[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12272-S12273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO SENATOR CLAIBORNE PELL

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, the Senate soon will bid farewell to one 
of its most legendary Members--the senior Senator from Rhode Island, 
Claiborne Pell. I have had the distinct privilege of working with 
Senator Pell

[[Page S12273]]

over the years on issues ranging from college student loans to United 
Nations reform.
  Senator Claiborne Pell entered the Senate in 1960. His stature in 
Rhode Island politics perhaps was best summarized by the Almanac of 
American Politics, which called him an ``iron fist in a velvet glove.'' 
His political strength perhaps was no better demonstrated than when he 
was first elected to the Senate. In the Democratic primary for the 
Senate seat, he defeated the current sitting Governor at that time, as 
well as a former Governor and Senator. My good friend and soon to be 
Senior Senator from Rhode Island, John Chafee--a former State chief 
executive himself--knows well the formidable political strength of his 
colleague, having once tried to unseat Senator Pell in 1972, only to 
come up short.
  At the beginning of this Congress, I gave up my seat on the Foreign 
Relations Committee so that I could serve my State of South Dakota on 
the Finance Committee. It is safe to say I miss being on that 
Committee, in part because I enjoyed so much working with my friend 
from Rhode Island. His stewardship of that Committee as Chairman for 8 
years was masterful. He chaired the Committee with quiet but firm 
strength. Perhaps his greatest legislative achievement during that time 
was the State Department Authorization bill that became law in 1994. As 
the ranking member of the International Operations Subcommittee, I 
worked closely with then Chairman Pell and the Subcommittee Chair, 
Senator Kerry of Massachusetts, to produce a sound, bipartisan bill. 
This legislation made significant strides to streamline the State 
Department bureaucracy. It also set us on a course to reform the United 
Nations, and made significant improvements in our Nation's 
nonproliferation laws.
  Senator Pell's inspirational commitment to world peace is exceeded 
only by his strong dedication to the cause of education in this 
country. In 1972, Senator Pell shepherded to passage legislation that 
established the Basic Education Opportunity Grants Program--a college 
aid program for economically disadvantaged college students. Today, we 
know them as Pell Grants. Nearly 25 years after their creation, Pell 
Grants represent a beacon of hope for young people who desire to attend 
college but lack the resources to attend. This Congress has shown its 
firm commitment to the Pell Grant program. Indeed, Pell Grants are now 
at their highest level in the program's history.
  The people of Rhode Island have numerous reasons to be proud of their 
senior senator. His entire life has been devoted to public service--
from membership in the Coast Guard to membership in the U.S. Senate. As 
we all know, our dear friend faces his greatest challenge to date--
battling Parkinson's disease. Since he made this announcement last 
year, my wife Harriet and I have had Senator Pell in our prayers. He 
will continue to be.
  We will miss the compassionate leadership of Senator Claiborne Pell. 
Most important, we will miss his friendship. Claiborne Pell can leave 
the Senate knowing that he has given our Nation a legislative legacy of 
the highest order, one that will be unrivaled for years to come. I wish 
my friend from Rhode Island the very best for many years to come.

                          ____________________