[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S11968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE RETIREMENT OF U.S. SENATOR AL SIMPSON

  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, as most of the Members of this 
body, I rise today to wish Senator Al Simpson a fond farewell. After 18 
years of superior service to the State of Wyoming and his country, 
Senator Simpson is leaving the Senate to teach at Harvard.
  Al Simpson was born in Cody, Wyoming, a town founded by Buffalo Bill. 
He comes from a family that helped settle much of northwestern Wyoming 
and has a long tradition of public service in Wyoming. His father was 
governor of Wyoming from 1954 to 1958, and served in the U.S. Senate 
from 1962 to 1966.
  Al Simpson began his career in public service when he joined the 
Army, upon graduation from college. He served overseas in the 5th 
Infantry Division and in the 2nd Armored Division in the final months 
of the Army of Occupation in Germany. In 1956 he received an honorable 
discharge and returned to Wyoming to study law at the University of 
Wyoming. Upon graduation from law school he joined his father's law 
firm and practiced law in his hometown of Cody for 18 years.
  Senator Simpson began his political career in Wyoming's State 
Legislature. In 1964 he was elected to the State Legislature as a State 
representative of his native Park County. He served there for 13 years.
  In 1978, following in his father's footsteps, Al Simpson was elected 
U.S. Senator. He won subsequent reelection bids in 1984 and 1990, 
easily defeating all challengers.
  In the U.S. Senate, he quickly became known for his support of Social 
Security reform, immigration reform, and veterans issues. I came to 
recognize his commitment to entitlement reform, when I had the pleasure 
of serving with him on the bipartisan Commission on Entitlement and Tax 
Reform in 1994. We also served on the Senate Finance Committee, which 
has jurisdiction over certain mandatory spending programs such as 
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Federal retirement. It was 
clear from day one that Senator Simpson believes that entitlement 
reform should be a priority in this country. Continuing his belief in 
reform, I understand that he plans to teach his students at Harvard 
about the state of entitlement programs, among other things.
  During his career in public service, he has won a variety of honors, 
including the Distinguished Alumni of the University of Wyoming, 
honorary law degrees from Notre Dame, American University, and Rocky 
Mountain College, and a variety of awards including the Silver Helmet 
Award from AMVETS of World War II.
  The Senate will miss a Member who is known for his support of 
bipartisan solutions. I have enjoyed working with Alan Simpson. I will 
miss his wonderful sense of humor, his willingness to always say what 
he thinks, and his intellectual integrity. Although we have often 
disagreed, I am proud to have served with Alan Simpson. I would like to 
add for the record my respect for this man who has served Wyoming and 
his country well. I wish Senator Simpson, his wife Ann, and his family 
all the best for the future.

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