[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 115 (Monday, July 17, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S10082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        TRIBUTE TO SENATOR PRYOR

  Mr. JOHNSTON. Mr. President, Senator David Pryor is a man of many 
accomplishments. In his distinguished career, he has been a journalist 
and founder of a newspaper, a member of the Arkansas House of 
Representatives and a two-term Governor of his State. In Arkansas, they 
still talk about his achievements as Governor during the 70's 
recession. Carefully and caringly, he cut spending without cutting the 
programs that people depended on.
  He is also a lawyer who served three terms as the Representative of 
the Fourth Congressional District of Arkansas. He has served three 
terms in this body as a U.S. Senator and the last time he ran, he was 
so popular that nobody bothered to run against him. As a member of the 
Agriculture Committee, he has actively shaped innovative programs and 
policies which have helped the farmers of Arkansas while furthering the 
leadership position of the United States in the world agricultural 
community.
  More than anything else, what has distinguished Senator Pryor's 
legislative work in the U.S. Congress has been his sensitivity to the 
needs of private citizens. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, 
he wrote a ``Taxpayer Bill of Rights'' which guaranteed--for the first 
time in 40 years--the rights of individual citizens in their dealings 
with the IRS.
  Senator Pryor is known as an advocate for senior citizens. His 
advocacy is based on an extensive acquaintance with their situation, a 
compassionate understanding of their needs and a thorough knowledge of 
the existing support systems for the elderly. As a Member of the House 
of Representatives, he at one point worked incognito to gain first-hand 
experience of conditions in the nursing home industry. He served for 6 
years as chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and, as 
ranking member, is continuing the fight to save Social Security and 
bring down prescription drug prices.
  Senators, and I was one of them, heard his announcement that he did 
not plan to run again in 1996 with both relief and great regret. 
Relief, because he works too hard. If by leaving the Senate he can stop 
working too hard, then that is the right thing to do, for his health 
and for his wonderful wife and family. But I do feel sincere regret, 
for the Senate and for the Nation, that in 1996 we will lose his 
legislative skills and his compassion for the individual. And speaking 
for myself, I feel genuine regret that our working relationship will be 
ending. It has been a warm, collegial, productive relationship for 17 
years, most notably on the Aging Committee. I have appreciated both the 
astuteness of his insights and the pleasure of his company, and hope to 
do so for the remainder of our terms.

                          ____________________