[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 6, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1039-S1040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE FOR SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE PETERS

  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I rise to take a few minutes to 
recognize the contributions of a patriot, a leader, and a good friend 
of this institution who has departed Government service to return to 
life as a private citizen.
  During, his 4-year tenure as Under Secretary, Acting Secretary, and 
Secretary of the Air Force, F. Whitten Peters had led his service to 
new heights of achievement, and the world is better for it. At a time 
when the global security environment became less predictable with each 
passing day, Whit Peters understood the need for the Air Force to 
become more responsive, more versatile, and more powerful--all at the 
same time. With boundless energy and enthusiasm, he set out to help the 
U.S. Air Force do those things and more.
  As the leading architect of aerospace power, Whit Peters drove a 
fundamental re-examination of the relationship between air, space, and 
information systems. As a result, the cold war Air Force he inherited 
is well on its way to becoming a modern, integrated aerospace force, 
designed to meet the challenges of a new millennium.
  During Secretary Peters' tenure, in the troubled skies over Serbia, a 
war was won using the strengths of our military--and we did it without 
losing a single American to enemy action.
  Today, despots and dictators hesitate to act because they know 
America's Air Force can bring power to bear at the point of decision in 
a matter of minutes or hours. And, millions of people, the world over, 
live better lives because of the humanitarian missions undertaken by 
our U.S. Air Force in the last 4 years.
  While busy guiding the evolution of the Air Force's operational 
capabilities, Secretary Peters also directed significant improvements 
in acquisition, logistics, and sustainment programs to ensure the best 
possible use of defense resources. He presided over the development of 
the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle--a revolutionary pairing of 
Russian propulsion technology with the best United States commercial 
space-launch capabilities--which will drastically lower the cost of 
placing commercial and defense payloads in earth orbit. He led the 
consolidation of five Air Force aircraft depots into three, reducing 
depot over-capacity by 40 percent and saving the taxpayers over $377 
million a year. And, he arrested a 10-year drop in aircraft readiness 
rates by putting 2 billion dollars' worth of additional spares on the 
shelf where they will be useful to aircraft maintainers. He was 
instrumental on an issue critical to my home State of Arkansas--his 
commitment secured Little Rock Air Force Base as the Nation's C-130 
schoolhouse and the Center of Excellence for future generations.
  Most important, Whit Peters took care of his people. As every Member 
of this body knows, he fought hard for improved pay, housing, and 
medical benefits for every member of America's Air Force. He fought for 
better re-enlistment bonuses for people in hard-to-fill skills such as 
air traffic control, computer network administration, and over a 
hundred others. He pushed relentlessly for better child-care facilities 
to meet the demands of working families, and today 95 percent of all 
Air Force child care centers meet federal accreditation standards, 
compared to just 10 percent of child care facilities nationwide.
  No wonder the enlisted men and women of the Air Force honored him 
with their most prestigious recognition: Induction into the Air Force 
Order of the Sword. In the 53-year history of America's youngest 
service, no other Air Force Secretary has even been so honored. Nor has 
any service secretary been so respected by the men and women he leads.
  Like the men and women of the Total Air Force--the Air National 
Guard, the Air Force Reserve, and the Regular Air Force--we hate to see 
Whit Peters go, and I know my colleagues will join me in wishing him 
the fondest of farewells. I have rarely known someone with greater 
commitment, greater work ethic, or a greater zeal for life than Whit 
Peters displayed. He is a rare

[[Page S1040]]

leader and an even rarer person in this town: a true gentleman who 
cares more about others than himself. As the Air Force slogan says, 
``No one comes close.''
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado is recognized.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, it is my understanding that time has been 
set aside for Senator Thomas. I would like to claim 15 minutes of that 
time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the Senator from Colorado 
is recognized.

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