[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 130 (Saturday, August 5, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S11521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO CAL ANDERSON

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, this morning I was shocked and saddened 
to hear of the sudden and tragic death of a very good friend and long-
time colleague of mine, State Senator Cal Anderson.
  Cal passed away last night of a disease that is touching far too many 
lives. Cal announced that he had been stricken with HIV/AIDS just a 
short time ago. Cal faced AIDS as he faced every legislative battle we 
fought together: With courage, with integrity, and with honor. Even 
though Cal was seriously ill these past months, he continued to do his 
job for his constituents the best he could, fighting hard for the 
things he believed in. He worked hard to the end, representing his 
constituents to the best of his ability.
  I worked very closely with Cal during my time in the Washington State 
Senate. He has been known throughout our State as an outstanding 
legislator. He worked hard, he stayed true to his beliefs, and he had a 
unique ability to find solutions. I worked with him on an open 
government committee on which we took steps to make the legislative 
process more accessible. Cal made sure our bill was not only workable 
but a big improvement in peoples' ability to participate in government.
  Cal was a Vietnam combat veteran. He won two Bronze Stars and two 
Army commendations for meritorious service. He was courageous and he 
was honest. He served his country, as well as his constituents.
  Perhaps most importantly, Cal was a passionate advocate for human 
rights and dignity. Just last month, a home in Seattle was dedicated in 
his name. The Cal Anderson House is a 24-unit facility that will 
provide housing, counseling, and other services to low-income families 
with HIV/AIDS.
  A month ago, I visited Cal in his hospital room. As usual, he spoke 
not about himself but what I needed to do. Cal told me, if nothing 
else, I needed to do as much as I could as a U.S. Senator to ensure 
that people with serious diseases did not have to fight with their 
insurance companies for health care at the same time they had to fight 
the disease for their lives. Cal said he, himself, had excellent 
coverage as an elected official, but those around him suffered through 
insensitive insurance companies. He felt that dignity was and is being 
taken away from seriously ill Americans, and that did not reflect the 
America he knew and loved.
  So, today, I rise to simply say good-bye to Cal, to thank him for his 
years of service to his country and his State, and to say: Cal, your 
battle is over, but our battle continues, to defeat AIDS so that it 
will stop taking lives from far too many young Americans.
  I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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