[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 9 (Thursday, February 7, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S479-S480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SENATOR HERB KOHL

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I rise today to offer a tribute on the 
occasion of the birthday of one of our colleagues in the Senate, that 
of Senator Herb Kohl, Senior Senator from the State of Wisconsin.
  I have known Senator Kohl for many years, since he first came to the 
Senate in 1989, and over that period of time, my respect and admiration 
for Senator Kohl has grown as I have watched him learn the role of a 
legislator and master the methods and the means of becoming a fine 
United States Senator.
  Senator Kohl is hard-working, tenacious, and will fight to the end 
for the interests of this institution and those of his state. A few 
years ago when the Senate was debating legislation regarding the dairy 
industry, I remarked that Senator Kohl was the Stonewall Jackson of 
Wisconsin, standing firm for the interests of the dairy farmers in his 
state. When it comes to fighting for his state, or other issues of 
importance to him, such as measures to help and protect our nation's 
children, there is no one to outshine Senator Kohl in his dedication 
for the values he holds dear. That is one of the distinguishing 
characteristics of a good Senator.
  But Herb Kohl is more than just a fine United States Senator, he is a 
good and decent man. His hallmark is honest modesty, a man of few 
words, but words of great meaning and words that deserve being heard. 
He is consistently kind to the people who work around him, especially 
his staff, who will follow him faithfully through thick and thin. His 
word is his bond, and to this Senator, there is no greater tribute than 
recognition of that fact.
  Senator Kohl represents what is best about Senators and about 
Americans generally. He is a self-made man whose parents came to this 
country during the last century without an ability to speak the English 
language. From those humble beginnings, they and their son and other 
family members worked to develop a family grocery business in 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that became successful and grew to have national 
recognition. If you drive around

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the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, you will notice Kohl stores, 
and they are evidence of the contribution Senator Kohl and his family 
have made to the commercial strength of this country.
  The types of success that Senator Kohl has known have been the result 
of constant effort, a solid education in the Wisconsin public schools, 
and an understanding that hard work, honesty, intellectual clarity, and 
dedication to strong values are the key components to a successful 
career in either the business world or public service.
  So, I want to honor Senator Kohl on this special day and pay him the 
recognition that he is due for all his work on behalf of the people of 
Wisconsin and all who serve here in the United States Senate.

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