[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12121-S12123]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FAREWELL TO RETIRING COLLEAGUES


                                JIM EXON

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, it has been a real pleasure serving with 
Jim Exon in the Senate. I have always admired his independence, 
dedication to his fellow Nebraskans, and his sense of humor.
  As a small businessman, he brought an important perspective to our 
consideration of legislation; and as a former Governor, he never forgot 
about the important role of State governments.
  On matters ranging from the budget to agriculture, in the minority or 
in the majority, he demonstrated amazing technical expertise as well as 
skillful and fair handling of debate.
  I will miss Senator Exon and wish him the best in all his future 
plans.


                            NANCY KASSEBAUM

  I want to congratulate our colleague from Kansas, Nancy Kassebaum, 
for her adroit and amicable leadership of the Senate Labor and Human 
Resources Committee.
  As one who has ``been there, done that,'' I can say with authority 
that she has led the committee expertly and fairly; and she surely 
deserves our commendation for delivering landmark health insurance 
reform legislation as well as so many other important measures in 
public health and education. And, no matter what side of a contentious 
labor issue one happens to be on, every Senator should admire the 
courage with which Senator Kassebaum tackled issues in labor and 
employment policy.
  I know that Nancy is devoted to her family, and I can well appreciate 
that her future occupation is reported to be that of grandmother. It 
may be the only calling higher than leading public policy in some of 
the key and most pressing domestic and foreign policy issues. But, 
perhaps she will be training the next generation of Landons to follow 
her example of distinguished public service.


                             CLAIBORNE PELL

  The Senate will indeed be a very different place as we say goodbye to 
our third most senior Member, the senior Senator from Rhode Island, 
Claiborne Pell. Senator Pell has served the State of Rhode Island and 
our country extraordinarily well for over 35 years.
  While Senator Pell has put his indelible mark on foreign policy as a 
long-time chairman and ranking member of the Foreign Relations 
Committee, it was through our common membership on the Labor and Human 
Resources Committee that I know him best.
  Senator Pell will long be remembered for helping millions of young 
people achieve success by making a college education more accessible 
through the grant program which bears his name. He has helped more 
people gain access to the arts and cultural enrichment programs by 
sponsoring the law establishing the National Endowments for the Arts 
and Humanities.
  It is hard to name a single education initiative that he has not been 
instrumental in enacting.
  And, I might add, Mr. President, that Senator Pell's unfailing sense 
of civility and decorum, his insistence on fair

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debate, and his staunch adherence to agreements honorably entered into 
were without a doubt a major reason that so many education initiatives 
were not only enacted into law, but were enacted with strong bipartisan 
support.
  I join my colleagues in expressing all best wishes to Senator Pell 
and his family.


                             MARK HATFIELD

  The Senator from Oregon has brought a level of service and integrity 
to the Senate, this country, and his State that can be compared to few.
  As chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, he 
has at once one of the most powerful positions in Congress and one of 
the most thankless. On the one hand, he has used his prerogatives to 
advance public policy, not personal gain; on the other hand, he has 
tirelessly struggled to fairly and effectively reduce Federal spending. 
Senator Hatfield has always been able to rise above the pull and tug of 
competing interests to craft bipartisan and fair appropriations bills.
  I will remember Senator Hatfield for many things--his intelligence, 
his spirit, his character, his willingness to put aside partisan 
politics to achieve essential goals, and, of course, his friendship.
  Despite our common objectives on a number of important issues, such 
as balancing the budget, abortion, and balanced land use policy, we 
have not agreed on every matter. But, what I will remember is the deep 
personal conviction that Senator Hatfield brought to all that he did.
  It is a sad day for us to lose his experience, knowledge, and 
character in this body. He will be sorely missed by me, the Senate, the 
State of Oregon, and, I believe, the country as a whole.


                               PAUL SIMON

  Mr. President, it was my pleasure to participate in the ``bow tie'' 
tribute to the retiring senior senator from Illinois, Paul Simon. I 
want to thank him for his 12 years of contributions to the Labor 
Committee, which overlapped with my tenure as chairman and ranking 
member, as well as his decade of service on the Judiciary Committee.
  Senator Simon was, among other things, a champion of literacy 
programs to assist individuals and families achieve their full 
potential. Paul Simon knew that learning and personal fulfillment comes 
from walking through open doors--doors that exist in the written word. 
Without the key to unlock the door, people can become prisoners not 
just to welfare, but also to an extremely small universe of 
possibilities. I, for one, will remember Senator Simon's tireless 
advocacy of literacy efforts--a passion he held in common with our 
former First Lady, Barbara Bush.
  But, I will also remember the political courage and dedication Paul 
Simon demonstrated in our fight to pass a balanced budget amendment to 
the Constitution. As a believer in a strong central government, it 
would have been easy for Senator Simon to ignore the problem of growing 
national debt. But he did not. I have rarely seen a Senator work harder 
on a piece of legislation.
  Senator Simon is going to pursue one of his first loves--teaching--at 
Southern Illinois University. His students' gain is the Senate's loss.


                               HANK BROWN

  The election of Hank Brown in 1990 was a great day for Colorado and 
for the Senate. The West had in Hank Brown an energetic and diligent 
voice for balance and common sense.
  No Senator was ever able to put anything past him--he was always 
prepared. He was always an articulate and forceful advocate for his 
position and always amicable in his approach.


                             HOWELL HEFLIN

  Mr. President, it is hard to imagine the Judiciary Committee 
convening in the 105th Congress without the Judge. The discerning 
chairman and ranking member of the Courts Subcommittee, Senator Heflin 
has been a vigilant defender of the third branch of our Government.
  As a former jurist, he has approached the committee's work with 
temperance and a strong respect for the Constitution. His deliberative 
nature is demonstrated by the fact that often no one on either side of 
an issue knew how Senator Heflin would vote.
  Once again, I want to extend my appreciation to him for his hard work 
toward passage of the flag protection amendment. We could not have come 
as close as we did without his enthusiastic support.


                               BILL COHEN

  Mr. President, I wish to honor the service of one of this body's most 
respected members, the senior Senator from Maine, Senator William 
Cohen. I regret that our youthful colleague has decided not to run 
again. He has served the people of Maine well, and I believe they were 
prepared to reelect him for his fourth term in November. Our colleague 
has chosen, instead, to engage his substantial talents in other 
pursuits, pursuits I am sure will serve his home State and this 
country.
  Those who study the careers of the Members of the Senate will know 
that Senator Cohen has demonstrated an analytical mind, a determination 
to the search for solutions, an intolerance for negativity, a 
commitment to civility in government, and an appreciation for public 
service in its best sense.
  I had the pleasure of working with the senior Senator from Maine on a 
number of committees, including the Judiciary Committee. As chairman of 
the Intelligence Committee, it was always very clear that he took his 
responsibilities extremely seriously. He was a master of detail; and, 
for his work, the intelligence community owes him a great debt.
  We know the Senator has spoken in the past several months about the 
difficulties of the current political climate, and the challenges of 
seemingly intractable budget issues. What is admirable about Senator 
Cohen is that he never became a naysayer of government: Senator Cohen 
believes that members are elected to government to find solutions, not 
to denounce the institutions they serve. Senator Cohen believes in good 
government, because Senator Cohen practiced good government.
  This is the type of attitude that serves not only the best interests 
of government, but presents the most positive aspect of government to 
an increasingly disillusioned public. Senator Cohen embodies this 
character, and by doing so upheld the dignity of the U.S. Senate.
  Senator Cohen has a long professional life before him. I know he will 
continue to serve the people of Maine while promoting free trade with 
that great State and the nations of Asia. By doing so, he will continue 
to promote the positive-sum solutions that he will be known for finding 
while serving this body. And, perhaps if we are lucky, there will also 
be another book or two from the Senate's most celebrated author.


                            BENNETT JOHNSTON

  Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to my good friend from 
Louisiana, J. Bennett Johnston, who will retire once the curtain is 
drawn on the 104th Congress.
  Senator Johnston has proven to be a stabilizing and reasonable voice 
on the many critical issues that have come before the Senate Energy and 
Natural Resources Committee, where he has served for 24 years, 16 of 
them in a leadership capacity as either chairman or ranking member. 
Every piece of legislation or proposal that has been considered by that 
committee during this time has reflected his knowledge on energy 
matters and represented his fine and exemplary legislative skills.
  For example, he was a primary factor in the dismantling of the price 
control structure of petroleum during the 1980's. This case alone shows 
the commonsense approach he has undertaken over the years to address 
our Nation's energy policies. In addition, he has shown very 
progressive leadership and insight on regulatory matters involving the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
  We Utahns owe Senator Johnston a debt of gratitude for his 
understanding and attention to energy and natural resource issues 
critical to our State, including the Central Utah Project, grazing and 
mining reforms, Payments-In-Lieu-of-Taxes, and our school trust lands. 
While Bennett may not have hailed from the West, we have appreciated 
his sensitivity to Federal initiatives that particularly affect the 
West.
  Throughout his tenure on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, 
he has always said that if a State's two Senators supported a specific 
proposal that affected their State, he would not stand in the way to 
its becoming law.

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Despite his possible differences with these proposals, he has remained 
true to this principle. This was most apparent during our recent debate 
on a Utah BLM wilderness proposal, during which he helped craft release 
language that was more acceptable to many of our colleagues. In the 
end, he supported our bill when it came to the Senate floor. One of the 
best things that can be said about a departing Senator is that he was 
true to his word, and Bennett Johnston always was.
  Mr. President, Bennett Johnston has been reasonable and diligent; he 
has been a servant of the environment and a protector of our natural 
resources. There is no doubt that he will be missed.


                              ALAN SIMPSON

  Mr. President, what can I say about Al Simpson, my good friend and 
colleague from Wyoming? He is a genuine original.
  Not only have we worked together over the years on issues pertaining 
to the West, but we have served together on the Judiciary and Finance 
Committees. I am pleased that, literally in Al's final hours as a 
Member of the Senate, the illegal immigration bill was finally passed. 
Al Simpson has many achievements to his credit, but I believe he will 
be most remembered for his strong commitment to preserving the 
integrity of America's borders. He worked tirelessly on this 
legislation, and we are going to miss his expertise on these issues.
  On a personal level, we are all going to miss Al's sense of humor. I 
have often wished I could be as fast with a quip as Al Simpson. Since 
Al is also headed off to academia, I can only imagine the waiting list 
to get into his classes.


                              DAVID PRYOR

  Mr. President, I would be remiss if I did not stand before the Senate 
to say a few words of tribute to my good friend and colleague from 
Arkansas, David Pryor.
  This body has been fortunate to have had the capable wisdom of David 
Pryor, and I have had the pleasant experience of working closely with 
him, particularly since my joining the Finance Committee during the 
102d Congress.
  As is the usual order of business around here, Senator Pryor and I 
sat on different sides of many difficult issues. But, on many other 
occasions we saw eye to eye and worked together to find the right 
solutions.
  Just this year, it was my privilege to join David in sponsoring three 
important pieces of tax legislation that I know he is proud of--the 
Pension Simplification Act of 1995, the S Corporation Act of 1995, and 
the Taxpayer Bill of Rights II. Through the tireless efforts of David 
Pryor, these important measures were finally enacted into law.
  In every instance he was a gentleman. In the majority or in the 
minority, David Pryor has earned the admiration of every Senator in the 
Senate.
  Mr. President, David Pryor will be missed. His gentle southern 
kindness and his honesty have earned him the respect of every member of 
this body. As he moves on to other pursuits, I wish him and his wife 
Barbara the very best.


                              BILL BRADLEY

  Mr. President, as the 104th Congress draws to a close, I would like 
to express my best wishes to Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey.
  There are few people who can be all-stars in two professions. Bill 
Bradley is one of them. After an illustrious career in the National 
Basketball Association, he has spent three terms in the Senate. In both 
occupations, Bill Bradley has touched millions of lives through his 
great example of leadership, hard work, intelligence, team work, and 
integrity.
  Senator Bradley has made an impact on each of the committees on which 
he served over the past 18 years--but none more so than on the Finance 
Committee, where we have served together for the past 5 years. Although 
we have not always agreed on issues of national tax, trade, and health 
care policy, Bill Bradley has earned my respect for his dedication to 
taxpayer fairness, a better and simpler tax code, and his tireless 
efforts to reduce the budget deficit.
  As Bill Bradley moves on to the next phase of his already diversified 
public life, I wish him all the best.


                                SAM NUNN

  Mr. President, all Americans who value a strong national defense will 
sorely miss the Senator from Georgia. His encyclopedic knowledge of 
defense issues has contributed not only to a much more efficient use of 
defense resources, but also greater accountability among defense 
contractors.
  I also believe that Senator Nunn has the distinction, along with 
Senator Thurmond, of being the best friend our uniformed men and women 
ever had. Sam Nunn knows that our Armed Forces are the backbone of our 
defense. Without them, our technology and armaments are useless.
  Sam Nunn has been instrumental in defining U.S. defense policy for 
the post-cold-war era. He leaves us with a blueprint on which we can 
build our national security strategy for the next decade and beyond. It 
is a well-conceived theory with a strong practical dimension. His 
thinking has the power of reasonable prediction of what lies ahead as 
well as of a clear grasp of the lessons of history.
  Senator Nunn has been a thoughtful, hard-working legislator--a great 
example of what a Senator should be.
  I wish him well in whatever his future plans may include.


                              SHEILA FRAHM

  Mr. President, we have not had a chance to know well the new junior 
Senator from Kansas, but I would be remiss if I did not say to my 
colleagues how much I admire the way in which Senator Frahm has jumped 
into the whirl of the Senate. She took over the seat of one of the 
giants of the Senate. She has had to become conversant on myriad topics 
that were already well in play before she got here. She has had to make 
some tough voting choices. Yet, she did not shrink from any of this.
  I want to wish her well and hope she will continue serving her fellow 
Kansans in other ways.

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