[Senate Document 114-20]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
TRIBUTES TO HON. DANIEL COATS
Daniel Coats
U.S. SENATOR FROM INDIANA
TRIBUTES
IN THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
S.Doc 114-20
Tributes
Delivered in Congress
Daniel Coats
United States Congressman
1981-1989
United States Senator
1989-1999
2011-2017
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 2017
Compiled under the direction
of the
Joint Committee on Printing
CONTENTS
Biography.............................................
v
Farewell Address......................................
vii
Proceedings in the Senate:
Tributes by Senators:
Blunt, Roy, of Missouri........................
10
Boozman, John, of Arkansas.....................
21
Cardin, Benjamin L., of Maryland...............
11, 18
Collins, Susan M., of Maine....................
7
Cornyn, John, of Texas.........................
13
Donnelly, Joe, of Indiana......................
6, 16
Durbin, Richard J., of Illinois................
5
Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming...................
15
Feinstein, Dianne, of California...............
12
Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
17
Klobuchar, Amy, of Minnesota...................
17
Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont..................
13
McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky..................
3, 17
Peters, Gary C., of Michigan...................
20
Portman, Rob, of Ohio..........................
9, 21
Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
12
Proceedings in the House of Representatives:
Tributes by Representatives:
Brooks, Susan W., of Indiana...................
25
Bucshon, Larry, of Indiana.....................
23
Messer, Luke, of Indiana.......................
24
Rokita, Todd, of Indiana.......................
24, 25
Stutzman, Marlin A., of Indiana................
24
BIOGRAPHY
Dan Coats returned to the U.S. Senate in January 2011 to
focus on cutting wasteful spending, reducing the national
debt and promoting a progrowth economic policy to put
Hoosiers and Americans back to work. Senator Coats
dedicated much of his life to serving Indiana and the
Nation in a variety of roles.
After graduating from Wheaton College, Dan Coats went on
to serve in the U.S. Army. Following his military service,
Dan Coats attended the Indiana University Robert H.
McKinney School of Law, where he received his J.D. and was
associate editor of the Indiana Law Review. He went on to
work for a life insurance company in Fort Wayne before
joining the office of then-Congressman Dan Quayle as a
district representative.
From 1981 to 1999, Dan Coats served in the U.S.
Congress, first in the House of Representatives and then
in the Senate. During his time in Congress, he promoted
policies to lower taxes, reduce spending, and reform
entitlement programs. He also served on the Senate Armed
Services Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence
where he worked on ways to strengthen our national defense
and security.
In keeping with a term-limit pledge he made to Hoosiers,
Dan Coats stepped down from his Senate seat in 1999. After
leaving the Senate, he worked in the private sector with
the law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and
Hand. In 2001, Dan Coats was named Ambassador to the
Federal Republic of Germany, arriving in country only 3
days before the tragic events of September 11, 2001. As
Ambassador, Dan Coats played a critical role in
establishing robust bilateral relations and in the
construction of a new U.S. Embassy in the heart of Berlin.
After his time as Ambassador, he worked at the law firm
of King & Spalding and continued to be active in public
service. Dan Coats served as president of Big Brothers Big
Sisters of America and on the boards of many civic and
volunteer organizations, including the Center for Jewish
and Christian Values, which he cochaired with Senator Joe
Lieberman.
Senator Coats and his wife Marsha formed the Foundation
for American Renewal to continue their engagement in
faith-based initiatives. Dan Coats received national
recognition as the author and champion of the Project for
American Renewal, a comprehensive initiative created to
help resolve many of our Nation's social problems.
In the 114th Congress, Senator Coats served on three
Senate committees: Finance, Select Intelligence, and the
Joint Economic Committee (JEC). He served as chairman of
the bicameral JEC. Senator Coats also was chairman of the
Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Energy, Natural
Resources, and Infrastructure.
Dan Coats was the first Hoosier to serve on the Senate
Finance Committee since 1976. This important assignment
allowed Senator Coats to help tackle many of the biggest
fiscal challenges our country is facing. As a member of
the Senate Intelligence Committee, he worked on
initiatives to strengthen our national security and
protect Americans from terrorist threats. As JEC chairman,
he pushed for tax reform, spending cuts, and fiscal
restraint.
Dan and Marsha Coats met in college and have 3 adult
children and 10 grandchildren.
Farewell to the Senate
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Mr. COATS. Madam President, today I rise for the second
time on the Senate floor to deliver a farewell speech. It
doesn't seem like that long ago, back in 1998, that I
delivered my first Senate farewell speech. I spoke then
about making the transition from Senator to citizen, and I
reflected on the end of 24 years of public service.
Standing here today in 2016, 24 years has now become 34
years, as the call for additional public service has
brought me back to the U.S. Senate. Now, as I begin today,
I want to assure my family, some of whom are in the
gallery; my colleagues, some of whom I am pleased to see
have come to hear me speak; my campaign contributors, and
even the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee that I
will not be back for a third farewell address.
Through it all--the ups and the downs, the highs and
the lows, the successes and the failures--I have felt
nothing but gratitude for the incredible privilege of
serving. Serving in the military, working as a
congressional staffer to then-Congressman Dan Quayle,
serving in the House of Representatives, representing my
home State, as a U.S. Senator, and representing our
country overseas as U.S. Ambassador to Germany--all of
this together has been the adventure of a lifetime, and I
am so very grateful for the opportunities I have been
afforded. Participating in the process of governing, being
in the arena fighting for the principles and values in
which I believe--these experiences have all been a
privilege almost beyond description.
It is time to express a few thanks. My good friend and
fellow Senator from Tennessee, Lamar Alexander, who is
sitting here today, who has a good habit of speaking words
of wisdom, has said: ``When you are driving down a country
road and see a turtle on the top of a fence post, chances
are that turtle didn't get there on its own.'' I didn't
get here on my own. Throughout my career, I have been
blessed to have the support of so many talented and
wonderful people who provided invaluable help along the
way. First and foremost, though, I want to thank God for
His providence, guiding my steps along the way. I want to
thank my family, including my wife Marsha for her
unwavering support and wise counsel, our 3 wonderful
children, and our 10 grandchildren, for their love, their
support, and their patience, that allowed me to engage in
the consuming job of an elected official.
I thank my former Senator and Vice President Dan
Quayle, a mentor, friend, and the person who first
encouraged me to consider public service. I want to
express gratitude to former Indiana Governor Robert Orr,
who chose me to fill the Senate seat vacated by then-Vice
President Quayle.
I thank President George W. Bush, who gave me the
opportunity to serve as our Nation's Ambassador to
Germany, and Colin Powell, who led the Department of State
during my time as Ambassador.
I thank the exceptional staff I have been blessed to
have support me over the years--some who are here today
and many who have served through the years and gone on to
achieve great success in their own careers. I specifically
want to thank the five chiefs of staff I have had as a
Senator who have put the team together to support me in
such exceptional ways: David Hoppe; Dave Gribbin, now
deceased; Sharon Soderstrom; Dean Hingson; and Viraj
Mirani. All have led our team with exceptional leadership.
I thank my colleagues for their friendship and
encouragement over the past 6 years. This is a demanding
job, and we all work hard, but it is also a job that
allows each of us the opportunity to spend a lot of time
interacting together. The friendships I have had and now
have with the talented men and women who serve in this
distinguished body is what I will miss most in leaving the
Senate.
Last, but certainly not least, I thank the citizens of
Indiana. Hoosiers have given me the honor of representing
them in the world's greatest deliberative body. Hoosiers,
thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Now, I am not here today to offer deep reflections
about the health of this institution or to advise my
fellow Senators on how to govern in the years ahead. It is
clear that at this time in our history, in our great
Nation, we are a divided country with two very different
visions for America's future. The Senate is not immune to
those divisions, but I firmly believe that all of us,
Republicans and Democrats, are trying to do what we think
is in the best interests of our country and its posterity.
We are all united in the common cause of making our
country a better place, a safer place, and a more
prosperous place, even if our means of getting there
differ.
With that spirit in mind, I know there are many topics
of significant importance that the Senate will consider
when I am gone, but I want to briefly discuss two
transcendent issues that I believe jeopardize America's
continued existence as the world's leading nation. These
are issues I have repeatedly expressed deep concern about
on this Senate floor.
From a practical standpoint, our country simply cannot
keep borrowing money we don't have. Today our national
debt exceeds $19.5 trillion and continues to grow by the
second. Meanwhile, programs that millions of Americans
depend on--Social Security and Medicare are two--are
creeping ever closer to insolvency. America's looming
fiscal storm is bearing down upon us, and the alarms are
sounding louder each day. One day, if not addressed, this
debt bomb will explode and have a devastating effect on
our country's economy and on our children's future.
My second great concern is what I call the terrorist
bomb--the threat posed by terrorists or rogue state actors
who can successfully conduct an attack with weapons of
mass destruction. We must ensure that the world's most
dangerous weapons stay out of the hands of its most
dangerous people, and we must also adapt to the new
threats we face, such as a cyberattack, that could shut
down our financial systems or electric grid. These
challenges require all those who have governed to rise
above the political consequences that may occur in making
the hard decisions needed to make our country stronger and
more secure for future generations.
In conclusion, I would like to say this. My
congressional career began during the Reagan
administration. I would like to conclude my comments with
a reflection on remarks President Ronald Reagan made
during a memorial service in 1987 for the fallen sailors
of the USS Stark. Allow me to quote a few of the words
President Reagan shared that day:
Yes, they were ordinary men who did extraordinary
things. Yes, they were heroes. And because they were
heroes, let us not forget this: That for all the lovely
spring and summer days we will never share with them
again, for every Thanksgiving and Christmas that will seem
empty without them, there will be moments when we see the
light of discovery in young eyes, eyes that see for the
first time the world around them and wonder, ``Why is
there such a place as America, and how is it that such a
precious gift is mine?''
As citizens of this great country, we have been given a
precious gift--the gift of freedom. America has been a
beacon of freedom that has burned bright before a world
that cries out for liberty, but we should never forget
that we have been able to preserve this precious gift
throughout our history because men and women have heard
the call and then said: ``I will stand in defense of
freedom and I will sacrifice for future generations.''
In looking back on my life of public service, I have
experienced moments when I also have seen that light of
discovery of this precious gift of America and asked
myself: How is it this precious gift is mine? I have seen
the light of discovery at Veterans Day ceremonies as we
remind ourselves that this gift has been earned and
preserved by those who have fought in defense of our
freedoms and especially those who have paid the ultimate
sacrifice. I have seen it in the eyes of wives and young
children who rush into the arms of dads arriving home from
the frontlines of battle. I have seen it in the tears of
joy as our Olympic athletes stand while the ``Star-
Spangled Banner'' is played before the eyes and ears of
the world. I have seen it in the naturalization
ceremonies, where immigrants like my mom expressed pure
joy in becoming an American citizen.
Do we not then--those of us who have been given this
privilege and the challenge of serving in this body as
U.S. Senators--do we not then have an obligation and a
solemn duty to carry on the task of ensuring that the
young eyes of future generations can see this light of
discovery and continue to wonder how it is that such a
precious gift is theirs?
So, my colleagues and friends, with gratitude to the
Almighty, love in my heart for each of you, and bright
hopes for the future of our beloved country, I bid
farewell.
I yield the floor.
?
TRIBUTES
TO
DANIEL COATS
Proceedings in the Senate
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we all remember where we
were on September 11, 2001. The man we honor today
certainly does. He was in Berlin. He had only just begun
his second day as Ambassador to Germany, and then
everything changed.
Planes smashed into the World Trade Center. Terrorists
attacked the Pentagon, where his son-in-law worked.
Thankfully, his family emerged unbroken that day. Others
were not so fortunate.
Ambassador Coats found himself thrown into a role he
couldn't have foreseen a day earlier, a role in which he
would excel but one that would forever change him. Those
who know Dan Coats say that day in September affected him
profoundly. It shook him as a father, it sharpened him as
a policymaker, and it clarified the stakes and his sense
of responsibility.
He may not have known it then, but he would feel the tug
of that responsibility many years later and answer the
call.
Senator Coats had enjoyed a successful congressional
career when he decided to retire in 1998. He earned a
reputation for working hard, getting things accomplished,
becoming an indispensable member of his conference. In
fact, after Dan announced his decision not to seek
reelection, then-Majority Leader Trent Lott rang him up
and said, ``You can't leave.'' Trent Lott recalled saying,
``I can't go forward in the Senate without you.''
Dan's success was no accident. He learned the
legislative ropes working for an up-and-coming Congressman
named Dan Quayle. He applied that knowledge as he
progressed from Congressman Quayle's staffer to his
successor, first in the House, then in the Senate.
This was evident whether Dan was refocused on rebuilding
the military after the cold war, bringing opportunity to
low-income families and children, even dissecting the
finer points of American garbage policy--yes, garbage
policy.
Toward the beginning of Dan's time in the Senate,
Hoosier landfills were filling with New Jersey trash, and
Hoosiers were fed up. So in came Dan with a war cry--
``Don't dump on us!''--and just the right blend of
determination, legislative know-how, and humor to capture
the attention of colleagues and the hearts of
constituents.
Some were unamused in DC or Trenton, but back in
Indiana, Hoosiers were over the Moon. For many, their
first introduction to this plucky new Senator came through
his famous Senate trash ad, the Coats for Senate
commercial, which featured a cigar-chomping garbageman
from Jersey, and earned Dan a place in the hallowed halls
of campaign legend--and perhaps a ticket back to the
Senate.
While Senator Lott may not have been able to persuade
Dan to run for reelection 8 years later, he did offer this
prophetic statement as he bid him farewell:
[Dan Coats] is leaving the Senate, but he is not leaving
us.
I have a feeling that he is going to have a real
influence in many ways for the rest of his life, and he is
going to stay close to all of us.
How right he was.
Fast forward to just over a decade later, former Senator
Coats looked out and saw a country in crisis, adrift on
the world stage, stagnant at home, and sliding into
despair. Dan was deeply unsettled. He shared his concerns
with his wife Marsha. He realized he had two choices. He
could sit back and watch or he could do something.
Dan Coats chose to do something. His election was hardly
a sure thing. He pulled through anyway. When he returned
to the Capitol, he put his head down and he got right to
work. Dan can be a man of few words. He doesn't always
feel the need to speak up, but when he does, people pay
attention. It is a true mark of distinction in a body such
as this with its big egos and sharp elbows.
People listen to this former Ambassador when he explains
the ins and outs of foreign policy. People listen to this
veteran of previous health care debates when he dissects
the problems of Obamacare.
When this fiscal expert shares his waste of the week,
people pay attention. It is how we learned taxpayer
dollars were being spent on Swedish massages for bunny
rabbits. It is how we discovered taxpayer money was being
wasted to determine whether ``hanger,'' that is,
``hunger'' plus ``anger,'' is a real thing.
Senator Coats knew he wasn't going to solve all of our
Nation's problems as one Senator in one term, but he
understood the important contributions he could make. He
also recognized his responsibility to make them. In the
process, he cemented a legacy that will long outlast him
in the Senate. It will certainly continue on in my office.
My own chief of staff, Sharon Soderstrom, is a Coats alum.
Speaker Ryan's chief of staff, Dave Hoppe, is another
Coats alum. The list of Coats staffers who have gone on to
achieve great things--from former White House chief
speechwriter Michael Gerson to incoming Indiana Governor
Eric Holcomb--is as long as it is impressive.
I know Dan is looking forward to spending more time at
Wrigley Field after he retires. Here is the tweet Dan sent
out last month: ``A century in the making, we finally made
it. What a great day to be a Cubs fan.''
It is hard to overstate the importance of the moment for
him. This is a guy who spent part of his honeymoon at
Wrigley Field. So I wonder if maybe, just maybe, he was
able to see a little of himself in his favorite team--
maybe in a guy like fellow Indiana University Hoosier Kyle
Schwarber--a standout player who stepped away from the
game for a season and then came back and picked right up
where he left off without a hitch, knocking it out of the
park just when his team needed him most.
Dan promises he is not coming back a third time. We will
see. It is obvious Dan never needed the office or the
title--not the first time, not the second time, not a
third time.
That said, I know Dan isn't going to stop caring. I know
he isn't going to stop working. So we are going to keep
the Dan Coats ``bat signal'' plugged in. Should the people
call out for a hero yet again, I hope our friend will suit
up one more time because, if nothing else, we are really
going to miss him.
So let us recognize and congratulate Senator Coats for
his many years of service. Let us wish him well in his
latest retirement, and let me personally thank him for his
wise counsel and trusted friendship.
I will miss you, my friend.
Mr. DURBIN. I would say to my colleague Senator Coats
from Indiana: We served together in the House, in the
Senate, and I actually visited him when he was an
Ambassador representing the United States in Germany. It
is an amazing public career on his part, and I wish him
the very best for whatever the future holds for him.
Mr. DONNELLY. Madam President, I rise as we bid
farewell to my good friend, my colleague, my captain, the
senior Senator from Indiana, Dan Coats, who has served his
State of Indiana and our country so well and with such
honor and such dedication for more than 35 years.
I also note how grateful I am to be serving with the
Presiding Officer [Ms. Ayotte], for what an extraordinary
Senator you have been, what a good friend. Someday I hope
to come see the White Mountains of New Hampshire and visit
and see your family. We have been very lucky to have been
touched and blessed by you.
As many of us know, my friend Dan's service to his
country started long before he was elected to this body.
After graduating from Wheaton College in Illinois--and he
has not often told folks he was a soccer star there--he
joined the U.S. Army, where he served from 1966 until 1968
and earned the rank of staff sergeant.
After coming to Indiana to earn a law degree at Indiana
University's McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, Dan
moved to Fort Wayne, where he continued his public service
as a staff member for then-U.S. Congressman Dan Quayle.
In 1980, Dan Coats was elected to represent the Fourth
Congressional District of Indiana--a wonderful area which
he served so well--and it was an office he held for 8
years. Then, in 1988, as Senator Quayle was elected to
serve as Vice President, Dan Coats was appointed to the
U.S. Senate, and he successfully won reelection in 1990
and in 1992. For 10 years, Dan continued his legacy of
service to our beloved State.
As I mentioned, Dan is the senior Senator, and I am the
junior Senator, so whenever we have football discussions,
Dan wins every time.
Through his work on the Senate Armed Services Committee
and the Intelligence Committee, he ensured our country was
more secure and more prosperous for the future.
In 1999, Dan retired from the Senate. He was soon
called back, though, when President Bush asked him to
serve our country again--this time, as U.S. Ambassador to
Germany.
Then-Ambassador Coats arrived in Germany ready for his
duties on September 8, 2001. We know how much our world
changed 3 days later and how important his job became in
ensuring the United States continued its constructive
relationship with our German allies and in keeping all of
us safe back here at home. He not only forged a strong
relationship with then-German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder
and Angela Merkel, but he also played a key role in the
establishment of a new U.S. Embassy in the heart of
Berlin. It is hard to stress how critical Dan Coats'
leadership was for our country at that time, as he used
American diplomacy to help maintain American security.
In 2011, Dan made his return to the Senate, eager once
again to serve the people of Indiana. Over the last 6
years, he has produced steadfast leadership on the Finance
Committee, the Intelligence Committee, and the Joint
Economic Committee.
On a more personal note, I have always been able to
count on him as a partner and a thoughtful friend, willing
to work together to address the many issues impacting
Hoosiers and our whole country--because, when it comes
down to it, we are Americans, and we are all in this
together.
Dan always has been ready to roll up his sleeves and
work in a bipartisan manner, whether it was on an issue
impacting our veterans, protecting our national security,
advocating for fiscal responsibility, or even the finer
issues of government, such as making sure the Government
Publishing Office could change their style guide. As the
rest of us all know, Dan was able to make it clear that we
are not Indianians; we are Hoosiers, and it should be
appropriately discussed as such.
Dan, it has been an honor to serve with you.
He has been a true gentleman and a great teammate in
our work to improve the lives of the hard-working Hoosier
families we represent. I am proud of the work we have done
together.
As Dan leaves the Senate, I wish my friend and
partner--my senior Senator--the best. He will be
remembered for his extraordinary service, his love of
country, his love of our State, and his love of his
family. I hope he will be able to spend a lot of time with
his wonderful wife Marsha, their 3 children, and their 10
grandchildren. Dan has been blessed to have a wonderful
family, and we have been blessed that we could be a part
of his life.
May God bless Senator Coats and his family, may God
bless Indiana, and may God bless America.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.
Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, as I have listened to the
eloquent farewell remarks of my friend and colleague,
Senator Dan Coats of Indiana, I could not help but think
that he sounded happy, contented, serene, and at peace
with the decision he has made. But he leaves the rest of
us feeling bereft and sad and knowing that we will miss
him as a friend and as an esteemed colleague.
As the 114th Congress draws to a close, many words of
affection and gratitude will be offered in tribute to our
friend and colleague Dan Coats as he leaves this Chamber.
But there is no word that better defines this outstanding
leader than the one word that has guided his entire life,
and that word is ``service.''
As we have heard from his colleague from Indiana, the
junior Senator, in 1966, at the height of the Vietnam war,
Dan Coats enlisted in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of
staff sergeant. In 1980, he was elected to the U.S. House
of Representatives from Indiana's Fourth Congressional
District, and he joined the Senate 8 years later. He
quickly became widely known and deeply respected as a
strong voice for fiscal discipline and national security
and as an expert in our intelligence agencies and foreign
affairs.
Dan Coats left the Senate in 1999 and was named as U.S.
Ambassador to Germany 2 years later. He arrived at his
post in Berlin just 3 days before the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001. I cannot help but think how fortunate
our country was to have him in that key position at a time
of such turmoil, anxiety, and fear for our country and all
the world. He played a central role in strengthening the
relationship between our Nation and Germany during that
critical time.
After his tenure as Ambassador had ended, Senator Coats
continued his service. He became the president of Big
Brothers Big Sisters of America and offered his talents to
many other civic and volunteer organizations, including
the Center for Jewish and Christian Values, which he
chaired with another dear friend of mine, Senator Joe
Lieberman. With his wife Marsha, he founded the Foundation
for American Renewal to advance faith-based solutions and
initiatives to help resolve our Nation's many social
problems.
When Dan Coats returned to the Senate in 2012, he
pledged to the people of Indiana and to our Nation that he
would focus his tremendous energy and extraordinary
intellect on cutting wasteful spending, reducing our
national debt, promoting progrowth, job-creating policies,
and strengthening our national security in an era where we
face numerous threats from every possible place. He has
kept those promises. As a father and a grandfather--two
roles that I know he cherishes--Senator Coats has taken to
heart our obligation to ensure a sound economic future for
the next generation.
It has been a particular honor to work side by side
with Dan Coats on the Intelligence Committee. His public
service through that committee will never be fully known
to the public, but I can share with you that Senator Coats
has almost an instinctual ability to get to the heart of
an issue, no matter how complex or difficult the topic.
That, of course, is also a tribute to the fact that he has
thought so deeply about the issues that confront our
country and the threats posed by rogue states and
terrorist groups. He was one of the first Members of the
Senate to recognize the crisis that would emerge due to
this administration's failed policy and incoherent
strategy toward Syria.
His strong and effective advocacy for improved
cybersecurity, a passion that we share, is another example
of his deep commitment to the safety and security of our
Nation and its people. For years, Senator Coats has worked
to protect our Nation's most critical infrastructure from
devastating cyberattacks. Senator Coats has warned us that
it is not a matter of if but of when such attacks occur
right here in our country. He did so--he led the way--
knowing of the political pressure that would be brought to
bear to accept the status quo of cyberinsecurity that
exists within our country's most important infrastructure.
Senator Dan Coats is an inspiring role model to all of
us who seek to serve. He epitomizes dedication, effective
service, and an untiring commitment to making America--
already the greatest country in the world--an even better
place to live. Our Nation is truly grateful to this great
man, and I am so grateful for his friendship.
I wish Senator Coats and his family all the best in the
years to come.
Mr. PORTMAN. Madam President, I speak today as a
neighbor of Dan Coats. I am his neighbor here on the
Senate floor, and I am his neighbor back home. I represent
the State of Ohio, and he represents Indiana. I also was
involved in Dan Coats' early political career because I
was asked to interview him when I was a young lawyer for
his potential move from the House to the Senate. There was
no way to be involved in that process without acquiring
great respect and admiration for this man.
I got to know about his family and his background. He
is literally and figuratively a Boy Scout in every way. He
is also a guy who we will miss here greatly. He has become
the voice of reason, the voice of wisdom, and the voice of
knowledge here in the Senate. In our conference meetings,
he is the person who, when he stands up to speak, others
stop their conversations and actually listen, which is a
rare trait for people in public office sometimes. But that
is because Dan is always sincere, he is to the point, and,
again, he has the experience and knowledge to be able to
speak intelligently on a whole range of issues--some which
we heard about today on the national security front. But
also, he is an advocate for economic growth. He is the
leader here on tax reform proposals. He is the guy who
continually reminds us of our solemn duty here to
represent all the people.
So, Dan, we will miss you greatly. I know Marsha is
happy to have you around a little more. You are going to
have a great time with your grandkids, as we have talked
about. But we know that there will be a great loss here
when you move on. I have to find a new neighbor.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Missouri.
Mr. BLUNT. Madam President, I have one story I want to
tell about Senator Coats.
We have been able to serve together on the Intel
Committee. We sit near each other on that committee. We
work together on other things.
I came to the Senate when Senator Coats came back to
the Senate. It has already been established here that he
served and then served in another capacity as Ambassador.
Then in 2010, when the Presiding Officer [Ms. Ayotte] and
I came to the Senate, he came with us. In almost
everything in the Senate, there is some element of
seniority in how everything is done.
As the only person in our class with prior Senate
service, Dan Coats is the ranking member of our class. He
was 88th in seniority in the Senate the day he started his
second term of the Senate. For circumstances, I turned out
to be 89th.
In the process of going through and selecting offices,
when they got to 88, Dan Coats called me, standing in the
hallway of the Russell Senate Office Building, and he
said, ``I am standing here in front of an office that says
it was Harry Truman's office when he was in the Senate.
You choose after me; don't you?''
I said, ``Yes, I choose after you.''
He said, ``If I don't take this office, will you take
it?''
It was the best of the 12 offices still left. That
wouldn't have been the reason I would take it, but I said,
``Yes, I will take that office.'' It would be great for me
to be in an office in which Harry Truman had spent 10
years while in the Senate, and I later found out he also
spent 82 days as Vice President in that office.
I said, ``I will stay there if I take that office.''
I am actually the only Member who--every year when the
question comes around ``Do you want to look at another
office?'' I check the ``no'' box and send it right back.
Almost everybody else checks the ``yes'' box because they
want to see the real estate in the building that is
available.
I said, ``I will stay there if I take it.''
He said, ``Well, I am going to find an office somewhere
else.''
I have chaired the Rules Committee in the last couple
of years. I deal with lots of Members about lots of
requests. I don't actually know of very many similar
circumstances. In fact, I don't know of any exactly like
that one where Senator Coats said: ``I want you to have
the office.''
I mentioned it to him again the other day, and he said:
``You know, the reason for that was, it was the right
thing to do.''
If there is any part of Dan Coats' character that comes
through time after time, it is that part. It is that part
of who he is that always wants to do the right thing. He
is a man of great conscience, of great courage, of great
willingness to serve. He is a good friend, and it has been
one of the honors of my life in elected office that I have
gotten to spend 6 years working in the Senate with him.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.
Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, first, I notice that
Senator Coats is still on the floor. I want to add my
personal congratulations to Senator Coats for an
incredible career of public service, not only here in the
Senate but serving our country in a very important
diplomatic role.
Senator Coats has added such dignity to this body. He
is a person of incredible integrity and a person who
always listens and tries to do what is right not only for
the people of his State but for our Nation. It has been a
real honor to serve with Senator Coats in the U.S. Senate,
and I wish him only the best going forward. I know he will
continue to find ways to help our country.
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor our
colleagues who are leaving us at the end of this Congress,
six individuals who have done a lot to shape how the
Senate operates today.
First I would like to thank my three Republican
colleagues who are departing. Thank you not only for your
service to our country but your willingness to work with
me and other members of my party on a number of issues.
Mr. President, Senator Coats and I served on the
Intelligence Committee together. He was a supporter of
many of our efforts, including our encryption bill to
require all companies to abide by lawful court orders. ...
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Mr. REED. Mr. President, I want to take an opportunity
to salute and thank and commend my colleagues who are
departing. ...
We also have other colleagues departing: Senator Ayotte
from New Hampshire; Senator Boxer of California, Senator
Coats of Indiana; as I mentioned, Senator Kirk of
Illinois; Senator Mikulski of Maryland; Senator Reid of
Nevada; and Senator Vitter of Louisiana. Each has brought
passion in their work to best serve their constituents,
and the institution of the Senate and the Nation are
better for this service. I am better for knowing them,
working with them, and having the opportunity to share
with them, and I want to thank them for their service. Let
me mention a few words with respect to all of these
distinguished Senators. ...
Mr. President, Dan Coats and I served together. This
goes back to both his tenures in the Senate. Dan and I
served in the Armed Services and HELP Committees. He was a
remarkable Member. He continues to be a remarkable Member.
He left us for a while to serve as Ambassador to Germany.
Once again--no surprise--he distinguished himself with his
thoughtful support of American policy, with his
international approach to issues of concern, and with the
ability to bring people together, not just colleagues in
the Senate but, also, international colleagues.
When he returned, I was very grateful for his help.
Senator Dean Heller and I were working very hard together
on a bipartisan basis to help unemployment insurance
extension. Dan joined us in that effort, and I thank him
for that. It reflects the huge range of talent and
interests that he has and, also, his commitment to the men
and women of Indiana, particularly the working men and
women of Indiana. ...
I have been very fortunate. I have had the privilege to
serve with these ladies and gentlemen, and I want to thank
them for their service.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, it is an honor for anyone to
serve in the U.S. Senate. Giving voice to your
constituents' views is a humbling responsibility. It is
one thing to be called to serve; it is another to come
back for a second tour of duty. Senator Dan Coats' life is
one of public service, beginning with military service and
culminating for now in his retirement this year from the
Senate--his second tenure representing the people of
Indiana.
Senator Coats has championed a number of efforts during
his terms in the Senate. I am particularly grateful for
his support of the National Guard and his support for our
efforts to empower the National Guard within the Pentagon.
Senator Coats has been a watchdog of government spending,
a supporter of critical home assistance programs for low-
income families such as the Low-Income Home Energy
Assistance Program, and was a supporter of our most recent
efforts to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.
Senator Coats has come a long way since his early days
as a State staffer for then-Representative and future Vice
President Dan Quayle. I am sure Hoosiers have not seen the
last this public servant will offer. I wish him, his wife,
Marsha, and their entire family the best in retirement.
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I know it is always difficult
to come to the floor and talk about the departure of our
good friends and valued colleagues. The word I have heard
mentioned the most this week is ``bittersweet''--people
looking forward to the next chapter of their lives but
regretting the fact that good friends and valued
colleagues are moving on to the next chapter of their
lives. Every other December, we find ourselves bidding
farewell to some of our most admired and respected
Members. Today I wish to speak briefly about four of them,
starting with our good friend from New Hampshire, Senator
Ayotte. ...
Mr. President, next I wish to recognize our friend,
Senator Dan Coats. Senator Coats is a well-known commodity
not just in Hoosier country but across the United States.
He has earned the reputation of a distinguished statesman
who genuinely doesn't need an introduction because his
sterling reputation precedes him.
We know his impressive resume. After serving the country
as a soldier in the Army, he decided he wanted to continue
in public service, so he worked as a congressional staffer
for then-Congressman Dan Quayle. When his boss decided to
run for the Senate and won, Dan Coats took his boss'
congressional seat to serve in the House of
Representatives. When Senator Quayle became Vice President
Quayle, Representative Coats became Senator Coats,
following on in his example.
He broke that pattern of following in the footsteps of
the former Vice President when he was appointed Ambassador
to Germany. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, he was
an instrumental diplomat, working with our allies in
Europe as we responded and as the world responded to the
worst terror attack on our country in our history.
I know I speak for every Member here when I say that we
are grateful Senator Coats came out of retirement and came
back to the Senate in 2010. We have come to know that he
is a warrior when it comes to wasteful Washington
spending, and every week he comes to the floor to talk
about his waste of the week. It is a service to all of us,
really, to remind us that we have a lot of work to do in
that area but also to point out how we can save taxpayers'
dollars and use them more efficiently.
Many folks wouldn't know that he regularly attends the
weekly Prayer Breakfast we have here in the Senate as
well, which is a great time for Senators to come together
and to support one another. It reflects Dan's commitment
to faithfully encourage his colleagues day in and day out.
My colleagues know that Senator Coats is also a big fan
of getting things done during votes, and he knows how to
work a room. He has been on the deputy whip team and
helped consult with and helped inform our colleagues in a
way that has helped us to actually get legislation passed
by unifying us.
Suffice it to say Senator Coats is a true diplomat
wherever he goes, and this Chamber has been a better, more
civil place with him in it.
I know Dan would be the first to tell us that his
decades of public service were made possible because of
the equal partner he has in his wife Marsha. They met in
college. They have been married more than 50 years, and
they are a great example to all of us. So thanks to Marsha
and their children and grandchildren for sharing Dan all
these years.
I have a suspicion that Senator Coats doesn't have it in
him to step totally away from public service, and there
has been some news and discussion as to whether he might
be in the running for another important position, perhaps
in the next administration. I know we all look forward to
seeing where he goes next to serve our country, which we
know is so important to him. ...
Let me close by saying thank you again to our friends
Senator Kirk, Senator Vitter, Senator Coats, and Senator
Ayotte for the indelible mark and contributions they made
to the Senate and my sincere appreciation for how they
have faithfully served our country. I am grateful for
their friendship and wish them and their families well as
they tackle new ventures ahead.
Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, as this session of Congress
draws to a close, it provides us with an opportunity to
acknowledge and express our appreciation to those Members
of the Senate who will be retiring in a few weeks. One of
those who will be retiring and will be greatly missed is
Dan Coats of Indiana. Dan has had an interesting career
and through his more than 15 years in the Senate has made
a difference.
He has been a reliable vote for the best interests of
his home State and the future of the Nation, and he leaves
behind a legacy of which he should be very proud. Dan's
first years of service in the Congress began in 1981, when
he served in the House of Representatives. He was then
appointed to the U.S. Senate when Dan Quayle was elected
Vice President.
He served in the Senate from 1989 to 1999, when his
self-imposed term-limit pledge brought to an end his first
years as a Senator. It was not long thereafter that Dan
was again asked to serve, this time as Ambassador to
Germany.
He arrived in Germany and took up his service there
just before our Nation experienced the tragic event of
September 11. Our relationship with our allies took on
prime importance after that, and we were fortunate to have
Dan abroad to maintain our strong friendship with the
German Government and people.
Several years later, the Indiana Senate seat was open
again, and Dan took up the challenge to run again to serve
the people of his home State in the Senate. The people of
Indiana and our Nation, conservatives and people of faith,
have been fortunate to have Dan to rely on. He has been a
steady and dependable force for taking better care of our
Nation's finances and keeping a close watch on our
security.
Last year, after a great deal of prayer and thought and
consideration, Dan did announce that he would not be
running for another term in the Senate. It was a decision
he made once again with the people of his home State in
mind. He has always been determined to have the best
representatives in place to serve the people of Indiana
and address those issues that most concerned him.
With that in mind, Dan announced that he believed ``the
time has come to pass this demanding job to the next
generation of leaders.'' We will miss Dan. We will miss
his background and experience. We will miss his
reasonable, appropriate, and well-timed comments and his
ability to get results. I look forward to his next
challenge or adventure and know he will continue to look
out for what is best for our Nation and our people.
Dan has been a great source of strength and support for
our party and he will be missed. To you, Dan, Diana and I
join in sending our best wishes and our appreciation to
you and Marsha. Together, you have been great examples of
the importance of public service. The organization you
founded, the Foundation for American Renewal, and the
Project for American Renewal that you created have helped
you to focus on and work toward solutions to many of our
problems.
That is also a part of our legacy and why you will
continue to receive the recognition you deserve. You have
also been a part of a number of community and volunteer
organizations. For these and so many more reasons, we
thank you and Marsha for devoting so much of your life to
making our Nation a better place to live. You certainly
achieved that goal and we wish you both the best. ...
Good luck to these fellow Senators.
Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, I rise today to join my
colleague, Dan Coats, our senior Senator from Indiana, who
is wrapping up his time in the Senate as of the next few
weeks. What an extraordinary service he has provided to
our Nation, to our State. We are incredibly grateful to
Senator Coats for what he has done. ...
To my friend, the senior Senator from Indiana, I wish
to tell you what a pleasure it has been to serve with you,
what a good friend you have been, and how lucky I am to
have been your junior partner in this endeavor where we
try to stand for America every single day.
Friday, December 9, 2016
Ms. KLOBUCHAR. ... Madam President, I will close my
remarks by turning to some of our retiring Senators and
speaking briefly on each one of them. ...
I also worked at length with Senator Coats. We both
serve on the Joint Economic Committee. He has shown great
leadership there, and also, again, an ability to work
across the aisle. He believes strongly in civility and in
getting to know your fellow Senators. We are going to miss
him dearly for his pleasant way and his ability to cross
over the aisle and work together. I also want to thank him
for the work he did on an adoption bill that we worked on
together.
Mr. HATCH. ... I want to thank the members of our
Finance Committee for their efforts this year. They have
all been exemplary colleagues to work with. Even when we
disagreed, we have had good discussions.
Today, I want to particularly thank Senator Coats, who
is, as we know, retiring at the end of this Congress. We
will miss the senior Senator from Indiana's stalwart
presence on the Finance Committee and in the Senate as a
whole. I wish him the best of luck. ...
Mr. McCONNELL. ... It goes without saying that keeping
the Capitol running is a vast undertaking. It requires a
passion for service, round-the-clock work, and great
sacrifice by everyone employed. The legislative process
simply wouldn't be possible without the dedicated work of
so many. On behalf of the Senate, I would like to
acknowledge their efforts and say thank you to the
following:
To my leadership team for their wise counsel; to our
committee chairs and ranking members for so much great
work over the past 2 years; to the many colleagues in both
parties for working so hard to make this Senate a success;
and, to those we are saying farewell to--Senators Coats,
Boxer, Mikulski, Reid, Vitter, Kirk, and Ayotte--for your
service to our country, I say thank you. ...
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to
my friend Dan Coats. Dan has twice served the people of
Indiana as Senator, first in the late 1980s and 1990s, and
again for the past 6 years. Dan is a man of integrity and
a leader in the fight against government waste. He will be
missed.
Senator Coats was born in Jackson, MI, in 1943 and
attended Wheaton College in Illinois and Indiana
University School of Law. He served in the U.S. Army from
1966 to 1968, during which time he deepened his lifelong
love of our country.
Dan began his career in politics in 1976 when he went to
work for future Vice President Dan Quayle, who at the time
was serving in the House as a Representative from Indiana.
When Representative Quayle decided to run for the Senate
in 1980, Dan ran for and won Dan Quayle's House seat.
Dan served four terms in the House before being
appointed to the Senate in 1989 to fill the remainder of
Senator Quayle's term after he was elected Vice President.
Dan served in the Senate until 1999. He was a leader in
tax and entitlement reform and provided unwavering support
to our Armed Forces.
After Senator Coats retired from the Senate, President
George W. Bush appointed him Ambassador to Germany, where
he developed a close working relationship with future
Chancellor Angela Merkel and oversaw construction of a new
Embassy near the Brandenburg Gate.
But Dan soon felt the pull of the Senate again and
decided to return to this body in 2010, winning election
to his old seat. Over the past 6 years, Senator Coats has
again been a leader in tax and entitlement reform and has
become well known for his waste of the week speeches, in
which he comes to the floor to highlight particularly
egregious examples of government waste and abuse.
Senator Coats has served the people of Indiana well. He
has served our country well. He has led the fight against
wasteful spending and helped keep our government
accountable. I wish him, his wife, Marsha, and their
family the very best.
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, much of the time here in the
Senate, we are engaged in pretty fierce partisan battles.
I would like to take a break from that for a moment and
talk about the four Republican Senators who will not be
back when the 115th Congress convenes next month. While we
may have different political philosophies and policy
prescriptions, I respect and admire each of them, and I
will miss working with all of them. ...
Mr. President, there is a famous quote attributed to the
American author F. Scott Fitzgerald: ``There are no second
acts in American lives.'' We all know that to be untrue
and, as it turns out, so did Fitzgerald, who was
quintessentially American. What he actually wrote, in an
essay called ``My Lost City,'' is this: ``I once thought
that there were no second acts in American lives.''
If we want to see a successful ``second act'' we need to
look no further than to the senior Senator from Indiana,
Mr. Coats. He is actually on about his fourth act.
Senator Coats graduated from Wheaton College and then
began his long service to our Nation by enlisting in the
U.S. Army. Following his military service, he attended the
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He
excelled academically, becoming associate editor of the
Indiana Law Review, and earned his juris doctor degree.
Senator Coats served as a district representative to
then-Representative Dan Quayle. When Dan Quayle was
elected to the Senate in 1980, Dan Coats won his House
seat and was reelected four times, never receiving less
than 60 percent of the vote. When Dan Quayle was elected
Vice President in 1988, Dan Coats was appointed to the
Senate seat being vacated and then won elections in 1990
and 1992.
During what I will call Senator Coats' ``first''
congressional career, he focused on cutting taxes and
government spending and reforming entitlement programs. In
1998, he honored a term-limit pledge he had made to his
Hoosier constituents and did not run for reelection to the
Senate.
For many people, 18 years in Congress might be enough,
but Senator Coats was just getting started. After he left
the Senate, he joined the prestigious law firm of Verner,
Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand. In 2001, then-
President Bush nominated Senator Coats to be Ambassador to
the Federal Republic of Germany. He arrived in Germany
just 3 days before the September 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks. In the aftermath of 9/11, Ambassador Coats
established excellent relations with then-opposition
leader and future German Chancellor Angela Merkel--a
crucial ally--and managed the construction of a new U.S.
Embassy in the heart of Berlin, next to the Brandenburg
Gate.
Senator Coats served honorably as Ambassador for 3\1/2\
years and then returned to practicing law at another
``blue chip'' law firm, King & Spalding. He also served as
president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and on
the boards of many civic and volunteer organizations,
including the Center for Jewish and Christian Values,
which he cochaired with Senator Joe Lieberman. Senator
Coats and his wife, Marsha, formed the Foundation For
American Renewal to continue their engagement in faith-
based initiatives.
Senator Coats began his ``second'' congressional career
by running successfully for his old Senate seat in 2010.
During Senator Coats' second stint, I have had the
pleasure of serving with him on the Finance Committee,
where we worked together to help charities receive timely
notice on issues related to their tax-exempt status. I
appreciate Senator Coats' calm and steady demeanor, the
diligence he applies to his work, and the civility he
extends to his colleagues.
Senator Coats may be retiring from the Senate, but I
have a hunch there will be yet another successful act in
his long, distinguished career. While we may have policy
disagreements, I have no doubt that Senator Coats is
committed to the common good and will find new ways to
serve. I anticipate, however, that he will also seek to
spend more time with his wife, Marsha, whom he met in
college, their 3 children, and their 10 grandchildren.
Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, as this eventful 114th
Congress draws to a close, today I wish to honor a number
of our colleagues who will be ending their service in the
Senate. I was a newcomer to the Senate at the beginning of
this Congress and the only Democrat in the freshman Senate
class of 2014. I am eternally grateful for the guidance
and wisdom of my fellow Senators, particularly those with
decades of experience fighting for the American people.
Constituents, colleagues, and historians will recount
their accomplishments for years to come, but I will take a
few minutes now to convey some brief words of praise and
gratitude. ...
Mr. President, I would also like to extend my warm
wishes to Senator Dan Coats. He has served ably as
chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, and I have been
proud to sit on the committee during his tenure. He has
convened important hearings to discuss essential issues
including the Federal debt, the effects of automation on
our economy, tax reform, and economic growth. I appreciate
his consistent efforts to create a bipartisan forum where
we can discuss innovative ideas for addressing our
Nation's economic challenges. As a fellow midwesterner,
Senator Coats knows that we must have big ideas and bigger
hearts as we move forward, committed to helping all
Americans achieve the future they deserve. ...
It has been a privilege to work with such talented and
committed colleagues. I wish them all the best in this
next chapter of their lives and thank them for their work.
Thank you.
ORDER FOR PRINTING OF SENATE DOCUMENTS
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that
there be printed as a Senate document a compilation of
materials from the Congressional Record in tribute to
retiring Members of the 114th Congress, and an additional
Senate document a compilation of materials from the
Congressional Record in tribute to the President of the
Senate, Joe Biden, and that Members have until Tuesday,
December 20, to submit such tributes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
ORDER FOR PRINTING
Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that
any tributes submitted by December 20, 2016, as authorized
by the order of December 10, 2016, be printed in the
January 3, 2017, Congressional Record of the 114th
Congress.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Proceedings in the House of Representatives
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I want to use some of the
last time that we have to honor a great Hoosier. I know
others will have comments and, today, as we recognize
Indiana's 200th birthday, it is also important to
acknowledge the contribution of one of those who has made
an indelible mark on our shared history.
Without a doubt, one of those people is a man who
delivered his final speech from the Senate floor this past
week with a heartfelt message about preserving the
freedoms that make this country so great.
Senator Dan Coats exemplifies what it means to be a
public servant. He has dedicated his life to improving the
lives of his fellow citizens.
He served his country in the U.S. Army; he has spent
time in both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate; he served
as an Ambassador to Germany, assuming that role just 3
days prior to the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001.
After this distinguished career, Senator Coats answered
the call to serve his fellow citizens once again in the
U.S. Senate, where he has been a national leader on
reducing Federal spending, fixing our economy, and keeping
our Nation safe and secure.
A little personal story. I was a cardiovascular surgeon
prior to coming to Congress. When I spend time at events
with Senator Coats, he always likes to tell everyone he
feels very comfortable because, if he has a heart problem,
Congressman Bucshon will pick up a butter knife or
something and fix him up right there on the spot.
It is a really humorous story that I enjoy his telling
every time we are together at an event. Senator Coats has
a great sense of humor. While his time in the Senate has
come to an end, I am also confident he will continue to be
a voice and an advocate for the issues he cares about
most. Our State and our country are lucky to have
benefited from the service of a great man like Senator Dan
Coats.
I wish Dan and Marsha all the best.
Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Messer), who represents the Sixth District.
Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, when given the opportunity to
say something nice about Dan Coats, I didn't want to pass
it up. If I could give one word to describe U.S. Senator
Dan Coats, it would be ``Hoosier.'' He is a person of
grace and humility, hard work, and humor. He never worried
about who got credit, loved his country, and made the
sacrifices through his life and career to make our country
better.
I am honored to call Dan a friend, and I appreciate his
mentorship of our entire delegation in the time that I
have had an opportunity to serve here. I suspect Dan's
service for our country isn't quite over yet, and I look
forward to whatever he does next.
One of the other great things about Dan Coats is he is
a family man. I certainly wish Dan, Marsha, and their
entire family a great future.
Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, I think the gentleman is
right. I don't know if Dan Coats will ever be able to
retire. I know he wants to.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr.
Stutzman), who is from the Third Congressional District in
the northeast.
Mr. STUTZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I just want to stand here in
front of this House and this body to honor our Senator,
Dan Coats, who served Indiana in so many different
capacities. I actually have the privilege of representing
his district, the Third District in northeast Indiana.
We have such a long line of great leaders from
northeast Indiana who have served here in Washington from
our State, and Dan Coats, of course, exemplified a man of
character, humbleness, and leadership. He followed former
Vice President Dan Quayle.
I also would like to recognize him as well. He is
another man who showed leadership for our State here in
Washington, DC.
Both of those gentlemen have been heroes and models for
me growing up, watching both of them as they took time to
come to Washington and show what Hoosier leadership is all
about.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman again for honoring
them today.
Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.
In closing this out, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say
that Indiana has produced no shortage of great statesmen,
as we reflected on this last half hour, and Senator Dan
Coats has indisputably joined their ranks after decades of
service to both our State and to our country. My own
history with Senator Coats goes way back to when I was an
intern in his Senate office. If he were on this floor
today, Mr. Speaker, I am sure he would say that I was one
of the worst interns he ever had. Nonetheless, he started
my career in politics with that unpaid job that was one of
the best experiences of my life. He has conservative
leadership, and I know that he was anxious to get back to
helping out the office and do whatever he could for the
State of Indiana, however he could.
Since those many years ago, since those first
observations that I have had of Senator Coats, he has gone
from Senator, to U.S. Ambassador to Germany, and back to
Senator again. It is a long and distinguished career full
of dedication to right ideals and the desire to fight for
what is best for all Hoosier families and what is best for
Americans.
I appreciate all of the work, as we all do, that
Senator Coats has done and the causes he has advocated for
and for his counsel. As I have said, I don't know if he is
actually going to be able to retire at this time, but
whatever his desire, he deserves it.
I have no doubt that he will continue to represent the
best interests of our State and this country even after
his time in the Senate has come to an end. I would like to
issue a heartfelt thank you for all of his work, and I
wish him my best on all his future endeavors.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I hope you will please join us all
in wishing Indiana a happy birthday on this wonderful
occasion of our 200th anniversary.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in
honor and recognition of Senator Dan Coats, a U.S. Army
veteran, former Member of the House of Representatives,
U.S. Ambassador to Germany and a great Hoosier. I've had
the pleasure of serving with Senator Coats as a fellow
member of the Indiana delegation since my first term in
2013. In fact, the first legislation that I introduced and
got passed into law was a bill that I worked on with
Senator Coats and his team, the Alicia Dawn Koehl Respect
for National Cemeteries Act.
During his time in the Senate, he has been a passionate
advocate for Hoosiers, working on policies that are
focused on getting more Americans back to work and getting
our economy back on track. His leadership will be missed,
but I know that he and his wife Marsha will continue to do
great things that make a difference for Hoosiers as they
begin this next chapter of their lives.
Thank you, Senator Coats, for all of your work to
represent our great State of Indiana, and best wishes as
you embark on your next adventure.
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