[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S11961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TIRBUTE TO SENATOR MARK O. HATFIELD

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, when the full Appropriations Committee 
marked up H.R. 3755, the fiscal year 1997 Labor/HHS appropriations 
bill, I was pleased that the committee accepted an amendment to name 
the new NIH clinical research center, the Mark O. Hatfield Clinical 
Research Center. This center will be of major importance to our 
Nation's health and will be named for a man who has dedicated his 
entire public life to enhancing the quality of all human life. There is 
no greater tribute to his innumerable contributions in this area than 
to designate, in his name, a living legacy within whose walls will be 
state-of-the-art facilities for a combined effort of basic and clinical 
research--laboratories and clinics side-by-side--to discover 
interventions and deliver the most effective health care our Nation or 
any nation has ever known.
  In his 30 years of Senate service, Senator Hatfield brought to this 
institution, his great intellect, a quiet decency, and a tenacious 
advocacy for those who have little voice. He is a true and eloquent 
spokesman for the protection of our people from the forces of ignorance 
and illiteracy, social injustice, weapons of mass destruction, and 
diseases that ravage the mind and body. Throughout his career, he 
consistently fought to direct our Nation's precious fiscal resources to 
programs that held promise in eradicating society's ills and improving 
the human condition. At times, he was a lone voice facing a hostile 
reception by administrations with different priorities but his 
dedication did not waiver.
  Our chairman adheres to no political or ideological boundary but the 
voice of his own conscience, often placing himself in direct opposition 
the prevailing winds of the day. Whether fighting major rescissions in 
social discretionary programs in the early 1980's or in protecting 
biomedical research funding as recently as in last year's budget 
resolution, he never lost sight of the importance of maintaining strong 
national programs for both basic and clinical health research as well 
as the training of tomorrow's scientists.
  Our colleague always believed that we would be acting irresponsibly 
by shortchanging these and other life sustaining efforts, therefore, 
any immediate savings achieved would be offset by a weakened human 
condition for decades to come. ``If we fail to provide adequately for 
the training of future generations of research scientists'', I have 
often heard him say, ``then we are effectively eating our seed corn.'' 
In failing to provide necessary annual increases in funds for research 
grants, he insists, we will ``lose the momentum'' in our capacity to 
eradicate human suffering at home and world-wide.
  WHen it is completed, the Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center 
will be a magnificent structure and a world model. With this amendment, 
we honor a man who, in his retirement from the Senate, should leave 
secure in the knowledge that his life's work has made a difference. By 
creating the opportunity for new discoveries in disease prevention and 
treatment a more healthy future has been insured for all Americans 
today and for generations to come.


                        TRIBUTE TO SENATOR COHEN

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge the 
contributions of retiring Senator William Cohen of Maine, as he 
prepares to take leave of the U.S. Senate.
  Mr. President, the Christian Science Monitor once referred to Senator 
Cohen as a ``true Renaissance man.'' That is an apt compliment, because 
it describes a person of broad interests who applies his intellect and 
energy with distinction in many theaters of human activity.
  Senator Cohen certainly embodies that description.
  In my 3 years here, I have come to appreciate Senator Cohen's 
intelligence, independence of thought and action, his integrity, his 
capacity for hard work and his respect for the Senate and for the 
process of making public policy.
  He has also found time to write a pretty good book or two.
  Senator Cohen and I have both served on the Senate Special Committee 
on Aging, and there I have been able to watch, first-hand, his skill 
and dedication in dealing with issues of particular importance to 
senior citizens and of relevance to us all. He has, in particular, been 
a leader in the battle against waste, fraud and abuse in our Medicaid 
system.
  He has also, upon assuming the chair, continued the tradition of 
bipartisan cooperation on that committee.
  I have also appreciated Senator Cohen's insistence on the highest 
ethical standards for lawmakers. He wrote the law that renewed the 
Office of Government Ethics and, in fact, made it stronger. He has been 
a reliable ally in the fight for congressional reform. He played an 
important role in lobbying reform and was an important supporter of the 
efforts to restrict gift giving.
  Mr. President, several months ago, Senator Cohen delivered a moving 
tribute to another Maine lawmaker, Senator Edmund Muskie, after Senator 
Muskie's passing.
  Senator Cohen quoted John Kennedy on how to take the measure of 
people: ``First, were we truly people of courage? Second, were we truly 
people of judgment? Third, were we truly people of integrity? Fourth, 
were we truly people of dedication?"
  Senator Cohen said at the time that the answer to each of those 
questions in Ed Muskie's case was ``yes.'' The same can be said for 
Senator Cohen.
  Mr. President, the residents of Maine know, I am sure, they have been 
well-served by Senator Cohen. Let me say, for the record, so have the 
American people.

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