[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               TRIBUTE TO MAJORITY LEADER GEORGE MITCHELL

  Mr. SASSER. Mr. President, like many of my colleagues, I was 
surprised and saddened when I learned that my good friend, majority 
leader George Mitchell, decided not to seek reelection.
  I say this with a sense of personal regret, because Senator Mitchell 
is indeed my good friend. I will miss his counsel and his good company. 
But he and I will remain friends as he pursues other interests and 
opportunities.
  We Senators lose a colleague. For the Senate and the Nation, the loss 
is far greater. George Mitchell is probably the finest, most dedicated 
public servant I have known. As majority leader, he has brought 
together a subtle understanding of the law with a profound human 
sympathy and compassion. As a man, he combines an acute intelligence, a 
ready wit, and an absolute devotion to principle.
  During his brilliant career in the Senate, George Mitchell has 
established an enviable record of legislative accomplishment. That 
record was highlighted, I believe, by his leadership of the historic 
103d Congress.
  George Mitchell led the effort for reauthorization of both the Clean 
Air Act and the Clean Water Act. He worked to strengthen the laws 
against discrimination in employment and for the passage of the 
landmark Americans with Disabilities Act.
  During his time as leader the Congress has enacted a higher education 
bill that expands college opportunities for millions of Americans and a 
major transportation bill that is helping create jobs and rebuild our 
crumbling infrastructure. In this Congress alone, he has helped pass 
into law the Motor Voter bill, Family and Medical Leave, and the 
largest deficit reduction bill in history. In part because of his 
leadership, our economy is experiencing a sustained recovery that has 
resulted in 2 million new jobs.
  Mr. President, Senator Mitchell has been guided in this important 
work by one principle: to extend the American dream to all of our 
citizens.
  George Mitchell knows just what the American dream is--he has lived 
it. His mother came to this country from Lebanon. His father was the 
son of Irish immigrants. Both worked hard to provide increased 
opportunities for their son.
  He attended Maine public schools and Bowdoin College. After service 
as an officer in the U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Corps, he attended 
Georgetown University law School, receiving his degree in 1960. He 
later became executive assistant to our former colleague, Ed Muskie.
  George Mitchell later returned to Maine, eventually becoming a U.S. 
attorney. In 1971, he was appointed U.S. district court judge. In 1980, 
he was appointed to the Senate when Ed Muskie was appointed Secretary 
of State. A short 8 years later, he was chosen by his colleagues to be 
majority leader.
  Through it all, he has served with quiet dignity, with good humor, 
and with brilliance. Both we and the country owe him a tremendous debt 
of gratitude. It may seem early to say so, but I think history will 
record that Congress has lost one of its great statesmen.
  So, Mr. President, I wish him well, and I trust that the country will 
continue to benefit from his leadership and good judgment in the 
future.

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