[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 14 (Tuesday, February 24, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO PENNY SEVERNS OF ILLINOIS
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, on Saturday morning, in the early morning
hours, my wife and I received a telephone call that was a shock to us.
A dear friend and close political ally of ours, State Senator Penny
Severns of Decatur, IL, had succumbed to cancer in the early morning
hours.
I have literally known Penny Severns for over 25 years, since she was
a college student. I followed her political career. We had become close
and fast friends. The outpouring of genuine warmth and affection for
Penny that we have heard over the last few days since the announcement
of her death has been amazing.
Penny Severns was 46 years old. A little over 3\1/2\ years ago, she
was running for Lieutenant Governor in the State of Illinois, and she
discovered during the course of the campaign that she had breast
cancer. I think most people, upon hearing that they had cancer, would
stop in their tracks, would not take another day on the job, would head
for the hospital and the doctor and say that the rest of this could
wait. But not Penny Severns. She announced that she was going through
the chemotherapy and radiation and then would return to the campaign
trail. And she did.
I will tell you, in doing that, she inspired so many of us because
her strength, her caring, her spirit, were just so obvious. She
finished that campaign and was reelected to the State Senate and
announced last year she was going to run for secretary of state in our
State of Illinois. She filed her petitions, and within a week or so it
was discovered she had another cancerous tumor, and in December she
went into the hospital to have it removed. She went through the
radiation and chemotherapy afterwards and had a very tough time.
Unfortunately, she succumbed to the cancer in the early morning hours
last Saturday.
It is amazing to me how a young Democratic State Senator like this
could attract the kind of friends she did in politics. Penny was not
wishy-washy; when she believed in something, she stood up for it. Yet,
if you listened to Republicans and Democrats alike who have come
forward to praise her for her career, you understand that something
unique is happening here.
There is so much empty praise in politics. We call one another
``honorable'' when we are not even sure that we are. But in this case,
people are coming forward to praise State Senator Penny Severns because
she truly was unique, not just because she fought on so many important
political issues and gave all of her strength in doing that, but
because of her last fight, which was her personal fight against cancer,
and the fact that she just would not give up and would not give in.
Breast cancer has taken a toll on her family. She lost a younger
sister to breast cancer a few years ago, and her twin sister is in
remission from breast cancer today. Penny dedicated herself, in the
closing years of her service, to arguing for more medical research when
it came to breast cancer--not just for her family, but for everybody.
That is part of her legacy. She will be remembered for that good fight
and so many others.
I have to be honest with the Presiding Officer and the other Members.
I would rather not be here at this moment. I would rather be in
Decatur, IL, because in just a few hours there will be a memorial
service for Penny Severns. My wife will be there, and I wish I could be
there, too. But if there is one person in Illinois who would understand
why I had to be here on the campaign finance reform debate, it was
Penny Severns. I am going to miss her and so will a lot of people in
Illinois.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. GRAMS addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota, Mr. Grams, is
recognized.
Mr. GRAMS. I ask unanimous consent to speak up to 10 minutes as in
morning business.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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