was the first time in Sam's life that Republicans had 
             the majority in the Congress, and he was a part of it. He 
             planned to make the most of it by focusing on limiting the 
             size and reach of the Federal Government.
               But Sam's tenure in the House was brief. In 1996, just 2 
             days after Senator Dole announced his plan to resign from 
             the Senate to run for President, Sam announced he would 
             seek the Republican nomination in a special election to 
             serve out the final 2 years of Dole's term. Sam handily 
             defeated the former Lieutenant Governor who had been 
             appointed to fill Senator Dole's seat earlier that spring.
               In the general election, Sam's campaign message was 
             simple. He called it the three Rs: reduce, reform, and 
             return: Reduce the size of and scope of the Federal 
             Government. Reform Congress. Return to the basic values 
             that had built the country: work and family and the 
             recognition of a higher moral authority.
               Sam's message resonated with the people, many of whom 
             feared their government had become, as Sam stated, ``their 
             master, not their servant,'' and easily defeated his 
             opponent with 54 percent of the vote. Sam would go on to 
             be reelected to full terms in 1998 and 2004, capturing an 
             astounding 65 and 69 percent of the vote.
               While in the Senate, Sam has been a leader among his 
             peers. He has been outspoken and has fought hard for the 
             people of Kansas and for the underprivileged around the 
             world.
               Sam is an ardent defender of life and of the protection 
             of the unborn. ``I see it as the lead moral issue of our 
             day,'' Sam said, ``Just like slavery was the lead moral 
             issue 150 years ago.'' Sam opposes Roe v. Wade, has a 100-
             percent pro-life voting record, and sponsored numerous 
             bills in support of the unborn.
               In 1995, Sam was diagnosed and treated for melanoma and 
             it had a profound effect on his life. Sam said:

               With the cancer, I did a lot of internal examination. My 
             conclusion was that if this were to be terminal, at that 
             point in time I would not be satisfied with how I had 
             lived my life. I had tried to be a Christian, but I had 
             failed ...

               Surviving cancer, Sam found out just how precious life 
             was, and with his new lease on life, Sam began to devote 
             his life and work in the Senate to humanitarian causes 
             around the world. Sam has actively fought to bring 
             awareness to the genocide in Darfur. Sam supported the 
             Sudan Peace Act of 2002 and the Darfur Peace and 
             Accountability Act of 2002. In 2004, Sam visited Darfur to 
             see violence and suffering first hand, and that same year 
             he supported the Congressional Declaration of Genocide.
               In addition to his advocacy work on Sudan, Sam has 
             worked on numerous other humanitarian challenges 
             throughout the world, including Iran, Afghanistan, Uganda, 
             the Congo, Pakistan, Ukraine, China, North Korea, and 
             Vietnam. The Weekly Standard wrote:

               Arguably no Senator has done more to press for human 
             rights and democracy or to confront the spread of deadly 
             disease, such as malaria, which kills 800,000 children in 
             Africa every year.

               In the Senate, Sam has crusaded for his humanitarian 
             causes in a bipartisan fashion, including cosponsoring the 
             Iran Democracy Act with Senator Evan Bayh, cosponsoring 
             the North Korea Human Rights Act with the late Senator Ted 
             Kennedy, and what Sam calls his greatest achievement, 
             cosponsoring the Trafficking Victims Protection Act with 
             the late Senator Paul Wellstone.
               Another one of Sam's passions was his role as chairman 
             of the Senate Values Action Team. The group, consisting of 
             outside organizations, met weekly to discuss matters of 
             faith, family, and religious freedoms. Over the years, 
             they worked together to strategize on efforts to protect 
             the sanctity of life, school choice, and much more. Sam 
             devoted countless hours to this organization and rarely 
             missed a meeting.
               In the Senate, I relied heavily on Sam's expertise and 
             his leadership. He was always someone I looked toward, 
             whether it was for guidance or perspective on many 
             different issues. Sam served on numerous committees, 
             including the Appropriations Committee, the Joint Economic 
             Committee, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
             Transportation, and the Senate Special Committee on Aging, 
             as well as the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural 
             Resources.
               In 2008, Sam announced he would honor his pledge to only 
             serve two terms in this Chamber. Sam will be missed, but 
             his service to Kansas will continue. Last month, Sam was 
             elected Governor of Kansas with 63 percent of the vote, 
             winning 103 of the 105 counties. I wish to congratulate 
             Sam on his impressive victory, and I cannot think of a 
             better public servant or leader than Sam Brownback for the 
             people of Kansas.
               On top of all of Sam's accomplishments, he is a loving 
             husband to Mary. They met in law school and have been 
             married for 27 years. Together, Mary and Sam have five 
             children, including one adopted from Guatemala and one 
             adopted from China. Sam said:

               My family has been personally touched by adoption. My 
             wife and I adopted our two youngest children, and I 
             continue to experience joy from the relationships we have 
             built through our adoption experience.

               I think right there tells us all we need to know about 
             the type of character and person Sam Brownback is.
               Sam, this Chamber honors you today for your service to 
             this Nation, to the State of Kansas, and to the millions 
             around the world who dream of a better life. Thank you 
             from all of us, and good luck in the next chapter of your 
             life.
                                              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. ...
               I congratulate Governor-elect Sam Brownback. He has 
             decided to leave the rigors of the Senate for the 
             tranquility of being a Governor. I see our Presiding 
             Officer (Senator Mark Warner), who enjoyed the tranquility 
             of being the Governor of Virginia. I know Sam is going to 
             do great, but I think at some moment he might mop his brow 
             and say that it wasn't quite as hectic back in the Senate.
               Along with Mary and his family he has distinguished 
             himself. Sam is someone who is indefatigable when involved 
             in an issue. He does it from principle and conscience. We 
             appreciate that.
               I was pleased to work with him on legislation I 
             introduced, the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, which became 
             law. That is one example of his great skills as a 
             legislator. In foreign affairs he was someone who kept 
             watch on areas of the world which otherwise might have 
             been neglected. His efforts to bring justice and peace to 
             Darfur are particularly commendable. I thank the Senator 
             for his service and wish him well as he assumes the 
             daunting responsibilities as Governor of the State of 
             Kansas. ...
               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. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to honor my 
             colleague, Senator Sam Brownback, who will be leaving the 
             Senate at the end of this term. Senator Brownback has 
             served the people of Kansas for 16 years in the Congress, 
             serving one term in the House of Representatives before 
             being elected to the Senate in 1996. Sam is leaving the 
             Senate to serve the people of Kansas as their Governor.
               As rural, Midwestern States, Kansas and North Dakota 
             have a lot in common, sharing many of the same challenges 
             and opportunities. Agriculture is a key component of both 
             States' economies. In fact, North Dakota and Kansas often 
             vie for the position of top wheat producer. Senator 
             Brownback knows agriculture well, having been raised on a 
             farm near Parker, KS, and serving as a State leader of 
             Future Farmers of America in high school. Early in his 
             career, Sam served as Kansas secretary of agriculture. 
             These experiences prepared him for his work in the Senate, 
             where he championed producing more energy from biofuels 
             and opening overseas markets to American beef--two issues 
             that are just as important to farmers and ranchers in 
             North Dakota as they are to those in Kansas.
               I worked closely with Sam on a program that helps ensure 
             that individuals who live in rural areas have access to 
             doctors. The Conrad State 30 Program allows foreign 
             doctors educated in the United States on J-1 visas to 
             obtain a waiver of the requirement to return to their home 
             country for 2 years if they agree to practice for 3 years 
             in a medically underserved area of the country. This 
             program has been vital for individuals in rural States 
             like Kansas and North Dakota. Without it, residents of 
             rural areas would have to travel long distances to visit 
             physicians. I am proud to have Senator Brownback's support 
             of legislation to expand this program and make it 
             permanent.
               Senator Brownback's concern for his fellow man does not 
             stop at America's borders. Although he does not serve on 
             the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sam has been very 
             involved in international affairs, and has dedicated 
             himself to causes that protect the most vulnerable. He was 
             instrumental in passing the Trafficking Victims Protection 
             Act, worked to bring peace to Darfur, and, most recently, 
             fought to end the trade in conflict minerals from the 
             Congo.
               Sam is one of the most genuine Members of the Senate. He 
             is willing to listen to opposing views and engage in 
             respectful debate. This great body will miss Senator 
             Brownback's collegiality.
               I thank Senator Brownback for his service in the Senate 
             and wish him the best as he continues to represent the 
             people of Kansas as their Governor.
                                           Wednesday, December 15, 2010
               Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, if I could sum up the service 
             of Sam Brownback in the Senate in just a few words, I 
             would choose a phrase that is very familiar to the people 
             of Wyoming and the West. Sam is an individual who says 
             what he means and means what he says. That is why when he 
             made a promise that he would step down after he had served 
             two full terms in the Senate--he did it.
               Fortunately, as the classic old film reminds us, 
             whenever a door is closed, somewhere, God opens a window 
             and that window was Sam's opportunity to run for Governor. 
             Now that he has been elected, the Senate's loss will be 
             Kansas' gain as the people of that State will have the 
             benefit of his leadership for many years to come.
               Here in the Senate, Sam followed a philosophy he calls 
             ``pro-life, whole life.'' Simply put that means that the 
             great respect we have for life doesn't end at birth, it 
             continues throughout. If it sounds familiar I believe that 
             is what our Founding Fathers meant when they spoke of 
             ``life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'' as the 
             great gifts that are given to us by our Creator that can 
             never be taken away from us.
               Throughout the years, Sam has followed that philosophy 
             wherever it has taken him as he has worked to support 
             legislative initiatives that seemed to clearly follow from 
             it. That is why you would find him working with Members on 
             both sides of the aisle to reach out to ``everybody on the 
             planet'' who was in need ``everywhere on the planet'' they 
             could be found.
               Looking back, there is so much that Sam has accomplished 
             that should serve as a great source of pride for him, his 
             staff, and the people of Kansas. He has taken a consistent 
             stand for human rights whenever he was called to do so and 
             this is another reason why his is a voice that will be 
             missed in the Senate in the months to come.
               Through the years, I have never met anyone who had a 
             stronger or more firmly aligned inner compass when it 
             comes to doing what is right because it is right than Sam. 
             In everything he does, his faith and his relationship with 
             God have served to direct his efforts. That heartfelt 
             approach of his has helped to keep his work in perfect 
             alignment with his core values and the thinking of the 
             people of Kansas who sent him to Washington to do what he 
             thought was best to protect and preserve the American 
             dream and keep it available for generations to come.
               Sam is someone we will always remember for the things he 
             did and how well he did them. He is a natural leader who 
             leads with actions--not words, because he knows that is 
             the only way to get the important things done--and done 
             quickly.
               That philosophy showed itself in things like Sam's work 
             to address the needs of the people of Africa. He did not 
             have to do it--but because he did, countless lives were 
             saved. If you asked him why he was working so hard to make 
             a difference in a nation so far from home, he would 
             probably say that is just another example of his 
             philosophy that the whole world is his backyard and 
             everyone, everywhere, is his neighbor.
               I am certain that Sam is very familiar with the Parable 
             from the Bible in which the Master expresses his 
             appreciation for the good work of his servant. ``Well 
             done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were 
             faithful in small matters, I will give you great 
             responsibilities.''
               I mention that because Sam has done so very well in the 
             Senate, it is as if the people of Kansas have now placed 
             him in charge of great responsibilities as their Governor. 
             I have no doubt that he is the right person at the right 
             time for this difficult job the people of his State have 
             now entrusted to his care.
               Sam has often told the story about a comment that was 
             made to him by an older gentleman as he traveled 
             throughout the State, listening to voters at the end of 
             his campaign for Governor. The message he heard from this 
             one voter was simple but it spoke volumes. ``Be a good 
             Governor,'' was all he said. It's good advice but easier 
             expressed than done. Still, I have no doubt in the years 
             to come Sam will be all of that and so much more.
               Diana joins in sending our best wishes to Sam and his 
             special wife Mary. Together they make up a remarkable team 
             and they can and should be very proud of all they have 
             accomplished together.
               Thank you for your willingness to serve and most of all, 
             thanks for your friendship. Although you won't be with us 
             in the Senate Chamber next year, you will be just down the 
             road in the Governor's office in Kansas. I hope you 
             continue to let your thoughts and suggestions be known as 
             we take up those issues that were such a source of great 
             interest--and action--during your service here. Good luck 
             in the months to come as you take on this new and very 
             difficult challenge in your life. God bless.

               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. I would like to say a few words in honor of 
             Senator Sam Brownback, my colleague from Kansas for these 
             past 14 years. Like me, he will be ending his service in 
             the U.S. Senate at the conclusion of this Congress. I 
             would like to congratulate him on his election as Governor 
             of the State of Kansas, and I wish him and his family the 
             very best in his new endeavor.
               His election to the governorship should come as no 
             surprise--he has proven time and again that his first 
             priority is serving the people of Kansas. He has a long 
             track record of service, beginning with his 1986 election 
             to the position of State secretary of agriculture. At the 
             time of his election, he was only 30 years old, the 
             youngest person ever to hold the position.
               After serving as agriculture secretary, Sam was elected 
             to the House of Representatives as part of the famous 
             Republican class of 1994. He quickly ascended to the 
             Senate in 1996 with the departure of a Senate and Kansas 
             legend, then-Majority Leader Bob Dole. Sam had some big 
             shoes to fill, and he has done so admirably.
               Senator Brownback will be remembered for many things, 
             his conservatism and his passion to name a few, but 
             perhaps the most important is his dedication to his faith. 
             His religious values provided an anchor for everything he 
             did, and led to his pursuit of issues that provided 
             assistance for those in need.
               Senator Brownback's commitment to ending the genocide in 
             Darfur is an example of one of those issues. Tragically, 
             more than 200,000 people have died in Darfur and more than 
             2.5 million have been displaced as a result of the unrest 
             in Sudan. Senator Brownback's expertise and dedication to 
             this critically important issue has made a real impact on 
             the fight to end this horrific crisis. With his 
             retirement, the Senate will lose one of its great human 
             rights champions.
               Senator Brownback and I may not have always seen eye to 
             eye, but no one ever questioned his commitment to 
             principle, or his commitment to the people of Kansas.
               I wish him, his wife Mary, and their five children all 
             the best. While the Senate will miss him, I wish him luck 
             as he embarks on his next journey as the Governor of 
             Kansas.

               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. 
             ...
               I will miss my good friend Senator Sam Brownback. 
             Despite sitting across the aisle from me, he was always 
             approachable and friendly. I know him to be committed to 
             helping people in Kansas and across the country. He felt 
             so strongly about ending homelessness that I remember him 
             spending the night in a homeless shelter with a group of 
             homeless people to experience first hand the obstacles 
             they face. That is dedication. He cares about people. 
             Senator Brownback should feel proud about all that he has 
             accomplished to make life better for people in our 
             country. ...
               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.

               Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I join my colleagues in 
             appreciation and admiration of Senator Sam Brownback.
               Sam's commitment to public service grew out of the 
             farmlands where he was raised and where his parents still 
             reside. As a student, Sam earned the respect of his peers 
             as State president of the Future Farmers of America and 
             student body president at Kansas State University. The 
             people of Kansas have put their trust in Sam multiple 
             times: as their secretary of agriculture, as one of their 
             Members in the House of Representatives, and for 14 years 
             in the U.S. Senate.
               Sam drew upon his experience in Kansas to shape 
             legislation here in Washington. He offered legislation to 
             create more opportunity for America's farmers, and to 
             reduce foreign trade barriers to their products. In time, 
             Sam rose to become a leader on the Senate Appropriations 
             Committee, as well as the Energy and Natural Resources 
             Committee.
               Sam also has a heart for victims of disease and human 
             rights violations all over the world. He proposed 
             incentives for drug companies to offer discounts for 
             lifesaving medications for people of developing nations. 
             He boldly called for the end to human rights violations in 
             Darfur and Iran. I have been proud to stand with him on 
             numerous pieces of human rights legislation, including the 
             Iran Democratic Transition Act in this Congress.
               Sam's tenure in the Senate has come to an end, but not 
             his service to the people of Kansas. They overwhelmingly 
             called him back home to serve as their Governor, and begin 
             the next chapter in his remarkable career. Sandy and I 
             wish him and his family all the best.

               Mr. DeMINT. I rise in tribute to my good friend, Senator 
             Sam Brownback, who will soon be Governor Sam Brownback.
               Senator Brownback leaves this Chamber as a man of 
             character and success. He made a promise to the citizens 
             of Kansas to only serve two terms in the U.S. Senate and 
             he is honoring it.
               He will continue to serve his constituents well, as he 
             will soon join the ranks of Republican Governors who are 
             committed to saving freedom and free markets. Sam and his 
             fellow Republican Governors will stand sentry in their 
             State capitols, defending Americans from unaffordable 
             mandates and unprecedented intrusions by the Federal 
             Government.
               The current Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
             Democrat Kathleen Sebelius, left Topeka to come to 
             Washington and impose an unconstitutional health care 
             takeover on all Americans. I am confident Republican 
             Governor-elect Sam Brownback, who is leaving Washington 
             for Topeka, will successfully fight for State rights in 
             court and preserve freedom for Kansans.
               Sam won on a platform of opportunity, accountability, 
             and responsibility--the very principles his State was 
             founded upon.
               His ``Road Map for Kansas'' is built on ideas to grow 
             the economy, create private-sector jobs, improve 
             education, reform the State government, and support Kansas 
             families. This is exactly the kind of leadership our 
             Nation so desperately needs. His five-point plan is as 
             clear and bright as the tips of the stars on the Kansas 
             flag.
               In addition to the roadmap for Kansas, Sam has promised 
             to institute a spending freeze for his State his very 
             first month in office.
               It has been an honor to serve alongside Sam, one of our 
             Nation's premier pro-life leaders. He knows no one should 
             be denied the right to life--especially the unborn. As he 
             said in a speech at the 2004 March for Life, ``If we 
             demean and degrade one human life, we demean and degrade 
             all human life.''
               As a U.S. Senator, Sam relentlessly fought to protect 
             the unborn. He was the principle sponsor of the Unborn 
             Child Pain Awareness Act, the Prenatally Diagnosed 
             Conditions Awareness Act, the Human Cloning Prohibition 
             Act, and others. He has also worked to advance the 
             Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, the Unborn Victims of 
             Violence Act, and the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act.
               Sam has increased awareness about the joy of adoption. 
             He can personally attest to it. He and his wife Mary and 
             three children Abby, Andy, and Elizabeth have welcomed two 
             children in need of a loving home into their lives. The 
             Brownback's youngest son Mark is from Guatemala. Their 
             youngest daughter Jenna is from China, where families are 
             subjected to grave and callous one-child policy.
               Thank you Sam for fighting for a better life for all of 
             God's children.
               As we bid him farewell, I would like to reflect on one 
             short passage from his book, From Power to Purpose. In it, 
             Sam wrote ``The heart of the matter is the human heart, 
             which is where human goodness begins.''
               That shows the kind of heart Sam has for public service. 
             His tenure in the U.S. Senate is marked by his compassion 
             and care for his fellow man.
               He will be dearly missed here in Washington. But, as 
             Jesus said, ``There are many rooms in my Father's house.'' 
             And Sam is just moving to another room where he will 
             continue to serve God.
                                              Sunday, December 19, 2010
               Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak in honor 
             of my good friend, the senior Senator from Kansas. Senator 
             Sam Brownback has been a devoted public servant and a 
             friend to all of us here in the Senate. At the end of this 
             session, he will be moving on to bigger and better things. 
             I will miss him dearly.
               Senator Brownback was born in Parker, KS, in 1956. He 
             was raised on a farm--a farm on which his parents still 
             live to this day. Sam was leader in all aspects of his 
             life before coming to the Senate. In high school, he was 
             the State president of the Future Farmers of America. 
             While attending college at Kansas State University, he was 
             student body president. And, he was president of his class 
             when he attended law school at the University of Kansas.
               After law school, Sam went to work as an attorney in 
             Manhattan, KS. In 1986, he was the youngest person ever 
             appointed to serve as the Kansas secretary of agriculture. 
             In 1990, he went to work in the White House of President 
             George H.W. Bush as a White House fellow. After another 
             stint as Kansas' secretary of agriculture, Sam was elected 
             to the House of Representatives as part of the 1994 
             Republican Revolution. And, in 1996, he was elected to 
             replace the former Senate majority leader, and my good 
             friend, Senator Bob Dole. The people of Kansas have kept 
             him here ever since.
               Looking over his career in public service, it is clear 
             that Sam Brownback is a Kansas man in every sense. The 
             voters of Kansas have recognized this more than anyone 
             else. That is why they have elected him three times to 
             serve in the Senate. And, of course, that is why he is 
             currently the State's Governor-elect.
               Throughout his time in the Senate, Sam has been a 
             tireless advocate for the rights of those who have no 
             voice, whether it is the rights of the unborn, the rights 
             of refugees, or the rights of the victims of human 
             trafficking. I believe this is due, in no small part, to 
             Sam's religious faith. For as long as I have known him, 
             Sam has never been afraid to speak publicly about his 
             religious convictions and his belief that those 
             convictions required action on his part. As a religious 
             man myself, I have always admired that part of Senator 
             Brownback's personality and found his openness refreshing.
               Over the years, Sam and I have typically found ourselves 
             in agreement on most issues. We have worked together on 
             numerous occasions. While I regret that we won't be 
             working together any more after this session, I want to 
             congratulate him once again on his recent victory in the 
             Kansas gubernatorial election. I am confident that he will 
             be an effective and popular Governor for the people of the 
             State he loves so much.
                                              Monday, December 20, 2010
               Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor my 
             friend from Kansas, Senator Sam Brownback.
               Born in Parker, KS, Sam has dedicated his time to 
             serving the great people of Kansas. Beginning his service 
             as the secretary of agriculture in Kansas, Sam has 
             represented Kansas with dignity and honor.
               Following his election in 1994, I have had the 
             opportunity to work with Senator Brownback in both the 
             House of Representatives and the Senate. While in the 
             Senate, Sam and I worked tirelessly on the Senate 
             Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to utilize the 
             energy resources we have in this great country.
               Sam has created a long list of accomplishments on a wide 
             range of issues for the people of Kansas and this Nation. 
             I know his family and the people of Kansas are proud to 
             call him one of their own. His leadership in the Senate 
             will be missed, but our loss is a gain for the State of 
             Kansas as Sam prepares for his new role as Governor. It 
             has truly been an honor serving with him during these many 
             years.
               I would like to thank Sam for his contributions to the 
             Senate and wish him and his family well as they embark on 
             this new chapter in their lives.
                                           Wednesday, December 22, 2010
               Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 
             service of my friend and colleague Sam Brownback. Sam was 
             elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 during the 
             Republican Revolution and was subsequently elected to the 
             Senate 2 years later when former Majority Leader Bob Dole 
             made his bid for the White House.
               It has been both a privilege and a pleasure serving 
             alongside Sam during these past 16 years. All of us who 
             seek public service want to make a difference, and most 
             certainly, Sam Brownback has done that. In these endeavors 
             I have enjoyed working with Sam in achieving some 
             noteworthy accomplishments for our State of Kansas. As I 
             reflect upon our mutual efforts, it is hard to figure out 
             who was driving the stage and who was riding shotgun. 
             Simply put, it has been a team effort, and I have been 
             both humbled and proud to work with my colleague who has 
             provided unique and respected leadership. Sam's record 
             speaks for itself: bringing the Big Red One back home to 
             Fort Riley, KS, where it started and now belongs; bringing 
             the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, NBAF, to 
             Manhattan, KS; ensuring fair treatment of the general 
             aviation industry in FAA bills; and working together to 
             rebuild Greensburg, KS, after 95 percent of the community 
             was literally blown away by an EF5 tornado.
               But beyond our work together on State specific issues, 
             it is Sam's Federal legislative initiatives that I think 
             will have the longest impact on the Senate and the lives 
             of so many people, not only within Kansas and our Nation 
             but, indeed, around the world.
               Since the late 1970s, the term ``compassionate 
             conservative'' has been tossed around quite a bit to 
             describe a philosophy that states by applying conservative 
             ideals, our government can best improve the welfare of our 
             society. I think many of my colleagues would agree that if 
             anyone in public service over the past 30 years embodies 
             this philosophy, it would be Sam Brownback.
               What is unique about Sam and his approach to politics 
             these past 16 years is that his ideas went beyond words 
             and rhetoric. The Sam Brownback approach was simple but 
             effective. He applied his beliefs to action, reflected by 
             the many legislative accomplishments he championed during 
             his tenure in the Senate.
               Sam is a big believer in forgiveness and second chances. 
             How to put that belief into action? Sam introduced a bill 
             that really shows his heart for those in society who many 
             times are not given an opportunity to make amends: the 
             Second Chance Act.
               Signed into law during the Bush administration, this act 
             created a grant program for State and local governments to 
             fund job training and family mentoring programs to help 
             reintegrate past offenders as they are granted release 
             back into society.
               But Sam's legislative victories did not focus solely on 
             domestic issues. Sam has a great love for the continent of 
             Africa.
               Serving on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he 
             traveled to Africa on multiple occasions to gain a better 
             understanding of how he could help provide relief to those 
             most vulnerable. His experiences led him to champion the 
             Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006. Enacted that 
             same year, this law created sanctions against individuals 
             and groups responsible for the terrible crime of genocide 
             in Darfur, while establishing measures to protect 
             civilians and humanitarian efforts within the borders of 
             Sudan.
               The more Sam did, the more he felt called to do, and no 
             one did more for the protection of victims of human 
             trafficking than Sam. In 2000, he helped enact the 
             Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This law created 
             criminal punishments for individuals caught in the United 
             States operating as traffickers. It established an annual 
             reporting mechanism to help track individuals engaged in 
             sex trafficking and created a new immigration status for 
             victims of sex trafficking.
               Last, I believe Sam's prominence during his time in the 
             Senate had a great deal to do with his willingness to work 
             across party lines on issues where he could seek and find 
             common passion and ground.
               The legislative item I think will leave the largest 
             impact on many of us in the Senate is the bill upon which 
             he worked tirelessly with the late Senator Ted Kennedy.
               Signed into law by President Bush, the Prenatally and 
             Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Act provides those 
             families with children diagnosed with Down syndrome the 
             support services and networks they need to help them deal 
             with the unique challenges they face. Put another way, 
             what better legislation to help protect the lives of those 
             in our Nation uniquely challenged but who deserve every 
             right to the same opportunities we all enjoy every day.
               I could easily and proudly recount many more of Sam's 
             achievements during his time in the Senate, but I would do 
             so in danger of Sam saying ``enough'' and giving me ``the 
             hook.'' I have often said that the high road of humility 
             is not often bothered by heavy traffic in Washington, but 
             in Sam Brownback, we have indeed enjoyed the friendship of 
             a humble man.
               In closing, I leave my colleagues with one of Senator 
             Brownback's favorite quotes that I think sums up the man 
             that Sam is and the love he has for all people, regardless 
             of their nationality or place in society.
               Sam likes to say:

               I am pro-life and whole-life. Applying this belief to 
             the child in the womb and to the child in Darfur. It 
             includes the man in prison and the woman in poverty. It 
             does not fail to cherish the child with Down syndrome or 
             stand for the inherent dignity of the immigrant.

               Sam, I remember the first campaign rally we attended 
             together. The featured guest speaker, Senator Phil Gramm 
             of Texas, introduced me as one who made significant 
             changes in the House of Representatives and then 
             introduced Sam as: ``One who not only wants to change 
             things, but to make the right changes.''
               Sam, you have done just that and it has been an honor to 
             serve with you over these past 16 years. I thank you for 
             your courtesy, cooperation, leadership, example, and your 
             friendship and support. As you head west, my friend, to 
             lead our beloved State of Kansas, I look forward to 
             continued cooperation and success. The people of Kansas 
             are in good hands. God bless.

               Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I would like to take a 
             few minutes to pay tribute to the 16 Senators who will be 
             departing this body at the end of the year.
               I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve 
             alongside each of these Senators as colleagues and as 
             friends. All served their States with distinction and gave 
             their constituents strong voices in the world's greatest 
             deliberative body. Senators Evan Bayh, Robert Bennett, Kit 
             Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Roland Burris, Chris 
             Dodd, Byron Dorgan, Russ Feingold, Carte Goodwin, Judd 
             Gregg, Ted Kaufman, George LeMieux, Blanche Lincoln, Arlen 
             Specter, and George Voinovich--each left an indelible mark 
             on the Senate, and I wish them well as they take on new 
             challenges and opportunities into the future.
               I would like to speak briefly about a few of the 
             Senators I knew best and served with in committees to 
             recognize their contributions and accomplishments and 
             share my fond memories of them and the legacies they will 
             leave behind. ...
               While Senator Sam Brownback will certainly be missed by 
             the Senate, the people of Kansas will continue to benefit 
             from his leadership, as he serves as their newly elected 
             Governor.
               Prior to being elected to public office, Sam's 
             professional experiences included working as a radio 
             broadcaster, attorney, teacher, and administrator.
               From these varied professional experiences he brought 
             with him a unique and dynamic perspective to the U.S. 
             Senate.
               Through his leadership as the ranking member on the 
             Joint Economic Committee, ranking member of the 
             Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, and ranking 
             member of the Energy and Natural Resource Subcommittee on 
             Water and Power, Sam established himself as a leader on a 
             wide range of issues.
               During his tenure in the Senate, he has supported 
             aviation research and expanded global aviation markets. 
             Through these efforts, he has effectively spurred economic 
             growth and strengthened the U.S. military.
               Some of Sam's most distinguishing characteristics are 
             his personal integrity and his commitment to his Catholic 
             faith. These principles came through in much of what he 
             did in the Senate. I will always appreciate his passion 
             and his work to translate his beliefs into his actions as 
             a U.S. Senator.
               I am confident Senator Brownback will continue to serve 
             the people of Kansas with the same character and 
             dedication in his new role as Governor. ...
               In conclusion, the departing Senators' contributions, 
             their dedicated service, and the issues they championed 
             will be remembered long after their final days in the 
             Senate.
               I believe I can speak for my fellow Senators when I say 
             that we will all miss our departing friends.

               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. ...
               Sam Brownback has forever earned a place in the heart of 
             our first Americans for his work on the adoption of a 
             joint resolution apologizing to American Indians and 
             Alaska Natives for centuries of ill-conceived policies 
             carried out by our Federal Government. He is known around 
             the world as a champion of religious freedom as well. ...
               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.