[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  TRIBUTE TO SENATOR DENNIS DeCONCINI

  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, the 104th Congress and the State of 
Arizona face a void next year in light of the retirement from the 
Senate of our friend, Senator Dennis DeConcini.
  I have had the pleasure of working with Dennis on many issues over 
the years, including the balanced budget amendment legislation and 
other Judiciary Committee matters. He has served this year as a 
forceful chairman of the Intelligence Committee.
  Like I have been myself in the past, Dennis has been called a swing 
vote on key legislation before the Judiciary Committee and the Senate. 
His instincts on many issues are conservative. He takes the time to 
examine issues thoroughly and sometimes makes his decisions based on 
details that the rest of us might not have considered. We saw an 
example of Dennis' analytical approach to tough legislation when he 
provided a crucial and courageous vote in support of the deficit 
reduction package last August.
  I think this approach on the part of Senator DeConcini is an asset 
that has served him and the Senate well over the years. It suggests a 
judicious approach to important issues that come before us that often 
helps to cool the passions that seem to guide us so much of the time.
  He has always put the interests and well-being of his constituents at 
the top of his agenda. He has worked diligently for his State, and 
Arizonans have always had a friend in Dennis DeConcini. Never one to 
actively seek the spotlight or promote himself in the media, he has 
done much of his work quietly on committee, just as have other moderate 
Democrats from his region of the country. Those of us who know how hard 
he works also know that he has never been given the proper credit he 
deserves as a true Senate leader.
  I think the way Dennis has run his Senate offices is reflective of 
the kind of person he is and the kind of loyalty he inspires. His staff 
members speak very highly of him and obviously have a great deal of 
affection for him, not only as a boss, but as a friend. There is little 
turnover among his staff and he is good about promoting from within. 
Dennis also has a proven record of hiring women and minorities for 
important policy positions like legislative director.
  I am proud to commend Senator DeConcini for his many years of 
distinguished years of service to Arizona and to the Nation as a U.S. 
Senator.

                          ____________________