[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 23 (Monday, February 26, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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              TRIBUTE TO LEON KENISON UPON HIS RETIREMENT

 Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to 
honor Leon Kenison, an exemplary public official who dedicated himself 
to serving the people of New Hampshire for almost four decades. As 
Commissioner of the Department of Transportation since 1996, he has 
brought to the office the professional skills and knowledge of the 
politics and practice of road building so vital to an agency that 
touches the lives of every person who lives in or visits the Granite 
State.
  Leon began his career with the Department of Transportation in 1963, 
a week before graduating from the University of New Hampshire. He is 
widely respected for his transportation expertise at state, regional 
and national levels, and has chaired several key committees for the 
American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials. During 
his tenure with the DOT, Leon approached his work with a can-do 
attitude, and balanced what needs to be done with what can be done.
  Throughout his career, Leon accomplished a great deal for 
transportation in New Hampshire. The people of this state look upon him 
with tremendous gratitude and admiration for all that he has done. I 
have often sought Leon's support and expertise on transportation 
issues. We worked closely together to make sure that New Hampshire's 
needs were met in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. 
Under his leadership, the DOT not only secured funding to complete 
major highway projects including Route 101 and I-93, but also placed 
more emphasis on environmental protection, car pools, express bus, rail 
and other new programs.
  It is an honor and a privilege to serve Leon Kenison in the U.S. 
Senate and I wish him and his family godspeed in his retirement and in 
all of their future endeavors. 

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