[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.



                                [all]