[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 28, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SENATOR DAYTON'S MAIDEN SPEECH

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I was at a conference dealing with 
health care policy when my colleague, Senator Dayton, spoke. I come to 
the floor to congratulate Senator Dayton for his words.
  When he campaigned for the U.S. Senate seat, he spoke on cost of 
prescription drugs, especially for the elderly. I think it applies to 
many other families as well. Over and over again, he said this was his 
No. 1 priority. He said our country could do better. He said this was a 
matter of elementary justice. He talked about older people in 
Minnesota--senior citizens--two-thirds of whom have no prescription 
drug coverage. He talked about, for example, seniors cutting pills in 
half because they could not afford them or people running out of food 
or their homes being cold.
  I think it is very significant that when Senator Dayton came to the 
floor of the Senate today to give his first speech, his maiden speech, 
he talked about prescription drug costs and his commitment to 
introducing responsible legislation that will make a real difference in 
the lives of people.
  The reason I think it is significant is not only because he spoke on 
an issue that is very important to people's lives, but it is all the 
more important because he said something about Mark Dayton in very 
personal terms. He campaigned on this issue. He listened to many people 
in Minnesota, and many elderly people talk about these costs.
  He came to the Senate after winning the election, and he basically 
stayed true to the commitment he made to people in his State. Senator 
Dayton has been my friend for many years. I think he will be a great 
Senator.

  I always said--and I said to Senator Rod Grams after the election--
that no one can ever say to Senator Rod Grams that he did not vote for 
what he believed in; that he did not say what he believed. I think he 
deserves an awful lot of credit for that.
  I never like it when anyone loses. I don't like to see people lose. I 
like to see people win. It is because of my Jewish roots.
  I think Mark Dayton is going to be a great Senator for the State of 
Minnesota and for this country, and I am very honored to serve in the 
Senate with him. As the senior Senator, I hope he will consider my 
views over and over again. I doubt that he will. And it will probably 
make him an even better Senator if he doesn't.
  He spoke powerful words. I am sorry I was not on the floor with him. 
But I thank him for his commitment to the people. I thank him for his 
passion. I thank him for caring about public service, and I thank 
Senator Dayton for caring about senior citizens and other citizens in 
the country. I thank him for his commitment to Minnesota.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, what is the parliamentary situation?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. We are in a period of morning business, with 
Members allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes.

                          ____________________