[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 133 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11472-S11477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTES TO RETIRING SENATORS
John Breaux
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I am fortunate enough to have been here to
hear my colleague from Louisiana give his farewell speech. It was my
good fortune to have served with him both in the House and in the
Senate. He is one of the favorites of both sides of the aisle. It is an
amazing tribute to John and his political career that he does have so
many friends in the Senate. From the liberal wing to the conservative
wing, Republicans, Democrats, North, South, East and West, you like
John Breaux. You like him because he is a genuine person and also
because he comes from a State that is a lot of fun and he is a lot of
fun. Some of my best memories of John are his hard work here and then
his hard play at home.
When he would invite us to New Orleans for a Democratic leadership
conference and other meetings and show us his major city in his home
State, it was always a treat.
Then occasionally he would export a little bit of Louisiana to
Washington and to the site of the Democratic Convention, and it was
always a sellout event. People wanted to be there. John never let them
down. I saw him at the Los Angeles Convention where he gave a little
party--and I use that term advisedly. It was not little at all, it was
a big party. He was dressed in a costume for Mardis Gras that would
have put Elvis Presley to shame. It was an amazing array of gold and
sequins, the likes of which I have never seen. He looked so much at
home in that outfit.
I said to him: How do the people back in Louisiana take to that kind
of dress?
He said: You know, they would throw me out of office if I didn't do
these things. They expect that of me.
I also went down to New Orleans with him and saw him in a musical
performance with a zydeco band. He has musical talent most people don't
know about.
I tell you these things because people who follow the Senate, hear
the speeches, look at positions on issues and look at the party labels,
forget that behind each and every one of us is a real life story.
I love the story of your family coming to Washington, John. It is a
beautiful story of packing up the kids and your first impression. Every
one of us has that story to tell. There are new Senators coming and
saving up those stories in their own minds for the day they stand
behind that desk to say what it means to be one of the few Americans
given a chance to serve in this great Chamber.
We are going to miss John Breaux and all that he brought to the
Senate and all he brought to this Nation. He has been a problem solver.
He has tried to reach across the aisle over and over to create
bipartisan coalitions. Sometimes I was with him; sometimes I was not.
It did not make any difference because it was a good-faith effort on
John Breaux's part to serve his State and this Nation.
He has had a great career in the House and the Senate. His departure
will leave a gap in terms of quality that many of us will work hard to
fill. John, I am honored I could serve with you and that I could hear
your parting remarks this evening. I wish you and your family the very
best.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama.
Fritz Hollings
Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I would like to take a few minutes to talk
about our departing colleagues. I am going to start with the senior
Senator from South Carolina, the senior Senator after many years of
waiting in the wings, and that is Senator Fritz Hollings.
I first got to know Fritz Hollings after I came to the Senate in
1986. My wife Annette and I have worked with Fritz and his wife Peatsy.
We have traveled around the United States with them. We have been with
them in their home. We visited them in Charleston. We traveled around
the world with them.
He is a unique individual, to say the least, but he has had, as the
Presiding Officer knows, a distinguished career as a State Senator in
his native South Carolina and then lieutenant governor
[[Page S11473]]
and Governor of his State before he came to the Senate I believe in
1966.
He has had a distinguished career as chairman of the Commerce
Committee for many years and as a senior member of the Appropriations
Committee and chairman for many years, and ranking member now, of the
Appropriations subcommittee dealing with State-Justice.
Fritz, we are going to miss you. We are going to miss your humor. We
are going to miss your frankness. We are going to miss your wisdom. And
we are going to miss your wife Peatsy about whom we all care and love.
You have invited a lot of us to visit you in Charleston. I hope you add
some more rooms to that house there because a lot of us will be coming
to see you. You have been a great American.
In addition to public service to his State and to the Nation, Fritz
Hollings was a young graduate of the Citadel in his hometown of
Charleston before the Second World War, and he served with distinction
as an officer in Europe for a long time through many battles.
I respect you, Fritz. I commend you for your service, and I look
forward to visiting you both here and in Charleston in the years to
come.
Don Nickles
One of my other colleagues we all care about and work with is Don
Nickles of Oklahoma. He came here as a very young man in 1980. He has
been here 24 years. He was the whip, assistant majority leader. He was
right here on this floor. He spent many days, many hours trying to herd
us together as one of our leaders. He is now at the moment the chairman
of the Budget Committee, and that is a feat in itself. He is a senior
member of the Finance Committee.
We wish you had stayed around, but you chose to leave the Senate on
your own volition. Don, we will see you, we will miss you, and I
commend you for your service to the Nation and to your great State of
Oklahoma.
John Breaux
John Breaux was just on the floor a few minutes ago. I first met John
Breaux when I came to the House of Representatives in 1978. He had
preceded me, although he is a little younger. He was a young man in the
House of Representatives. He was very involved and was one of the first
people I met there.
He tried to work with both sides, the Democrats and Republicans. He
has been involved in the forging of a lot of compromises--meaningful
ones--over the years. He has represented his State of Louisiana both as
a Congressman and as a Senator well, I believe, for many years. John,
we wish you and your wife Lois the best. We know you are not going to
go very far, but you have a lot of friends in the Senate on both sides
of the aisle, and you know that.
Tom Daschle
Tom Daschle will be leaving us. He served this Nation well. He served
in the U.S. Air Force as an intelligence officer. He served as a
staffer, and then he was in my class in 1978 as a member of the House
of Representatives. That is where I first met Tom and worked with him
and respected him. Sometimes we would be on other sides of the issues,
but nevertheless, I always thought in his dealings with me and others
he was a very honorable, decent person.
He is a relatively young man. He served us well, I thought, as
majority leader. He was always fair and up front with us. He will go on
to good things, I am sure. I wish Tom and his wife Linda the best.
Bob Graham
Senator Bob Graham is a friend of mine, a Democrat, a former Governor
of Florida for two terms. He came to the Senate in 1986 when I did. We
worked together on many committees, but we worked closely together on
the committee you serve on today, Mr. President, and that is the
Intelligence Committee.
I was the chairman of the committee and then he became the chairman
when the Democrats got control of the Senate, and I was the vice
chairman. I found Bob Graham to be working day in and day out, to be a
very upfront man, a very honorable man, a man of his word. I certainly
wish him well in whatever he does in the future.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell
My friend Senator Campbell, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, you talk about
somebody unique. He is a unique American. He is a Native American. He
is proud of who he is. He has represented the State of Colorado, both
in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, very well. I wish
him the very best. He will certainly not go away in the future.
Zell Miller
Senator Zell Miller, the colleague of the Presiding Officer, is a
distinguished Senator from Georgia. He served as Lieutenant Governor of
Georgia, I believe, State senator, and then Governor of Georgia for at
least two terms. He came to the Senate and distinguished himself. He is
someone for whom I have a lot of respect, for his integrity, for his
forthrightness, for his grit, for his perseverance, and also his
foresight.
Zell, we will miss you in the Senate. But we will see a lot of you. I
hope to visit you in north Georgia. You tell me what a beautiful place
it is, and it is not too far from my State of Alabama, so I hope you
have a room for us there. We will come see you, especially when the
apples are ready to pick and you are ready to show us around.
John Edwards
We have also Senator Edwards from North Carolina. I first met John
Edwards 6 years ago when he came to the Senate. He is a very
accomplished lawyer, a very engaging person. He was the Democratic
nominee, as we all know, for Vice President of the United States. John
Edwards is a young man, a man with a lot of talent, and I am sure we
will hear from him in some respect, political or otherwise, in the
future as life goes on.
Peter Fitzgerald
Senator Peter Fitzgerald from Illinois is a very young man, one of
the youngest men to come to the Senate. He chose to serve only one
term. I think he has been involved in some of the big issues of the
day. He is a man of integrity. He is a man who wants to do the right
thing. He is always going to be involved in the issues of the day, as
he has been.
Peter, we wish you and your family the best as you go back into the
private sector where you have excelled and done things so well and for
so long.
We are going to miss all these Senators, on both sides of the aisle,
because collectively they bring a lot of experience and a lot of wisdom
to the Senate. They have served, as I said, with distinction and honor
here.
TOM DASCHLE
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I want to take some time today to pay
tribute to one of my closest and best friends in the U.S. Senate, our
Democratic leader, Tom Daschle.
It is hard to put into words how much I will miss Senator Daschle
when he leaves the Senate at the end of this session. Senator Daschle
and I were both first elected to the Senate in 1986. He immediately
became a friend, and that friendship has only grown stronger over the
years. Senator Daschle had already served South Dakota in the House of
Representatives for many years when he came to the Senate, so he was
able to help show me the ropes when I first arrived in Washington in
1987. His advice and counsel were given freely. But what really drew me
to Tom were his genuine delight in seeing and greeting friends, staff
and colleagues; his selfless passion for serving the people of South
Dakota; and, above all his wonderful, self-effacing sense of humor. Put
simply, Senator Daschle was able to take on issues very seriously
without taking himself too seriously.
Over the years, we have served together on the Agriculture, Finance
and Indian Affairs Committees. We have fought side-by-side in numerous
battles to serve the interests of the people of the Dakotas.
On the Agriculture Committee, Senator Daschle was a tireless advocate
for the interests of the northern plains producers we both represent.
We fought together for targeted farm assistance to ensure that scarce
Federal dollars for commodity programs would most benefit average size
family farms. We fought together against concentration in the
agriculture industry. We fought together against unfairly traded
imports of Canadian grain. We fought for disaster aid time and time
again. And we joined to make sure a new farm bill was enacted in 2002.
It is safe to say that without the active leadership and support of
Senator
[[Page S11474]]
Daschle, we would not have had a new farm bill in 2002. And if we had
not written the bill in 2002, I firmly believe that mounting budget
pressures would have made it virtually impossible to write good
legislation in 2003 or 2004. So family farmers all across this country,
many of whom might not ever have heard of Tom Daschle, have lost a
champion.
On the Finance Committee, Senator Daschle fought passionately for
better health care for all Americans. We fought together to strengthen
the Medicare program and improve payment rates for rural health care
providers. We fought to preserve the Medicaid program, which provides a
health care safety net for the most vulnerable among us. We fought to
create the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which expanded
health coverage for children who otherwise would have no insurance. And
Senator Daschle again and again took the lead on trying to reform our
health care system to make health care affordable and accessible. So
average workers all across the country who worry about losing their
health coverage or skyrocketing health costs have lost a champion.
And Senator Daschle took a special interest in working on behalf of
Native Americans. He has fought to bring attention to the terrible
epidemic of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome among Native Americans. And he has
led the fight to secure increased resources for the Indian Health
Service to help end the health care rationing that occurs on too many
reservations. He also has been a strong proponent of the tribal
colleges. His efforts have helped put a college education within reach
of many Native Americans who might not otherwise get the opportunity.
Finally, Senator Daschle stood up and gave a voice to the thousands and
thousands of individual Indians seeking a full accounting of their
trust assets and fought to make sure that the Federal Government
fulfilled its trust obligation. So Native Americans all across the
country have lost a champion.
As Democratic leader, he continued to work on all these issues. And
because he was leader, he delivered real results for real people, time
and again. That was especially the case when it came to causes
important to South Dakota. Senator Daschle tirelessly used his clout to
ensure that South Dakota's interests were protected.
But Senator Daschle's role as a Senator and as a leader cannot be
summed up in a simple listing of the causes and issues he championed,
often without fanfare or great recognition. The job of leader has often
been compared to herding cats. It is not easy, but Senator Daschle did
an outstanding job. Senator Daschle was a strong leader--and a great
Senator--because he didn't just listen to people, he heard their
concerns. He didn't just propose compromises, he built consensus. It
took enormous patience, great flexibility, strong persuasive skills--
and a liberal dose of good humor and humbleness. It also meant that
much of what Senator Daschle accomplished was done quietly behind the
scenes. Too often, he did not get the public credit he deserved for the
painstaking hours he spent building consensus and moving issues forward
to benefit the American people. Instead, he quietly stepped back and
let others take credit.
You cannot be successful as a Senator, and especially as a leader, if
other Senators cannot trust you. Senator Daschle may at times have left
our colleagues on the other side of the aisle frustrated by his mastery
of Senate rules and political tactics. But they always knew he was
someone they could deal with in good faith. They always knew they could
trust his word. And they always knew he would work hard to achieve the
result he had committed to.
At the end of the day, that is the ultimate measure of Senator
Daschle's values--the values he and I learned growing up in the
Dakotas. He was honest, fair and hard working. He gave credit to
others. And he genuinely respected his colleagues and enjoyed their
company. South Dakota, the Senate, and the Nation are losing a true
champion, in every sense of the word.
As Senator Daschle goes on to other things, my wife Lucy and I wish
all the best to Tom and his wife, Linda.
bob graham
Mr. President, as the 108th Congress draws to a close, the Senate
will lose one of its most distinguished and accomplished members,
Senator Bob Graham. Few Senators have had such an outstanding career in
public service. Bob Graham served as a Florida State legislator between
1967 and 1978; as Governor between 1978 and 1982; and as U.S. Senator
from 1987 to 2004. I am honored that Senator Graham and I were in the
same class following our elections to the Senate in 1986.
Throughout his years in public service, Senator Graham has taken a
leadership role in protecting our environment, advocating on behalf of
seniors and children for adequate health care, working to make certain
that our children achieve their highest potential in schools, and
making certain that our country lives up to its obligations to veterans
and active duty military personnel.
Early in his career as Governor of Florida, Senator Graham launched
one of our Nation's most significant efforts to protect the environment
through the Save Our Everglades Program. In 2000, Senator Graham
achieved his goal of restoring the Florida Everglades through an
unprecedented partnership among Federal, State, and local officials
along with private industries. This initiative was a significant step
to ensure protection of a critical wetland environment, the Florida
water supply and endangered species. Senator Graham's efforts were key
to preservation of one of America's most important and environmentally
sensitive natural treasures.
Throughout his career in public service, Senator Graham has also
taken a leadership role on behalf of public education. Long before the
enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act, Senator Graham worked to
improve Florida public schools by making certain that children have the
highest quality public education system. He advocated on behalf of
rigid student testing for competency in academic courses, worked to
reduce class size, to improve the learning environment through new
school construction and to provide more opportunities for higher
education assistance for college students.
Through our years together in the Senate, I was privileged to work
with Senator Graham closely on health care and Social Security issues.
As a colleague for 10 years on the Senate Finance Committee, I noted,
with admiration, his concern for the health care needs for the elderly,
especially the need to strengthen Medicare and provide a prescription
drug benefit for the elderly. Senator Graham authored Medicare reform
legislation to provide a prescription drug benefit and other
preventative health care benefits. His Medicare Prescription Drug,
Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 was cosponsored by one third
of the Senate.
When it came to Social Security and Medicare, Senator Graham took a
long view. He missed no opportunity to urge all of us to make a
priority of ensuring the long-term solvency of these two crucial
programs. His concern was not just the current needs of his Florida
constituents, but the importance of these programs for the income and
health security of generations to come.
Last, Senator Graham assumed a leadership role on behalf of our
Nation's veterans and active duty military personnel in his capacity as
Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. While he
focused considerable attention to the needs of our aging veterans
population, working tirelessly to increase funding for VA medical care,
he has also been sensitive to the needs of veterans living in rural
America. Senator Graham supported my efforts to improve access to VA
medical care for rural veterans and to improve the quality of care for
veterans at the Fargo VA Medical Center and through the expansion of
outpatient clinics in rural communities. For this understanding and
support for rural veterans, North Dakotans will be forever grateful.
There are many achievements by Senator Graham that I could cite
throughout his career in public service. The few accomplishments that I
have noted demonstrate remarkable dedication to our country--dedication
to improving the lives of our children, the elderly and our veterans.
Senator Graham represents the finest example of a dedicated and
compassionate public servant. I hope that Senator Graham's career will
inspire young Floridians and other young people
[[Page S11475]]
across our Nation to service for our country. I have been privileged to
serve with Senator Graham and thank him for his distinguished service
to our country.
tom daschle
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I would like to say a few words about the
man from which I have stood across this aisle the past 2 years--Tom
Daschle.
Tom, as we all know, is a good and decent man. He has a big heart for
the people of South Dakota, for every Member of this body, and for all
of the American people.
He has devoted his life to public service--from serving as an
intelligence officer in the Air Force to serving four terms in the
House to serving three terms in the United States Senate.
That is seven times Tom Daschle has been reelected statewide in South
Dakota.
Tom has been such a successful leader, because he has always put
others first. This selflessness, this sacrifice is the quality that I
admire most about Tom.
Every year Tom returned to South Dakota for an ``unscheduled
driving'' tour. He would travel without staff or a schedule--going
wherever the road and the people of South Dakota would take him.
This driving tour helped him travel to each of South Dakota's 66
counties--which he did every year.
But, most importantly, it was his way of staying in touch with the
people who sent him time and time again to Washington to represent
them.
Tom has served as the Democratic Leader for 10 years now. And those
have been no easy 10 years for the Senate or for America.
The Senate itself has switched hands and back again. And we have
helped lead the Nation through wars and recession and the horrific
September 11th attacks.
But throughout this Congress and throughout his career, Tom Daschle
has handled his job with grace and dignity. And I have always seen in
him a gentle, yet stirring passion.
I wish Tom and Linda and their family all the best in the many years
to come.
john edwards
Mr. President, John Edwards came to the Senate just 6 years ago. Yet
he has won us all over as friends for his sunny disposition, his
positive attitude, his intelligence, and his hard work.
John can make anyone smile. He forms a personal bond with nearly
everyone he meets. No doubt this quality comes from the fact that he
always remembers his roots.
The first member of his family to go to college, John grew up the son
of two textile workers, moving from town to town.
This upbringing shaped John Edwards. It instilled in him a burning
desire to improve the world and a strong commitment to populist values.
He became a lawyer. And with ardent trial advocacy, hard work, and
genuine concern for others, he scored astounding success.
A terrible tragedy--the death of a child--marked a deciding point in
his life. He did not let it destroy him. Never forgetting the terrible
pain, John turned tragedy into triumph.
He set out to change America for the better. A political unknown, he
faced long odds, but he overcame them.
In the halls of the Senate, John has won new laws to protect
patients, increased funding for public schools, and improvements to our
banking system.
He and Elizabeth, Catherine, Emma Claire, and Jack have been
delightful additions to our Senate family.
And our prayers are with them as they strive to overcome the
difficulty of Elizabeth's recent diagnosis of breast cancer.
John Edwards has already played a vital role in American public life.
And whatever he chooses to do next, we wish him and Elizabeth and their
entire family all the best for a bright future.
don nickles
Mr. President, Senators follow many different paths on their way to
this Chamber. Some come from the professions, others from a life in
public service.
Few have lived the American dream the way Don Nickles has.
At age 20, Don Nickles was paying his way at Oklahoma State
University, living in a trailer home, working as a janitor, and raising
his growing family.
A few years later, he returned to his hometown. There he pulled his
family business from the verge of bankruptcy. Pretty soon his neighbors
elected him to the Oklahoma Senate.
Then, in 1980, at the age of 31, when few expected it, he became a
U.S. Senator.
Don did not let his early success go to his head. He worked hard to
keep our country a place where men and women can dream big and live
those dreams.
In the Senate, he has been a friend to taxpayers, an opponent of
overbearing regulation, a voice for traditional values, and an ardent
advocate for Oklahoma.
Don Nickles has worked to keep America a land of opportunity--a place
where everyone has a valued place and nobody lacks the opportunities to
succeed.
Through all of his hard work, through all of his toil, he has always
put family first. He and Linda have been married for 36 years. And they
have raised four wonderful children.
In Don's favorite Bible chapter, Galatians 5, the Apostle Paul lists
a godly man's attributes. A godly man, says Paul, work hard and live a
life of ``love, joy and peace . . . kindness, goodness, faithfulness.''
I could not think of a better description of Don Nickles. He has had
an amazing career--and I take comfort in that he is just hitting his
stride.
We all wish Don and his family the best in what will certainly be a
bright future.
Fritz Hollings
Mr. President, Fritz Hollings is a passionate advocate for the people
of South Carolina, a true statesman, and a fine gentleman. He is one of
the most senior members of our body and, to all of us, he is a friend,
a mentor and a guide. He has devoted his life to public service.
Fritz Hollings has always shown courage, conviction, and an ability
to get things done. His work has touched every corner of our country
and every American's life.
Fritz helped our Nation confront its spiraling budget deficits,
maintain a strong posture against the Soviet Union, integrate our
schools, and create the WIC program. His work has helped protect our
coastal ecology, preserve our oceans, and defend our transportation
networks from terrorists attack. And, when a family eats dinner without
interruption, free from never-ending telemarketing calls, well, we can
all thank Fritz for that too.
On trade, on spending, on taxes, on military issues, and on Senate
pay, he has never been afraid to speak his mind, even when his own
party, or sometimes even most of the Senate, disagrees with him. In the
end, he has always been a winner thanks to his grace and honor. A
summary of Fritz' legislative achievements reads an astounding eight
single-spaced pages. He's always campaigned on the creed that:
``Performance is better than promise.'' And he has lived up to it.
We'll all miss Fritz: His friendship, his principles, and his
willingness to tell it like it is. We wish fritz and Peatsy all the
best and want them to know that they will always have a home, a family
and a place in the history of the United States Senate.
ben nighthorse campbell
Mr. President, Ben Nighthorse Campbell is a man of many talents. He
is an Indian chief, a Korean war veteran, a champion quarter horse
trainer, an Olympic judo competitor, a rancher, and a jewelry designer.
After his service in the military and a series of athletic victories,
Ben settled down to run his ranch and design jewelry. But, by pure
accident, politics entered his life. Colorado, the Senate, and America
would never be the same.
In 1982, Ben attended a meeting to support a friend's bid for
Sheriff. He made a stunning impression and walked away drafted as a
candidate for the Colorado State legislature. Ben served the people of
Colorado there and in the House of Representatives. And 12 years ago,
they elected him to the Senate.
More than 20 years after that fateful evening, Ben has left an
indelible mark on the Senate. He has taken the lead on critical
agricultural issues, fought excessive spending, argued for a balanced
budget, and sponsored Federal drought relief for farmers. From drug
[[Page S11476]]
policy to natural resources conservation, he has advocated for Colorado
interests, and he has brought home what the people of his State elected
him to do. He has also sponsored or co-sponsored 54 Indian-related
bills that became law. And he is the first American Indian ever to
chair the Senate Indian Affairs committee. Without him, the spectacular
Museum of the American Indian that graces our National Mall would not
have become a reality.
Ben is as leader who stands firm by his beliefs and works hard for
the people of Colorado and Americans everywhere. We wish him and his
wife, Linda, all the best for the future.
john breaux
Mr. President, the people of Louisiana first sent John Breaux to
serve in this Capitol in 1972. He was only 28 years old. For the next
32 years, he would serve as one of the most respected and admired
public servants--from both sides of the aisle--anywhere in American
government.
John Breaux has been a superb United States Senator. He is not
inextricably wedded to one ideology or one party's line. He is
thoughtful. He is independent. He is deliberative. He is experienced.
He always wants to do the right thing for Louisiana and for America.
What I admire most about John is his consensus-building skills. He
never gives up on bringing people together. In fact, he has helped
bring this body together on landmark pieces of legislation over the
past two decades--from welfare reform to health insurance reform to
balancing the budget.
I have enjoyed working with John to reform Medicare. We proposed the
first Breaux-Frist reforms in 1999. And we followed up with Breaux-
Frist II in 2001. And we toiled together on the Bipartisan Commission
on the Future of Medicare, which John so ably chaired. Breaux-Frist
laid the foundation for bipartisan work to come and, ultimately, the
most comprehensive and meaningful improvements to Medicare since the
program's creation.
John's departure is bittersweet for me--as I am sure it is for every
member of this body. We will miss him as a leader we all love and all
can work with. But he still has many of his best years ahead--which he
will no doubt enjoy spending with Lois and their wonderful and growing
family.
Peter Fitzgerald
Mr. President, Peter Fitzgerald has devoted his life to public
service.
He first ran for office before the ink on his law degree had dried.
And, in the last 6 years, we have come to know Peter as a man of
integrity, as a man of honor, and as a friend.
In the Illinois Senate, he was a staunch opponent of corruption. He
often had to go it alone. But he still got results.
He continued his mission in the United States Senate--where he
arrived in 1998 as our youngest member.
In only 6 years, he has made his mark. He helped uncover the
devastating corporate fraud and accounting scandals. And he helped us
pass tough new regulations to prevent them from reoccurring.
He has been an ardent advocate for Illinois farmers and businesses,
always working to make sure that markets are open and barriers are low.
Whether working to appoint honest federal prosecutors or taking a
hard look at major federally-supported projects, he has always stood
for doing the right thing.
Peter has made sure that we have tax relief that helps families and
creates new jobs. And he has helped protect our children with tough new
child safety seat laws.
Our Senate family will miss Peter, Nina, and Jake. They have each
enriched our lives, their State, this Senate, and our country. And we
wish them all the best in the future.
bob graham
Mr. President, during his first campaign for the United States Senate
in 1986, People Magazine compared Bob Graham's mind to a Florida
thunderstorm; resolute and impossible to deflect.
But as a member of this body for 18 years, Bob Graham has shown that
while he may have the energy of a lightning storm, his works are guided
with far greater purpose and direction.
In 40 years, Bob has never lost a statewide election. He is one of
Florida's most beloved politicians. And that is for good reason.
Always looking for ways to connect with his constituents, Senator
Graham uses his ``workdays'' to toil alongside everyday Floridians to
understand the problems they face.
A true American patriot, he has consistently put country before
party.
On the Senate Intelligence Committee he has helped us tackle the
monumental task of overhauling America's intelligence agencies. We will
all miss his knowledge, his expertise, and his ability to clarify
difficult issues.
Bob and his wife, Adele, have been treasured members of the Senate
family--as much for who they are as for what they have done. For a
couple who has accomplished so much in their lives together, that's
saying something.
I want to thank Senator Graham for his valued contributions to our
body and to our country. And we wish him and Adele the best in all
their future endeavors.
zell miller
Mr. President, Zell Miller commands a certain respect. He has guts.
He has integrity. He speaks simple truths. He is as good and honest a
man as I know.
Zell is the type of leader that takes a stand and doesn't yield an
inch of ground--no matter how hard the political winds blow.
America saw this first-hand with his unwavering support of President
Bush in the most recent election.
At the Republican Convention, Zell described the President perhaps
better than anyone in our own party. He said the President is: ``a God-
fearing man with a good heart and a spine of tempered steel.''
Those same words also describe Senator Miller.
As a former Marine, Zell has never wavered in his support of the men
and women in uniform who defend our liberty--or the values he shares
with them. And he has worked hard and steadfast to end the
unprecedented filibuster of judicial nominees.
More than anything, Zell loves his wonderful wife, Shirley, and their
family. Of course, by family, I also include Gus and Woodrow, his two
Labrador Retrievers.
Zell will always be a touchstone of good ole' common sense for this
body. He will forever remind us that all we need to do is what is
right--nothing more, nothing less.
Zell Miller is one of the most colorful Senators ever to grace the
halls of this Capitol. And he and Shirley have been two of the most
valued members of the Senate family.
We will miss them both, sorely, as a special part of our daily lives.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, are we in morning business?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, we are.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, on Tuesday the President announced the
nomination of National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to be the next
U.S. Secretary of State.
I admire Dr. Rice's obvious intellectual gifts and her communication
skills. I also believe that the President has the right to appoint
Cabinet officers who reflect his ideology and his perspective. Barring
serious concerns about a nominee's qualifications or ethical record,
and in keeping with Senate practices and precedents, my inclination is
to give the President substantial deference in his Cabinet choices.
But I am deeply troubled by the signal that this nomination appears
to send--a signal suggesting that the modest moderating influence of
the State Department over the last 4 years will disappear, and that the
next 4 years will be guided even more closely by the voices that
shouted loudest in the first term, and that led our country into
seriously flawed foreign policies. Our country cannot afford to
continue down the foreign policy path that was forged during the first
term of the Bush administration.
Over the past 4 years, we have witnessed the greatest loss of a very
valuable type of American power in our history: our power to lead, to
persuade and to inspire. As Joseph Nye has pointed out, this power will
not convert the extremists who oppose us no
[[Page S11477]]
matter what. Those people must be eliminated, pure, and simple. But it
can thwart their plans, by denying them new recruits, undermining their
appeal and their message, and unifying, rather than dividing, Americans
and the rest of the international community. Rather than bolstering
this asset, which has helped to make us the most powerful country on
earth, we have squandered it.
In March, the Pew Research Center found that one year after the start
of the war in Iraq, ``discontent with America and its policies has
intensified rather than diminished'' across the world. Majorities in
Pakistan, Jordan, Morocco and Turkey believe that the U.S. is
exaggerating the terrorist threat, doubt the sincerity of the U.S. war
on terrorism and say that it is an effort to control Mideast oil and
dominate the world. The Center found that:
At least half the people in countries other than the U.S.
say as a result of the war in Iraq they have less confidence
that the United States is trustworthy. Similarly, majorities
in all of these countries say they have less confidence that
the U.S. wants to promote democracy globally.
Our motives are questioned, our public justifications and
explanations viewed with skepticism, and our post-9/11 public diplomacy
efforts have missed the mark, substituting pop music broadcasts,
brochures and videos for the kind of respectful dialogue and engagement
that could convince generations of angry young people that their
humiliation is not our goal.
We have had over 3 years since September 11, 2001, to think
strategically about how to win the fight against terrorism. But we have
little to show for this time.
We have relied upon a doctrine that fails to recognize that our
enemies do not rely on explicit state sponsorship of terrorism. By
focusing almost entirely on possible state sponsors of terror, the
administration failed to realize that our terrorist enemies operate
effectively in weak and failing states and without the backing of
national governments. This is a new enemy waging a new war against us,
but the administration appears still to be stuck in an old cold war
mindset.
We have muddled our language and our focus by conflating other
priorities with the fight against terrorism, costing us credibility
around the world and shattering the unified and resolved global
coalition that emerged to support us in the aftermath of 9/11. By
choosing to fight the war in Iraq in such a divisive and astronomically
expensive fashion, we have diverted resources away from the fight
against the terrorist networks that seek to destroy us and undermined
our ability to win the hearts and minds of many whose support we will
need to succeed in the long run.
We have recognized the dangers of nuclear proliferation in an age of
terrorism, but have then pursued policies that may well create
incentives for states to develop nuclear weapons as quickly as
possible.
We have developed essentially no measures of success or failure when
it comes to one of our most urgent priorities, as the 9/11 Commission
underscored--preventing the continued growth of Islamist terrorism. In
fact, we do not even know where we stand today in this vital struggle.
We have not given any serious thought to how to avoid the mistakes of
the cold war, when we gave a free pass to forces of repression and
brutality, as long as they did not come with a Communist bent. Those
mistakes, as we all know, helped to make Afghanistan the brutally
repressive terrorist haven that it was on 9/11.
We have not made an adequate investment in bolstering our diplomatic
resources and engagement around the world. From Northern Nigeria to
Eastern Kenya, we have virtually no presence. In Somalia, despite
knowing that al-Qaida-linked terrorists have operated in the country,
we simply failed to develop any policy at all.
While the administration's policy was failing on all of these fronts,
the President's team was devoting its time and attention to selling the
world and the American people a war in Iraq with fundamentally flawed
intelligence, manipulative and misleading characterizations, and rosy
predictions that provided horribly, dangerously off-the-mark. The
administration's Iraq policies in the first term painted a picture of
an American government that isn't so sure it rejects torture; that
isn't competent and careful enough to properly vet intelligence
presented in major speeches and briefings; that willfully rejects the
lessons of history and advice of its own experts; that is surprised
when disorder results in massive looting; that misleads taxpayers
regarding the costs and commitments entailed in its policies; that
spends billions upon billions without any effort to budget for these
predictable costs; and that is willing to politicize issues fundamental
to our national security in the ugliest possible way.
We deserve better. Certainly the brave men and women of the U.S.
military who are fighting every day to make this effort in Iraq work
deserve better. We do not honor them by accepting lousy, irresponsible
policy in the halls and hearing rooms of the Capitol and then leaving
them holding the bag on the ground, when policy collides with the hard
truth.
The administration's record of the past 4 years suggests a foreign
policy careening out of control, driven by ideologies who want to test
their theories in the laboratory of the Middle East one minute, by
domestic political considerations the next, and by spiteful attempts to
punish those who disagree with their methods the next. Where is this
going? Who is in charge? No one ever seems to be held accountable for
the blunders, the failures, the wildly inaccurate presentations and
projections or the painfully ineffective initiatives.
Congress cannot simply accept more of the same, keep our heads down
and hope that somehow we will muddle through. The stakes are far too
high. Our national security, the stability of the world that our
children will inherit, our troops--even our country's honor--are on the
line. Congress has an obligation, not to oppose every administration
effort, but to reassert our role in steering the ship of state wisely
rather than recklessly. I look at our foreign policy over the past 4
years, and I know that America is so much better than this.
I look forward to the opportunity to raise these concerns with Dr.
Rice when she testifies before the Foreign Relations Committee, and to
receiving some assurance that she will work with Congress to put our
country's foreign policy on a better, more effective footing.
Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a
quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________