[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S11964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO RETIRING SENATORS

  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, we hope this will be the last day of the 
104th Congress, and I would be remiss if I did not take this 
opportunity to remark about several of my colleagues--friends from both 
sides of the aisle--for whom today will be their last day as a member 
of this distinguished institution.
  Let me first acknowledge my colleague from Alabama, Senator Howell 
Heflin. He came to the Senate the same year I came to the House of 
Representatives: 1979. He had a distinguished record as a lawyer and 
then as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. As Chief Justice, 
Senator Heflin led the modernization of the judicial system in Alabama.
  Throughout his three terms as a member of the Senate, he has served 
with distinction and honor. His integrity and dedication made him an 
exemplary Chairman of the Ethics Committee. We also should not forget 
his service on both the Judiciary and Agricultural Committees. He was 
very active, as he has been throughout his career, on both of these 
committees, where he showed his concern for the welfare of the country. 
Senator Heflin's retirement is indeed a great loss to this body.
  There are a number of other colleagues, in addition to Senator 
Heflin, whom we will miss.
  Senator Simpson of Wyoming, who served this side of the aisle as our 
assistant minority leader, is a man of untold ability, wit and 
intelligence.
  Senator Simon of Illinois is a man of unquestioned integrity.
  Senator David Pryor of Arkansas, who was on the floor just a few 
moments ago, is ending his third term as a Member of the U.S. Senate 
where he, too, has distinguished himself. A former Congressman and 
Governor of Arkansas, he concludes a laudable political career.
  One of our most senior Senators, Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island, the 
longtime chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, is recognized as 
a leader in the area of international relations. He also has made his 
mark in the field of education. All of us are familiar with the Pell 
grant and other programs that he has inspired.
  We will certainly miss Senator Nunn who brought a very reasoned 
position to all issues relating to foreign relations and national 
security. This goes without saying, but I thought he was an outstanding 
chairman of the Armed Services Committee. I feel fortunate to have had 
the privilege to serve with him on that committee for 8 years.
  Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum, a Republican from Kansas who 
currently chairs the Labor and Human Resources Committee, is a 
distinguished Senator in her own right. Just look at her recent 
leadership to bring about long overdue reforms in the field of health 
insurance.
  Senator Bennett Johnston of Louisiana is the former chairman of the 
Energy and Natural Resources Committee. We are certainly going to miss 
him. He has had a distinguished career here during his 24 years in the 
U.S. Senate.
  Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon, the current chairman of the 
Appropriations Committee on which I now serve, has served with his 
characteristic civility and integrity. In recent days, he has worked 
through the night in the negotiations with the White House on the 
omnibus appropriations bill that we are getting ready to consider in a 
few hours.
  Senator Jim Exon of Nebraska, a former Governor of Nebraska, is a 
three-term Senator from that state. I had the privilege of serving with 
him on the Armed Services Committee.
  Senator William S. Cohen, a Republican from Maine, a former 
outstanding Member of the U.S. House of Representatives before he was 
elected to the Senate. We will miss not only his wit, his intelligence, 
and his thoughtfulness, but also his writing ability, which at one time 
or another helped us all.
  It has been an honor to serve with Senator Hank Brown, a Republican 
from Colorado as it was to serve together in the U.S. House of 
Representatives. What has saddened me, and a number of my colleagues, 
is he will leave this body with such a bright and promising career 
after only 6 years.
  Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey has served 18 years in the Senate. 
He has spent days and nights, weeks and months up here, and I think, 
not in vain, in dealing with a common sense income tax program for all 
Americans.
  Mr. President, we will miss all these people because individually and 
collectively they have enriched this body. I wish them well in their 
future endeavors. I yield the floor.

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