[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 51 (Thursday, April 30, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S3916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SENATOR BYRD RECEIVES CONGRESSIONAL AWARD'S LEADERSHIP AWARD

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, last night, Senator Robert C. Byrd was 
awarded the Congressional Award Program's highest honor, the Leadership 
Award. This award is given to someone who has exhibited extraordinary 
leadership in support of programs which benefit our Nation's youth and 
the Congressional Award Program. We all know Senator Byrd as a skilled 
legislator, master of the Senate's rules and procedures, award-winning 
historian of the United States Senate, a man of great honor and 
personal integrity, a fine example of true leadership, a colleague, and 
a friend. We may not be fully aware of his tireless efforts on behalf 
of the children of this country. The Leadership Award is presented each 
year to individuals who have displayed outstanding commitment to 
improving the lives of young Americans and who have provided critical 
support to the Congressional Award program in its efforts to make the 
Award a national opportunity for all of our young people.
  Senator Byrd knows only too well the hardships many of our children 
face: plagued by poverty, challenged by a culture which all too often 
fails to glorify the values essential to a civil society, facing 
violence not present when we grew up, a world without the kinds of 
heroes that inspired Senator Byrd to personal achievement and a life of 
service to others. As he so clearly articulated last night at the 
Congressional Award's annual dinner and program, heroes fuel in us a 
desire for personal development. And Senator Byrd found out that he is 
a hero to many.
  Grant Hill, NBA basketball star, talked of the great honor of 
competing against Michael Jordan, and the equally great honor of 
meeting Senator Byrd, ``the Michael Jordan of the Senate.'' Mr. Hill 
was awarded the Horizon Award, which gives special recognition to 
individuals from the private sector who have contributed to expanding 
opportunities for young Americans through personal contributions to 
youth programs, and who have set exceptional examples for young people 
through their success in life.
  Congress grants only two medals: The Congressional Medal of Honor and 
the Congressional Award. The Congressional Award was established by 
Congress through P.L. 96-114. Senator Byrd was a member of the first 
Congressional Award Joint Leadership Commission and helped set the 
standards for this bipartisan program which is available to young 
people aged 14-23. To earn an award, participants must set and achieve 
individually challenging goals in volunteer community service, personal 
development, physical fitness and expeditions.
  Please join me in extending our congratulations to Senator Byrd for 
being the 1998 recipient of the Congressional Award's Leadership Award, 
and for receiving yet again another first: being named the ``Michael 
Jordan of the Senate.''

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