[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1152-S1166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.
  Under the previous order, there will now be a period for the 
transaction of morning business not to extend beyond the hour of 3:15, 
with the time under the control of the Senator from Massachusetts, Mr. 
Kerry.
  Mr. KERRY. I ask unanimous consent that the remarks of Senator 
Kennedy's House colleagues be printed in the Record following my 
statement.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (See exhibit 1.)
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I appreciate my colleagues' patience. I 
hope we will all have a chance to pay tribute.
  As the majority leader has just said, and as we have learned in 
wonderful stories across the country over the course of the last weeks, 
my senior colleague and our good friend and colleague to all of us on 
both sides of the aisle celebrated his 70th birthday on February 22, 
last week, while we were out of session. But he also records a rather 
remarkable milestone together with a birthday. It is not only a 
celebration of 70 years of life, but it is also the milestone of 40 
years of service to the State of Massachusetts and to his country here 
in the Senate.
  He started his career by setting an extraordinarily high standard in 
the very beginning because it was when he reached the minimal 
constitutional age of 30 that he first came to the Senate--one of only 
16 people in the history of the Senate to reach this institution at 
that early and tender age. What we celebrate today, Democrats and 
Republicans alike, is not only the awe we have for his lifetime of 
achievement but really the way in which literally almost every single 
year that Senator Kennedy has been here there has been a milestone 
piece of legislation that has passed either with his significant 
support and input or with his outright leadership.
  The Boston Globe put it best, writing not long ago that:

       In actual, measurable impact on the lives of tens of 
     millions of working families, the elderly, and the needy, Ted 
     Kennedy belongs in the same sentence with Franklin Roosevelt.

  That sentence is not constructed lightly; it is the measure of a 
public servant who doesn't know the meaning of the words, ``you can't 
pass it,'' ``it can't happen,'' or ``impossible.''
  It is the measure of a Senator who--on every issue of importance, 
from health care to children, education, civil rights, choice, and so 
on--can always be counted on to be in the lead, challenging on the 
issues and fighting for the principles that guide our party and lift up 
our country.

  As every single one of my colleagues here knows, Ted Kennedy is an 
extraordinary public servant, not only because he knows who he is 
personally and sticks to his guns, never bending with the political 
currents, but because he has in his life and in his career proven again 
and again that progress doesn't happen by accident, that it doesn't 
happen when you simply stick to the text of the latest opinion poll or 
the whispers of a morning focus group, it happens when leaders define 
and fight the fights that need fighting and when public servants of 
conscience and conviction refuse to take no for an answer.
  That is why, for Ted Kennedy, the ``cause'' has not just endured, it 
has triumphed--again and again.
  Whether you agree with him or not, we know that Ted Kennedy has never 
been afraid to be a majority of one. We know that he has been an 
extraordinary leader because he has excelled while completing his work 
in the Senate, where sometimes others were afraid to begin.
  Ironically, in being a standard-bearer for an ideal, Ted has become, 
as Clymer wrote in his recent book:

       [N]ot just the leading Senator of his time, but one of the 
     greats in its history, wise in the workings of this singular 
     institution, especially its demand to be more than partisan 
     to accomplish much.

  His partnerships with his fellow Senators are well known and often 
recited--and sometimes lampooned--from Howard Baker, Jacob Javits, Hugh 
Scott, Arlen Specter, Dan Quayle, Orrin Hatch, Alan Simpson, and Nancy 
Kassebaum--Ted has never hesitated to cross the aisle in an effort to 
accomplish his goals and to further a common agenda--fighting always to 
prove that ideologies, however incompatible according to conventional 
wisdom, can be put aside for the greater good when it improves the 
lives of our fellow Americans.
  Ted has always done that--put aside partisanship and reached out. On 
a personal note--and I think there are many Senators who would say 
this--Ted Kennedy is remarkable. There are so many of our colleagues 
who have been touched in times of loss, times of distress, times of 
disease or sickness, before an operation, after an operation, when a 
child was in trouble; it is almost always Ted Kennedy who is one of the 
first to pick up the phone and one of the first to offer support.
  I remember 30 years ago when I came back from Vietnam and a group of 
us ragtag veterans assembled on The Mall here to try to get the country 
to listen to what we thought was the truth.
  There were not many leaders in the Senate prepared to listen, but Ted 
Kennedy was among the first and the few who came down to that 
encampment, sat during the night, listened to the stories of veterans, 
and came back to the floor of the Senate to be an extraordinary witness 
to their truth. He reached out and demonstrated in actions, as well as 
words, the truth for which those soldiers had fought.
  Now we see that in so many ways. He goes where his conscience tells 
him to go. He hears of children who go through their early years 
without health care, who come to school unable to learn, and he has 
made their care his crusade. So millions more children today see a 
doctor because of Ted Kennedy and millions more will before he is done.
  He hears of workers sweating it out, punching a timeclock, doing 
backbreaking work over the course of a lifetime, and he has made their 
economic security his agenda. And so many millions of workers have seen 
their wages increased over the course of their lives, pensions 
protected where others would have left it to the marketplace, and he 
has created a safe workplace, and the right to organize has been put 
back on the Nation's agenda. These issues again and again will be 
advanced by Ted Kennedy.
  That is the drive, the passion, and the special commitment we 
celebrate today. This is not a new ideology, it is not a new-age 
vision, but it is an age-old belief that Americans have a 
responsibility to each other, that America is still in the process of 
becoming, and that we are privileged to serve here to make that dream 
real for all Americans.
  These are the qualities that make our colleague the lion of the 
Senate and make him one of the most prolific legislators in American 
history. They also make him what his brother Robert said was some of 
the most important words in the English language: A great citizen.
  For that and so much more, we honor our friend and colleague Ted 
Kennedy today.

                               Exhibit 1


                    remarks by representative markey

       This past week, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
     celebrated the 70th Birthday of our senior senator, Ted 
     Kennedy, and a legacy of public service unsurpassed in its

[[Page S1153]]

     benefit to the people of our state, the country and the 
     world. Of course, his legacy grows day by day, week by week, 
     year by year, and will undoubtedly result in the greatest 
     record of achievement that the United States Senate has ever 
     known.
       It brings to mind a recent event of importance to all New 
     Englanders. The New England Patriots won the Super Bowl this 
     year, one of the greatest achievements in professional 
     sports. So great is this achievement that our regional team 
     has accomplished this incredible feat just once in its 40 
     year history. When a professional football team wins more 
     than one championship in a relatively short time frame we 
     proclaim it a dynasty. But what if a professional football 
     team won the Super Bowl for 40 consecutive years? How would 
     we describe such unprecedented success?
       That is the challenge we face as we celebrate the 
     achievements of Ted Kennedy, for he manages to win the 
     legislative Super Bowl every year. He has many teammates 
     contributing to the success of their mutual efforts from year 
     to year, but they come and go. The one constant is Senator 
     Ted Kennedy, a Senate giant, the quarterback, the leader.
       Senator Kennedy has provided a powerful and effective voice 
     for those who do not have a high-priced and well-recognized 
     lobby in Washington--the poor and the underprivileged. His 
     legislative accomplishments have enhanced the quality of 
     health care we provide our constituents, the quality of 
     education we provide our children and the quality of life 
     every American family enjoys in this nation by safeguarding 
     our environment and providing protection and equity in the 
     workplace. Collectively, Senator Kennedy's body of work has 
     given every individual in this country an opportunity to 
     reach their ``American Dream.''
       When Senator Kennedy retires they will place his picture 
     and biography in the dictionary next to the definition of 
     Senator. It will be an abridged version, because they won't 
     have enough room to describe his accomplishments of the next 
     forty years. It is an honor to call Ted my colleague, it is 
     an honor to call him my friend, but most importantly it is an 
     honor to call him my Senator.


               remarks by representative michael capuano

       I would like to extend my congratulations and best wishes 
     to Senator Edward Kennedy as he celebrates his 70th birthday.
       Senator Kennedy's impact on Massachusetts and on our 
     country is immeasurable. His powerful stamp can be found on 
     national legislation and local programs ranging from health 
     care and affordable housing to education. He is a true 
     champion of America's working men and women and is a strong 
     advocate for the needs of children.
       In Massachusetts, Senator Kennedy's hard work is visible in 
     so many ways. He fights to increase access to public 
     transportation and improve and highway system. He brings 
     federal dollars to every corner of the Commonwealth for 
     after-school programs, teacher training, counseling and a 
     host of important initiatives.
       I am proud to serve in the Congress with Senator Kennedy 
     and have learned a great deal from him during my short time 
     in Washington. I look forward to serving many more years with 
     the Senator. I know that Massachusetts and our country will 
     continue to benefit from his years of experience.


             remarks by representative william d. delahunt

       This month the family, friends and admirers of Senator 
     Edward M. Kennedy celebrate two major milestones: his 70th 
     birthday and his 40th year in the Senate. It is a fitting 
     moment to take stock of what his leadership has meant for 
     social policy in this country.
       Senator Kennedy's legacy in the fields of health care 
     reform, education and civil rights is a testament to his 
     principled commitment to making America a more just society. 
     His success in accomplishing so much of what he has set out 
     to do--whether in the majority or the minority--is a 
     testament to his gift for finding common ground and his 
     mastery of the legislative art.
       In no area of his work have those twin attributes of 
     principle and pragmatism been so in evidence as in his 
     efforts to improve the criminal justice system.
       As a local prosecutor for over two decades, I watched with 
     pride as Senator Kennedy fought for sensible crime control 
     policies at a time when many in Congress were running in the 
     opposite direction.
       As his congressional colleague for the last five years, I 
     have been gratified to be able to collaborate with him on 
     legislation to give local law enforcement officers the tools 
     they need to keep our streets and neighborhoods safe, while 
     also providing resources to community-based prevention and 
     early intervention programs that keep young people from 
     turning to violence in the first place.
       Ted Kennedy has always understood that government cannot 
     respond effectively to such complex problems if politicians 
     are merely reactive--if they cling to failed policies and 
     discredited theories our of fear that an opponent will label 
     them ``soft on crime''.
       And no one can call Senator Kennedy soft on crime. He 
     understands--as few people can--the terrible toll that 
     violence has taken on our families, our communities, and our 
     culture. His own experience has made him especially sensitive 
     to the needs of victims of violence in all its forms.
       Yet the Senator has never wavered in his insistence on due 
     process and his deep opposition to capital punishment. His 
     principles were sorely tested as he watched his brothers John 
     and Bobby cut down in their prime. Few would have blamed him 
     had he sought vengeance against the assassin who took the 
     life of Robert Kennedy. Yet characteristically, he spoke even 
     in his grief not of vengeance but of compassion, asking the 
     Los Angeles district attorney to retrain from seeking the 
     death penalty.
       Some politicians have been tempted to cast aside the 
     Constitution when expediency demanded it. Not Ted Kennedy. He 
     fought for a balanced crime bill in 1996, yet voted against 
     it when it failed to safeguard the Writ of Habeas Corpus. He 
     has continued to stand up for the rights of immigrants, whom 
     others have far too often found an easy target in times of 
     trouble. He has struggled to pass federal hate crimes 
     legislation that would curb violence and harassment against 
     gays and lesbians--another frequent scapegoat for popular 
     anxieties.
       The commitment to a just society, that combination of 
     principle and pragmatism, are among the many reasons I am 
     proud to call Edward M. Kennedy my senator. My constituent. 
     And my friend. Happy birthday, Ted.


                 remarks by representative barney frank

       The senior Senator from Massachusetts, Mr. Kennedy, has 
     done more to advance fairness in American life in the past 
     forty years than anyone else in the country. I can think of 
     no group of people suffering from unjustified adversity of 
     whom he has been not simply a champion, but the most 
     forceful, passionate, and, most importantly, the most 
     effective champion.
       In fact, his extraordinary lifetime work for social and 
     economic justice is not only the most impressive in post-
     World War II America, it overshadows the work of all but a 
     handful of American public officials who have gone before 
     him.
       At this point, I encounter a dilemma. Having said this 
     about Senator Kennedy's career, I find myself without 
     anything else to say on this central point--he has been for 
     forty years the best we have at the most important task 
     confronting public policy makers, and there is nothing to add 
     to that in evaluating a political leader. But to end here 
     somehow seems inadequate--if only to guard against 
     misinterpretation of my opinion by those who measure 
     admiration by its length. Fortunately, there is one 
     subordinate aspect of Senator Kennedy's record that I believe 
     calls out for comment--his shattering of a number of 
     stereotypes.
       One form of shallow analysis that plagues the study of 
     politics in America is that which sets up a series of false 
     choices, and insists that public figures must choose to be on 
     one side or the other of a set of opposites. We are told that 
     effective insiders in Congress who seek to get things done 
     cannot simultaneously be forceful public advocates. We are 
     told that the political world is cleanly divided between 
     idealists, pure but impractical, and pragmatists, ever ready 
     to trade in principle for the sake of a deal. And last in 
     this series, Members of Congress are often divided between 
     those who focus on broad national themes, and their opposites 
     who spend their time and energy working on specific projects 
     for their local constituencies.
       One of the things that makes me grateful to Senator Kennedy 
     for his unsurpassed legislative work is that he defies every 
     one of these false dichotomies. He has been for Massachusetts 
     an extremely effective advocate without in any way holding 
     back from being our leading national voice for economic and 
     social fairness.
       Nor does this passionate national advocacy in any way 
     diminish his impact in the Senate, where he is one of the 
     most productive and successful legislators in that body's 
     history. And his impact has come precisely because he is so 
     strongly committed to a set of ideals that he understands 
     that his obligation is to be successful in carrying them into 
     fruition.
       I believe it is important to admit one's mistakes, even if 
     it isn't a lot of fun. And there is no statute of limitations 
     on this principle. Forty years ago, I opposed Edward 
     Kennedy's candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the 
     U.S. Senate. While I continue to have an enormous amount of 
     respect for the late Edward McCormack, who was then his 
     opponent, I want to say here that I have never been happier 
     to have proven so wrong.


               remarks by representative stephen f. lynch

       It is with great honor that I rise today to pay tribute to 
     an extraordinary man and an exemplary public figure. For 
     forty years, Senator Ted Kennedy has given a voice to those 
     without one, and has stood up for all those who need it most. 
     Senator Kennedy has been a leader for Massachusetts, and for 
     our nation, and his work has touched the lives of hundreds of 
     millions of Americans. We all recognize his remarkable 
     efforts in protecting the civil rights of all Americans, 
     improving the quality and accessibility of education, and his 
     undying commitment to extend health care coverage to every 
     American. But I want to pay special tribute to Senator 
     Kennedy's dedication to the working men and women of 
     Massachusetts.
       As an ironworker for eighteen years, I know firsthand the 
     pride that comes from earning a living with your hands, and 
     the struggles a worker must face to provide for his family on 
     a blue-collar wage. No member

[[Page S1154]]

     of the United States Senate understands the reality of 
     working families better, and no member respects them more 
     than Ted Kennedy. Senator Kennedy appreciates the dignity of 
     teachers, of mechanics, of nurses, and of ironworkers. He 
     recognizes that working Americans aren't just looking for 
     handouts from their government--they're looking for a leg up, 
     to help them ensure that their children have every 
     opportunity to succeed, and they're looking for a safety net, 
     to help them provide for their families during the most 
     difficult times.
       Senator Kennedy's legislative record reflects those 
     principles, and that is why he has been the single most 
     effective advocate for working Americans in our time.
       First and foremost amongst Senator Kennedy's legislative 
     achievements is his ongoing fight for workers' rights and 
     protections. One of the most basic principles upon which our 
     nation was founded was fairness, and Ted Kennedy has done 
     everything he can to promote that in the workplace.
       He has fought successfully to improve workplace safety and 
     conditions, and continues to fight for ergonomics standards 
     today. He has fought successfully to raise the minimum wage, 
     and lift working families above the poverty line. 
     Additionally, he has stood on the lines with workers across 
     the state to demand a fair wage for their work. His 
     reputation as a trusted negotiator with both workers and 
     management has allowed Senator Kennedy to quiet disputes and 
     bring all sides to the table for a fair and equitable 
     resolution during sometimes hostile labor disputes. In 1999, 
     he intervened in the nurses strike at St. Vincent's Hospital 
     in Worcester, and all sides came out winners when the nurses 
     returned to work with new restrictions on mandatory overtime 
     which improved the safety and quality of care for patients.
       Senator Kennedy has fought to ensure that all workers are 
     paid an equitable wage, regardless of sex, race, or sexual 
     orientation. he fought successfully for passage of the Family 
     and Medical Leave Act of 1993, which allows workers to take 
     unpaid leave to care for members of their family when they 
     are ill.
       Senator Kennedy believes in the power of education, and 
     knows that it is essential to providing children and adults 
     alike with the opportunity to succeed. In today's 
     marketplace, employers require a higher level of skill and 
     training than ever before. That is why Senator Kennedy's 
     efforts to expand opportunities for job training centers and 
     career counseling services have had such an impact for 
     workers who have been laid off, or who are looking to take 
     the next step in their careers.
       In this time of economic recession, more and more workers 
     are laid off and need a temporary boost to help them continue 
     to provide for their families. It is in times like these when 
     Senator Kennedy's most significant impact becomes clear. 
     Because of his work in championing benefits for the 
     unemployed, and in providing transitional assistance to 
     workers, millions of Americans have the ability to take the 
     time to retrain themselves, and re-enter the workforce 
     sooner. And, because of his work to extend health care 
     coverage to those who have recently lost their jobs, the 
     health and safety of their children need not be put at risk 
     while they're looking for a new job.
       Senator Kennedy's efforts to protect and support working 
     Americans have been felt far and wide. As a former union 
     president and head of a working family, I cannot express how 
     grateful I am to him for his courage, his voice and for his 
     support. I wish Senator Kennedy all the best on the occasion 
     of his 70th birthday, and hope for all Americans, that he 
     will continue to serve this nation for many decades to come.


               remarks by representative james mc govern

       I rise today to pay tribute to a true champion of 
     Massachusetts, Senator Ted Kennedy. As many Members of the 
     House know, the Senator is celebrating his 70th birthday this 
     year.
       For most of those 70 years, Senator Kennedy has been a 
     voice for the voiceless, a champion of working families, a 
     force for peace and justice at home and around the world.
       It is nearly impossible to find a major piece of domestic 
     legislation over the past two generations that has not been 
     shaped by the Senator's drive, courage, tenacity and 
     collegiality.
       From making health care more affordable to raising the 
     minimum wage; from civil rights for all Americans to fair and 
     compassionate treatment of immigrants; from Biafra to 
     Bangladesh to Belfast--Senator Kennedy has led the charge.
       But though he has reached the pinnacles of power, Senator 
     Kennedy has never forgotten the people of Massachusetts who 
     have elected him over and over again. One only needs to drive 
     through the 3rd Congressional District to see his handiwork. 
     Dozens of economic development projects simply would not have 
     happened without him.
       The Kennedy name, of course, is synonymous with service in 
     Massachusetts. Senator Kennedy not only survived almost 
     unimaginable personal tragedy, he persevered. He persevered 
     because for him, public service is not a job--it is a 
     calling, a mission, a vocation.
       And on a more personal level, Senator Kennedy has been an 
     amazingly generous friend to me and my family. I have learned 
     a tremendous amount from him, and I am honored to call him a 
     colleague.
       I know that all of my colleagues in the House join me in 
     wishing Senator Ted Kennedy a very happy 70th birthday, and 
     many more happy birthdays to come.


                 remarks by representative marty meehan

       I rise to honor Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Senator Kennedy 
     celebrated his 70th birthday on Friday, February 22, 2002.
       For nearly 40 years, Senator Kennedy has dedicated his 
     energies and remarkable abilities to making our communities, 
     our Commonwealth, and our nation a better place to live.
       The fruits of his efforts are evident throughout 
     Massachusetts' Fifth Congressional District. From the 
     redevelopment of the former Ft. Devens military base to the 
     preservation of the Watt Farm in Harvard, from the 
     construction of a new bus operations and maintenance facility 
     in Lowell to the renovation of the Marlborough Hospital's 
     Emergency Department, from the Merrimack Valley to the 
     Metrowest area, Senator Kennedy has delivered for the 
     residents of the Fifth District.
       Senator Kennedy's record of accomplishment doesn't end at 
     the borders of the Fifth District or even the Commonwealth of 
     Massachusetts. In fact, it just begins. On every important 
     fight waged for the working families of our nation, Senator 
     Kennedy has been our leader.
       He has fought tirelessly for civil rights on the home front 
     and human rights around the globe. He has worked to improve 
     our public schools, to make college more affordable, and to 
     give workers the resources they need to upgrade their skills. 
     He has waged an endless battle to make work pay by pushing 
     for an increase in the minimum wage. And his leadership on 
     health care has made health insurance a reality for the 
     poorest children of our nation and focused us all on the need 
     for meaningful managed care reform. And I believe that when 
     Congress passes legislation to create a Medicare prescription 
     drug benefit for seniors, we will have Senator Kennedy to 
     thank for that.
       On July 15th, 1960, Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy issued 
     a challenge to a generation of young Americans. ``The New 
     Frontier of which I speak,'' he said, ``is not a set of 
     promises. It is a set of challenges. It sums up not what I 
     intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask 
     of them.''
       On June 6, 1966, Senator Robert Francis Kennedy spoke in 
     Capetown, South Africa about the nature of the challenge his 
     older brother issued our nation: ``Few will have the 
     greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change 
     a small portion of events, and in the total of those acts 
     will be written the history of the generation . . . It is 
     from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human 
     history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an 
     ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out 
     against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and 
     crossing each other from a million different centers of 
     energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can 
     sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and 
     resistance.''
       That call to service, to courage, to secure universal 
     justice, inspired generations of Americans to change the 
     world around them--including the oldest son of a working-
     class family on 22 London Street in ``the Acre'' section of 
     Lowell.
       Along with millions of Americans, my ideals, my values, and 
     my vision for a great and just America were inspired by 
     Senator Kennedy's brothers. I serve in Congress today--and 
     strive to make a difference--because of the Kennedy family.
       While his brothers continue to inspire us all, it is 
     Senator Kennedy's endless determination, boundless 
     compassion, selfless commitment, and knowledge about how to 
     get things done, that has made their vision a reality. When 
     the history books are written, it is certain that the career 
     of Senator Edward M. Kennedy will stand as one of the most 
     productive and important of all time.
       Senator, you are one of Massachusetts' greatest treasures. 
     Happy 70th Birthday, and thank you for 40 years of service in 
     the United States Senate.


               REMARKS BY REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD E. NEAL

       Twenty two years ago, at a caucus in the Springfield Civic 
     Center, I was elected as a delegate to the Democratic 
     National Convention in New York in support of a candidate for 
     president who had a bold vision for our country. He stood for 
     economic and social justice, affordable health care and 
     improving the quality of education for all. And while that 
     campaign in 1980 proved to be unsuccessful, his message 
     inspired the hearts and minds of countless Americans who were 
     dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others. That 
     candidate's name was Edward M. Kennedy.
       I share this piece of personal history because Friday was 
     Senator Kennedy's 70th birthday. It also represented the 40th 
     anniversary of his election to the United States Senate. It 
     has been a career of triumph and tragedy, victory and 
     setback. But through it all Ted Kennedy has persevered, 
     continuing to be a strong and steady voice for working 
     families and the less fortunate. At this point in his 
     extraordinary life, he has become a true statesman of the 
     Democratic Party, passionately articulating its values and 
     beliefs to a national constituency.
       He has displayed that same conviction in his tireless 
     efforts to bring peace and reconciliation to the island of 
     Ireland. While

[[Page S1155]]

     many would point to the early 1990's as the beginning of 
     America's involvement in this bitter conflict, Kennedy's 
     interest goes back to the early 1970's. The contribution he 
     and his family have made to the current success of the peace 
     process simply cannot be overstated.
       But there is another side to Ted Kennedy that I have always 
     found even more appealing. It is one of the primary reasons 
     why I have been such a steadfast and loyal supporter for so 
     many years. And it is what the people of this state have 
     known since his first election in 1962. If it helps people in 
     Massachusetts, no issue is too small or insignificant for 
     Senator Kennedy to embrace and lead the charge. Here is one 
     example.
       Soon after my election to Congress, Speaker Tom Foley 
     appointed me to serve on the House Ways and Means Committee 
     which has jurisdiction over health related matters. One of my 
     first challenges was a complex Medicare reimbursement issue 
     designed to help Mercy Hospital in Springfield. At my 
     request, Ted Kennedy took up the fight in the Senate and made 
     it a top priority.
       As the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education and Labor 
     Committee, he was the principal architect for health care 
     reform in the nation. His thoughts on this critical issue 
     lead the network news each night. But unlike most 
     politicians, Kennedy's best work often times goes unseen. He 
     fought long and hard behind the scenes to ensure that the 
     concerns of Mercy Hospital were included in the overall 
     Medicare bill. Throughout this long process, Ted Kennedy 
     displayed his trademark human touch.
       I can vividly recall him taking time to meet with Sister 
     Mary Caritas, then President of Mercy Hospital, to hear her 
     concerns about the economic impact of this proposal. In the 
     middle of this important national debate, he never forgot the 
     people back home. He took her phone calls personally, and 
     never missed an opportunity to update her on the progress of 
     this technical issue.
       Not surprisingly, the proposed change to the Medicare 
     program became law and Mercy Hospital was helped a great 
     deal. Even now, many years later, he still asks me in that 
     distinctive voice: ``Richie, how is Sister Caritas?''
       And this example is not unlike the way he has worked on new 
     projects like Springfield's Union Station, the Federal 
     Courthouse in Springfield, the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences 
     Initiative and countless others across the Second District 
     and beyond.
       Much has been written about the senior Senator from 
     Massachusetts over the years. As someone who was with him as 
     recently as last week, it is clear that he has not lost the 
     boundless enthusiasm he brings to the job. In a meeting about 
     airport security in my office, he was as energetic and 
     focused as the candidate that I endorsed back in 1980.
       Senator Kennedy may be known nationally as one the most 
     effective legislators in the history of the United States 
     Senate. He has the well deserved title of patriarch of one of 
     America's most distinguished families. In my 25 years of 
     public service, I think of him simply as one of the best 
     friends the people of western Massachusetts ever had.
       Happy Birthday Teddy.


                remarks by representative john w. olver

       I would like to salute Senator Edward M. Kennedy, on the 
     occasion of his 70th birthday and his 40th year of service in 
     the United States Senate.
       Senator Kennedy has made it his life's mission to work on 
     behalf of those who are too often overlooked: children, the 
     elderly, individuals with disabilities, the poor and the 
     workers of this nation. From the Americans with Disabilities 
     Act to increases in the federal minimum wage to his advocacy 
     for those infected with HIV and AIDS, Senator Kennedy has led 
     the fight to provide equal opportunities and resources for 
     everyone in America.
       When I look at the congressional district that I represent, 
     I see Senator Kennedy's influence everywhere. He has helped 
     to build a thriving arts community in Berkshire County, 
     provided critical support for biotechnology investment in the 
     Pioneer Valley, and successfully lobbied for urban 
     redevelopment funding in north Worcester County. Thanks to 
     Senator Kennedy's vision, there are five community health 
     centers serving the uninsured and the underinsured in my 
     district.
       The list of Senator Kennedy's accomplishments, both in 
     Massachusetts and across the country, goes on and on. His 
     effectiveness as a legislator is unparalleled, and his 
     tireless work over the last forty years is an inspiration to 
     all of us. I feel honored to have worked with Senator Kennedy 
     for the last decade, and I congratulate him on all of his 
     remarkable achievements.


               remarks by representative john f. tierney

       I am proud to honor Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the 
     occasion of his 70th birthday. I am pleased to join my 
     colleagues in the Massachusetts delegation in paying tribute 
     to our friend, our leader, our inspiration as he reaches this 
     important milestone in his remarkable life.
       Senatory Kennedy has accomplished so much for our state and 
     our nation over these past forty years that it is difficult 
     to distill all of his work on behalf of American families 
     into just a few words. He has been, and continues to be, a 
     champion of quality health care for all Americans, a true 
     believer in public education and a fervent advocate of living 
     wages for working people in this country. For all of those 
     reasons and more he enjoys the respect and affection of 
     millions of people all across the country.
       Two of Senator Kennedy's accomplishments, however, have had 
     particular relevance to my constituents in the Sixth District 
     of Massachusetts: First, he was the primary sponsor of 
     legislation that created the Essex National Heritage 
     Commission, an extraordinary public-private partnership which 
     continues to excel in its mission of educating 
     schoolchildren, residents and visitors alike on the wonderful 
     maritime, industrial and cultural history of our region in 
     the northeastern part of Massachusetts. His continuing 
     advocacy ensures that the rich heritage of the 34 diverse 
     communities that comprise the Essex National Heritage Area 
     will be preserved and passed along to future generations.
       Senator Kennedy has also been a tireless advocate on behalf 
     of the thousands of Massachusetts families for whom 
     commercial fishing has been both a livelihood and a way of 
     life for almost 400 years. For four decades Senator Kennedy 
     has stood shoulder to shoulder with those families. Through 
     good times and bad, through declining stocks and 
     proliferating regulations, through devastating natural 
     disasters and deep personal losses, he has been a source of 
     strength and hope. Angela Sanfilippo, longtime president of 
     the Gloucester Fisherman's Wives Association, said it quite 
     simply in her birthday tribute to Senator Kennedy in the 
     February 22 edition of the Gloucester Daily Times: ``No one 
     has been more of a friend to us than U.S. Senator Edward 
     Kennedy.''
       Happy Birthday, Senator. I look forward to serving with you 
     for many years to come.

  Mr. KERRY. I yield such time as the Senator from Nevada might use and 
then the Senator from Illinois.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the Kennedy family has a long, proud, and 
enduring legacy of public service. Senator Kennedy's father, Joseph, 
served as Ambassador to the Court of St. James, and we all know how he 
encouraged his children to pursue public service, and public service 
they pursued.
  John Kennedy, of course, became a Senator and then President. Robert 
Kennedy served as Attorney General and then as a Senator. Today, 
younger generations of the family are adding to this record by holding 
public office and doing noble work in their communities.
  The Kennedys have made an impact on me. In my office across the hall, 
I have a letter I received from President John F. Kennedy--he was a 
Senator who had just been elected President--congratulating me for 
forming the first Young Democratic organization in the history of Utah 
State University.
  I never met President Kennedy, but I can remember when I worked here 
as a policeman on Capitol Hill driving home by the White House, looking 
out on the lawn and seeing Macaroni, Caroline's horse. I can remember 
when I was a Capitol Policeman and President Kennedy had been 
assassinated. I, of course, knew all the shortcuts through this 
Capitol, and I took them and walked past his casket.
  Now, many years later, in the same office that I talked about a 
minute ago, there is a plaque on the wall announcing that John Kennedy 
occupied the office from July 13, 1960, when he was nominated for 
President, until his inauguration in January of 1961. Every day I see 
that big bronze plaque. Every day I think of President Kennedy.
  Robert Kennedy inspired me and millions of young people in my 
generation who admired his commitment to helping the poor and 
disenfranchised and believed we could make a difference. One of my 
favorite stories about Robert Kennedy recalls a meeting he had with a 
bunch of affluent people. After outlining his vision for our country, 
Robert Kennedy was asked: Who is going to pay for this? Senator Kennedy 
did not pause a second. He said: You are going to pay for it. That is 
integrity. That is what the Kennedys have brought to America.
  As we recognize these contributions, let us also acknowledge the 
Kennedy family has made tremendous personal sacrifices for our country. 
Three brothers lost their lives serving our country. Joseph, Jr., was 
killed in a plane crash while on a dangerous volunteer mission over 
Europe during World War II. He was killed at the age of 29. President 
John Kennedy was assassinated at the age of 46. Robert Kennedy was 
assassinated at the age of 42. Of course, sister Kathleen died in a 
plane crash at the age of 28. The Kennedys have been beset by tragedy 
played out on the public stage perhaps as no other American family.
  My first memory of Senator Ted Kennedy dates back to when I was on 
vacation years ago with my best friend

[[Page S1156]]

watching television and Robert Kennedy's funeral was being broadcast. I 
can remember clearly Ted Kennedy's eulogy. It is something I will never 
forget. One of my sons this past Christmas gave me a compact disc of 
famous speeches. There were not that many famous speeches on this CD, 
perhaps 20, but one on that CD was the remarks Senator Kennedy gave at 
his brother Robert's funeral.
  Over the years, Ted Kennedy has given many great speeches, powerful, 
moving speeches, but even more significant than his skills as an orator 
is that he has been a voice for those without power. This powerful man 
has been a voice for those without power and a champion of social 
justice for all Americans.

  As the most prominent surviving member of this great family, it would 
have been easy, as Senator Kerry and Senator Daschle have both 
mentioned, for him to have become discouraged and to give in to fear of 
being a target for more violence. We all would have understood if he 
had decided to leave the limelight, to withdraw, but he accepted the 
burden and embraced the responsibilities of being a Kennedy, of being 
an American. He has persevered and continues to serve. His 
contributions are significant, and America is a better place as a 
result of his contributions.
  Senator Kennedy has served our Nation for almost 40 years in the 
Senate. He was elected in 1962 to fill the seat of his brother, John F. 
Kennedy, who had been elected President. During more than six terms in 
the Senate, he has accomplished so much. In particular, he has led the 
effort to bring quality health care to all Americans. He sponsored and 
succeeded in getting passage of the Patients' Bill of Rights that we 
want to finalize.
  Senator Kennedy has been involved in so many different aspects of 
education. He played a key role in enacting education reform 
legislation, as Senator Daschle said, to help students, to help 
teachers to, in effect, improve the quality of our Nation's schools and 
hold them accountable.
  He has also taken to the barricades on labor issues, fighting on 
behalf of America's working men and women. There is no greater hero in 
the America union movement than Ted Kennedy. He has forcefully 
advocated for a higher minimum wage many times, and he is now a leading 
proponent for helping workers, especially nurses, to eliminate 
mandatory overtime.
  We have worked together on some issues since I have been in the 
Senate, issues that maybe he did not have a stake in or at least people 
did not think so; for example, what should we do about people who have 
risked their health and even sacrificed their lives to win the Cold 
War. He became involved in this and helped pass legislation to make 
sure those people who were injured in the Cold War were also recognized 
and compensated. It could not have been done without him.

  Certainly Senator Kennedy has a distinguished record of legislative 
accomplishments, but he has not rested on his laurels. He continues 
every day to work hard to continue to have a positive impact.
  I express publicly my gratitude for his help. Senator Kennedy was a 
legend when I got here. I was so impressed with Senator Kennedy always 
asking: Do you want to go first? Do you want your name first on the 
legislation? Do you want to speak first?
  He is a modest man. I will always remember how good he has been to 
me, his continued willingness to set aside personal fame--glory, 
really, that he already has--and instead lead the charge for us or do 
whatever is necessary for the good of the team. He has been helpful and 
inspirational to Senator Daschle and Harry Reid. It is easy to say, but 
I can testify to this: He always cares about his Nation first.
  I thank you again, Ted, for your many contributions and years of 
service. I wish to thank you and your lovely wife Vicki. I wish you 
both Godspeed. May you have many more birthday parties such as this.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I yield such time as he will use to the 
Senator from Illinois. I thank him again for this courtesy. If my 
colleagues would allow, I would like to go to the other side of the 
aisle for a moment and come back to Senator Schumer, Senator Clinton, 
and Senator Stabenow.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, about 35 years ago as a college student I 
was seated in this Senate gallery because there was a historic event 
about to take place. Senator Robert Kennedy, of New York, was to 
announce a very important statement about the Vietnam war. I sat there 
late into the evening waiting for this moment and looked down from that 
gallery to see Senator Robert Kennedy come to the floor with his 
brother, Senator Ted Kennedy. I watched this speech. I listened to 
every word of it. It had such an impact on me, as I am sure it did on 
many people across America, these two brothers continuing to serve this 
country after their brother, the former President, had lost his life, 
continuing to be in the midst of the arena for every important issue. I 
am sure there were many reasons for my being here today, but that 
experience, watching Senators Bob and Ted Kennedy, was part of that 
process of learning and dedicating your life.
  Ted Kennedy was born to public life. He came to Washington as part of 
a family as storied as the John Adams family. He was elected at age 30. 
Many of his critics dismissed him. They believed he was only 
capitalizing on the most fabled democratic name in the latter half of 
the last century. Over his Senate career, Ted Kennedy has proven his 
critics wrong. He stands today as a Senator who was first among equals. 
Many matters come before the Senate. Many issues are debated and voted 
on, but you can be certain that every issue which touches the hearts of 
the American people will bring Teddy Kennedy to the floor, to his feet, 
and to the center of the debate.

  Hubert Humphrey said: You can judge the government by the care it 
gives to those in the dawn of life, our children, those in the twilight 
of life, our elderly, and those in the shadows of life, the disabled 
and the dispossessed.
  I might add, you can judge the heart of a Senator by his commitment 
to these same voices of needy citizens in America.
  By that standard, Ted Kennedy's career in the Senate will be measured 
as one of the best. For four decades, hundreds of Senators have come 
and gone, thousands of matters of national importance have been 
considered. But there has been one constant. Whether the issue was 
civil rights or human rights, education, health care for children, 
mental health, the rights of working people, food for our poor and the 
poor of the world, there was one man who could always be counted on to 
make the fight: Ted Kennedy--on civil rights, on Medicare, on Americans 
with disabilities.
  Ted Kennedy has been quite a spokesman and champion throughout his 
career for the elderly. Little did he realize that his passion for 
senior citizens would eventually become a conflict of interest, as he 
now qualifies for both Social Security and Medicare. But that has not 
deterred him. He takes to this floor with the charm of the Irish and 
the tenacity of a bulldog. He can bring us together to think, to laugh, 
to weep, to reflect on the meaning of public life and the meaning of 
life itself.
  In many of my campaigns in downstate Illinois as a Congressman and as 
a candidate for the Senate, my opponent would go to some well-paid 
pollster who would say: What you want to do is say that this Durbin 
votes a lot like Ted Kennedy.
  Well, I have never shied away from that accusation. I welcome it 
because time and again he has stood for the right causes and for the 
right reasons. I am honored to serve with Ted Kennedy. I am honored to 
count him as my friend and ally in so many important fights. He has 
made this Senate and this Nation a better place to serve and live. Ted 
Kennedy is the people's Senator.
  Happy birthday, Ted.
  Mr. KERRY. I yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Alaska.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I am reminded of a time when I was 
standing in the Republican cloakroom and someone announced that another 
Senator was having a 70th birthday. Senator Strom Thurmond said: Oh, to 
be 70 again. I say the same thing to my friend from Massachusetts 
today.
  Senator Kennedy and I have had a friendship that goes back many 
years,

[[Page S1157]]

some 34 years. In January or February of 1969, Senator Kennedy decided 
to take a trip to my State to look into the plight of the Alaskan 
Native people, particularly with regard to education and health 
conditions. We traveled there to small villages from the west coast 
into the north country, and we had a good trip. We formed a bond then 
that, despite our differences in the last 34 years--and we have had 
differences--we have never had any disagreements. And I will tell the 
Senate why.
  At one of these small villages we were walking around, it was really 
quite cold. The snow was hard packed on the ground in this small 
village. Suddenly, out of a door of a little cabin, a young boy, little 
boy, darted. He just had a top on, as a matter of fact. He somehow or 
other had lost his diapers or whatever he had on the bottom. Senator 
Kennedy and I saw that. Ted, with one hand, reached down and scooped 
him up and with the other hand unzipped his parka and stuffed that kid 
in the parka, and the three of us walked around that village until the 
two of us found out where he lived.
  Ted may not remember, but when we went into that little cabin and 
presented the mother with the boy, there on the wall was a picture of 
his brother Jack. It was a very interesting day. We went on to other 
places.
  I am here today to wish my friend happy birthday, but also to tell 
him I have cherished that bond, that friendship. Any man who 
understands children that way is a friend of mine. We have worked for 
children, for preschoolers, for education, for the health and welfare 
reform of the Native people. They have met him, and they still have 
great fondness and love for the Senator from Massachusetts.
  Happy birthday, Ted. Best wishes to you and Vicki. I look forward to 
you one of these days saying: Oh, to be 70 again.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, the Senator from New York is recognized for 
2 minutes.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I have admired Ted Kennedy for as long as 
I can remember--as a citizen watching his early days in the Senate, his 
leadership against the Vietnam war and for civil rights, and then when 
I became a Congressman and served on the Judiciary Committee and we 
worked on different pieces of legislation together. I was utterly 
amazed at this man. He had the energy and enthusiasm and high spirits 
of a freshman, even though he had been here for 25 years, with the 
wisdom and experience and substantive expertise of a veteran.
  But, my colleagues--and I am sure every one of you has experienced 
this--the closer you get, the better Ted Kennedy looks. In the Senate 
he is just, as my daughters would say, awesome.
  His compassion drives the man--he cares. This is not just a game for 
him. This is not just something to go home and talk to the voters 
about. Every atom of his body breathes help for those who need help, 
and fairness, and having our country live up to its ideals.
  Every one of us have seen him here in the Senate early in the 
morning, hard at work going over a speech he was going to give. It is 
no accident that he is the best speaker in the place. He has the 
natural talent, but then he works at it on top of that.
  His dedication to the body--I cannot thank Ted enough for the 
guidance he has given me. I need a heck of a lot of it, but we are 
working on it, and he has provided it better than anybody else.
  The man, as one of my colleagues said--I think it was the Senator 
from Massachusetts--is the lion of the Senate. We admire him; we are 
grateful for him; we love him. Ted, all of us wish you many more years 
to keep on doing what you have been doing, for us and for America.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KERRY. I thank the Senator from New York. In deference to the 
fact that she needs to preside in a few minutes, I recognize the 
Senator from Michigan and then the Senator from New York, the junior 
Senator, and then we will go to the other side of the aisle again. I 
yield 2 minutes.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I appreciate my friend allowing me to 
speak at this time because of the need for me to preside in a moment.
  I could not let this time go by without joining my colleagues in 
saying happy birthday and how I have such respect and admiration for a 
gentleman who is becoming a wonderful friend. I thank him for that.
  People ask me what is the biggest surprise or what I am most 
impressed about after a year in the Senate. I always indicate how 
impressed I am with my colleagues and their hard work, how much they 
care, and the intelligence that people bring to the job. I say the 
person I have been most impressed with--and, frankly, surprised about--
is Senator Kennedy. Not because of his intelligence; we know his 
intelligence. We know he stands up for those who need a voice and for 
principle. He is a strong advocate and a wonderful speaker.
  But what has been a wonderful surprise to me is that this gentleman, 
who could, essentially, sit in the Senate and have the enjoyment of 
knowing that people recognize his stature, who could speak when he 
would like or be involved in such legislation as he would like, is a 
Senator who, when the door is closed, is in the room counting the 
votes, working hard on the nitty-gritty that has to be done beyond the 
glare of the cameras.
  I have been so impressed with Senator Kennedy's willingness to be in 
that room. I will never forget, when we were meeting with advocates 
about the Patients' Bill of Rights; Senator Kennedy was there. He stays 
there, doing what needs to be done, calling the meeting, putting it 
together, talking about amendments, negotiating with people--he does 
the hard work of legislating. This person whom we know and respect and 
who comes from such a legendary family is there every minute, getting 
the job done.
  I have learned so much in the last year and have been so impressed 
with the wonderful compassion and leadership this man brings to us.
  I had an opportunity this weekend to see a movie a lot of people are 
seeing right now, ``John Q,'' a wonderful performance by Denzel 
Washington. I sat there being enraged and yet feeling a great sense of 
urgency that many of us experience about health care. But I walked away 
thinking: Every day, John Q has a fighter for him in the Senate named 
Senator Ted Kennedy. It is because of this gentleman, whom we are 
celebrating today and thanking today, that I know we are going to be 
able to finally make sure that those represented by the movie ``John 
Q'' will get the health care they need.
  Thank you and happy birthday.
  Mr. KERRY. I am grateful to the Senator for her remarks, and I 
recognize the Senator from New York for such time as she consumes.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Massachusetts, 
not only for yielding that time but also for giving us this opportunity 
to come to the floor and express our appreciation and gratitude to our 
colleague.
  There have been a lot of wonderful words already spoken. There will 
be many more this afternoon and included in the Record. I think that 
all goes to the point that each of us, Republican and Democrat alike, 
Member of the Senate or the House, citizen of Massachusetts, New York, 
or any State in our Union, shares a common bond of pride in the work 
Senator Kennedy has done over a lifetime.
  I remember the first time I saw him in action, it was 1978, it was 
the Democratic Party's so-called midterm convention in Memphis, TN. Ted 
Kennedy had come to appear on a panel about health care. The fire and 
the passion and the extraordinary knowledge he displayed 25 years ago 
on that issue is just as prominent in his public pronouncements and 
actions today.
  Twenty-five years ago he was making the case that, in a country as 
rich as ours, every single citizen should as a matter of right be 
entitled to quality, affordable health care. He laid out ideas then 
which he has worked on steadily in the years since.
  I appreciate the extraordinary guidance and support he gave to me 
when I tackled the rather awesome task of working on health care, an 
issue that has certainly brought a lot of humility to my life. In the 
work that I did, it was Senator Kennedy who understood it intuitively, 
who absolutely mastered every nuance, and was ready to offer counsel 
and advice about how we should go forward. As everyone knows, that 
wasn't a successful effort. But in

[[Page S1158]]

such a typical fashion that really marks his Senate career, he didn't 
waste any time regretting what was not done. He immediately got to work 
about what could be done. As a result, we had the Kennedy-Kassebaum 
bill. We had the great partnership between Senator Kennedy and his 
colleague and friend, Senator Hatch, on the Children's Health Insurance 
Program. Despite the fact that the overall goal could not be achieved, 
many people were helped because, along the way, Senator Kennedy helped 
to craft legislative solutions to human problems.
  You can look at the landscape of this country and realize that not 
just in his beloved home State of Massachusetts but in my State of New 
York and all the way across the country, people have been helped to get 
a better wage for the day's work they do, to get access to health care, 
and most recently, with the triumph of his leadership on the Leave No 
Child Behind Act, to look forward to a better public education.
  There is much that can be said about Senator Kennedy's legislative 
prowess and career. What I want to remark on is his personal interest 
in all of his colleagues, the staff who work here, the people who keep 
this place going. A very heartwarming and common sight is that of the 
Senator walking down the hallway with his faithful companion, Splash, 
the most intelligent, creative, energetic dog who has ever walked the 
halls of the Capitol or probably anywhere else in our country, and to 
see him waving or saying hello to people, no matter what job they are 
doing, no matter who they are--because he is no respecter of the 
boundaries that sometimes separate Senators from everyone else. He came 
to do a job 40 years ago. He is just as actively engaged in the pursuit 
of the goals that he not only holds near to his heart but which 
represent the best of our country.
  I was honored to have the Senator campaign for me in my election to 
the Senate. One memorable day, he and Caroline and his redoubtable 
father-in-law, Judge Reggie, and I got into a small plane and made our 
way from New York City to Buffalo to Albany. Along the way he warmed up 
the crowds we brought him to meet. One particular moment that I 
appreciated was how he said he was proud to be in my company because 
now people were sending out letters against both of us--not just him. I 
was proud to be in his company, as I am every single day proud to serve 
with him.

  We rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary leader and an 
absolutely unparalleled Member of this body, a Senator for all time--
not just this time--and a friend and colleague to all of us.
  Thank you. Happy birthday, and Godspeed.
  Mr. KERRY. Madam President, I thank the Senator from New York for her 
spirited and wonderful comments about our colleague.
  I yield the Senator from Maryland 4 minutes and the Senator from Utah 
6 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Stabenow). The Senator from Maryland.
  Mr. SARBANES. Madam President, I am pleased to join with my 
colleagues today in paying tribute to Senator Kennedy on the occasion 
of his 70th birthday.
  A champion of working people, Senator Kennedy has clearly understood, 
from the very beginning of his tenure in the Senate, the importance of 
a meaningful job in the lives of our citizens. He has consistently 
worked for programs that promote full employment, and that enable 
Americans to support their families. Senator Kennedy has championed 
training programs, summer job programs, and the Summer-to-Work 
Opportunities Act--all designed to enhance the skills of our citizens. 
He has been our most eloquent advocate for the collective bargaining 
rights of American workers, rights that ensure that our workers are 
among the best trained, the best paid, and the most productive in the 
world. And, Mr. President, I am pleased to stand with Senator Kennedy 
as he continues to lead the effort for an increase in the minimum wage, 
which holds out the promise of a decent living to men and women who, 
through hard work, seek to climb the ladder of opportunity.
  If there is any hallmark of Senator Kennedy's career, I think it is 
his drive for the full participation in American life for all of our 
citizens. He has distinguished himself as a champion of civil rights 
and of the neediest and most vulnerable members of our society, who 
often are without a voice in Government. For 40 years in the U.S. 
Senate, he has spoken for working Americans, for the unemployed, for 
the sick, for the elderly, and for young people.
  The Women and Infants Program, the Child Nutrition Program, Head 
Start, and so many education programs have Ted Kennedy's imprimatur 
upon them. He has led the successful drive for passage of the Family 
and Medical Leave Act. Today, Senator Kennedy is fighting for a 
meaningful Patients' Bill of Rights and for a prescription drug benefit 
for our senior citizens. One could go on and on enumerating all of 
these programs.
  I want to add one dimension to this. What distinguishes Senator 
Kennedy the most in the Senate is his tireless advocacy of the causes 
to which he is committed. He is a tenacious fighter on the floor of the 
Senate, in the committee room, and behind the scenes. He tackles very 
difficult issues with courage and commitment. Perhaps most importantly, 
he has maintained a focus on using our Nation's Government as a tool 
for good in the lives of all Americans, and as an example for the 
entire world.
  Senator Kennedy has seen history made, and he has made history. It is 
hard to imagine a lifetime of service that has meant more to the 
citizens of Massachusetts and, indeed, to the people of America. In 
every fight he has waged to make our Nation more productive, more 
compassionate, more open to participation, more fair and equitable to 
all its citizens, he has always appealed to the best in us all.
  It is an honor to be his colleague in the Senate, and to be his 
friend. It is with great pleasure that I join with my colleagues in 
extending best wishes and congratulations on his 70th birthday.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.
  Mr. HATCH. Madam President, believe it or not, one of the reasons I 
wanted to run for the Senate 26 years ago was to get the modern-day 
face of liberalism, Senator Ted Kennedy, out of office.
  (Laughter).
  As the past 26 years have amply indicated, I have failed. And I have 
come to appreciate that the country is better for it.
  In many ways, Senator Kennedy stands for all that my party and my 
state reject so vehemently:
  An unabashed reliance on government as the problem-solver of first 
resort;
  A belief that the Federal coffers can, and must, support those in 
need, regardless of private, State and local resources;
  And, indeed a devotion to extending the Federal arm across this great 
Nation--whenever, whatever--the concept of Federalism aside.
  I know full well what President Bush means when he says the fellas at 
the coffee shop in Crawford find it hard to believe that Senator 
Kennedy has some points in his favor.
  But I have grown to understand, and appreciate, my Massachusetts 
colleague, for the tremendous passion and dedication he brings to the 
job. I have come to respect his tremendous love for our great country 
and its people.
  I have come to admire his patriotism and his devotion to national 
service, that great tradition which is the hallmark of the Kennedy 
clan.
  And I have grown to recognize that despite our differences on almost 
every issue, working together, we could find a common ground--that 
space in the middle from which great legislation is born.
  Some of my most revered accomplishments are Hatch-Kennedy or Kennedy-
Hatch collaborations.
  It is a mark of Ted's greatness that he does not care who gets the 
credit, as long as the job gets done.
  Starting with our first bill together, the Women in Science 
legislation in 1978, Senator Kennedy and I have worked together to 
enact legislation that is helping virtually millions of people in this 
nation.
  I am thinking also of all the critical bills we have enacted 
together:
  The first AIDS research bill;
  The first AIDS services bill, the Ryan White Care Act; and, the 
orphan drug

[[Page S1159]]

bill, and home health care. You could go on and on.
  I am thinking of the Child Health Insurance Program, or ``CHIP,'' 
which now is providing health care to almost five million children who 
didn't have it just a few short years ago--children of the working poor 
who worked hard but didn't have enough money to pay for health 
insurance for their kids. It could not have happened but for Ted 
Kennedy.
  And I am also thinking of the many bills we worked on so diligently, 
such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the downwinders 
legislation that helps so many Utahns in the inner-mountain West, and 
which Senator Kennedy helped make possible, and the Job Training 
Partnership Act.
  Of course, I am also thinking of the religious liberties bills we 
have put through together, each of us motivated by our strong faith and 
love of the Lord.
  But let me hasten to add that sometimes it is just not possible for 
us to find middle ground. For every bill we have promoted together, for 
every issue on which we have found a common ground, there is another 
issue on which we have fought tooth and nail.
  Indeed, at times, we have both won and lost.
  Many times, my side carried. I am thinking back to our earliest fight 
over labor law reform when I first came to the Congress.
  I am thinking of the battles we had over minimum wage increases and, 
with due deference to the Senator from New York, over the Clintons' 
Health Security Act.
  But to be fair, many times Senator Kennedy's side carried the day.
  There are numerous provisions in Federal employment law, in health 
care policy, and despite the fact that he is not on the Finance 
Committee, sometimes even in the Tax Code, that are directly 
attributable to Senator Kennedy's skills and persistence.
  It is no secret that many, if not most, of my constituents in Utah 
disagree with Senator Kennedy on almost every issue.
  I will never forget a letter I got from one of my constituents many, 
many years ago. From a senior citizen in Southern Utah, a very 
conservative part of the state.
  She said,

       Senator Hatch, when we heard you might run for office, we 
     supported you. When you actually ran for office, we voted for 
     you. And when we heard you were friends with Senator Kennedy, 
     we prayed for you!

  (Laughter).
  Many of my constituents question how I can be such close friends with 
a man whose principles vary in so many ways from those of most Utahans.
  This is what I tell them. In my opinion--and I think I am an 
authority on this subject--Ted Kennedy is one of the most effective, if 
not the most effective, legislators in this country. He never quits 
until he gets the job done. And I, for one, admire that. When he is 
with you, there is no more solid ally. And when he is against you, 
there is no more fierce opponent.
  We all have to recognize that despite Senator Kennedy's position on 
any particular issue, he is a patriot in every sense of the word. Ted 
Kennedy, in the fine Kennedy tradition, is truly motivated by public 
service, and we all owe him a debt of gratitude for that.
  And what I did not understand in 1976, but what I know so well now, 
is that Ted Kennedy is willing to come to the middle to get the job 
done. It is hard for him, sometimes difficult, but he is willing to do 
it. His spirit of bipartisanship is just what the Nation expects during 
this turbulent time. I just wish I could get him to do it more.
  It is no secret that Ted and I are close friends, even though I am a 
conservative, he is a liberal; I am a westerner, he is an easterner; I 
am a physical fitness fanatic, he is--well, never mind.
  As I was saying, it is no secret that Ted and I are close friends. I 
value the time I have spent with Ted and his wonderful wife Vicki, 
whose birthday I understand is today. I wish her a happy birthday and 
the best, and all of the Kennedy family who have treated me so well 
over the years.
  For the past 26 years, we have laughed together, we have cried 
together, we have sung together, and we have prayed together. We have 
fought and we have made up. But above all, we respect each other's 
abilities. In that trust and alliance, good legislation can be made, 
legislation that benefits our constituents today and in the future. And 
that is what we have been sent here to do.
  Madam President, last year, Senator Kennedy sent my polling numbers 
to the basement when he came over and hugged me in the Senate Chamber. 
Today, I am going to return the favor and offer my dear friend and 
colleague my best wishes on his 70th birthday. I have done the math, 
Ted. If you can get that cloning bill through, there is a great 
possibility that you can still be middle aged when you reach the age of 
140.
  He is my dear friend. I care a great deal for him, and we will be 
friends for eternity.
  I thank the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KERRY. Madam President, I thank the Senator from Utah for his 
comments. Let me say, we on our side will forgive him for his complete 
misunderstanding and misinterpretation of our party, precisely because 
of his affection and respect for our good friend, Senator Kennedy. We 
thank him for that.
  I will recognize the Senator from New Jersey for such time as he will 
consume, and then the Senator from Georgia, and, finally, the Senator 
from Rhode Island. We will close with the Senator from Connecticut. I 
know we are out of time. I ask unanimous consent to proceed for such 
time as we need to complete these remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. KERRY. I thank the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey.
  Mr. CORZINE. I thank the Senator from Massachusetts for the 
opportunity to speak.
  Madam President, I, too, add my voice to the many others who have 
come to praise the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts, Mr. Edward 
Kennedy.
  Though the Presiding Officer and I have only been in the Senate for a 
very short while, in my life outside of the Senate, I have admired 
Senator Kennedy for many years for all of the work and leadership he 
has brought to the issues that make America great. In my opinion, he is 
one of the greatest national leaders not only of this time but of all 
time. It is an extraordinary honor for me to serve with him in this 
body.
  Senator Kennedy is a man of principle who stands up for ordinary 
Americans and for the values in which I think all of us believe. Time 
after time, on issue after issue, he has worked to expand access to the 
American promise, the American dream, that drives so many of us in our 
pursuits in our lives for ourselves and our families and our 
communities, for all of those we care about, regardless of where one 
begins in life.
  He has fought to ensure that each and every American has access to 
high-quality education, access to quality health care. He has done as 
much to help children as anyone could ever dream about. He has worked 
for the people in the workplace who do not have representatives with 
the ability to work the Halls of Congress. He has worked to help make 
sure every American has dignity and a minimum wage that is a living 
wage. He is a great voice on the issues that make a difference in 
people's lives--hard-working Americans.
  But Senator Kennedy is much more than a champion. He does a lot more 
than give speeches and issue press releases and help ``rookies'' become 
Senators. He does something I think America admires most, and that is 
to get things done. It is one thing to have great ideas, but it is 
another to deliver on them. I do not think there is anyone I have seen, 
in the short tenure I have had here, who is a stronger, more 
provocative, and certain legislator than Ted Kennedy.

  He understands how the Senate works. I have been trying to pick his 
brain to understand that as my life unfolds here. He knows how to work 
across the party lines and with Presidents and many folks with whom he 
may agree or disagree. But he knows how to win on the issues he is 
trying to fight for; that is, to help the people of our Nation.

[[Page S1160]]

  So in every sense he is a terrific leader because he has his values 
and his commitment to the people. He is a man of compassion, and he is 
great to those of us who are new in this body.
  I thank you for your generosity and for your great leadership. I look 
forward to serving with you for a very long time--maybe not 40 years, 
but we will work as long and as hard as we can. I congratulate you on 
your 70th birthday. I wish you and your family the very best.
  God bless you.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Georgia.
  Mr. CLELAND. Madam President, it is an honor to be in the presence of 
true greatness in the Senate, to be in the presence of one of the great 
Senators we have in this body, Senator Ted Kennedy. May I also say, I 
identify with Senator Orrin Hatch from Utah that in terms of my service 
with Senator Kennedy, a lot of my constituents pray for me, too. I 
might say, though, Senator Kennedy and his family are really the reason 
I got involved in politics.
  I came to this town as a young 21-year-old and sat in the gallery 
much as Senator Dick Durbin said he sat in the gallery and watched 
Senator Kennedy come to the Chamber as a freshman Member of the Senate. 
To me, that was the ultimate in public service and citizenship at that 
time. For me, to be a freshman in the Senate, and Senator Kennedy still 
being here, is one of the great rewards of my life.
  It is interesting that we are going to be considering an election 
reform bill in just a few moments. The point is, we are trying to 
improve the very democracy we have been given by our ancestors. But you 
cannot do that without leaders.
  Harry Truman once said: A leader is someone who gets people to do 
what they ought to do anyway. People in this country ought to register, 
they ought to vote, they ought to turn out, they ought to be interested 
in politics, but many are not. So we need inspiring leaders.
  Ted Kennedy, for me, is an inspiring leader. He came to this body 
when he was young and has stayed here dedicating his life to this body, 
this Senate. To me, that is the ultimate in patriotism and the ultimate 
in citizenship. It reminds me a lot of a person who occupied this 
Senate desk and was in the position that I now hold in the Senate, 
Senator Dick Russell.

  They both came to this body at the tender age of 30. Both dedicated 
their lives to this body and this country. So it is just an honor to 
serve with Senator Kennedy today. I bring him greetings from the great 
State of Georgia. And, Ted, I wish you many more. Thank you.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
  Mr. REED. Madam President, I rise to salute Senator Ted Kennedy on 
his 70th birthday and to state something that is obvious to everyone: 
In the course of this country and this Senate, hundreds of men and 
women have served, but only a handful are truly great Senators. Senator 
Ted Kennedy is one of those great Senators.
  His greatness is measured by his vision, by his compassion, and by 
his effectiveness. He is the architect of so much that has improved the 
lives of so many Americans--health care, education, foreign policy, so 
many things that have made the lives of so many people better. Indeed, 
the measurement of his greatness is not the votes on this floor or his 
elections in Massachusetts, but it is in the lives of countless 
children throughout this country and seniors and working men and women, 
disadvantaged Americans, dispossessed Americans whose lives are better, 
indeed, who cherish hope because Ted Kennedy served in this body.
  Ultimately, his great reward and tribute will not come from us but 
will come years from now, when a child or a senior or a working 
American, not knowing from whence a law evolved but knowing that it has 
made their life a little better and given them more opportunity, will 
say ``thank you,'' and that thanks will be to Ted Kennedy.
  I had the privilege of serving with his son Patrick. I know that his 
passion, his devotion to duty is not exclusive to him alone but is 
shared immensely by his son, my friend, and colleague from Rhode 
Island.
  I say to Senator Kennedy, thank you.
  Mr. SPECTER. Madam President, I have sought recognition to commend 
Senator Kennedy on his 70th birthday and his approximately 40 years in 
the Senate. I join my colleagues in recognizing and complimenting him 
on his unique achievements in the Senate.
  I was an admirer of the Kennedy family from afar for many years. Then 
I learned a great deal about the Kennedy family under circumstances 
which could have been more pleasant. I was one of the young lawyers on 
the Warren Commission staff investigating the assassination of 
President John F. Kennedy.
  I recall, years ago, a Democratic dinner in Philadelphia. I was a 
Democratic committee member in 1960 when President Kennedy ran for the 
White House. My wife Joan was 8 months pregnant when he came to speak 
at the big dinner in November. There was great enthusiasm and great 
excitement about Senator John Kennedy's appearance that night.
  We watched him at the White House in Camelot with great respect, and 
then the terrible events of November 22, 1963 occurred. Thereafter, I 
gained some greater familiarity with the Kennedy family as assistant 
counsel to the Warren Commission.
  Coming to the Senate after the 1980 election, I had an opportunity to 
work with Senator Ted Kennedy on the Judiciary Committee. His passion 
and his exuberance for the underdog were unmistakable on civil rights 
and voting rights. He is a real leader.
  I recall one hearing that he wanted to schedule on an occasion when I 
could be present. It was a voting rights matter where I had 
participated, and the hearing was set for 2:30 PM on July 1, 1987. That 
was the day on which Circuit Court Judge Robert H. Bork was nominated 
for the Supreme Court. Suddenly, at 2:30 PM, Senator Kennedy was 
absent. I saw him on the Senate floor, at 2:38 PM, making a carefully 
prepared speech. He was well attuned to the nomination and was talking 
about the back of the bus. It is all in the Congressional Record. Since 
I have only a few minutes, I will not go into this matter further. 
However, that was Senator Kennedy on civil rights.
  In this Chamber, he is bombastic in his declamations on the subjects 
which are near and dear to his heart. He does wear a microphone, but he 
hardly needs one when he speaks in this body. He fills the Chamber with 
his enthusiasm and his passion.
  When I chaired the subcommittee appropriating for education, there 
was no appropriation adequate for Senator Kennedy. However much money 
we put in, he wanted more. Very often--not always--but very often he 
was right, and the same was true with health care. On a number of 
occasions when he sought to cross the aisle to seek cosponsors on the 
Republican side of the aisle, I was about the last person standing on 
many of those occasions.
  I was glad to join him as a cosponsor on the hunger legislation, 
where it made no sense that people could not get food stamps if they 
had a car worth, say, $3,500. We fought hard and got the law changed.
  Then on hate crimes, his was a lonely voice in this Chamber for a 
long time. I joined him in that endeavor and signed on to an op-ed 
piece he had written, but I had agreed with, that was published in the 
Washington Post. Then, in the year 2000, we carried that Federal hate 
crime expansion amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2001 in the Senate 57 to 42, with 13 Republican Senators. 
It was an election year.
  He has been a great leader in the Senate. He carries on a great 
family tradition. He has been a stalwart on some of the most important 
issues confronting America in civil rights, in voting rights, in health 
care, and in education. So I am glad to lend my voice of recognition 
and commendation of his great service to the Senate.
  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I am pleased to join with my colleagues 
this afternoon to pay tribute to Senator Edward Kennedy on his 
birthday.
  I am proud to call Ted Kennedy a colleague, a friend, a mentor and a 
neighbor. I arrived in the Senate as the most junior member in 1974. 
Ted Kennedy, only a few years my senior, had already been in the Senate 
for 12 years. He generously provided me with guidance on everything 
from policy matters to committee selections.

[[Page S1161]]

  Over the course of his career Ted Kennedy has championed the cause of 
those Americans living on the margins; those individuals in our society 
who for whatever reasons are denied basic human necessities like safe 
housing, nourishing food, a steady income, or access to health care.
  His dedication over the past decades has been unwavering, and as we 
see every day here in the Senate, continues to be unwavering.
  Ted and I have worked together on many issues over the years. In fact 
we still serve together on the Judiciary Committee, which he preceded 
me in chairing at one time.
  Whether it is in supporting heating assistance for low-income people, 
so essential to surviving the cold winters that we experience in New 
England, or in championing nutrition programs, I have always admired 
Ted's knowledge of the issues, and his tenacity in pursuing that which 
he believes is right.
  Through his service on the Health, Education and Labor Committee, 
whether as ranking member, or chairman, Ted Kennedy has continually 
strived to improve Americans' access to health care with the hope that 
one day no American will be without the basic services that so many of 
us take for granted.
  He has fought to improve the education of our children, with the 
knowledge that a good education is the basic building block to their 
future success, reducing the chances of living in poverty by ensuring 
access to quality employment.
  And he has consistently advocated on behalf of the worker, with the 
understanding that no person should have to work 40 hours a week and 
still live in poverty.
  I have valued the time that I have served with Ted Kennedy in the 
Senate. Over this period, hundreds of Senators have had the privilege 
of serving their Nation and the people of their state, but few members 
have achieved the distinction of truly making an impact on the lives of 
millions of Americans.
  Ted Kennedy has done that and oftentimes for those Americans who do 
not have a powerful voice in Washington.
  Several years ago, the Washington Post Magazine had a story about Ted 
Kennedy that entitled him the ``King of the Senate.'' Our Founding 
Fathers tossed off the shackles of the monarchy over 200 years ago but 
it was an appropriate acknowledgement that Ted Kennedy is a lion at the 
gate protecting the interests of working class Americans.
  Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I extend my very best birthday wishes to 
the very senior Senator from the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
Of course, he has become even more senior now that he is entering his 
eighth decade. I am certain, however, that he will find that life has 
become even more enjoyable as it is leavened with wisdom.
  Senator Kennedy is also entering his fifth decade in the U.S. Senate. 
Through dogged work and passionate beliefs, he has truly become one of 
the giants in this great institution. Agree or disagree with Senator 
Kennedy, but appreciate his effectiveness. I am a Republican and he is 
a liberal Democrat. But I can attest to his dogged determination to 
achieve results across the barriers of ideology and party. Whether he's 
fighting for the rights of patients or to make our schools better, 
Senator Kennedy never gives up on issues he deeply cares about.
  I am pleased to have the opportunity to wish Ted Kennedy a hearty 
happy birthday and thank him on behalf of a grateful Nation for his 
lifelong service to our country. I am privileged to call him my 
colleague and, above all, my friend.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, it is with great pleasure that I 
send belated birthday wishes to my friend and colleague, the senior 
Senator from Massachusetts. At 70 years old, Ted Kennedy is one of this 
country's most effective lawmakers, having served 40 years in the 
Senate.
  It is difficult for me to think of many major public policy 
initiatives that Ted Kennedy has not had a hand in shaping. What is 
most remarkable is that in many cases he has been here for both the 
inception and the reauthorization of some of the most important 
legislation of our time.
  When he was elected in 1962, women and minorities did not have equal 
rights under the law. It is fitting that Ted Kennedy's first floor 
speech was given on the Civil Rights Act of 1964 because he helped to 
make school integration, pay equity for women, and fair housing laws a 
reality. While serving with him on the Judiciary Committee, I have seen 
first hand his ability to tap into the needs of disadvantaged 
communities and pass meaningful civil rights legislation.
  When Senator Kennedy was elected to this body, Americans did not have 
equal access to high quality healthcare. With his support, the Medicare 
and Medicaid program were established to enhance the welfare of 
millions of elderly and disadvantaged Americans. And in his capacity as 
chairman of the Senate Health Subcommittee and later Full Senate 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, he has fought to 
pass laws allowing workers greater flexibility in keeping and choosing 
their healthcare coverage and making healthcare insurance more widely 
available to children. More recently, he fought tirelessly to enact a 
Patient's Bill of Rights to make HMOs more accountable to patients and 
less able to interfere with medical decision making. As the result of 
his efforts, we can now offer health care protections to all 190 
million Americans in private health plans. This was no small feat.
  Before Ted Kennedy, reforming our country's education systems was an 
issue on the forefront of our minds, but the last item on the Federal 
Government's agenda. Not only was he among those to support the 
original passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 1965, 
but Ted Kennedy spearheaded the fight to pass the reauthorization of 
this sweeping federal school bill. Senator Kennedy's efforts have been 
particularly important to the 5.6 million economically disadvantaged 
students in my State.
  In the Senate, Ted Kennedy has been a champion for a society that is 
just, fair, and humane. He has fought tirelessly for working families 
and underserved communities. With passion and pragmatism, he has served 
this nation and his beloved Massachusetts--breaking down gender, 
racial, class, and religious barriers.
  On your 70th birthday, I salute you, Senator Kennedy, for your 
distinguished years of service and wish you continued success in the 
future.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, I rise to pay tribute to my dear 
friend and colleague on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
  Because of Senator Kennedy, our Nation is stronger, fairer, healthier 
and better educated. Because of Senator Kennedy, our Nation's 
opportunity structure continues to be one of our nation's greatest 
strengths.
  Senator Kennedy's achievements are remarkable. Increasing the minimum 
wage. Expanding health care. Improving our nation's schools. Creating a 
national service program. Strengthening our civil rights laws. 
Safeguarding a woman's right to choose. Enabling more people to attend 
college, to get job training, and to build better lives for themselves 
and their children.
  Senator Kennedy is a champion of working Americans, senior citizens, 
children--the list goes on and on. This list is of ordinary Americans, 
not special interests.
  For 40 years, Senator Kennedy has served in the Senate. Yet he 
retains his passion, his high energy and his enthusiasm for meeting the 
day to day needs of his constituents and the long term needs of the 
nation. He knows that so much remains to be done.
  The entire Kennedy family has given so much to our nation. With their 
wealth, they could have done anything--or nothing at all. They could 
have led lives of the idle rich. Instead, they are a family of war 
heroes, Senators, Congressmen--and a President of the United States. 
They are also defenders of the poor, environmentalists, educators and 
artists. They fight to give every American the opportunity to build 
better lives and stronger communities. This commitment to service comes 
from their deep faith, their strong family and their patriotism.
  Many of us in the Senate were inspired to lead lives of public 
service because of John F. Kennedy. As a young social worker, I felt he 
was talking to me when he called our generation to

[[Page S1162]]

service. He practiced a passionate, active idealism--that was different 
from anything we've seen before in politics.
  Senator Kennedy has continued this legacy. He is one of the great 
Senators in our nation's history. I feel grateful to be his colleague, 
and his friend. I look forward to the battles ahead.
  Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I join my colleagues in paying tribute 
to a man who is in many ways larger than life. Today we celebrate the 
70th birthday of Senator Edward Kennedy, someone who personifies public 
service in our country.
  Senator Kennedy is a member of a family that has dedicated itself to 
public service. His entire family has followed the credo that ``One 
person can make a difference and every one should try.'' Senator 
Kennedy truly has made a difference, and he has so often made a 
difference for the people who work hard day in and day out.
  Senator Kennedy has been a champion of working Americans since he 
became involved in public service. He is today our most outspoken and 
eloquent advocate for their causes. He has worked tirelessly for 
increasing the minimum wage, for quality health care for all Americans, 
and for education reform. He is a leader for civil rights in our 
country and for strengthening Medicare and Social Security. Senator 
Kennedy has had tremendous accomplishments during his nearly four 
decades in the U.S. Senate, many more than I can articulate in this 
short amount of time.
  Suffice to say, Senator Kennedy has been an inspiration to 
generations of Americans. He has been a friend and colleague to all of 
us serving in this body. I am so very proud and honored to serve with 
him.
  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, I rise today to add my voice to those in 
honor of our good friend and colleague Senator Ted Kennedy, who last 
week celebrated his 70th birthday.
  Since I arrived in the U.S. Senate in 1999, I have had several 
opportunities to turn to Senator Kennedy and his staff for advice and 
assistance on a range of issues that are crucial to Arkansas, including 
health care and help for the uninsured.
  For example, I was honored to work closely with Senator Kennedy last 
year on the education reform bill. When I offered an amendment to 
improve educational services to language-minority students, Senator 
Kennedy offered his assistance by cosponsoring my amendment. It was the 
first floor amendment I offered in the Senate that required extensive 
debate and a rollcall vote. We passed that amendment as a key part of 
the most sweeping overhaul of American public education in a 
generation. The support and assistance I received from Senator Kennedy 
and his outstanding staff is something I will always remember and 
deeply appreciate.
  In my time here, I have found Senator Kennedy to be an invaluable 
resource on policy and legislative matters. For nearly four decades, he 
has exemplified how a Senator can best serve the interests of his own 
constituents, as well as those of the American people. Through his 
wisdom, experience, and encyclopedic grasp of Senate history and 
procedure, he has served as an example to us all. It may be that the 
greatest tribute we can pay Senator Kennedy is to follow that example.
  Finally, I would like to offer my thanks to Senator Kennedy for the 
friendship that he and his wife Vicki have extended to me and my 
family. I am deeply grateful for their warmth and kindness.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KERRY. Madam President, I thank the Senator from Rhode Island and 
recognize the Senator from Connecticut for such time as he may use. I 
understand Senator Biden may be on his way.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.
  Mr. DODD. Madam President, I thank the junior Senator from 
Massachusetts for orchestrating this event this afternoon on behalf of 
our fellow New Englander and friend and colleague.
  I can't help but think of that wonderful story written by Mark Twain 
about Tom Sawyer who, on the reports of his demise, crawled up into the 
choir loft and listened to the eulogies being given to him. I can't 
help but think my friend from Massachusetts may think he is 
participating. He is alive and well, let me report to those tuning in. 
There is a lot of kick left in the senior Senator from Massachusetts. I 
fully expect there will be many more years of his contribution to this 
body.
  Our friendship goes back a long way. I don't want to remind him of 
this, but I was dressed in a white shirt and blue pants sitting on the 
steps of the Democratic side as a page in the Senate about the time 
that my friend from Massachusetts entered this body. He had years of 
service with my own father in the Senate, serving about 8 years with my 
father; he served with him on the Judiciary Committee back in those 
days.
  He liked to tease me all the time that he deeply resented the fact 
that someone would get elected to public office on the basis of their 
last name. I return that favor to him today.
  This is a wonderful relationship. We share a common heritage of deep 
affection for our Irish roots, our beloved New England, the coastline 
of that part of the country.
  Today is Vicki Kennedy's birthday, as has been mentioned by Senator 
Hatch but deserves repeating. This has been a great source of light and 
joy and love in our friend's life, as have his wonderful children as 
well: Ted Kennedy, Jr. is my constituent living in Connecticut and has 
become a friend of mine outside of my friendship with his father; Kara 
Kennedy, their children, Ted's grandchildren; Patrick, who is 
a wonderful public servant, a great source of pride to his father, who 
follows him in public life and serves in the House and represents so 
ably the State of Rhode Island.

  Then there are his sisters: Eunice, Pat, and Jean, each one of whom 
makes their own unique contribution to the well-being of this country.
  On Sunday afternoon I participated in a Special Olympics event in the 
State of Connecticut. About 600 people gathered together to watch young 
children with disabilities win gold, silver, and bronze medals. I had 
my 5-month-old daughter Grace with me presenting little flowers to each 
of the winners.
  I was thinking of Eunice Kennedy in the backyard of her home in 
Maryland years ago with four or five children beginning what was then 
the genesis of Special Olympics. Obviously, his brothers: Jack Kennedy, 
our beloved President; Robert Kennedy; Joe, his sister Kathleen, all 
these people, and his father and mother who have contributed.
  He will be the first to say no one individual accomplishes what they 
do in their own right. We are a product of our family and friends, our 
experiences in life.
  I join with so many eloquent words spoken, from the majority leader's 
words to my friend and colleague from Georgia, obviously the Senator 
from Massachusetts.
  A couple last points. I identify with and certainly support all that 
has been said about the Senator's contributions. I bear the 
responsibility right now of selecting the faces of the caricatures of 
Senators who have been recognized for their contributions. Ironically, 
it was the junior Senator from Massachusetts, Jack Kennedy, who was 
asked a number of years ago to assume the same responsibility when the 
names of Calhoun, Clay, Webster, Taft, and La Follette were chosen as 
the pictures in the waiting room of the five great Senators of the 19th 
and early 20th century. We have just chosen two more: Senator Wagner 
and Senator Vandenberg, and have two small ovals.
  It will not be our responsibility--that will come to a future 
generation--to choose the figures of the latter part of the 20th 
century that might inhabit unpainted ovals in the reception room. I 
hope that Senators, 50 or 75 years from now, might look back on this 
record today as a source of some guidance as to how contemporaries felt 
about one of their own. And whether you are talking to Senator Byrd 
who, of course, has more than 50 years of service in the Congress, or 
those who have arrived only a few short months ago, there is a common 
thread you will hear; that is, that our friend Ted Kennedy certainly 
deserves to be on any short list of a future generation that makes the 
decision on who ought to be considered the greatest of those who served 
in the latter part of the 20th century.

[[Page S1163]]

  It is because he is a great legislator. We don't cherish or celebrate 
enough legislators. Most of us run for public office promising that we 
will be our own people, that we will be nobody's man but yours, that 
somehow we are going to come here and act as if we were an executive 
rather than legislator. Senator Kennedy, regardless of party, embodies 
the qualities of a legislator. He fights harder than anyone I know for 
what he believes. But he also knows at the end of the day in a 
Democratic process, in the greatest deliberative body in the history of 
mankind, you end up having to work with people with whom you have 
disagreements. It is more than about giving speeches or introducing 
bills. It is producing at the end of the day a product that improves 
the quality of life. It may only be an inch. It may not be the miles 
you intended. But you know that if you can move it an inch forward this 
year and an inch maybe next year, a little bit further the following 
year, at the end of a career you can make a huge difference.
  Because he enjoys and understands the process of legislating, not 
only has this body been enriched but, as others have said, the quality 
of life for people who may never know his name, do not know who he is 
today because his contribution is not confined to the boundaries of 
this Nation, but there are people in Latin America and Africa and Asia, 
people who have never heard the name Kennedy, don't know what you are 
talking about, whose lives today have been enriched and improved 
because this one individual has been involved. He defies the notion 
that one person cannot make a difference.
  Lastly, I have been raised to believe that character is about what 
people do in private, not in public. There are not Members who have 
served with him who have not been the beneficiary of the private 
moment, of that unexpected phone call, knock on the door, and you open 
it up and there is our friend from Massachusetts. On every single 
level, I have often said this is one of my best friends. I am proud to 
call him such and happy to celebrate with him this great birthday.

  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KERRY. Madam President, I thank the Senator from Connecticut for 
very thoughtful and personal comments. It is not inappropriate that the 
last speaker will be one of those other Senators who was among the 16 
U.S. Senators ever to join this body at the age of 30.
  I yield to the Senator from Delaware.
  Mr. BIDEN. Madam President, before I came into the Chamber, I said to 
Senator Kennedy, ``This is discouraging. I am about to be 60 and you 
just turned 70 and I don't like it. I don't like anything about this. 
As a matter of fact, it drives me crazy.''
  As a matter of fact, Senator Kennedy, with a much more distinguished 
career than me, has suffered through the same illusion and delusion 
that I have. I got here when I was a couple days younger than he, and 
for the longest time I was the youngest, and all of a sudden you wake 
up and say, oh, my God. In my case, there are only a total of six 
Senators who have been here longer than me. That is equally 
discouraging. In his case, I think only two have been here longer than 
him.
  This place has a way of promoting the delusion that you are still 
young. One thing about Ted Kennedy, having had the honor--and I mean 
that sincerely--of working with him for 29 years is that he is still 
young. He is younger, I think, than anyone in this Chamber because I 
have observed, as have we all, that he is still as passionate, as 
devoted, as committed to the notion that he can change the world as he 
was when he got elected at 30 years old.
  My dad is in the hospital and I hope he is watching. He has an 
expression: ``It is a lucky man or woman who gets up in the morning, 
puts both feet on the floor, knows what they are about to do, and 
thinks it still matters.'' That said, I think Ted Kennedy may be the 
luckiest man I have ever known. He has no doubt. Just watch him; he 
knows and feels it still matters.
  In his 70 years, Senator Kennedy has enjoyed and shared with us a 
lifetime of public service, a tradition of excellence, a family of 
faith and courage in the face of extraordinary tragedy, and through it 
all, he has shown an unrelenting resolve to keep moving, keep working, 
and never stop believing in the power of ideas to change the world and 
change this Nation. In doing so, he has seen to it, as he once said in 
another context, that the dream will never die.
  That is Ted Kennedy. That is who he is; it is what he believes, and, 
I suspect, although I have just known him for 30 years, it is what he 
has always believed. To him, this institution, this democracy, this 
Chamber is about honor and tradition. It is about a legacy of hope, of 
a proud family, and a grateful Nation. It is about believing in the 
nobility of public service and passing that belief, or, as his brother 
said, that ``torch,'' to the next generation of Americans, as it was 
passed to him.
  As I said, I have had the pleasure to serve with him for 29 years, to 
stand with him, to learn from him, to lean on him, and to watch him in 
action in this Chamber. I have seen him raise his voice time after time 
not only for his constituency but for every single American. And for 
those who have no choice, I have heard him shout in this Chamber, and 
other places, at the top of his lungs for justice. For those who have 
been wronged, I have heard him demand and stand fast until fairness 
happened. For women, for minorities, those victims of intolerance and 
persecution for nothing more than the color of their skin, I have seen 
him fight with every fiber in his body to give them more strength and a 
sense of equity. I have seen him exhausted, angry--a couple times at 
me--but I have never seen him give up or back down from what he 
believes is right, fair, and just.

  Everybody today says Massachusetts is an automatic liberal State. I 
can remember when it wasn't such an automatic liberal State. I argue--
and I mean this sincerely--the reason Massachusetts, in part, is the 
way it is is because of Ted Kennedy, for when Ted Kennedy spoke out on 
the things we all take for granted today--and some may say it is easy 
for him to do that in Massachusetts, but when he started that, that was 
not the overwhelming view in Massachusetts or any other State.
  I argue, and I truly believe, that if anybody listening wonders 
whether or not one man or one woman can change the way people think, 
not a single vote--not a change in outcome, but change the way people 
look at a subject, I respectfully suggest that you look at Ted Kennedy. 
Ted Kennedy hasn't changed a darn thing that he has said or believed in 
these issues for 30 years. But the State has changed, the Nation has 
changed, so I remind everybody that when people say it is OK for Ted 
Kennedy to get up and fight for the poor, fight for African-Americans, 
fight for gays, fight for minorities, he can afford it. Well, he can't 
afford it; he made it. He made it acceptable. He made it change more 
than any other man or woman in this country in the last 30 years.
  Madam President, I say to the people of Massachusetts and to 
Americans everywhere, no matter what they believe, whether they are 
left or right, Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, know 
that the idea of representative democracy is the very embodiment of Ted 
Kennedy.
  I know people think because we are all his friends we are standing up 
and saying these nice things. Well, I will tell you, if you doubt what 
I am saying, or what anybody else said, after a bitter fight on this 
floor, after Ted Kennedy nearly breaks his desk in anger or in 
frustration for what is not happening, watch how passionate he is, and 
then watch, whether he wins or loses, how he walks across the aisle and 
he is greeted on the other side of the aisle with a genuine, genuine, 
genuine respect and friendship.
  Every time I try to tell anybody, whether I am traveling in another 
country, or traveling in my State, or in this country and speaking with 
students, or with anybody talking about representative democracy, and I 
give you my word to this, I want to give an example of how this place 
is so different--and this is one of the things that has changed, 
unfortunately--I tell them about Ted Kennedy. I pick out the guy who 
has been known as the most liberal guy in the Senate, and I have watch 
him go against conservatives such as Orrin Hatch, and I say

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after it is all over--it used to always be like this--whether he wins 
or loses, he will invite the person to whom he won or lost to go with 
him and have a sandwich or a cup of coffee or he will invite them back 
to his office because the fight is over and democracy, whether it was 
the right decision or the wrong decision, has prevailed. He settles it 
and comes back to fight again the next day.
  People are always amazed. Why is it that so many conservatives who 
work with him love Ted Kennedy? It is because he understands the deal. 
He is like Chris Dodd. He understands the deal. He understands that you 
give and you take when you make a commitment, and you make a commitment 
even after a while. I say this about my friend from Connecticut as 
well, who is one of the few people who does this, and the tables change 
and it becomes a political liability to stick with your word--he never 
approaches you and says: You know, Joe, I have a problem. He never says 
a word. He just does what he committed to do.
  I can't tell you that in the 29, almost 30 years I have been here, 
how that one piece of courtesy is the thing I most regret having been 
diminished in this place. It used to be you could turn and say that 
about 80 people here. I should not be saying what I am saying, but it 
is true. And so the fact of the matter is, I have seen him move a 
concept, as others have spoken--a concept from inception to law with 
the skill of a surgeon. This guy is good. How does Kennedy win? How 
does it happen? No. 1, he is smarter than most of us. No. 2, he knows 
the process better than anybody. No. 3, he gives and he takes and he 
never, never stops; and he is always, always honorable.
  If you were going to point out the persons you think would get the 
most done--and I do not think anybody's legislative record and 
accomplishments match the Senator; there are great women and men who 
serve here and with whom I have served over the last 30 years. But 
think about it. The least likely guy to have that happen is the one 
viewed as being the furthest on the party spectrum, not the person in 
the middle, the so-called--I love these new guys in the parties--
centrist. One would think it would be the centrist who would get the 
most done.
  In spite of, some might suggest, his incredibly firm convictions and 
sometimes being at the point of the spear, Ted Kennedy gets the most 
done. If one would ask Republicans, some publicly and 95 percent 
privately would say the single best legislator in this body--and has 
been for some time--is Ted Kennedy.
  As I said, I have seen him move a concept from an idea to a law. In 
my view, he is literally the best of his generation. He is the 
personification of what people talk about in political science classes, 
about the nobility of a public servant. He makes democracy work for 
people he represents.
  One would never know that he is 70 because he has not lost an edge at 
all. As a matter of fact, I remember in a different context when he was 
consoling me about something, he said there is life after this. And 
obviously he embraced it fully because ironically he has been 
incredibly and increasingly more productive as every year goes by, even 
though over 50 percent of the people here probably only served with him 
6 years or so.
  There are two words to describe Ted Kennedy: He is the quintessential 
legislator, and he is the gentleman in the Senate. His may be the one 
most powerful voice to echo in this Chamber for those who have not been 
lucky enough to have drawn that long straw. When it comes to health 
care and workers--others have talked about it, so I will not go into 
it--when it comes to children, equal rights, justice, when it comes to 
speaking loudly and clearly for those who are weak and small and 
altogether too silent, he is the one legislator who always has been on 
their side regardless of the fashion and regardless of the polls.
  The gift Ted Kennedy has given us every day is far more than we could 
ever give back in 70 years or 100 years or 170 years. All we are able 
to really say to Ted Kennedy today is happy birthday. But I want to say 
one more thing--as they say in this body, a point of personal 
privilege.
  We all have had difficult times in our lives, and I have had some 
difficult times in my life, relating to losses in my family and other 
events. But from the first time Ted Kennedy came to Delaware as a 39-
year-old guy campaigning for a 29-year-old guy before 3,000 people at 
the final dinner in my State, he stood up and said a lot of nice things 
about me, but he said: My only doubt is that he may be too young, 
making a play on the fact that he had been as young as I was when he 
was elected.
  The next day the Wall Street Journal ran in that column they have 
straight deadpan: Kennedy wonders aloud: Is Biden too young for the 
Senate?
  Maybe he has tried to make up for that ever since then; I do not 
know. When my wife and daughter were killed, the first guy there was 
Ted Kennedy. When Ted Kennedy's mother was alive, he or she called me 
and invited me to bring my children and go out with them. He did not 
know me from Adam.
  Madam President, I will not take any more time to talk about those 
personal things, but I want you to know they make a difference in this 
place. They make a gigantic difference. When some doctors told me my 
chances of hanging around were not all that good after a couple 
aneurysms, he was the guy who took the time to take the train by 
himself to Wilmington, DE, the guy who had nothing to do or say but 
just came and made himself available, hung out all day and spent 15, 16 
hours at my house and in the pool with my kids, in the kitchen with my 
wife, talking about how this was all going to work out, and then 
without me knowing it, got on the train late at night and headed back 
and never, never said a word. He was the first guy to ever come to me 
when I was down in this place and sat with me when I did not want to be 
here after 6 months--Ted Kennedy.
  He is the guy who introduced me to the gym. Ted may remember. He 
would come by two to three times a week to drag me out of my office. I 
want to tell my colleagues, I will never forget it.
  Madam President, I say to my colleagues in the Senate, I want to make 
one closing remark. My political hero got me involved in politics. 
There are a lot of great men--and the two Kennedy brothers who are 
deceased were great--but my personal favorite is Robert Kennedy. I 
cannot believe there is nothing prophetic about what Robert Kennedy 
said in a speech and maybe somebody else mentioned this. But it seems 
he must have had his kid brother in mind when he said:

       Our answer is the world's hope. The cruelties and obstacles 
     of a swiftly changing planet will not yield to the obsolete 
     dogmas and outworn slogans. It cannot be moved by those who 
     cling to a present which is already dying, who prefer the 
     illusion of security to the excitement and danger which comes 
     with even the most peaceful process. The world demands the 
     quality of youth, not time of life, not but a state of mind, 
     a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, 
     predominance of courage over timidity, of appetite for 
     adventure over the love of ease.

  He was talking about his brother. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KERRY. Madam President, I thank the Senator from Delaware for 
those special comments. I recognize the Senator from Tennessee for 3 
minutes and then the Senator from Washington for 2 minutes or such time 
as she may use.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. KERRY. Madam President, I should announce we have gone overtime. 
The Senator from Connecticut needs to move forward. That is where we 
will wind up.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.
  Mr. THOMPSON. Madam President, I thank my friend from Massachusetts. 
I did not realize we would have this opportunity today to express our 
feelings and thoughts toward Senator Kennedy until a few minutes ago. 
When I heard about it, I was compelled to come over and say a few 
words.
  I am sure for the time allotted that everyone who spoke has pointed 
out the brilliance of the Senator's advocacy, the fact that he is a 
Senator's Senator, and all of the accomplishments he has had since he 
has been a Member of this body.
  I simply want to acknowledge the Senator's generous spirit and his 
kindness. I know that I speak for very many in this body and people in 
other places when I say that. He has demonstrated this time and time 
again.

[[Page S1165]]

  His reputation for kindness, his reputation for thoughtfulness--as 
the Senator from Delaware has just been talking about--is legendary. I 
imagine part of this has to do with the tragedies and losses in his own 
life in terms of his own family.
  I suffered a loss of my own recently, as so many of us in this body 
have. Senator Kennedy went beyond all expectation in expressing his 
concern for me and my family and made gestures that I will never 
forget. I want to express my appreciation for that. Many of my 
colleagues have been extremely kind and thoughtful, but I have this 
opportunity because the Senator is having this benchmark in his life 
recognized--and thank goodness he is--to say that.
  While the Senator is to be congratulated for his legislative 
achievements, he is to be congratulated for reaching this benchmark. To 
me, he is mostly to be congratulated for realizing that human beings 
and human relations and family are much more important than any of the 
above.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
wishing the Senator from Massachusetts, Mr. Kennedy, a very happy 
birthday.
  I grew up in a small town 3,000 miles away from here, a town of 1,000 
people, from a family of 9. We did not have very much. Macaroni and 
cheese was standard fare for my family. Times were very difficult. My 
father was disabled. My mother had to work and raise seven kids and 
care for my father. We went to church every Sunday. It didn't seem as 
if there was a lot of hope. But there was one word of hope in my home, 
growing up in Bothell, WA, 3,000 miles away from here. That word for 
hope was ``Kennedy''--hope for all of us.
  There was an individual 3,000 miles away in a town only on a map in 
our sixth-grade text book, Washington, DC. This man stood up and fought 
for the things my family needed so badly--whether welfare reform 
assistance for my mother when she had to go back to work, whether an 
education for all seven of us kids as we went through school, whether 
it was my ability and my six brothers' and sisters' ability to go on 
and get a college degree because of student loans and grants.
  There was a man, an individual fighting for us, even though he never 
knew us, and I certainly never thought I would meet him. But his word 
was magic. His name was magic in my house. The name was Kennedy. We 
knew there was a compassionate advocate for us, every single day, 
speaking out for the needs of a family many miles away.
  It is an honor and a privilege for me to be in this Senate, where I 
never thought I would be, and to have watched him for the last 9 years 
fight for those same people to make sure they have a good education, 
that they have prescription drug coverage, that their voice is not 
lost, that they have employment insurance when they do not have a job, 
that they have a voice in a town far away from many cities in this 
great country. It is an honor indeed to serve here with this man and to 
know that he advocates for many people who can never afford to travel 
this far away to speak for themselves.
  Senator Kennedy, happy 70th birthday season, and many more. Thank 
you.
  Mr. KERRY. Madam President, I thank the majority leader for setting 
aside this time. I am particularly grateful to all my colleagues who 
have taken part in this special tribute. I am quite confident that my 
colleague would think otherwise, but I don't think there has been a 
word of excess. There has been an extraordinary commonality in the 
comments of everybody, a sense of the Senator's instinct for this 
place, a sense of the Senator's obvious accomplishments through the 
years he has been here, his commitment, his passion, his effort to 
change things for the better for other people. But through everybody's 
comments, in the end I think what is most striking and perhaps most 
important, and most important for us to think about as Senators, is the 
humanity and the way in which he has touched the lives of citizens and 
the lives of his colleagues.
  We are very grateful. I am confident all my colleagues will join me 
in saying if you think the last 40 have been pretty terrific, you 
probably haven't seen anything yet. As Senator Dodd said, there is a 
lot of territory yet to be covered. We are grateful that Senator 
Kennedy is going to be there to cover it.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, the hour is late and the time allotted 
earlier has been exceeded. I did want to take a moment to acknowledge 
the overly generous comments of my colleagues and true friends.
  I first of all thank my colleague and friend, John Kerry, who was so 
instrumental in arranging these few minutes this afternoon in the 
Senate's business. As I have said all across Massachusetts, this is an 
individual who served our flag and our colors gallantly and bravely in 
Vietnam and then came back because of his strong commitment to the 
ideals which motivated him in the service of our country--not unlike 
our friend and colleague from Georgia and others--and now continues to 
fight for these matters. He is a person for whom I have enormous 
respect and admiration. I am enormously grateful to him for this 
opportunity this afternoon.
  I thank our leader, Senator Daschle, who really is a leader for our 
times. I think all who get to know him better and better as the time 
goes on, and as the American people get to understand and know him 
better and better, will understand the true value of his leadership and 
the difference he is making for this institution and our country. I am 
grateful to him.
  I thank my colleagues for all of their comments. I was very touched 
and moved by so many of the stories that were recounted. I am grateful. 
I love this institution. I have friends in this institution who make a 
great difference to my life, to me personally, but also in being allies 
in attempting to advance the unfinished business of this country. Many 
spoke today. I am extremely grateful.
  I was in Massachusetts this last week and was fortunate, as a result 
of my wife Vicki arranging some preliminary birthday celebrations, to 
meet with many friends. I mentioned at the time when I was in 
Massachusetts that my birthday was a rather unusual birthday because my 
mother entered St. Margaret's Hospital in Dorchester, MA, on February 
12, 1932--that is Lincoln's birthday--then she left the hospital on 
February 18. I had not arrived. She went back in on February 20, and I 
arrived on the 22nd, which is George Washington's birthday. My mother 
stayed there until March 16, which is the eve of St. Patrick's Day. So 
if you add Lincoln's, Washington's, and St. Patrick's, you get a 
politician, the way I look at it.
  People in Massachusetts wondered how long I was going to serve in the 
Senate. I am asked that question frequently generally by my nephews and 
nieces, and by some others. I said I could run four more times and 
still be younger than Strom Thurmond. We joked or laughed about that.
  Nonetheless, I have been enormously blessed with heroes, my heroes 
being the members of my family, and by the commitment to public service 
which was so strong in our family, and, along with a strong faith, the 
sense that we all should give something back to this country in return 
for all it has given to us.
  I have seen the political process work. I believe in the political 
process. I have seen it work at the time of the election of a 
Congressman, then a Senator, and then a President, and a President 
making a difference in people's lives, President Kennedy. And I have 
seen the process work here. I still believe, as we were brought up to 
believe, that politics is a noble profession. It is not always 
recognized as such in this country, at this time, but I think for all 
Members in this institution and for all those outside of the 
institution who are attempting to gain the opportunity to serve in this 
extraordinary, rare opportunity and extraordinary honor, they recognize 
it as well. I am enormously mindful every day of my life that the 
greatest public honor of one's life is the service in the Senate. It is 
for me.
  I always think the greatest contribution I will have made will have 
been my children, but the greatest public

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honor will be the service in the Senate representing, in my case, 
Massachusetts, the State I love, which has played such an extraordinary 
role in this Nation, from the Revolution of this country, to its 
members being involved in the Constitutional Convention, to the strong 
support by the abolitionists in ending slavery, the support for the 
suffragettes--by great leadership by Republicans and Democrats. The 
people of Massachusetts have a high standard for progress to be made by 
their Representatives, and it is one that challenges all of us each 
day.

  Let me just say, finally, I don't think people are asking very much 
in our country. They want schools that teach. They want a health care 
system, so they can pay into a system but also have a quality health 
system that is going to cover themselves and their family. They want 
respect for their senior citizens. They want good jobs, so they can 
have a future for themselves and for their families and for their 
children. They want to knock down the walls of discrimination. 
Americans are fair, and they understand that this country has to free 
itself from discrimination in every form and shape we face. They want 
decent housing, and, as a part of the American dream, they want to be 
able to breathe the air and drink the water that is clean. They want 
safe and secure neighborhoods, strong defense, and they want us to 
represent overseas the best of American values.
  I came to this body believing that the privileged and the powerful 
can look out for themselves but that our challenge is to make sure we 
are going to have as even a playing field as we possibly can for all 
Americans. I think it is something that should get us up early in the 
morning and have us willing to work long and hard, as long as we are 
privileged to serve here, to be able to achieve. That is really what 
America is all about: Freeing us from the forms of discrimination, 
creating an even playing field so that our fellow citizens can be what 
they truly can be and want to be.
  I was reminded just the other day of the cartoon ``Peanuts'' by 
Charles Schultze. It gave me some hope because, as Peanuts has said:

       After you go over the top of the hill, you go faster on the 
     other side.

  So I am looking forward, with even greater spirit and greater 
determination, to the battles that lie ahead in this Senate Chamber, 
representing my State. I thank all of those who have been a part of 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.
  Mr. HATCH. Madam President, I thank my colleague for his long service 
in the Senate.
  May I inquire, are we prepared to go back on the bill?

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