[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 35 (Monday, March 27, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H1409-H1410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SENATOR STEVENS CHOSEN ALASKAN OF THE CENTURY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to 
one of our colleagues, who happens to be from the other body, who 
received a very distinguished award this weekend. The recipient of that 
award was Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska who was chosen as the Alaskan 
of the Century.
  Now, this is a remarkable achievement by Senator Stevens, since he 
has served this Congress for over 30 years and served the State of 
Alaska with great distinction and great honor and integrity for more 
than that period of time.
  I became acquainted with Senator Stevens as a younger man in 1972 
when I was finishing the service, as a law clerk for a Federal judge in 
Anchorage, Alaska, and was hired by Senator Stevens, came back here to 
Washington, D.C. in 1972, and served on his staff as

[[Page H1410]]

his staff counsel and legislative director and then chief of staff, 
until I got married and left this community of Washington, D.C. and the 
Congress in 1977.
  Senator Stevens during that time and ever since has been a wonderful 
teacher for me and a great friend of our family, as he has been for a 
generation of Alaskans who have come to respect him and his work in the 
United States Senate and his work for our country, as well as his work 
for the State of Alaska.
  There is no greater advocate for the State of Alaska and for the 
American system than Senator Stevens. It is absolutely fitting that he 
receive this Alaskan of the Century award. He has served Alaska as a 
resident before statehood and after statehood.
  He served in the Alaska legislature achieving high marks there for 
his service to the State, worked for the solicitor for the Department 
of Interior before statehood, and then was appointed to the United 
States Senate in 1968, and has been reelected overwhelmingly ever 
since.
  Senator Stevens brings a respect for his State and our system to the 
Congress of the United States. He was elected as the assistant majority 
leader in the United States Senate. He went on to become chairman of 
the Committee on Appropriations in the Senate, a position which he 
holds today, with a special expertise in interior issues and public 
lands issues, and also a great experience in defense issues.
  There probably is no greater expert in the area of national security 
and national defense than Senator Stevens. The residents of Alaska 
recognize that, and, in choosing him to be the Alaskan of the Century, 
confirmed their love for him and reward him in essence for his great 
service to that State; a reward that he has undertaken with great 
passion and great commitment.
  Senator Stevens is not just a great legislator and a great American, 
he is a wonderful father to Susan and Beth and Teddy and Walter and Ben 
and Lilly. He is a champion for them, as well as a champion for all 
others in Alaska of all economic levels and all races and backgrounds. 
The Alaskan Native community has recognized the Stevens legacy by 
respecting him, not only with their votes, but with their support.
  The Alaskan Native Land Claims Settlement Act was one that Senator 
Stevens championed to settle the claims of the first Alaskans. And in 
doing so, he has endeared himself in their hearts and in the hearts of 
all Alaskans. The TransAlaska Pipeline project that was just a 
monumental undertaking that brought energy, efficiency, and assistance 
to the rest of the Nation was spearheaded by this man. The 2000 Mile 
Fishing Limit was spearheaded by this man, Senator Stevens.
  As you total up a person's contributions in life, I think Ted 
Stevens' greatest are his contributions, as I say, as a father, as a 
husband to Ann Stevens, who tragically was deceased in 1978, and his 
current wife, Catherine, also a great supporter of the Alaskan system.
  So I speak, I hope, on behalf of all Members of Congress in 
recognizing Ted Stevens' great contributions and congratulating him for 
being Alaskan of the Century.

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