[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 16, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S3416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO COMMERCE SECRETARY RON BROWN

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I, too, like the distinguished minority 
leader, remember where I was when this tragic message came. I first 
thought to myself that not too many months prior thereto I was with our 
distinguished colleague on a similar mission in that region. Senator 
Bob Kerrey and I were over there, and we actually landed at the same 
airport. This was my fifth trip. I was the very first Senator to make a 
trip to Sarajevo some more than 3\1/2\ years ago. The thought came to 
my mind where the Secretary had given his life, together with the 
aircrews'--aircrews that all of us have traveled with. I traveled with 
those crews and their predecessors for 20-plus years formerly as 
Secretary of the Navy and now in the U.S. Senate. They are a very 
dedicated and well trained group of officers and enlisted men. The 
finest the Air Force has, really, are dedicated to those missions. 
Those aircraft are somewhat old, but they are well kept. They are not 
palatial.

  Of course, with the Secretary were a very distinguished group of 
Americans from the private sector, and journalists also, who were going 
to examine that war-torn region, to help provide for those less 
fortunate than ourselves, who have suffered the tragedies of that 
conflict, a conflict of which to this day, although I have studied it, 
I cannot understand the root causes.
  But, nevertheless, I had known the Secretary. While we are of 
opposite political persuasions, I always remember him as a man of great 
humor. I never saw him without a twinkle in his eye. Always he put 
forward his hand. There were several stressful periods in his life and 
I always stretched out my hand, because those of us in public office 
know from time to time there are periods that put us to the test. But 
he met the tests and he served his Nation.
  I join the distinguished minority leader and my colleagues in paying 
our tribute to him as a fine American, to the aircrews, to all 
passengers who were on that plane. We give our heartfelt compassion to 
the families that must survive this tragedy and go on to lead 
constructive and meaningful lives.
  Mr. President, I thank the Chair and distinguished minority leader.

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