[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 144 (Monday, October 12, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12364-S12365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         FAREWELL TO THE SENATE

  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I want to make a few brief remarks, share a 
few thoughts, and express my heart felt thanks to a number of 
individuals who have made my life in the Senate a little bit easier and 
a little bit more enjoyable than it otherwise would have been.
  I have been privileged to serve in this body since December 28, 1974. 
As I look back, it is amazing how much progress we have made as a 
country during that period. The average life expectancy in this country 
has increased by 4 years. The average per capita income after adjusting 
for inflation, has risen 40 percent during this time period. The 
portion of adults with at least a high school diploma has risen from 
about two-thirds of adults to more than four-fifths. The percentage of 
adults with at least a bachelor's degree has risen from 14 percent to 
25 percent.
  So we are living longer and healthier lives, we are wealthier, and we 
are better educated.
  And the quality of life has improved in many other ways as well. We 
have an almost unlimited ability to communicate. The developments with 
computers in recent years have been almost breathtaking. Children 
understand computers at an early age--often before they even start 
school. The percentage of homes with computers keeps rising. We have 
cell phones and laptops and cable TV and satellite dishes and fax 
machines. Our access to information is better and faster than ever.
  We have opportunities to travel more, live in bigger homes, and eat 
more nutritious meals. We spend more on entertainment than ever.
  But Mr. President, our challenges are probably greater than ever.
  I entered the Senate at the beginning of a period of deep cynicism 
and distrust of government, having just come through the Vietnam war 
and Watergate. We have always had a very healthy distrust of government 
in this country, but 1974 was an especially troublesome time. And I 
have witnessed a fascinating national debate on the role of government 
during the period since. The cynicism from Watergate evolved into a 
crisis of confidence in our country, and a growing feeling by some 
through the 1980's that government was the major source of many 
problems in our society, not the solution.
  But the debate of the role of government has continued to evolve. I 
think we are at the point today where there is a fairly broad consensus 
among Americans about certain aspects of government.
  There is a consensus about certain things that Americans want from 
their government--a strong defense, the best educational system in the 
world, managing the economy in an efficient way, including balanced 
budgets, low inflation, low interest rates, low unemployment, and the 
least amount of taxation and regulation possible. Americans want fair 
rules in the workplace and the marketplace, from family leave to fair 
trade to basic consumer protection. They want an adequate 
infrastructure to sustain a successful and growing economy. And they 
expect minimal safety and health protections, from law enforcement to 
food and drug safety to providing health care for the elderly and the 
poor.
  I have found that almost all of my colleagues want these things as 
well. We often differ on the best approach, or the best philosophy, for 
meeting these goals and providing what our constituents want, but we 
are all basically after the same things.
  Some of my colleagues on the other side of aisle still use the 
rhetoric from the 1980's about being for lower taxes and smaller 
government. Who could be against that? But most of these same 
colleagues are also for all of the things I just mentioned. They would 
agree with me that these are all things that our constituents demand 
and expect us to address. We all want the smallest government possible, 
but we want government to deliver on all of these things. So it is a 
challenge for all of us.
  And the future challenges for the next Congress and beyond will be 
even more complex. I mentioned earlier that we are living longer. The 
standard retirement age has not gone up since I came to the Senate. In 
fact, the average private sector retirement age has gone down. But we 
live longer. The percentage of the population age 65 and older is up to 
about 13 percent today, and is projected to continue to grow. During my 
tenure in the Senate, I have seen federal spending on Social Security 
grow from $64 to $380 billion. I have seen Medicare spending increase 
from $13 to $220 billion. And roughly half of Medicaid spending, which 
has gone from $7 to $100 billion in the budget, is attributable to 
nursing home care. These three areas alone--Social Security, Medicare, 
and Medicaid--have gone from about 25 percent of the total budget to 
roughly 42 percent of the total budget. Without question, the major 
budget issue in the next few years is how we deal with the costs 
associated with the elderly.
  And it is a quality issue as well. Many of the same trends which are 
currently affecting managed care in the private sector will certainly 
affect the quality of medical care received by the elderly. I wish we 
had made more progress in these areas before my time in the Senate 
expired. I wish my colleagues well in addressing these issues and urge 
them to do so earlier rather than later. I know many colleagues share 
my sentiments.
  The other area I would urge my colleagues to address is the financing 
and operation of campaigns. Here is an area that has changed 
dramatically during my 24 years. When I announced my retirement from 
the Senate, I mentioned the two ``M's,''--Money and Meanness--as major 
reasons why I chose not to run again. Now that we are in the midst of 
the current campaign season, I believe even stronger about this issue. 
As reported in the newspaper yesterday, PACs have collected almost $360 
million in the last 18 months. We all like to say that the money does 
not influence how we vote and how we think, but, truthfully, it is a 
matter of degree. There needs to be a stronger ethic of avoiding even 
the appearance of a conflict of interest. We need more of that in 
politics--much more of it. Senators who solicit campaign contributions 
and then within a very short period of time are casting votes and 
making decisions on matters which greatly affect both the contributors 
and the Senator's constituents place themselves in very difficult 
situations. It goes to the heart of our system of Democracy, and 
whether it works or

[[Page S12365]]

will continue to work. There has got to be a better way. There are also 
a lot of ideas around here on how to make a better way. I can only hope 
some of these ideas are translated into law in the very near future.
  So, Mr. President, I wish may colleagues well. I will miss the 
institution dearly. I will miss the daily interaction with my 
colleagues, many of whom have become such dear friends to me. Let me 
thank you for your friendship. And lastly, let me thank staff. My 
personal office staff, both here and in the state offices, have been 
like family to me. I have tried to treat them that way, and it has been 
mutual. The committee staff and floor staff I have been privileged to 
work with over the years have all been great to me as well--they make 
this place run and make us all look good from time to time. I thank 
them all for their support and service to our country. This country 
would not be nearly what it is without office, committee and floor 
staff. As I leave the Senate, please know that I will keep you all in 
my thoughts and prayers, and wish all of you good luck and happiness in 
the years to come.
  Mr. President, for perhaps the last time, I yield the floor.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, will the Senator from Kentucky yield for a 
moment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, if the Senator from North Dakota wants to 
be recognized, very shortly I have to take the Chair and I want to make 
my statement.
  Mr. DORGAN. I wonder if I might ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 
minute.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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