[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 155 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11811-S11812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE SENATE EXPERIENCE

  Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I thought I would take this opportunity for 
just a very few minutes to say thank you. I will be leaving the Senate 
at the end of this Congress. I had assumed, as many of our colleagues 
had, that this would be the last day of the session. That assumption is 
very much in question at this point. I just left a conference with 
members of my caucus, and there are clearly some deeply held 
convictions and passions that are still unresolved. It may be that we 
will be here for hours or days. I hope that is not the case, but there 
frequently are at this particular time in the session those who hold 
convictions and beliefs so deeply that they do not believe under any 
circumstance they should leave any stone unturned or any avenue 
unexplored to advance those convictions and beliefs.
  While some of those issue are being resolved, I want to take a minute 
to say thank you, first of all, to the people of Virginia who were kind 
enough to honor me with 12 years of their representation in the Senate 
of the United States.
  I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have given to me 
and my wife Lynda and members of our family an experience we will 
treasure for the rest of our lives. The personal interaction with 
colleagues has been a part of the Senate experience that I will always 
enjoy, remember, and revere. I express to colleagues again on both 
sides of the aisle how much I appreciate the many considerations they 
have shown me.
  I understand my senior colleague from Virginia took the floor while 
we were in the caucus. I did not hear his words, but I appreciate his 
cooperation on many issues, and I appreciate his friendship. We have 
had some differences; certainly, we have had some political 
differences; but the degree of cooperation between our offices has 
always been good and strong when it came to working on behalf of our 
Commonwealth.
  The Senate is, for many of us, like a family. That sentiment has been 
expressed before. It is an extended family, and I say to all of those 
members of that extended family a very sincere thank you. I thank the 
floor staff and the officers of the Senate for the cooperation that has 
been extended to me over the past 12 years.
  I thank the Cloakroom staff from both sides, particularly my own 
Cloakroom, who work so closely with us on a regular basis to make sure 
the institution functions, and that we are here when necessary in order 
to conduct the nation's business.
  I express my appreciation to all of those who make this institution 
work. Some of them are visible, such as our friends of the Capitol 
Police who are here around the clock in a position, as we learned to 
our regret and sorrow, to put their lives on the line to provide safety 
and security.
  There are many other officers of the Senate and employees of the 
Senate who are not as visible to the public, but are just as crucial to 
the operation of the Senate. The employees who work for the Architect 
of the Capitol who take care of many of the duties that are required to 
make the institution run. We see and work with them on a daily basis. 
Many of them have extended courtesies and kindnesses to me over a long 
period of time that I will long remember.
  There are the many often unheralded folks who help with the phones, 
who operate the Capitol switchboard, who handle the maintenance, and 
who work in the food service we do not see but

[[Page S11812]]

who make it possible for all of us to do our jobs as effectively as 
possible. These people keep the institution functioning, like the 
maintenance crews who make the repairs and changes that are frequently 
required and who always seem able to accommodate--all of their good 
will is very much appreciated.
  I thank the pages, too, who work and do all of the things they are 
required to do during the daytime and then get their studies done at 
night. We frequently see them working on their studies at the same time 
they are helping to make life a little easier for us.
  I also express my appreciation to the committee staffs, the 
professional staffs who work with each of the committees and help me 
and all of you on a regular basis. We develop personal friendships with 
many of these individuals whom we will long remember.
  Finally, I want to say a very personal thank you to the members of my 
own staff. I have been extraordinarily well served by some very able 
professionals who have served their Commonwealth and their country in 
ways that I will always appreciate and for which they can always be 
very proud.
  There have been many, and I am not going to attempt to list them all. 
It occurred to me that maybe, because I have been so fortunate and so 
well served, I should mention the names only of those who have been 
with me continuously helping and assisting me my entire term in the 
Senate, serving with me over the last 12 years. Two of those 
professionals actually have been with me through my gubernatorial 
service: Pat Mayer and Susan Albert, now Susan Albert Carr as of last 
weekend, have been with me for the full 12 years and then some. Matt 
McGowan, Jim Connell, JoAnn Pulliam, Anne Geyer, Debbie Lawson-Goins, 
and Jim O'Quinn have all been kind enough to provide for me the kind of 
professional staff assistance that has made my job easier. We will 
remain friends. The members of my staff have helped make this an 
experience I will cherish.
  I have undoubtedly left out a number of individuals whom I want to 
thank and I have tried to thank.
  I also thank the people who have made this a very good experience for 
my wife Lynda, particularly the prayer groups. She has been associated 
with several of those. I understand she gets to continue her membership 
in the prayer groups and the spouses group, even though I will become a 
former Member and will leave these premises.
  Mr. President, I say to all of my colleagues that they are a group of 
principled, compassionate, caring men and women, many of them friends. 
We may have disagreements. Some of those are principled disagreements. 
In fact, I just attended what may be the last Democratic conference 
called by our leader. I say once again, I heard members express in 
passionate terms their commitment to doing what they believe is in the 
best interest of their State and the Nation, and I think that is 
something that may not always be apparent. Again, that occurs on both 
sides of the aisle. I am particularly grateful to many who have 
demonstrated the courage to stand up and be counted when it was not 
always politically popular.
  Finally, I want to make a brief comment about the leadership. I thank 
the majority leader for the courtesies he and the members of his staff 
have extended to me.
  I conclude with a special note of thanks to someone I consider an 
extraordinary leader, who is kind enough to be here for these couple of 
minutes, Tom Daschle, the current Democratic and minority leader who 
will become on January 3 through January 20 the majority leader. As a 
point of personal privilege, I look forward to that time.

  He and the team that he has put together have been exceptional 
leaders. I see the distinguished whip Harry Reid on the floor, as well. 
They have led by example. They have led by inclusion. And they have led 
by listening. They have been friends. They have been effective. They 
have been leaders in the truest sense in that they have caused us to 
want to work with them to make the institution run and to get the job 
done.
  So, Mr. President, to you, as a personal friend, and as a 
representative of our colleagues, and to all of our friends who have 
been kind to me and have supported some of the things I have done over 
the years, may I express my profound thanks.
  I take leave of the Senate proud to have had the opportunity to serve 
in this great institution.
  Mr. President, I thank the Chair and yield the floor.
  Mr. DASCHLE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader is recognized.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I will use my leader time, if I may, at this time.

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