[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A TRIBUTE TO SENATOR BILL BRADLEY

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today to bid farewell to the 
senior Senator from New Jersey, Senator Bill Bradley. Since the first 
day this professional basketball player walked onto the floor of the 
Senate in 1979, I have been proud to work closely with him on numerous 
issues.
  As all Senators know, we spend hours on the Senate floor, toiling 
away on legislation that affects our home States, other Members' 
States, and America as a whole. But, I believe Bill Bradley will be 
most-remembered for his endless struggle to rewrite our tax code in the 
Tax Reform Act of 1986, his unwavering dedication to reform our 
campaign finance system, and his tireless efforts to protect the health 
and welfare of American men, women, and children.
  I remember well when, in June of 1986, the Senate overwhelmingly 
supported the Tax Relief Act by a vote of 97-3. Although this 
legislation was guided carefully through the Congress by Senator Bob 
Packwood, I would like to take the time today to give credit where 
credit is due. Without the dedication of the Senator from New Jersey, 
this bill would have died a thousand deaths on its journey from the 
House Ways and Means Committee to President Reagan's desk.
  After we passed this monumental legislation, Senator Bradley said, 
``Each senator was willing to sacrifice something that was important to 
his or her State to do what was in the best interest of the country.'' 
Thank goodness for Senator Bradley's foresight and coalition building. 
Without him, many of those gaping tax loopholes we closed would still 
exist and millions of low-income Americans would have fallen well-below 
the poverty line.
  I also would like to commend Bill Bradley for joining me in our fight 
to reform the campaign finance system through a constitutional 
amendment. I will miss his assistance behind-the-scenes and on the 
Senate floor and am hopeful that he will continue to work toward a fair 
and equitable system for all political candidates when he leaves this 
distinguished body.
  Mr. President, I cannot leave the floor without mentioning Senator 
Bradley's commitment to the health and well-being of American men, 
women, and children. During the 104th Congress, he fought against cuts 
to the Food Stamp Program, the WIC Program, Medicare, Medicaid, and 
Social Security. Indeed, he joined me and 33 other Senators in 1995 to 
protect the Social Security Trust Fund by voting against the balanced 
budget amendment. That vote took courage, Mr. President, and I commend 
him for it.
  In closing, I would like to address the good Senator's work on 
legislation which we recently passed here in the Senate and which the 
President has signed into law. Known around Senator Bradley's office as 
the ``Baby Bill,'' the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 
1995 will ease the worry of many families experiencing the miracle of 
childbirth. Thanks to Bill Bradley, hospitals will be required to 
protect the health of new mothers and their infants for a minimum of 48 
hours following a vaginal birth and a 96-hour stay after Caesarean 
births. I was pleased to co-sponsor this bill and am thrilled that 
Senator Bradley can leave the Senate following such a grand 
accomplishment.
  Mr. President, to say that Bill Bradley will be missed in the Senate 
is an understatement. Although he is retiring as a U.S. Senator, I do 
not believe we have heard the last of Bill Bradley in the political 
arena. I wish him, his wife, Ernestine, and their daughter, Theresa 
Anne, all the best for the future and a safe journey home to Montclair.

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