[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO SENATOR DAN COATS

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
distinguished Senator from Indiana, Dan Coats. While he has only been 
in the Senate ten years, he has made an important contribution. One 
example is the work he put into developing the historic, bipartisan 
Family and Medical Leave Act.
  Mr. President, believe it or not, even though I am a Democrat from 
the Northeast and Senator Coats is a Republican from the Midwest, we 
have worked together on legislation. Senator Coats has consistently 
fought to improve the lives of our nation's children. This commitment 
led him to join me in support of the Juvenile Mentoring Program--
otherwise know as JUMP. This program supports mentoring programs across 
the country, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters. We have fought 
together for funding and reauthorizing the program because we share the 
belief that all children can succeed if we lend a helping hand.
  Senator Coats also became a leading expert in the Senate on military 
issues as a member of the Armed Services Committee. He also worked hard 
on education and poverty legislation as a member of the Senate Labor 
and Human Resources Committee.
  Mr. President, during Senator Coats' tenure in the Senate, we did 
have disagreements over policy issues. One environmental issue 
consistently put the State of Indiana at odds with the State of New 
Jersey. We always had a vigorous debate when this issue came to the 
floor. Despite our differences, he showed me great respect and courtesy 
during these deliberations. I left these debates with a great respect 
for his energy and determination to help his state.
  Mr. President, I wish Senator Coats, his wife Marcia, and their 
children and grandchildren the very best for the future.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________