[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11617-S11618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RETIREMENT OF SENATOR ALAN SIMPSON

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, in a matter of days, or even hours, one of 
the finest individuals it has been my privilege to know will bring to a 
close another chapter in what has been, by any measure, an 
extraordinary legislative career.
  Of course, no one should be surprised by the fact that our friend 
from Wyoming, who has served in the Senate for nearly 18 years, is one 
of the most accomplished legislative craftsmen to ever grace these 
hallowed halls. In fact, one could say that Alan Simpson was born to a 
life in politics, that he really did not have a choice in the matter. 
One might say that. After all, when one's family has practiced law for 
the past 100 years, and when one's father has served the beloved State 
of Wyoming as both a Governor and as a U.S. Senator, it is hard to 
argue that one's fate was not predetermined.
  Although actually born in Denver, CO, Senator Simpson is a lifelong 
native of Cody, WY, which, as he would be quick to remind us, is the 
home of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Following graduation from 
the University of Wyoming with a bachelor of science degree in law, the 
young Senator-to-be began his life of public service as a 2d Lieutenant 
in the U.S. Army, serving in the 5th Infantry Division in Germany.
  After leaving the Army, Alan Simpson returned to the University of 
Wyoming to obtain his juris doctor, and then commenced a law practice 
with his father in their hometown firm of Simpson, Kepler and Simpson. 
His love of the law is evident in the fact that Alan remained with the 
firm for the next 18 years, during which time he served as the State's 
assistant attorney general, and the Cody city attorney.
  Responding to the call of greater professional challenge, and 
carrying on in the family tradition, Senator Simpson entered the 
political arena when he won election to the Wyoming House of 
Representatives in 1964, a position he would occupy for the next 14 
years. His love for the art and the process of legislating further 
propelled Alan to seek and win a seat in this great legislative body.
  Mr. President, having been elected to three terms here in the Senate, 
it is obvious that his Wyoming constituents understand and appreciate 
the degree of skill, dedication, and integrity that Alan Simpson has 
brought to his work. And, as a former assistant majority leader, and a 
former assistant Republican leader, it is obvious that his Republican 
colleagues have understood and valued those qualities in Senator 
Simpson as well.
  But despite his steady climb up the leadership ladder, no one should 
make the mistake of assuming that the senior Senator from Wyoming has 
shied away from controversy.
  To the contrary, it is doubtful that there is any other Member of 
this body who is more willing to enter into the fray, who is more 
willing to take on the special interest groups, or who is more willing 
to apply his quick and often devastating verbal wit to any and all 
situations, including turning that laser-sharp humor on himself.
  One need look no further than the difficult and contentious issue of 
immigration to see that Alan Simpson is not content to simply sit by 
and watch others take the lead and take the heat. For more than 15 
years, dating back to when he first became chairman of the Judiciary 
Committee's Immigration Subcommittee, Alan has undertaken the arduous 
and generally thankless task of crafting bills that would discourage 
illegal immigration and bring much-needed common sense to our national 
policies with respect to legal immigration. He has led the way in 
calling for tough sanctions on those employers who hire illegal 
immigrants, by articulating the need to establish a strong and workable 
employment verification system and by speaking out on the necessity of 
lowering the total number of legal immigrants this Nation annually 
absorbs.
  I have been fully supportive of Alan Simpson in these endeavors.
  I know I speak for many of my colleagues when I say that with respect 
to immigration, I will certainly miss the advice and counsel of my good 
friend from Wyoming, Alan Simpson. All of us, on both sides of the 
aisle, will lament the loss of his informed and courageous leadership 
in this legislative area.
  His work on immigration, though, was not the only complex and 
troubling issue that Alan Simpson has been willing to tackle. After 
gaining a seat on the Finance Committee, Senator Simpson was resolute 
in his desire to stem the growth of entitlement spending. That 
conviction, of course, put him on track to collide with some of the 
most powerful and entrenched special interests Washington has ever 
known, but he did not waver. He did not tremble. He did not trim his 
sails. He did not run from the issue. He did not retreat from the 
battlefield. Instead, in his usual forthright and relentless manner, 
Senator Simpson, Senator Alan Simpson--I say Alan. I served with his 
father in this body--Senator Alan Simpson coauthored a bipartisan 
proposal to make long-term cuts in Social Security spending including 
an eventual increase in the retirement age to 70.
  Mr. President, Alan's commitment to absolute honesty in addressing 
the many profound and troubling problems that face this Nation is 
emblematic of the devoted public servant that Alan Simpson has shown 
himself to be over these past 18 years. There will be few, if any, who 
will match the accomplishments of our friend from the West, few who 
will bring to this body a deeper passion, and few who will legislate 
with greater skill.
  And so, Mr. President, as he prepares to leave the Senate, not for a 
well deserved retirement but for new challenges, this time in academia, 
I offer my sincere gratitude to Senator Alan K. Simpson for his 
professionalism, for his friendship, for his leadership, for his wit, 
for his candor, and for his many years of dedicated service to our 
Nation.
  As Thomas Paine once wrote:

       I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather 
     strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. Tis the 
     business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is 
     firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue 
     his principle unto death.

  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. BREAUX addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana.
  Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, I was very privileged to be in the Chamber 
as the senior Senator from West Virginia was making his remarks. I 
commend him for acknowledging one of our friends and leaders of the 
Senate who is

[[Page S11618]]

going to be such a loss as we lose so many of our retiring Members who 
have contributed so much. I think Senator Byrd's comments about our 
good friend serve him very well. I wish I could have said them as 
eloquently, but I join with him in commending Senator Alan Simpson.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I thank my distinguished friend. I am sure 
that Senator Simpson will be grateful for the expressions that have 
been made by the distinguished Senator from Louisiana [Mr. Breaux].
  Mr. BREAUX. I thank the Senator.

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