[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 137 (Wednesday, September 6, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S12751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          SENATOR BILL BRADLEY

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, our friend and colleague Bill Bradley has 
said that he has always preferred moving to standing still. When the 
104th Congress adjourns around a year from now, the senior Senator from 
New Jersey will move on to new challenges in his life and career, and 
we will feel the loss of one of the most principled and thoughtful 
Members of this body. While Senator Bradley has expressed a deep sense 
of disappointment in the country's current political climate, I know 
that he will be able to look back on his career in the Senate with a 
lasting sense of pride in his accomplishments on behalf of the people 
of New Jersey, and of the Nation.
  Bill Bradley's work in the Senate has been remarkable for the breadth 
of its legislative range, and for the depth of its intellectual 
foundation. Whether addressing the intricacies of tax policy or the 
broad impact of international trade proposals, his grasp of the subject 
matter before him is unrivaled. Ask any Senator who has stumbled 
unprepared into a debate with him. Bill Bradley has been a legislative 
force to be reckoned with, as he will continue to be until his last 
vote is cast in this Chamber.
  Senator Bradley is often recognized for his mastery of technically 
intimidating issues. But I will always remember him more for the 
passion he can bring to a debate than for his oft-cited professorial 
prowess. In the last decade, some of the most socially important and 
emotionally powerful statements on the subject of racial strife in 
America have been delivered from the heart and soul of Senator Bradley.
  When Senator Bradley takes the floor to speak, or offers a 
legislative solution to a national problem, he comes armed with 
formidable arguments and effective insights. When Bill Bradley takes up 
an issue or takes on a cause, he will likely succeed in what he's set 
out to achieve. This is the result of a rare combination of the 
competitiveness with which he was clearly born, and the credibility he 
has earned through a life in public service.
  If you are a working-class American, then Bill Bradley has served you 
well. If you are poor or disadvantaged, Bill Bradley has made your 
concerns his cause. Through the din of violence and divisiveness in our 
society, Bill Bradley has been a voice of healing. In the face of 
monied special interests, Bill Bradley has been a fighter for fairness 
and economic justice. Bill Bradley has been a credit to the Senate, to 
the Nation, and to public service. He has been a powerful advocate for 
the values that so many of us share, and I look forward to working with 
him on the vital matters we will face together in the months remaining 
in his term.


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