[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 151 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THE SENATE SAYS GOODBYE TO SENATOR DIRK KEMPTHORNE

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, when one speaks of the State of Idaho, we 
think of her glorious and rugged landscape, her fertile valleys, her 
waters ideal for fishing, her world-class ski resorts, her national 
parks and forests, with land fit for hiking, or biking, and, of course, 
her reputation as the potato capital of the world. Following the end of 
the 105th Congress, I daresay that our associations to the State of 
Idaho will also include the name of Dirk Kempthorne, the state's junior 
Senator and one of this body's most respected Members. Although our 
friend from the west is leaving the Senate after only one six-year 
term, I, for one, will remember him fondly for years to come.
  Senator Kempthorne and I formerly served together as Chairman and 
Ranking Member, respectively, of the Personnel Subcommittee of the 
Armed Services Committee. We worked together to introduce legislation 
requiring the study of gender integrated training in the military. That 
association has been pleasant, and, I believe, productive. To be sure, 
I have not always agreed with his policy proposals, or he with mine. On 
many issues, including the balanced budget constitutional amendment and 
the unfunded mandates legislation, we have held opposing views.
  Throughout the lengthy debate on the unfunded mandates bill in early 
1995, the Senator was conscientious, thorough, and fair. His grace and 
courtesy in managing that bill were impressive, particularly for 
someone so new to the Senate. And, as we all know, his efforts paid off 
after deliberate consideration and compromise. Moreover, with passage 
of the unfunded mandates bill, Senator Kempthorne holds the honor of 
being the most junior member of the Senate since World War II to 
author, manage, and win passage of a bill numbered Senate Bill One.
  When he leaves these hallowed halls, Senator Kempthorne will return 
to his home state. Boise, of course, is familiar ground for Senator 
Kempthorne, serving as that city's forty-third Mayor, from 1985 until 
1992, when the people of Idaho elected him to his present seat in the 
Senate. Incidentally, he became so popular during his first term as 
Mayor that he faced no opposition in his bid for a second term! How 
many of our colleagues would like to be in that situation? How many of 
us would like to be so universally popular, and be held in such high 
respect by our constituents, that such popularity and respect would 
foreclose potential challengers?
  I congratulate Senator Kempthorne on his fine service here, and I 
wish him and his nice family happiness in future years.

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