[Senate Document 113-27]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



TRIBUTES TO HON. SAXBY CHAMBLISS

                                       

                            Saxby Chambliss
                            

                       U.S. SENATOR FROM GEORGIA
                       
                       

                                TRIBUTES
                                
                                

                            IN THE CONGRESS OF
                             THE UNITED STATES
                           
                           
                           
                           

[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                           


                              Saxby Chambliss
                 
 
                  Courtesy U.S. Senate Historical Office
 



                                      Tributes

                                Delivered in Congress

                                   Saxby Chambliss

                              United States Congressman

                                      1995-2003

                                United States Senator

                                      2003-2015

                                          a
                                                                                    


                            Compiled under the direction

                                       of the

                             Joint Committee on Printing
                                      CONTENTS
             Biography.............................................
                                                                      v
             Farewell Address......................................
                                                                    vii
             Proceedings in the Senate:
                Tributes by Senators:
                    Ayotte, Kelly, of New Hampshire................
                                                                     17
                    Bennet, Michael F., of Colorado................
                                                                     22
                    Boxer, Barbara, of California..................
                                                                     28
                    Burr, Richard, of North Carolina...............
                                                                     12
                    Coats, Daniel, of Indiana......................
                                                                     13
                    Coburn, Tom, of Oklahoma.......................
                                                                     14
                    Collins, Susan M., of Maine....................
                                                                     25
                    Coons, Christopher A., of Delaware.............
                                                                      8
                    Cornyn, John, of Texas.........................
                                                                      3
                    Durbin, Richard J., of Illinois................
                                                                      8
                    Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming...................
                                                                     21
                    Feinstein, Dianne, of California...............
                                                                      9
                    Graham, Lindsey, of South Carolina.............
                                                                     24
                    Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
                                                                 24, 27
                    Hoeven, John, of North Dakota..................
                                                                     18
                    Isakson, Johnny, of Georgia....................
                                                                     10
                    Johanns, Mike, of Nebraska.....................
                                                                     14
                    Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont..................
                                                                     27
                    Manchin, Joe, III, of West Virginia............
                                                                     11
                    McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky..................
                                                                      5
                    Murphy, Christopher, of Connecticut............
                                                                     20
                    Portman, Rob, of Ohio..........................
                                                                     16
                    Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
                                                                      5
                    Sessions, Jeff, of Alabama.....................
                                                                     23
                    Warner, Mark R., of Virginia...................
                                                                      8
                                      BIOGRAPHY

               Saxby Chambliss served five terms in the House of 
             Representatives before serving his State of Georgia in the 
             Senate for two terms. Georgia Trend magazine, which 
             consistently named him one of its Most Influential 
             Georgians, called him ``a highly visible and well-
             respected presence in Washington,'' and said he ``has a 
             reputation as an affable but straight-talking lawmaker.'' 
             In January 2009, Georgia Trend named Senator Chambliss its 
             Georgian of the Year.
               Saxby Chambliss was a member of the Senate Armed 
             Services Committee; the Senate Committee on Agriculture, 
             Nutrition, and Forestry; the Senate Rules Committee; the 
             Senate Special Committee on Aging; and served as the vice 
             chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
               Senator Chambliss' leadership and experience on homeland 
             security and intelligence matters during his tenure in the 
             House of Representatives earned him an appointment to the 
             Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, where he 
             steadfastly advocated for dramatically improved 
             information sharing and human-intelligence-gathering 
             capabilities. Chambliss' previous role as chairman of the 
             House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland 
             Security made him one of the leading congressional experts 
             on those issues.
               During the 109th Congress, Saxby Chambliss served as 
             chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and was the 
             only Senator since 1947 to have chaired a full standing 
             Senate committee after serving in the Chamber for just 2 
             years. He served as ranking member of the Agriculture 
             Committee during the 110th and 111th Congresses.
               Long before his election to Congress, Saxby Chambliss 
             specialized in representing farmers' legal interests in 
             South Georgia. During his four terms in the House, he was 
             instrumental in drafting two farm bills and reforming the 
             Federal Crop Insurance Program.
               As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, 
             Saxby Chambliss continued Georgia's long-standing 
             tradition of leadership and advocacy for the State's 
             military installations. Following in the footsteps of 
             former Senators Richard B. Russell, Jr., and Sam Nunn, 
             Senator Chambliss was a strong voice for Georgia's defense 
             industry and the military community. Throughout the 2005 
             base realignment and closure round, he remained steadfast 
             in defense of Georgia's bases targeted for closure. He was 
             also a tireless advocate for improving the quality of life 
             for troops and their families.
               In 2008, he was the recipient of the National Guard 
             Association's Harry S. Truman Award, the organization's 
             highest honor bestowed on civilian and military leaders 
             who demonstrate continued contributions to national 
             defense and security.
               Saxby Chambliss was first elected to Congress to 
             represent Georgia's Eighth District in 1994. Throughout 
             his legislative career, he was recognized numerous times 
             by the public and private sectors for his work on 
             agriculture, defense, budget, and national security 
             issues. In January 2008, he was presented with the 
             National Legislative Advocacy Award by the Naval Reserve 
             Association for leading the effort to reduce the age at 
             which members of the National Guard and Reserve can 
             receive retirement pay. He is a past recipient of the Air 
             Force Association's W. Stuart Symington Award, the group's 
             top civilian honor for outstanding contributions in the 
             field of national security, and was awarded the Reserve 
             Officers Association's Minuteman of the Year Award in 
             2005.
               Senator Chambliss was the cochairman of the Senate 
             Aerospace Caucus and the Senate Reserve Caucus, and was a 
             member of the Senate Rural Health Caucus; the Juvenile 
             Diabetes Caucus; the Caucus on Military Depots, Arsenals, 
             and Ammunition Plants; the Congressional Sportsmen's 
             Foundation; and the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.
               Saxby Chambliss earned his bachelor's degree in business 
             administration from the University of Georgia in 1966, and 
             his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of 
             Law in 1968. Senator Chambliss and his wife, Julianne, 
             have been married since 1966 and reside in Moultrie, GA. 
             They have two children and six grandchildren.
                               Farewell to the Senate
                            Wednesday, December 10, 2014

               Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, as my service in the 
             Senate comes to an end, I rise today to say thank you to 
             some of the wonderful people who have been part of a great 
             ride for over 20 years.
               We as Americans are fortunate to live in the greatest 
             country in the world; a country where the American dream 
             is still alive and well; a country where, in spite of all 
             of our problems, we are the envy of the free world; a 
             country where a preacher's kid from rural southern Georgia 
             can rise to be elected to the House of Representatives and 
             then to the Senate.
               We as Members of the Senate are fortunate to have the 
             opportunity to serve. We are blessed to be able to work in 
             such a historic venue as we are in this afternoon. As we 
             come into our offices and into this building every day, 
             there are some things we take for granted. So to the 
             entire Capitol Hill workforce, from those who clean our 
             offices, to those who change the lightbulbs, provide our 
             food, maintain our subways, keep us safe and secure, and 
             to all of those in between, I say thank you. You are very 
             professional in what you do, and you always do it with a 
             smile.
               To the floor staff and the Cloakroom staff for both the 
             majority and the minority, thanks for putting in the long 
             hours, listening to often boring speeches, reminding us 
             when we have not voted, scheduling floor time, reminding 
             us of the rules, and making sure our mistakes are at a 
             minimum.
               I am fortunate to have been surrounded by great staff 
             during all of my 20 years in the House and Senate, mostly 
             young people from varied backgrounds who are the brightest 
             minds my State and my country have to offer. They are 
             committed patriots and loyal to the core. To those current 
             and former members of my staff, thank you for your service 
             to me and to the State of Georgia.
               I have been served by four chiefs of staff: Rob Leebern, 
             Krister Holladay, Charlie Harman, and Camila Knowles. 
             Every office plan that each one of them put together 
             starts with providing better constituent service than any 
             other Member of the House or the Senate. I am extremely 
             proud that our record shows we achieve the goal of doing 
             just that. I have even had government agency personnel 
             call my office asking for guidance on cases from other 
             offices.
               I have often said that my greatest satisfaction from 
             this job comes not from negotiating major pieces of 
             legislation but from being able to help Georgians with 
             difficulties they are experiencing and having a positive 
             impact on their lives.
               I am particularly blessed to have three members of my 
             staff who have been with me for all 20 years. My deputy 
             chief Teresa Ervin, Debbie Cannon, and Bill Stembridge 
             have walked every mile with me and have been so valuable. 
             Thanks, guys.
               My greatest support comes from my family. My wife 
             Julianne, my daughter Lia and her husband Joe, my son Bo 
             and his wife Bess, along with our grandchildren--John, 
             Parker, Jay, Kimbrough, Anderson, and Ellie--have all been 
             somehow involved on the campaign trail.
               Come the 28th day of this month, Julianne and I will 
             have been married for 48 years, having met at the 
             University of Georgia a couple of years before that. For 
             tolerating a husband who had a 24/7 job for 20 years, for 
             being a single mom part of that time, and for 
             understanding why I could not get home until Christmas Eve 
             some years, I say thank you, sweetheart.
               I am privileged today to represent almost 10 million 
             Georgians who are the most wonderful people God ever put 
             on this Earth. I lost my first primary election and went 
             on to win each of my next seven races. I won every one of 
             those seven races because I shared the values of my 
             constituents, I outworked each of my opponents, and I had 
             better ideas and the best advisers and staff. Thanks, Tom 
             and Paige.
               Thanks to Senators Nunn and Miller for their regular 
             advice and counsel. Thanks to my three leaders, Senator 
             Lott, Senator Frist, and Senator McConnell, each of whom 
             provided me with strong leadership and always listened to 
             me even when I had ideas that might have been different 
             from their ideas.
               I am often asked what I will miss most about the Senate. 
             The answer is very easy. I will miss my friends and the 
             relationships we have developed over the years. Senator 
             Isakson and I entered the University of Georgia 52 years 
             ago in September and became friends immediately. We have 
             been the dearest of friends ever since. He is without 
             question the most trusted friend and adviser I have. I 
             will miss our daily conversations.
               My three best buddies from my House days, Speaker John 
             Boehner, Congressman Tom Latham, and Senator Richard Burr, 
             along with Senator Tom Coburn, have been the legislative 
             collaborators, dinner partners, golfing buddies, 
             confidants, and numerous other things that should not be 
             mentioned on the floor of the Senate.
               Senator Lindsey Graham is like a member of my family. We 
             have traveled the world together many times, hearing a 
             lot. I have no plans to write a book, but if I did, 
             Lindsey Graham's anecdotes would fill a chapter.
               Senator Feinstein has been a great chairman and partner 
             on the Intelligence Committee. I will miss her leadership, 
             her wisdom, her friendship, and those late afternoon 
             glasses of California wine.
               My most productive time in the Senate has been spent 
             with my dear friend Senator Mark Warner. Our work with the 
             Gang of Six, which included Senators Durbin, Conrad, 
             Coburn, Crapo, and then later Senators Johanns and Bennet, 
             represents the very best of everything about the Senate. 
             We spent, literally, hundreds of hours together debating 
             ideas and trying to solve major problems, and we came very 
             close. Senator Warner's insight, his wanting to solve 
             problems, and his political inspiration are lessons that I 
             will carry with me forever.
               As the Senate now goes forward under new leadership, I 
             have two comments. First, the Senate should return to 
             regular order. Senator McConnell has indicated that will 
             be the case, and it should be.
               The rule change by the current majority changed the 
             institution of the Senate in a negative way. I hope the 
             rule is changed back to require 60 votes on all issues, 
             including judges and nominees. Some of those most vocal 
             favoring the rules change lost their elections, and while 
             the rules change did not cost them their election, it is 
             very clear that the American people wanted a change in the 
             leadership that changed the rule. Regular order will help 
             in restoring trust and confidence to the world's most 
             deliberative body.
               Second, it is imperative that the issue of the debt of 
             this country be addressed. Just last week our total debt 
             surpassed $18 trillion. We cannot leave the astronomical 
             debt our policies have generated for our children and 
             grandchildren to fix. It is not rocket science; it is what 
             must be done.
               Cutting spending alone--for example, sequestration--is 
             not the solution. Raising taxes is not the solution. As 
             Simpson-Bowles, Domenici-Rivlin and the Gang of Six all 
             agreed, it will take a combination of spending reduction, 
             entitlement reform, and tax reform to stimulate more 
             revenue. Hard and tough votes will have to be taken, but 
             that is why we get elected to the Senate. The world is 
             waiting for America to lead on this issue. If we do, the 
             U.S. economy will respond in a very robust way. The Gang 
             of Six laid the foundation for this problem to be solved, 
             and it is my hope that we do not leave the solution for 
             the next generation.
               I close with what I have enjoyed most about Congress, 
             and that is the opportunity that I have had to spend with 
             the men and women in uniform and those in the intelligence 
             world, all of whom are willing to put their lives in 
             harm's way for the sake of our freedom.
               Whether it was Robins Air Force Base, Kabul, Ramadi, 
             Jalalabad, Khowst or Dubai, I always get emotional telling 
             the men and women how proud I am of them and how blessed 
             we as Americans are to have them protecting us. They are 
             special people who sacrificed much for the sake of all 300 
             million Americans.
               Let us also remember and be thankful for the families of 
             those military and civilian personnel who likewise make a 
             commitment to America. As we head into another Christmas 
             season, many of those families will not have at home their 
             spouse, their parent, their son, or their daughter.
               May God bless them. May God bless this great 
             institution, and may God continue to bless our great 
             country.
               I yield the floor.
               (Applause, Senators rising.)
                                           

                                      TRIBUTES

                                         TO

                                   SAXBY CHAMBLISS
                              Proceedings in the Senate
                                               Monday, December 8, 2014
               Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, in the waning days of the 
             113th Congress it is a bittersweet moment as many of us 
             are saying goodbye--although not on a permanent basis but 
             at least in terms of our official relationships working 
             together as Senators--to so many of our good friends and 
             valued colleagues. Every other December we find ourselves 
             bidding farewell to some of the most admired and respected 
             Members of this Chamber. Today I want to say a few words 
             about three of these esteemed Members, starting with my 
             good friend, the senior Senator from Georgia.
               Saxby Chambliss and I arrived in the Senate at the same 
             time following the 2002 elections. At the time, the war on 
             terrorism, as we all know, was barely a year old, and it 
             was by far and away the biggest issue on the minds of 
             Americans across the country and in the Halls of Congress. 
             Senator Saxby Chambliss immediately established himself as 
             one of the Senate's most important leaders on national 
             security issues, which came as no surprise to anyone who 
             watched his career in the House of Representatives. 
             Indeed, in his capacity as chairman of the House 
             Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland 
             Security, he oversaw the first official investigation of 
             the 9/11 attacks. It is hard to believe it has now been 
             more than 13 years since that fateful day, but Senator 
             Chambliss has never lost sight of the continuing threat 
             posed by radical Islamic terrorists, and he has never 
             stopped working to uphold bipartisan support for strong 
             national security policies. He has been a consistent 
             leader on important pieces of legislation such as the 
             PATRIOT Act and on the detention facilities at Guantanamo 
             Bay. He has also been a leader on the Armed Services 
             Committee on the annual defense authorization bill which 
             we will be taking up later this week and on controversial 
             but important topics such as the Foreign Intelligence 
             Surveillance Act. Most recently on the campaign to destroy 
             the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Senator Chambliss 
             again has been one of the leading voices helping us find 
             our way to the right strategy and the right policy. In 
             short, name any high profile national security issue and 
             there is a good chance Saxby Chambliss has been driving 
             the debate and working to move the United States in the 
             right direction. I know he is also especially proud of his 
             efforts to improve current retirement policies for members 
             of the National Guard and military Reserves.
               Senator Saxby Chambliss comes from a State where 
             agriculture is the single largest industry, and he spent 6 
             years as chairman or ranking member of the Senate 
             Agriculture Committee. He was one of the first Members of 
             our class in 2002 to serve as a chairman of any standing 
             committee, something we were all a little bit envious of, 
             early on in his first term of office. But he has worked on 
             several tough farm bills during the time he has been in 
             Congress, and he has been our go-to Member on all related 
             issues.
               In fact, Senator Chambliss understands these issues 
             almost better than anyone on both sides of the aisle, 
             which is another way of saying he understands the 
             challenges facing American farmers better than almost 
             anyone here. That understanding allowed him to play a key 
             role in reforming Federal crop insurance.
               Folks down in Georgia have been justly appreciative of 
             Senator Chambliss' work on agriculture policy, and they 
             also appreciate his efforts to accelerate the Savannah 
             Harbor Expansion Project through a Federal-State 
             partnership, which was officially signed back in October. 
             It is an impressive list of accomplishments, and I know I 
             speak for all of our Members on both sides of the aisle 
             and staffers alike, when I say that Saxby Chambliss will 
             be missed as much for his warmth and friendship as for his 
             policy work.
               As a diehard Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs fan, he 
             is equally at ease discussing baseball, football, quail 
             hunting or national security. He is unfailingly kind, 
             thoughtful, and considerate to everyone with whom he works 
             in this Chamber--whether Senator, staffer, or casual 
             visitor.
               Saxby is now preparing for his life's next great 
             chapter, which he will spend with his wife Julianne, to 
             whom he has been married for nearly half a century, their 
             two children, and six grandchildren, which I know bring 
             them a lot of joy.
               I wish my good friend all the best in his retirement, 
             and I wish the entire Chambliss family a never-ending 
             supply of health and happiness.
                                              Tuesday, December 9, 2014
               Mr. REED. Mr. President, I would like to take a few 
             minutes to salute my colleagues who are departing the 
             Senate at the end of this year with the conclusion of the 
             113th Congress: Mark Begich of Alaska, Saxby Chambliss of 
             Georgia, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Kay Hagan of North 
             Carolina, Tom Harkin of Iowa, Mike Johanns of Nebraska, 
             Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, 
             Carl Levin of Michigan, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Jay 
             Rockefeller of West Virginia, Mark Udall of Colorado, and 
             John Walsh of Montana.
               They have all worked hard, ceaselessly giving their 
             energy and considerable time and service to their 
             constituents, to their home States and to our country. I 
             want to thank them for their service and for their 
             kindness to me over many years in so many cases. In 
             particular, I want to say a few words about these 
             colleagues. ...
               I have served with Saxby Chambliss on the Armed Services 
             Committee and joined him in his efforts to support the 
             National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. Saxby has 
             been a strong supporter of our men and women in uniform. 
             He has also been a leader on homeland security and 
             intelligence matters. I wish him well. ...
               Along with all of my other colleagues who are leaving us 
             at the conclusion of the 113th Congress, let me thank them 
             for their service, their dedication to improving the lives 
             of Americans, and on a very personal level for their 
             friendship. I wish them all well.
                                           Wednesday, December 10, 2014
               Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I wish to say a few words 
             about my friend and colleague, Senator Saxby Chambliss.
               Saxby, as we all know, is the ultimate Southern 
             gentleman. He is a man of his word. He is blessed with the 
             charm and the drawl only a Georgian could possess, and he 
             is far too modest. He shouldn't be. He has a lot to be 
             proud of as he looks back at a storied career here in 
             Congress.
               We are talking about one of our Nation's top experts on 
             intelligence and national security. We are talking about a 
             standout champion for the men and women of our military. 
             We are also talking about a Senator who became chair of 
             the Agriculture Committee just 2 years into his first 
             term. That is really quite an accomplishment. But once you 
             get to know Saxby, it isn't all that surprising.
               Before he came to Congress, Saxby was a smalltown ag 
             lawyer. He still lives in a rural area--a peanut and 
             cotton farming region far removed from the bright lights 
             of Atlanta. Saxby has a feel for the issues that could 
             only be acquired from actual on-the-ground experience. He 
             understands the real-world impact of what we discuss here 
             in Washington, and he cares.
               On top of that, he has the disciplined work ethic of a 
             minister's son--which makes sense, because he is one. 
             Saxby is usually the first guy to raise his hand when 
             there is an assignment no one else wants. That is what we 
             saw for him on the Gang of Six, a politically difficult 
             and work-intensive committee if there ever was one.
               But Saxby came here to get things done--not to posture. 
             He takes on projects with the kind of drive and courage we 
             don't often see.
               How courageous is Saxby? Well, he accepted an invitation 
             to go quail hunting with Vice President Cheney, and he 
             lived to tell the tale. The senior Senator from South 
             Carolina [Mr. Graham] remembers the trip very well. He had 
             to be persuaded by Saxby to come. He still suspects that 
             Saxby's real motive was to give Cheney a second target.
               It wasn't the only time Saxby cheated death with the 
             Vice President. Lindsey recalls a meeting in Baghdad with 
             Saxby, Joe Biden, and the Iraqi Prime Minister. Afterward, 
             they boarded a plane and came under fire. Here is what 
             Saxby said: ``I guess the meeting didn't go that well.''
               So Saxby is a comedian. But he is also courageous. He is 
             persuasive. He is really good at getting his way. It is 
             kind of what we would expect from a former door-to-door 
             fruitcake salesman. After hawking loaves of spiced dough, 
             there is not much Saxby can't sell at this point.
               We know he was persuasive enough to convince Julianne to 
             marry him. Saxby and Julianne met at the University of 
             Georgia. She was Sigma Chi's pledge-class sweetheart--and 
             she soon became Saxby's sweetheart. The Chamblisses have 
             been inseparable ever since.
               Now, just in case Saxby ever becomes his own category on 
             Jeopardy, here is an interesting piece of trivia. The 
             president of the same pledge class became Saxby's Democrat 
             challenger in 2008. The two fraternity brothers are still 
             friendly. Here is how this gentleman remembered Saxby from 
             college. He said he ``looked old.''
               Well, Julianne fell for him anyway, and it is a good 
             thing she did. This former schoolteacher is better than 
             anyone at keeping him centered, and she has even taught 
             students who would go on to serve on Saxby's staff. So it 
             is really quite a partnership. Saxby says that the most 
             significant moment of his life was when he met Julianne.
               That is really something when we consider how much he 
             loves golf. Last year, Saxby sank a hole in one squaring 
             off against the leader of the free world--that is, the 
             President of the United States. He has a signed flag to 
             prove it.
               But golf is more than just a hobby for Saxby. It is a 
             way to get things done. More than most people around here, 
             he understands the value of relationships. He is good at 
             whipping votes and picking up intel from both ends of the 
             Capitol. He works across the aisle, and he is unafraid to 
             stand up when something needs to be said.
               That is the thing about Saxby. He doesn't say a lot, but 
             when he does, you know it is significant. You know there 
             is a lot of careful thought behind it.
               Saxby is a serious legislator who approaches his role as 
             vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee in that frame. 
             Saxby learns things on that committee that would keep 
             anyone up at night. It is a grave responsibility. But 
             Saxby is perfectly suited to it. He has always stood 
             proudly in defense of our Nation.
               We are going to miss his sharp wit, his integrity, and 
             his judgment.
               I know Saxby's staff is going to miss him, too. Some of 
             them have been with him since his days in the House. Well, 
             the Senate's loss is the Chambliss family's gain.
               I know Saxby is looking forward to spending more time 
             with Julianne. I know he can't wait to trade the title of 
             Senator for a new one--Big Daddy. It is what his grandkids 
             call him. He can't wait to see more of them. They are the 
             reason he works so hard here--to build a better future for 
             them, for the next generation.
               Saxby will have plenty of stories to share when he 
             leaves, such as when he hit that hole in one, when he 
             threw out the first pitch for the Braves, and when he made 
             the cover of Peanut Patriot Magazine.
               So Saxby has obviously had a long and interesting 
             career. He deserves some time to focus on his family. We 
             thank him for his dedication to this body and to the 
             people he represents, and we send him every wish for a 
             retirement filled with joy and happiness.

               Mr. DURBIN. I have some tributes here for my colleagues 
             who are retiring, leaving the Senate. It is a lengthy list 
             of tributes. ...
               I want to say a word about three others on the other 
             side of the aisle who are retiring: Saxby Chambliss of 
             Georgia, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and Mike Johanns of 
             Nebraska. I got to know them when I gathered with one of 
             these gangs, as they call them around here, to talk about 
             deficit reduction. We spent more time together trying to 
             explore the Federal budget in ways to reduce our deficit 
             in a thoughtful manner so that we really got to know one 
             another and respect one another.
               There is a world of difference in our political values 
             and philosophies, but each of them in their own way made a 
             positive contribution toward making this a stronger 
             nation.
               I remember well the day Senator Chambliss announced that 
             he would not let Grover Norquist and Grover's ``no tax 
             increases ever'' demand dictate the terms of a deficit-
             reduction plan. That needed to be said, and it took 
             political courage. Although Senator Chambliss will not be 
             with us when the Senate convenes in January, I hope his 
             example will be with us. And I wish him the best in his 
             future endeavors. ...
               None of them is running for reelection so I can't hurt 
             them politically by saying that I regard each of these 
             Senators as friends. They showed political courage when 
             partisanship would have been easier.
               I wish them the best in all their future endeavors.

               Mr. COONS. ... As I close, I would also like to thank 
             those of our colleagues who will be leaving the Senate 
             after the New Year.
               It is an incredible privilege to work in this Chamber 
             and to represent the people. Every day I am awed by the 
             dedication and talent of many of my colleagues, public 
             servants who come to work to fight for their States and 
             their government.
               To those who are ending their service in the Senate, 
             know that I value your friendship and partnership. It has 
             been an honor to work with you, and I thank you for all 
             you have done for our Nation.

               Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I wanted to rise very briefly 
             because I know Senator Chambliss is about to give his 
             farewell speech. I commend my dear good friend the Senator 
             from Georgia for his service. I am going to stay through 
             his speech, but I know there will be others who will 
             probably rise afterward to give accolades, and I wanted to 
             be first in line to salute him for his service, his 
             friendship to so many of us in this body, and my personal 
             good wishes for his future. I know there will be others 
             later; I thought for a change I would get a word in first.

               Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Senator Chambliss, my remarks are 
             personal. We worked together for the past 8 years on the 
             Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. For 4 years we 
             have worked as chair and cochair. We have exchanged views, 
             we have negotiated bills, and we have shared information. 
             We have been there through very tough times and some very 
             pleasant times. It is very hard for me to see you go.
               I have learned to trust you. I respect you. We have 
             worked together. The committee put together a Benghazi 
             report. We worked very hard. We found areas of agreement.
               Senator Collins of the committee is here, and Senator 
             Warner is here. Am I missing anyone else from the 
             committee? There is Senator Burr, who will be the new 
             chairman, and Senator Coats, Senator Coburn. We were able 
             to come together and put together a report unanimously, 
             and it was really because of your leadership.
               As I watched, what became very apparent is that maybe 
             your side isn't as fractious as my side is. You were able 
             to say yes, we can do this or no, we can't do that, and 
             you reflected your Members. That made it very easy for me, 
             and I am very grateful.
               Yesterday we disagreed. You have never taken a cheap 
             shot. We worked together at the same time to move our 
             intelligence authorization bill. There was one last glitch 
             which you worked out, and that bill passed unanimously 
             last night.
               Together we have worked to put together an information-
             sharing bill for what is probably our No. 1 defensive 
             issue, which is cyber and the attacks that have taken 97 
             percent of our businesses into difficulties.
               You have compromised, and I have compromised. 
             Unfortunately, on our side, we have some unsolved issues. 
             So, hopefully, I will be able to pick up with Senator Burr 
             where we left off, and we will be able to get that job 
             done next year.
               What I want you to know--and I said this to you in 
             another way--that it was such a wonderful experience for 
             me to work with you. This is the hard part. We are only 
             here for an instant in eternity, and the only thing that 
             matters is what we do with that instant.
               What I want you to know is you have really done yeoman's 
             work in that instant, and I am very grateful to have the 
             pleasure of working with you. I have learned from you, and 
             I wish you all good things.
               Thank you very much, Senator Chambliss.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Georgia is 
             recognized.

               Mr. ISAKSON. I rise to pay tribute to my friend, Saxby 
             Chambliss.
               I will admit to you this is a speech I never wanted to 
             make. I never wanted to make it because we have had a 
             wonderful relationship in this body for the past 10 years. 
             We have done everything together.
               He has had my back, and I have had his back. He is a 
             great friend, and I will miss him. But I am not a selfish 
             guy. He married one of the finest women I have ever known, 
             Julianne Chambliss, who is one of the best friends my wife 
             has.
               Although he is leaving us and I will miss the crutch I 
             have used for so long, Julianne is getting her Saxby back. 
             For Julianne, her family, and those grandkids he loves so 
             much, that is exactly what Saxby wants to do.
               Georgia has had some great Senators: Richard Russell, 
             who was really the master of the Senate; Zell Miller, a 
             former Governor of Georgia, a great friend of mine and a 
             great mentor of our State; and Sam Nunn, one of the finest 
             in national defense and foreign policy our State ever 
             offered. Saxby will be the fourth on the Mount Rushmore of 
             Georgia Senators who have served Georgia with distinction 
             and with class.
               I want to tell Saxby this in person. For 10 years we 
             have done joint conferences. We have messed up twice. When 
             I messed up he covered my back and when he messed up I 
             covered his.
               In 2008 when he almost lost a race and got into a runoff 
             in December in Georgia, I rode a bus for 21 straight days 
             introducing him three times a day and eating barbecue 
             every single day for dinner and for lunch. That is a price 
             to pay that only friendship will bring out.
               He is a dear friend, a trusted person. I love him very 
             much and I love his family very much.
               I could talk all day, but I wanted to open and close by 
             saying, Saxby, I love you. The State is going to love 
             having you back. This country is going to miss you, but my 
             grandchildren are safer, my State is better, and our 
             relationship has never been stronger.
               May God bless you and your family in every endeavor you 
             undertake, and may God bless the United States of America.
               (Applause, Senators rising.)

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia is 
             recognized.

               Mr. MANCHIN. First, I would say I have only been in the 
             Senate for 4 years. When I came, let's just say it was not 
             what I expected. For that, you look for a little bit of 
             respite, if you will.
               I looked at my colleagues and my friends on the 
             Republican side. I didn't come to the Senate looking at 
             what side you were on. I looked at basically the person I 
             was dealing with.
               There was a person who befriended me almost from my 
             first day, knowing that the transition was a challenge. He 
             stepped up to the plate with a few of my other friends 
             over there--I see Senator Coburn behind him--and basically 
             took me under his wing and said, ``Listen, we can all work 
             together and get along. What we do here is bigger and for 
             the greater good than what we do for ourself.''
               Saxby not only showed me, but basically I was able to 
             follow and watch what he did. This Chamber should be 
             filled right now--it really should be from all sides--but 
             the bottom line is the Senator is loved by everybody. I 
             never heard an ill word said about Saxby Chambliss, the 
             distinction he carries as far as the Senate and as a human 
             being.
               I say to the Senator, your family and your priorities 
             are correct. Your moral compass is working and working 
             well. I can only tell you thank you. As someone from the 
             other side of the aisle and as a fellow colleague and a 
             fellow American, you are an inspiration to us all.
               Saxby, there will not be another Saxby, but I am glad 
             they gave you to me for this short period of time of 4 
             years. Some of you--I look at Johnny, and I envy Johnny. 
             For 52 years he has been your close friend.
               There is your partner in crime back there, Senator Burr. 
             We hope he doesn't tell it all when he gets up.
               But with that being said, there are so many people who 
             have a relationship that is unmatched and that is because 
             of you.
               I say, my dear friend, my hat is off to you. Thank you, 
             and God bless you for what you have done for the United 
             States of America, for Georgia, but most important for all 
             of us. Thank you.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from North 
             Carolina is recognized.

               Mr. BURR. Mr. President, this moment is bittersweet for 
             me.
               I spent more time with Saxby than I have with my own 
             wife for the past 20 years. We have done everything 
             together. Those vacation spots he mentioned--Kabul, 
             Baghdad--I was right beside him.
               We traveled to areas of the world that others wouldn't 
             venture to, and there was a reason he was there. He was 
             concerned about America's future, he was concerned about 
             his children's future, and he was in a position to have an 
             impact on it to make it better for them in the future. 
             That is why he served. It is obvious to all of our 
             colleagues that he is a lot older than I am, but he has 
             worked just as hard as the youngest Member of this 
             institution.
               Even though we have seen each other's children grow up, 
             and now we have seen them all married off, he deserves the 
             time to go home and spend some time with his grandchildren 
             and, more important, to get to know his wife again.
               I want to say, Senator Feinstein, I like red wine just 
             as much as Saxby does. I probably can't be bought as 
             cheaply as he could, but I do look forward to continuing 
             to work with you and, more important, to continue to do 
             the work on the Intelligence Committee that really does 
             build on what Saxby started in the year 2000 as we went on 
             the House Intelligence Committee together.
               There is only one way to sum up Saxby Chambliss. He is a 
             true Southern gentleman. He is absolutely a statesman, but 
             what everybody who meets Saxby understands is this. He is 
             a great American, he loves this country, he loves this 
             institution, and some piece of him will remain here when 
             he leaves at the end of this year. He will have an impact 
             on what happens even though his presence may not be here.
               We wish him Godspeed in life after.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from Indiana.

               Mr. COATS. Mr. President, I am a bit out of order here. 
             I was waiting for some of my colleagues who have spent a 
             bit more time here than I to speak, but I wanted to take 
             this opportunity to add my sincere thanks to Saxby 
             Chambliss for the kind of person he is and the kind of 
             leadership he has provided and the kind of example he has 
             set during his time in Congress and in the Senate.
               I was privileged to be able to come back to the Senate 
             and join the group of people who shared the same deep 
             concerns I had shared. The reason I did come back was due 
             to the threats to our country from abroad and the fiscal 
             plunge into debt that is going to affect our country 
             dramatically in the future if we don't deal with it. But 
             having the opportunity to be with the people who have set 
             such an example has been a great privilege for me.
               If I were a producer and director of a movie I was going 
             to have come out about the Senate, I would want Saxby to 
             be the leading man. First of all, he looks like a Senator, 
             and he has that Southern calm presence that most of us 
             envy and he just seems to fit the profile. The next choice 
             would have to be for the leading lady, and you couldn't 
             find a more gracious, beautiful, supportive leading lady 
             than Julianne Chambliss. Together, they just make a 
             stunning couple.
               I have had the privilege of traveling with them and 
             seeing them in different places and in different 
             situations, and what a tremendous gift it is to be with 
             the both of them. So the Senate and many of us here will 
             dearly miss Saxby Chambliss. He comes from a line of 
             distinguished Senators representing the State of Georgia, 
             and as Senator Burr said, he fits right into that long 
             list of people whose tenure here has been remembered for 
             decades and will continue to be remembered for decades.
               His commitment to our men and women in uniform, his 
             service to the agriculture community but particularly, in 
             my experience, his leadership of the Intelligence 
             Committee has been leadership this country has needed in a 
             time of dire circumstances. His work with Chairman 
             Feinstein in dealing with the daily pressures and weight 
             of responsibility that falls on the leadership--and all of 
             us who serve on the committee but particularly the 
             leadership of the Intelligence Committee--has probably 
             been as great in the last several years as any time in our 
             history. Very difficult decisions have had to be made.
               I know I sometimes stagger out of that committee 
             thinking, this is more than I can get my mind around. This 
             is more than I can get my arms around in terms of how do 
             we deal with some of these threats and some of these 
             challenges that have popped up all over the world in 
             various manifestations. Yet the solid leadership on the 
             Republican side with Saxby Chambliss has united us in a 
             way that has forged a real bond and a desire to work in a 
             nonpartisan basis to live up to our responsibility to 
             provide oversight for the intelligence community and to be 
             a part of helping make those decisions that are so 
             important and so formative in terms of how we deal with 
             these particular issues.
               So I thank Saxby for the person he has been, the person 
             he is, and the person he will continue to be, for the 
             example he has set, for his friendship, and for his 
             extraordinary leadership. I know the refrigerator will be 
             stocked with Coca Cola, there will be Georgia peanuts in 
             his pocket, maybe a little bit of bourbon in a drawer 
             somewhere, and he will have a tee time at Augusta just 
             about any time he wants. I wish him the very best as he 
             and Julianne go forward with their life. He has left his 
             mark here and certainly he has left his mark on me.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.

               Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, a lot has been said about 
             Saxby already, but I have an observation I have noticed 
             over the last 10 years since I have been here, and it is 
             about leadership. We see elected leadership on both sides, 
             but then we see real leadership. We see the person people 
             go to for advice. We see the person people go to for 
             counsel. We see the person whom people go to for wisdom 
             and judgment. That is what I have noticed the last 10 
             years.
               More than anybody in this body, whether it is from the 
             other side of the aisle or this side of the aisle, the 
             person whose counsel is most sought is that of Saxby 
             Chambliss. That is real leadership that is earned, and it 
             needs to be recognized and honored for what it is. Because 
             what it says is his leadership comes without judgment on 
             the person asking the question, without condemnation of a 
             position that may be different than his. It is giving of 
             himself for the benefit of the rest of us.
               Hear, hear, my friend from Georgia.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.

               Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, it is an honor for me to 
             stand and pay tribute to Saxby Chambliss. I think the 
             first time I got to work around Saxby was when I was 
             nominated as the Secretary of Agriculture, and I think the 
             first hearing Saxby chaired as chairman of the Senate 
             Agriculture Committee might have been that hearing.
               I arrived in Washington, and I was scared to death. I 
             had no idea what to expect. But I met with Saxby, and I 
             knew immediately that when I was in that hearing I was 
             going to be treated with dignity and with respect because 
             he wouldn't have it any other way. That is the way he did 
             business.
               Fortunately, I was confirmed, and that started our 
             working relationship. In those years, I would not try to 
             argue that we agreed on every nuance of farm policy. I am 
             positive there were times when Saxby was convinced I 
             didn't understand a thing about Southern agriculture. But 
             he was patient and he was determined to represent all of 
             agriculture, whether it was the South, the Midwest or the 
             West. His goal was to be a chairman of the Agriculture 
             Committee for all of agriculture. It was during that time 
             the farm bill was written, and he was a tough negotiator. 
             He had a mind in terms of where he was headed and he was 
             going to stand up for his people and I came to respect him 
             so much.
               It was in the Senate though where I truly began to 
             understand his talent. I can't tell you how many times we 
             have been in a caucus meeting and somebody would ask the 
             most intricate, difficult question relating to 
             intelligence and national security, and invariably we 
             would turn to Saxby. Saxby would stand and, in that quiet 
             but forceful way he has, he would walk us through the 
             intricacies of the issues. On whatever the topic was, he 
             would explain it in a way that literally everybody in the 
             room understood. They got it. Watch out. You had better be 
             prepared to be Senators with the information he had given 
             us.
               What has impressed me so much, and I know I speak for my 
             colleagues when I say this, is he could do the same thing 
             with the most intricate issues relative to farm policy or 
             ag policy or finance or the Federal budget. The breadth of 
             his knowledge is absolutely unbelievable.
               I thank you, Saxby, for the many times you probably 
             disagreed with me immensely but treated me thoughtfully 
             and respectfully and listened to my opinion. I saw you do 
             that with other Members in this body. I thank you for your 
             service. As one of the retiring Members, I will look 
             forward to the opportunity to spend more time with you. I 
             hope our paths cross many times in the future because I 
             know I will be the better for it.
               God bless you, my friend, and best wishes.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio.

               Mr. PORTMAN. The junior Senator from Ohio.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Your words.

               Mr. PORTMAN. Look. I am so proud to be here to say a 
             couple of words about my friend Saxby. As you have heard 
             from my colleagues, he is beloved. By the way, two of 
             those who spoke are Senators who are also choosing to 
             leave us. Tom Coburn talked about leadership. I will tell 
             you, they are leaving a huge void.
               I got to know Saxby when he came to the House of 
             Representatives. I was there in the early 1990s, and we 
             became friends. Although I am from Ohio and he is a son of 
             the South, he and Julianne embraced me and Jane, and I got 
             to know his son Bo--such a great family.
               But I didn't truly get to know him until I was the U.S. 
             Trade Representative and my job was to try to open markets 
             for U.S. agricultural products around the world. That 
             required looking at something called subsidies--
             agriculture subsidies. This is a dangerous area in terms 
             of politics, and Mike Johanns is very well aware of this 
             as an ex-Secretary of Agriculture, having been at my side 
             during some of these negotiations.
               My job was to come to the Senate Agriculture Committee 
             and talk about what we were up to and try to find out how 
             much flexibility there was for us to get these markets 
             open that were so important for our farmers and ranchers 
             but entailed considerable political risk. I learned a new 
             Saxby Chambliss was there. That is when I saw the 
             leadership that was talked about earlier.
               Saxby was willing to not just be constructive but to 
             take that risk and to be totally discreet and confidential 
             in dealing with very sensitive issues. I came away with a 
             whole new level of understanding about Saxby and therefore 
             a new respect for him, his character, and his willingness 
             to do what was right.
               More recently, of course, we have seen his leadership on 
             other issues: standing up for our men and women in 
             uniform. My colleagues, to me, he has been the guardian at 
             the gate, giving us all comfort as ranking member of the 
             Intelligence Committee. We live in a dangerous, volatile 
             world, and knowing Saxby was there, clear-eyed, 
             disciplined, discreet, and able to tell it like it was and 
             tell it like it is today, I think has given not just us 
             but our families and all Americans considerable comfort. 
             So I appreciate his service there.
               Finally, I admire his willingness to step up on this 
             issue of our national debt. This is again not an easy 
             issue, and he joined with some colleagues to promote some 
             proposals. Again, my colleagues who are leaving know this, 
             Tom Coburn, in particular; Mike Johanns, whom I will 
             always have a great deal of respect for the way he has 
             handled that issue as well.
               Despite everything we have heard about him today though, 
             perhaps his greatest accomplishment has yet to be 
             mentioned; that is, the fact that he played golf with the 
             President of the United States and managed to get a hole 
             in one. The press report from that day says two things 
             that are very interesting. First, it says he hit the hole 
             in one on the south course. The son of the South chose to 
             use the south course, of course, for his hole in one, but, 
             second, it says ``he was choking up on a 5-iron.''
               Taking nothing away from his hole in one--and it sounds 
             like it wasn't as long a shot as he explained to me it 
             might have been--but choking up on a 5-iron makes no sense 
             to me. There is nobody more poised, more smooth. I have 
             never seen him choke on anything.
               Saxby, we are sad to see you leave but happy to see you 
             spend more time with Julianne, the kids, and the beloved 
             Bulldogs. Godspeed, my friend.
               I yield back.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire.

               Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I rise to thank my friend 
             Saxby Chambliss. Senator Coburn spoke about leadership. We 
             are very much going to miss Senator Coburn, Senator 
             Johanns, and Senator Chambliss in this body.
               But what he said is very true; because as someone who 
             has only served here for 4 years, one of the people who 
             has been most welcoming to me and a mentor and role model 
             and someone from whom I have sought advice is Saxby 
             Chambliss.
               As we look at this body and people whom we can emulate 
             as role models, Saxby Chambliss is one of those role 
             models. Not only is he incredibly knowledgeable on the 
             issues that are so important to this Nation--and I can 
             say, having served with him on the Armed Services 
             Committee, he is one of the most knowledgeable people in 
             this country, not only on what we need to do to keep the 
             country safe because of his role on the Intelligence 
             Committee, but also what we need to ensure that our men 
             and women in uniform have the very best to keep our 
             country safe. Saxby has a deep understanding and very much 
             loves our men and women in uniform, and has stood up for 
             them in ensuring that they have gotten what they need to 
             keep this country safe.
               From my perspective, he is someone who is going to be so 
             missed in this body, because he has understood that you 
             can stand on principle, as he has, for the important 
             challenges facing this Nation--whether it is keeping us 
             safe, or addressing the national debt that threatens not 
             only our security but the prosperity of America; but he 
             has also done it in a way that he has been able to build 
             relationships within our own conference in the Republican 
             caucus, where he is a go-to leader, where people like me 
             seek his advice on how to get things done--but also, as we 
             can see here, relationships across the aisle.
               As we go into the new Congress, I hope as Saxby goes on 
             to do other important things with his lovely family and 
             Julianne and his children and grandchildren, that we will 
             follow the example of Saxby Chambliss of what it means to 
             work together, of what it means to be respectful of each 
             other to get things done for this country, and to address 
             the great challenges that Saxby has done so much important 
             work on--including keeping our Nation safe and making sure 
             that America remains strong.
               Saxby, I want to thank you for being so welcoming to me, 
             for being a role model, and for being someone who I think 
             is an example of what it means to serve this country with 
             distinction.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from North 
             Dakota is recognized.

               Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, in the new Congress we will 
             welcome 12 new Republican Senators, and that is wonderful. 
             They are great people. They are excited. They are 
             enthusiastic. I think they are going to do wonderful 
             things. So there are 12 new Republican Members coming into 
             the new Senate, and we are going to lose 3 of our 
             Republican colleagues. I am thinking, maybe that is about 
             the right ratio; it is about 4 to 1.
               But these are three individuals who are unbelievable in 
             what they have been able to do in the relationships they 
             built, the friendships, and the work they have done on 
             behalf of the American people. So I am looking at that 
             statistic and I am thinking: Wow, these are three great 
             people who have done the work of many, and I think they 
             have laid the foundation in many ways for us to get to a 
             majority: Senator Johanns, Senator Coburn, and Senator 
             Chambliss. I think they have done a lot of that work 
             required for us to get to majority.
               We have heard about the great Senator from Georgia. But 
             I think the things I am going to talk about for a minute 
             in regard to Saxby Chambliss apply to the two individuals 
             sitting here with him. They are cut from the same cloth: 
             Senator Coburn, Senator Johanns, true public servants. 
             People who ran for the right reason; people who serve for 
             the right reason. I think we could ask anybody in this 
             body on either side of the aisle, and they would tell us 
             that these three individuals served for the right reasons, 
             and served to the very best of their ability the American 
             people--not just the people of their State, but the 
             American people. They will be remembered long after they 
             are gone. They will be remembered because of the great, 
             wonderful people they are, for the relationships they have 
             built, and for that service. So I echo Senator Ayotte's 
             comments.
               Senator Coburn touched on it, too. One of the first 
             people I looked to as a mentor when I came here 4 years 
             ago was Saxby Chambliss. Now, that doesn't seem 
             intuitively like something I would do--I am from North 
             Dakota, he is from Georgia. Mike Johanns has been a mentor 
             of mine since Governor days, so for more than a decade. 
             But one of the first people I looked to as a mentor was 
             Saxby Chambliss, and I don't even know why. It was one of 
             those things that immediately you like the guy. But as you 
             listened to him a little bit, you respected the guy. You 
             thought: This guy has something to say. He knows what he 
             is doing. But then, it is that relationship thing--that 
             thing where he goes out of his way to work with you, to 
             help you, to understand what you are trying to do in a 
             friendly way, with great humor, and he does it naturally. 
             It is just who he is. It is automatic. I think Senator 
             Isakson really put his finger on it: It is just the way he 
             is. You are naturally drawn to him.
               I think we could talk to any of our colleagues on the 
             other side of the aisle and they would tell you the same 
             thing: integrity, honesty, intelligence; somebody you can 
             work with, somebody who cares, somebody who always has the 
             best interests of the American people at heart.
               I had the opportunity to work with him on the farm bill, 
             and I was counting on Senator Coburn to kind of jump in 
             there and do it with him, but that didn't happen right 
             away. I am kidding a little bit. But we couldn't have had 
             a farm bill without Senator Chambliss.
               When I think how difficult it is to move legislation 
             like that, particularly over the course of the past year, 
             and realize that a farm bill really isn't so much 
             Republican/Democratic--it really isn't. If you look at how 
             a farm bill works, that is not the makeup. It comes down 
             to people who know and understand agriculture, who 
             understand the importance of a good farm bill for our 
             farmers and ranchers, but understand also that our farmers 
             and ranchers across the country create the highest 
             quality, lowest cost food supply in the world. It is not 
             perfect, but every American benefits every day from the 
             highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world.
               So when I think of my State of North Dakota, or Senator 
             Coburn's great State of Oklahoma, or Senator Johanns' 
             State of Nebraska--we all produce all of these different 
             ag products. We raise all these crops, we raise all these 
             animals. And there are so many people out there, so many 
             farmers and ranchers--they don't know Saxby Chambliss. But 
             I will tell you what: They owe him a great big thank you. 
             They really do, because without him we wouldn't have a 
             good farm plan for this country.
               The reality is it is not just the farmers and ranchers. 
             It is true for so many people across this country: They 
             may not know Saxby Chambliss, but they owe him a lot. He 
             is somebody who epitomizes the very best of this 
             institution.
               I know his wife Julianne is here. I have to admit, when 
             I first met her I thought she was his daughter because she 
             is so young and beautiful. I am teasing him a little. But 
             she is fantastic. And the same thing--she was immediately 
             a friend and a mentor to my wife Mikey.
               When we talk about Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Mike 
             Johanns, it doesn't get any better than that. We will miss 
             them a lot.
               I wish all three of them Godspeed, and may God bless you 
             in your next career.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut is 
             recognized.

               Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I add my congratulations to 
             Senator Chambliss. It is strange, coming here in the last 
             2 years and getting to serve only 2 years with giants in 
             the Senate like Saxby, like Tom Harkin, and like Senator 
             Rockefeller, whose legacies will live on. ...

               Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, as the current session of 
             Congress comes to a close it is our custom to take a 
             moment to express our appreciation for the service of our 
             colleagues who are retiring and will not be with us when 
             the next session begins in January. We will miss them all. 
             Over the years their experience and insights on a number 
             of issues have been a very valuable part of our debates 
             and deliberations.
               I know I will especially miss Saxby Chambliss. His work 
             here on the floor and his committee assignments have 
             played an important role in our consideration of a number 
             of issues over the years. Simply put, he has been a great 
             champion for conservative causes during his service in the 
             House and Senate and he has made a difference for his 
             constituents in many ways. He is a man of principle, and 
             he has a great gift for expressing his viewpoint in a 
             thoughtful, clear, and interesting manner. He is so 
             persuasive, in fact, that even if you disagree with him he 
             makes you take a moment to reconsider your position just 
             to be sure you have not missed something.
               Before he began his years of public service to the 
             people of Georgia, Saxby proved to be the kind of 
             individual who would have been a success at just about 
             anything he decided to pursue. Fortunately, the path he 
             chose to follow in his life brought him to the Nation's 
             Capital to represent Georgia--first in the House of 
             Representatives and later in the Senate.
               Saxby served four terms in the House. It was a challenge 
             that he enjoyed because it gave him a chance to sit on the 
             committees that were taking a closer look at our 
             intelligence organizations to be certain they would be 
             ready to face any future threats to our national security. 
             Georgia was proud to see that they had elected someone to 
             Congress who was hard not to notice. He did such a good 
             job, in fact, he was encouraged to run for the Senate.
               When he arrived in this Chamber, he had already 
             established himself as one of our leading conservative 
             voices. That did not surprise any of us. He has a calm, 
             even way of expressing himself and articulating how his 
             principles play out for whatever issue we have before us.
               One great attribute that Saxby brought with him to his 
             work in the Congress was his willingness to work with 
             people who did not always agree with him. He knew there 
             would come a time when they would agree with him on 
             something no matter how many times they had disagreed in 
             the past. When the situation presented itself that was 
             what he would focus on.
               Simply put, Saxby believes very strongly in making 
             progress and getting results. He is not all that concerned 
             about who gets credit for it. As the old adage reminds us, 
             for Saxby, it is all about leaving things a little better 
             at the end of the day today than they were yesterday.
               Over the years Saxby has always found a way to make 
             progress no matter how rough the road seemed to be. It has 
             been one of the guiding principles behind Saxby's 20 years 
             of service. His commitment to moving forward has enabled 
             him to leave his mark in Georgia and throughout much of 
             the United States.
               Now that this chapter of Saxby's life has come to a 
             close, I am not sure what he has planned for his next 
             great adventure. He just does not strike me as someone who 
             will be content to sit on the sidelines. I am sure we will 
             be hearing from him from time to time with some words of 
             encouragement and support--and a suggestion or two. In 
             fact, I am looking forward to it.
               Saxby, thank you for your service in the House and the 
             Senate. In your 20 years of service in the House and the 
             Senate you have not only been a witness to the history of 
             your home State of Georgia and our Nation, you have helped 
             to write it. Because of you the Nation is stronger, safer, 
             and more secure. Yours is a record of leadership of which 
             you should be very proud.
               Diana joins in sending our best wishes to you. From one 
             Sigma Chi brother to another, you have made a difference 
             because you have always led the best way--by example. What 
             others are content to talk about you have stepped up to do 
             the work needed to get the job done and because of that 
             you have been able to make a difference--an important and 
             long-lasting one.
                        ORDER FOR PRINTING OF SENATE DOCUMENT
               Mr. BENNET. I ask unanimous consent that the tributes to 
             retiring Senators be printed as a Senate document and that 
             Senators be permitted to submit tributes until December 
             23, 2014.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.
                                             Thusday, December 11, 2014
               Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I wish to share a few 
             thoughts about the service in the Senate of our good 
             friend and colleague Saxby Chambliss.
               Saxby is one of the best liked and most respected 
             Senators in this body. Every Member knows him. Every 
             Member likes him. Every Member respects him. I truly share 
             that view. And on matters particularly related to national 
             security, intelligence issues, and terrorism, I 
             consistently want to know what Saxby has to say about it.
               He has done a whole lot of things in this Senate. He has 
             been a participant and a contributor on many issues. He 
             worked really hard to try to create a bipartisan solution 
             to our debt crisis. That didn't quite develop, but it was 
             a positive part of the discussion this Senate went 
             through.
               What I really want to say is that as chairman or vice 
             chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and having 
             been a longtime Member of the House Intelligence 
             Committee, and here in the Senate, he has become the go-to 
             person with regard to the sensitive issues relating to the 
             security of our country. I consistently have looked to him 
             because I trust his judgment, trust his integrity, and 
             trust his wisdom to help sort through all the political 
             news articles and debates and hot issues, and to distill 
             down to the bottom of what is important, what we should be 
             focused on, and what the right thing is for America.
               Truly, he has been a remarkable Senator. We are going to 
             miss Saxby. I am going to miss Saxby, as so many of us 
             will. He is the son of an Episcopalian minister. He is a 
             man of faith.
               He has a delightful wife, Julianne. My wife is a good 
             judge of character and she thinks Julianne hung the Moon, 
             and that is so true. They are a great family and great 
             partners.
               Saxby has given so much to the Senate. Georgia has 
             produced some great Senators, particularly Senators known 
             for their commitment to national security and the defense 
             of America: Richard Russell, for whom the Russell Senate 
             Office Building is named; Sam Nunn, who was so long a 
             leader in the Congress with regard to national defense.
               Saxby Chambliss is in that category. That is the kind of 
             Senator he has been--from defending America to helping his 
             colleagues sift through difficult issues and make good, 
             wise decisions. It has been a great pleasure for me to 
             serve with him. I wish him every success in his future 
             endeavors and look forward to seeing him back in this area 
             many times.
               I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a 
             quorum.
                                              Friday, December 12, 2014
               Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I will now speak very briefly 
             about my retiring colleagues and then turn it over to the 
             Senator from Florida. I promise I will be brief.
               Everybody will face retirement, voluntarily or 
             involuntarily. There will be a last vote to cast and a 
             last speech to make. Only God knows when that day comes 
             because we are all just one car wreck away from ending our 
             careers.
               To the retiring Members, I have had the pleasure of 
             serving with you, and I know you all. You did what you 
             thought was best for our country and your State, and what 
             more could anyone ask? My good friend Mark Pryor, who 
             tried to find common ground at a time when it is hard to 
             find. Mary Landrieu, who would drill under the Capitol if 
             she thought it would help American energy independence. We 
             have good friends on the other side, and I will miss you, 
             and I wish you well. But I would like very briefly to 
             speak about four.
               Saxby Chambliss and Julianne and the Chambliss family 
             have become my family. If you are lucky in politics, you 
             will make a few friends. I have been very lucky, and I 
             have made lifelong friends with the Chambliss family, not 
             just Saxby.
               Saxby represents the best in being a Senator. He looks 
             the part, and he acts the part. I would say to the people 
             of Georgia that he worked very hard on your behalf. He 
             protected our country against terrorism. He helped the 
             farmer. He did everything he knew how to do to serve the 
             people of Georgia, and I will miss my friend. ...
               To all of you, Godspeed. I wish you nothing but the 
             best.
               I am fortunate enough to go into my third term. To my 
             colleagues, as we go into the next Congress, let's try to 
             do better. I know we can. And if we do, all boats will 
             rise.

               Mr. HATCH. Madam President, I rise today to honor my 
             good friend Senator Saxby Chambliss on the occasion of his 
             retirement. For 20 years he has served his fellow 
             Georgians in Congress with honor and distinction. He will 
             be sorely missed.
               A preacher's son, Saxby was born in Warrenton, NC. He 
             graduated from the University of Georgia and the 
             University of Tennessee College of Law. As a lawyer in 
             south Georgia, he built a successful law practice 
             representing the farmers that are the lifeblood of his 
             State.
               He put his expertise on farm issues to good use here in 
             Congress and became a key player in negotiations for each 
             of the farm bills considered during his tenure. Just 2 
             years after he was elected to the Senate, he assumed the 
             chairmanship of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
             Committee, the fastest any new Senator has risen to chair 
             a standing committee since 1947.
               Saxby and I served together for many years on the Select 
             Committee on Intelligence, where I came to appreciate his 
             wisdom, his sound judgment, and his unyielding commitment 
             to keeping this Nation safe. He has been an enormously 
             effective vice chairman over the past 4 years. Even as his 
             tenure here draws to a close, he has once again 
             demonstrated his superb leadership in setting the record 
             straight on the Intelligence Committee's investigation of 
             the CIA's detention and interrogation program.
               Above all else, Saxby is a proud husband, father of two, 
             and grandfather of six. I know that his lovely wife 
             Julianne and the rest of his family are eager to spend 
             more time together in the coming years.
               Mr. President, Saxby and the entire Chambliss family 
             should know that his colleagues, his fellow Georgians, and 
             his fellow Americans are truly grateful for his service 
             and his family's sacrifices. I wish them all the best.
                                              Monday, December 15, 2014
               Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, it is a great pleasure but 
             a bittersweet moment for me to rise on the Senate floor to 
             pay tribute to a dear friend and an esteemed colleague, 
             Senator Saxby Chambliss.
               After 20 years in Congress--8 in the House and 12 here 
             in the Senate--Senator Chambliss retires from this phase 
             of service to Georgia and to our Nation with a well-
             deserved reputation as a true statesman.
               At a time when the coarsening political discourse across 
             our Nation and here in Congress is a growing concern, 
             Senator Chambliss is a shining example of expertise and 
             ability combined with civility and respect. He leaves 
             Congress not only with many friends on both sides of the 
             aisle, but also with many accomplishments to his credit.
               His leadership in national security and intelligence in 
             both Chambers has been a great asset to our Nation. From 
             agriculture to armed services, Senator Chambliss has been 
             an informed and effective advocate for his constituents 
             and for the American people.
               The golfers here might consider the hole in one he 
             famously scored in a foursome with President Obama last 
             year to be worthy of mention. Personally, as the founder 
             and cochair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, I would 
             consider his dedication to the cause of juvenile diabetes 
             to be a true highlight.
               I have also had the great pleasure of serving with 
             Senator Chambliss both on the Intelligence Committee, 
             where he is the vice chairman, and previously on the 
             Senate Armed Services Committee. I saw first hand his 
             extraordinary grasp of complicated issues that are so 
             critical to the security of our Nation. I also witnessed 
             how he would listen carefully to the views of others, 
             whether on the Republican side of the aisle or from the 
             Democratic Members on both committees.
               But if there is one shining moment that stands out for 
             me, it would be Senator Chambliss' leadership in the Gang 
             of Six during the 2011 debt ceiling crisis. At a time when 
             it was far easier to stand back, point fingers, and fix 
             blame, Senator Chambliss, along with Senator Mark Warner, 
             led the way in producing a framework to provide a 
             bipartisan, comprehensive, and balanced way to put our 
             Nation on a stable fiscal path. The fact that our national 
             debt has grown from $16 trillion to $18 trillion since 
             then makes it all the more imperative that we continue the 
             effort, with the leadership that was shown by Senator 
             Chambliss and that he so courageously helped to start.
               The fact that this dedicated and wise leader cited 
             Washington gridlock and partisan posturing as the driving 
             force in his decision to retire from the Senate should 
             give us all cause to reflect.
               Senator Saxby Chambliss has always been a voice of 
             reason. No matter how bitter the debate, he has always 
             engaged in thoughtful discussions that result in 
             solutions. As he returns to private life, his advice will 
             continue to be sought after and I hope heeded. His 
             knowledge and insight will still be valued, and the 
             example of decency and civility he has set should guide us 
             all. I know his beloved wife, his children, and his 
             grandchildren will be happy to have more of Senator 
             Chambliss' time, but for those of us who have been 
             privileged to serve with him in the Senate, his decision 
             to retire is a great loss.
               The people of Georgia, the people of America, and those 
             of us who have been privileged to serve as Saxby 
             Chambliss' colleagues are grateful for his service. I wish 
             him all the best in the years to come, both on and off the 
             golf course.
               Thank you, Madam President.

               Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, in Senator Saxby Chambliss, 
             Georgians have had a diligent voice in Congress for nearly 
             20 years. We may not always agree, but I have appreciated 
             his willingness to cross the aisle on such important 
             issues as budget priorities and agriculture policy.
               Senator Chambliss is the former chairman and ranking 
             member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. In his time in 
             Congress, Senator Chambliss has participated in enactment 
             of four bipartisan omnibus agriculture bills, the most 
             recent of which is the 2014 farm bill. He played an 
             important role in reforming the Crop Insurance Program and 
             has been an advocate for supporting the Nation's 
             agricultural sector. I have particularly appreciated his 
             support for critical conservation and forestry programs.
               Senator Chambliss was recognized as a key legislator in 
             the 2011 discussions surrounding deficit reduction. He has 
             been an active member of the Senate Armed Services 
             Committee and a strong supporter of the National Guard. 
             Through his tenure, he has been a steadfast representative 
             for the people of Georgia, and one prominent publication 
             in the State gave him the title ``Georgian of the Year'' 
             in 2009.
               Senator Chambliss will retire at the end of this 
             Congress, and I wish him, his wife Julianne, their 
             children, and grandchildren all the very best.
                                             Tuesday, December 16, 2014
               Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, as we wind down the final days 
             of the 113th Congress, it is a good time both to reflect 
             on the past and to look toward the future. I have been 
             very moved as I listened to the farewell speeches of our 
             departing Senators, and I wish I had time to pay tribute 
             to each one of them. They have all been wonderful 
             colleagues, and I enjoyed working with and getting to know 
             every one of them. I wish them all the very best in all 
             their future endeavors. They will most certainly be 
             missed. ...

               Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to celebrate and thank 
             the 13 outgoing Senators who have worked tirelessly to 
             represent their home States in the Senate: Senator Mark 
             Begich, Senator Saxby Chambliss, Senator Tom Coburn, 
             Senator Kay Hagan, Senator Tom Harkin, Senator Mike 
             Johanns, Senator Tim Johnson, Senator Mary Landrieu, 
             Senator Carl Levin, Senator Mark Pryor, Senator Jay 
             Rockefeller, Senator Mark Udall, and Senator John Walsh.
               I have worked side by side with these men and women for 
             years--some for decades--and witnessed first hand their 
             extraordinary commitment to public service and to the 
             people they so proudly represent.
               Even when we didn't see eye to eye on every issue, I 
             always deeply respected and admired their service to our 
             Nation and their dedication to fight for what they believe 
             in.
               It has been a privilege to serve alongside each and 
             every one of these extraordinary colleagues. I will miss 
             their leadership and their friendship, and I wish them all 
             the best as they embark on the next chapter.