[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 60 (Thursday, April 29, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S4429]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SENATOR DAVID PRYOR--HELPING THE REFUGEES AND INSPIRING US ALL

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, our former colleague in the Senate from 
Arkansas, David Pryor, has a new mission, and I believe that all of us 
will be greatly inspired by his commitment and dedication.
  During the spring term this year, Senator Pryor has been a fellow at 
the Institute of Politics in the Kennedy School of Government at 
Harvard University. Last week, touched by the tragic plight of the 
hundreds of thousands of refugees from Kosovo, he left for Tirana, 
Albania to be a volunteer with the International Rescue Committee, 
which is dedicated to easing the plight of the refugees.
  I commend our former colleague for the inspiring example he is 
setting of service to those most in need. His action clearly and deeply 
impressed his students at Harvard. An article in the Harvard Crimson 
last week reported his decision and his departure for Albania. I 
believe the article will be of interest to all of us in the Senate, and 
I ask unanimous consent that it be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

               [From the Harvard Crimson, Apr. 21, 1999]

IOP Fellow Pryor Heads to Balkan States--Former Senator To Aid Kosovar 
                                Refugees

                          (By Alysson R. Ford)

       Since the NATO bombings of Yugoslavia began almost a month 
     ago, members of the Harvard community have expressed concern 
     about the plight of Kosovar refugees in peace vigils, panels, 
     and class discussions on Kosovo.
       But David Pryor--a spring term fellow at the Institute of 
     Politics (IOP) and a former U.S. senator and governor of 
     Arkansas--has taken his desire to help ease the refugee 
     crisis a few steps further.
       After notifying colleagues and students of his decision 
     Monday, Pryor departed yesterday for the Albanian capital of 
     Tirana as volunteer for the International Rescue Committee 
     (IRC).
       In a letter to Director of the IOP Alan K. Simpson, Pryor 
     expressed that he wanted to do something concrete for those 
     devastated by the conflict.
       Pryor wrote that he did not know exactly how he would help 
     the Kosovar refugees but added that he felt it was important 
     to offer his assistance.
       ``What I am doing is something I must do. I don't know 
     exactly where I will be, nor do I know what my assignment 
     will be, I just hope I can make a contribution--even though 
     small,'' Pryor wrote. ``I was too young for Hitler, too self-
     preoccupied for [the civil rights struggle in] Selma, and 
     this time I've got to do something.''
       Pryor estimated in his letter that he would be gone 30 to 
     60 days with the IRC, an organization created in 1933 to 
     assist victims who were fleeing from Nazi Germany. The group 
     has been in the Balkans since 1991, according to Edward P. 
     Bligh, IRC vice president of communications.
       Most recently, the IRC has sent volunteers and aid to 
     Albania and Macedonia to help the refugees who have been 
     streaming out of Kosovo. The group is helping to shelter 
     refugees and develop water supplies and sanitary facilities. 
     It also provides medical services and has special programs 
     for children, Bligh said.
       Pryor also wrote in his letter that the IRC volunteers had 
     inspired him.
       ``To be able to watch and know these gallant, and yes, 
     believing, young men and women who want to serve restores 
     faith and binds our hopes together,'' Pryor wrote.
       But those who know Pryor said he is the one providing 
     inspiration to others.
       ``Here's a man that has dedicated his life to serving the 
     people of Arkansas [and] the people of the U.S.,'' said IOP 
     fellow and former South Carolina governor David Beasley. ``He 
     makes us proud to be American, and he inspires us all.''
       Simpson spoke of the positive example that Pryor is 
     setting, particularly to the often-cynical students he sees 
     on campus.
       ``When [students] look around cynically at politicians and 
     those looking only to serve themselves, they'll remember 
     David Pryor [as a positive example],'' Simpson said.
       Pryor taught a study group at the IOP this semester called 
     ``Everything (Well Almost) You Ever Wanted To Know About 
     Winning and Holding Public Office But Were Afraid to Ask.''
       Students who know Pryor said they were impressed by his 
     commitment to helping others.
       ``For this 65-plus-year-old, former U.S. senator to just 
     decide to go off to Albania . . . I think it really 
     exemplifies the kind of person he is and the kind of senator 
     he was,'' said Eugene Krupitsky '02, one of Pryor's study 
     group liaisons.
       ``It was just amazing to think of this individual just 
     leaving the IOP early to go do community action. It's 
     exemplary that he is bridging the gap between politics and 
     community service,'' he added.
       In his letter, Pryor wrote of a friend from his home state 
     who has a sign painted on the side of his truck that says, 
     ``When you wake up, get up, and when you get up, do 
     something.''
       ``That's what I intend to do,'' Pryor wrote. ``I'm going to 
     go over and do something.''

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