[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 27, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1248-S1249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SENATOR TED KENNEDY'S 70TH BIRTHDAY

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am most honored to express my 
congratulations to my dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy, as he 
celebrates his 70th birthday. He and I joined the Senate chamber 40 
years ago, and it has been my privilege to serve alongside this great 
man over the years.
  Senator Kennedy has championed health insurance and education reform, 
defended the rights of the elderly and workers, strengthened civil 
rights, and protected our natural resources. He has proudly and ably 
carried on his family's legacy of public service.
  I wish to thank Senator Kennedy for his outstanding service to his 
home State of Massachusetts and to our Nation. I extend my best wishes 
to him for many more years of good health, memorable experiences, and 
continued success.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I wish to join my colleagues from both 
sides of the aisle who have taken to the Senate floor to offer 
heartfelt tributes and best wishes to our esteemed colleague and 
friend, the senior Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy) as he 
celebrates his 70th birthday. While prior commitments precluded my 
participation in yesterday's bipartisan tribute, I wanted to take a 
moment to offer my congratulations to Senator Kennedy.
  For 40 of his 70 years, Ted Kennedy has worked for the people of 
Massachusetts and America in the United States Senate. During that 
time, through hard work, consensus building and perseverance, with 
great wit and charm, and, on many memorable occasions, passionate 
oratory, Ted Kennedy has established himself as one of the most 
effective legislators of the 20th century and a champion for equality, 
opportunity, and justice for all Americans.
  When I was appointed to the Senate in 1990, we were considering the 
Americans With Disabilities Act, one of the many landmark civil rights 
bills that Ted Kennedy has helped to inspire and craft, guide through 
Congress, and become law. For as long as I have been in public service, 
Ted Kennedy has been a powerful voice and an advocate for those who are 
most vulnerable in our Nation. On issues ranging from civil rights, 
voting rights, equal rights for women, equal protection for all 
Americans regardless gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation, 
Americans with disabilities, access to health care, quality education 
for all children, workers' rights, patients' rights, a decent minimum 
wage, food stamps, or equal justice for all Americans, Ted Kennedy has 
been at the forefront of the battles for equal opportunity for all 
Americans, for fairness, for justice.
  In 1963, speaking on civil rights for African Americans, President 
Kennedy

[[Page S1249]]

said that ``every American ought to have the right to be treated as he 
would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated. 
This is not the case.'' Throughout his illustrious career, Ted Kennedy 
has worked to ensure that all Americans are treated fairly, are treated 
with respect and dignity. His work in the Senate has helped us move 
forward as a people and Nation toward the vision of America that 
President Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy spoke about with such 
eloquence. His effectiveness in forging bipartisan partnerships to 
advance the causes and issues he cares so much about is legendary. As 
the Majority Leader said, Ted Kennedy is the master of the principled 
compromise. In doing so, Ted inspires those of us lucky enough to serve 
with him with his dedication, persistence and hard work, and he has 
earned the admiration, respect, and love of people across America.
  As both a colleague and friend, no one is more generous with his time 
or considerate than Ted Kennedy. The senior Senator from Illinois (Mr. 
Durbin) and some of my colleagues mentioned that in some parts of their 
states being accused of voting too much like Ted Kennedy is a standard 
political reproach. In Hawaii, a comparison to Ted Kennedy is a badge 
of honor. In 1990, I was appointed to the Senate in May, and was 
campaigning for election in November. My race was extremely close, and 
the Senate was in session until the last week of October working on the 
Federal budget. Then President George H.W. Bush and other national 
leaders had come to the islands to campaign for my opponent. Ted 
Kennedy agreed to campaign with me in Hawaii right before the election. 
His appearance energized the voters, and sparked a surge in the polls 
that broke open a close race. In fact, on election night, Ted Kennedy 
was the first person to call with congratulations based on exit poll 
projections he had received.
  In the history of the Senate, there have been few Senators whose 
record of accomplishments, whose hard work, whose contributions to 
building a more perfect Union, equals that of the senior Senator from 
Massachusetts. I am proud to serve with him in the Senate and fortunate 
to call him a friend. It is with the deepest admiration and profound 
aloha that I wish Ted, hau'oli la hanau, a most Happy Birthday. May you 
have many more. God bless you.

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