[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11966-S11967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RETIREMENT OF SENATOR BILL COHEN

  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I rise today to say farewell to a 
colleague who is retiring from the Senate at the end of this Congress--
Senator Bill Cohen of Maine. Senator Cohen's decision to retire will be 
a loss to Maine, a loss to this body, and a loss to the United States.
  Bill Cohen began his career in public service over a quarter of a 
century ago, when he served a term on the Bangor City Council, and 
later as the Mayor of Bangor. In 1972 he was elected to the House of 
Representatives where he represented Maine for three terms. He was 
first elected to the United States Senate in 1978, and easily won two 
subsequent elections to that office.
  Known for his independence and integrity, he first gained national 
prominence during his tenure on the House Judiciary Committee during 
the Watergate investigation. He was the first Republican to oppose 
President Nixon's attempt to provide edited rather than full 
transcripts of White House conversations to the committee. He later 
played an instrumental role in the Iran-Contra hearings.
  In 1975 Bill Cohen began serving on the House Aging Committee, and 
later served as the Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, 
where I have had the pleasure of working with him. During his tenure on 
both the House and Senate committees he has tirelessly fought for 
issues affecting the elderly. During his tenure in the House he was the 
author of the Nursing Home Patients Bill of Rights. In 1995 he led the 
fight in the Senate for more stringent health and safety standards in 
nursing homes. And he also led a Senate investigation into questionable 
practices in the hearing aid industry. Due to these efforts, advocates 
of issues affecting the elderly have dubbed Senator Cohen ``one of the 
most valuable and able and dedicated members'' working on seniors 
issues.
  Bill Cohen has also dedicated himself to making government work 
better. He wrote the Competition in Contracting Act which has saved the 
government billions of dollars through the use of competitive bidding 
for the vast majority of goods and services. He drafted comprehensive 
health care fraud reform legislation which passed the Senate in 1995 
and which the Congressional Budget Office estimated would save billions 
of dollars. And he sponsored the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, 
which provided greater protection for Federal workers who ``blow the 
whistle'' on fraud or mismanagement that they witness in their 
agencies. Mr. President, these are only a few of Senator Cohen's 
accomplishments during his tenure in Congress, but they demonstrate his 
commitment to serving the people of Maine and the citizens of our 
country.
  He has provided invaluable leadership in the area of race relations, 
and demonstrates daily his commitment to

[[Page S11967]]

equality and opportunity for all Americans. During my first 2 years in 
the Senate, Senator Cohen joined in hearings on the effect of a popular 
music genre known as ``gansta rap.'' Senator Cohen made it clear that 
while he respected the First Amendment claims of the young men who 
produced the music, all of us--parents, politicians and corporations --
have a responsibility to address the ugly realities which that music 
reflected. He was right, once again, and our country has benefitted 
from the attention the music industry gave his admonitions.
  The State of Maine and the Nation will lose a fine public servant 
when Bill Cohen retires at the end of this Session. The senior Senator 
from Maine has served his State and the country with integrity, 
leadership, and dignity. I wish Senator Cohen and his wife Janet all 
the best in the future.

                          ____________________