[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 5, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    TRIBUTE TO SENATOR JACK DANFORTH

  Mr. DeCONCINI. Mr. President, as the 103d Congress draws to a close, 
I would like to pay tribute to one of the most esteemed members of this 
body who will be retiring with me at the end of this session, Senator 
Jack Danforth. Jack and I began our service in the Senate in 1977 and 
will be closing the door at the same time. Our departures are tinged 
with sadness, yet great expectations for the future.
  Jack leaves his 18-year Senate career with a long string of 
legislative accomplishments, but it is Jack the ``Man'' who has left an 
indelible mark on this institution. An ordained Episcopal minister, he 
has lived his Christian principles both as a Member of the Senate and 
in his own personal life. Jack Danforth is a man of unquestioned honor 
and integrity. No one questions his motives or accuses him of crass 
partisan politics. Why? Because they know Jack fights for causes simply 
because he believes they are right, the political consequences be 
damned. The people of Missouri recognized how unique Jack Danforth is 
in the world of politics and rewarded his efforts by electing him to 
three consecutive terms in the Senate, the first time that has occurred 
in the history of the State.
  Perhaps Jack will be best remembered for his passionate defense of 
Clarence Thomas to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. 
Clarence Thomas had worked for Jack Danforth both in Missouri where he 
served as assistant Missouri attorney general, and in his Senate office 
in Washington, DC. As a result of his long personal and professional 
relationship with Clarence Thomas, Jack Danforth felt that the Supreme 
Court nominee was being unfairly pilloried by the press and certain 
members of the Senate. He strongly and emotionally defended both 
Clarence Thomas' character and his credentials to serve on the Supreme 
Court. One by one, he talked with undecided Members, including this 
Senator. Clarence Thomas' ultimate confirmation to serve on the U.S. 
Supreme Court can in no small measure be attributed to the efforts of 
Senator Jack Danforth. As he has done on so many other occasions, Jack 
Danforth fought for what he believed was right regardless of the 
political consequences.
  While I have stressed Jack Danforth's personal qualities, I do not 
mean to minimize his legislative accomplishments. He was the principal 
author and sponsor of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, a landmark piece of 
legislation ensuring fairness in hiring, promotion and other employment 
practices. He negotiated some very difficult compromises on the 
legislation among Republicans and Democrats, liberals and 
conservatives, which ultimately led to its enactment.
  From his seat on the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Danforth 
worked to strengthen world trade laws, remove trade barriers, expand 
U.S. export opportunities and open global markets. Domestically, he 
worked to ensure effective assistance and training for workers and 
firms injured by imports. Beyond trade, Senator Danforth worked to 
ensure long term economic growth by spearheading efforts to spur 
research and development, to foster capital formation and to provide 
incentives to modernize plants and equipment.
  From his position as ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee, 
Senator Danforth worked tirelessly to improve our Nation's 
infrastructure by expanding and modernizing our Nation's airports and 
the air transportation system. Simultaneously, he fought for improved 
safety by establishing national standards for licensing professional 
truck drivers and strengthening laws to ensure passenger safety. He was 
also the principal author of laws to require on-the-job testing for 
drug and alcohol use by key transportation workers.
  Even in the waning days of this Congress, Jack Danforth was hard at 
work trying to forge a compromise on health care reform. While those 
efforts were not successful, all those involved in the effort have sown 
a seed which, I believe, will ultimately bear fruit.
  As we leave the Senate, I want to thank Jack Danforth for his 
exemplary service and to wish him and his family good luck, good 
health, and Godspeed.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________