[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 155 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S11849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RETIREMENT OF SENATOR JOHN ASHCROFT

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, as we conclude the 107th Congress, we will 
be saying goodbye to our colleague and friend, Senator John Ashcroft of 
Missouri.
  A former two-term Governor, John Ashcroft has earned a reputation in 
the Senate for his principled pursuit of conservative issues. He is 
also recognized as a strong proponent of the wide use of the internet 
by federal agencies as a way to make the government more responsive and 
accountable. As a leader in the term-limits movement, he carried out 
the innovative online petition drive.
  Senator Ashcroft served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as 
well as the Commerce and Judiciary Committees. He established himself 
as a leader among Republicans on a range of issues from term limits to 
tax reform and welfare reform. While in many instances I have found 
myself on the opposite side of issues from John, I have always 
respected his intellect, his integrity, his principled positions and 
his ability to disagree without being disagreeable.
  Since 1995, John Ashcroft and I have co-chaired the Senate Auto 
Caucus. In this capacity, we have worked together to provide Senators 
with up to date information on issues affecting the automotive industry 
and its employees. Through the Auto Caucus we organized informational 
briefings to give Senators and their staff and opportunity to better 
understand the auto industry's remarkable progress as well as the 
challenges it faces. The Caucus provides a forum for Senators to 
exchange ideas on issues affecting the industry such as transportation, 
environment, trade, technology and health care.
  Working together with Senator Ashcroft's, we were able to increase 
membership in the Auto Caucus from six Senators to twenty-eight. The 
Auto Caucus played a leadership role in pressing the Administration to 
negotiate market opening trade agreements with Japan and Korea in the 
automotive sector and continues to weigh in on and monitor those 
agreements. In addition, the Caucus hosts meetings between Senators and 
Automotive CEOs, provides timely briefings on US-Japan and US-Korea 
automotive trade negotiations, and encourages the Administration to 
fight to open markets to U.S. vehicles and auto parts.
  Last year, Senator Ashcroft and I worked together to urge the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to use an unbelted 25 
mph barrier test instead of a 30 mph test to design air bags that will 
help better protect children, teenagers and small adults. Our work on 
this very complicated and controversial issue brought the 
Administration and Auto industry together to reach a result that will 
increase automobile safety.
  We also worked together to continue the moratorium on unfair and 
ineffective increases in Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards and 
worked toward a compromise in the Senate to ensure that a National 
Academy of Sciences study of the effectiveness and impacts of CAFE 
standards will include the effect of those standards on motor vehicle 
safety as well as discriminatory impacts of those standards on the U.S. 
auto industry.
  Also, we have worked together in the past to ensure that 
environmental regulations recognize and reinforce the voluntary 
environmental improvements and technological achievements of the 
automobile industry.
  Not only will John's contribution be missed in debate on the Senate 
floor, but his voice will be sorely missed, I suspect, by the ``Singing 
Senators'', the wonderful quartet in which he has joined with Senators 
Lott, Craig and Jeffords. My wife and family, join me in wishing the 
best in the years ahead for John, his loving wife (and co-author), 
Janet, and their family.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Senator 
John Ashcroft as he prepares to leave the Senate.
  For the past six years, Senator Ashcroft has done important work as a 
member of the Commerce, Judiciary, and Foreign Relations Committees in 
the United States Senate. For example, Senator Ashcroft has focused on 
reforming our nation's use of agricultural sanctions during foreign 
trade disputes. We share a common vision that we must not use food as a 
weapon in our disputes with other nations, and Senator Ashcroft has 
made a high priority of changing this policy. His work is important 
both domestically and internationally, and he can be proud of his 
contributions.
  I also appreciate Senator Ashcroft's recent work with Senator Dorgan, 
Senator Bond, and me on the Dakota Water Resources Act. This 
legislation is critical for the economic future of North Dakota, and I 
greatly appreciate the constructive role Senator Ashcroft played in 
representing the interests of his state. During discussions on this 
bill he was a tenacious advocate for his state's interests. His 
diligence in representing his state's interests, coupled with his 
willingness to gain an understanding of the water needs of my state, 
ultimately helped us reach a compromise acceptable to both states. The 
people of Missouri can be proud of his work fighting for their 
interests.
  More generally, Senator Ashcroft has been a man of his word who 
served his state and his country with distinction. I join my colleagues 
on both sides of the aisle in wishing him well in his future endeavors.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a colleague and 
friend who will be greatly missed by the United States Senate--Senator 
John Ashcroft.
  Senator Ashcroft, served Missouri and the nation with distinction.
  In the Senate, he was a leader in passage of landmark welfare reform 
legislation, authoring the Charitable Choice provision. He fought for 
lower taxes, a strong national defense, greater local control of 
education, and enhanced law enforcement.
  A popular, former two term governor of his home state, John brought a 
real ``can-do'' sense of purpose to his work in the Senate. I have 
always felt that those who come to the Senate with experience as 
governor, have especially valuable experience that the entire nation 
benefits from.
  There is a term used throughout the 211 year history of the Senate 
called ``Senatorial courtesy.'' John won the admiration of his 
colleagues in many ways, especially his caring tradition of writing 
wonderful personal notes--not by computer--but always taking time to 
write them by hand.
  We wish you, your wife and family well as you take on your new 
challenges.

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