[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 140 (Monday, December 20, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S12093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO SENATOR JOHN BREAUX

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, with the adjournment of the 108th 
Congress, Senator John Breaux is retiring. With his departure Louisiana 
loses a vigorous and effective advocate, the Nation loses a dedicated 
and skillful legislator, and the Members of this body, on both sides of 
the aisle, lose a trusted and respected colleague and a dear friend.
  John Breaux has spent 35 years serving the people of Louisiana in one 
capacity or another. In 1969, as a recent law school graduate, he came 
to Washington for the first time to become a legislative assistant to 
the Representative from Louisiana's Seventh Congressional District. 
When the seat became open 3 years later, John ran for Congress himself, 
and won. He was then 25 years old. From 1973 until 1977, we served 
together in the House of Representatives. John continued serving the 
House for another 5 years, before being elected to the first of three 
terms in the Senate, in 1986.
  The decision to come to Washington was a very major decision for the 
Breaux family, so much so that one child prayed: ``Good-bye God. We are 
moving to Washington.'' For the people of Louisiana and the Nation, it 
has proved to be a most fortunate decision.
  John Breaux's accomplishments over 18 years in the U.S. Senate are 
legion. He has served on the Finance Committee; the Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation Committee; and the Rules Committee. He has chaired 
the Special Committee on Aging. For 8 years he served his Senate 
Democratic colleagues as Chief Deputy Whip. He has left his mark on 
virtually every piece of legislation that passed through the committees 
on which he has served. He has been a tireless advocate for older 
Americans, and a proponent of universal health care.
  Above and beyond any specific issue, John Breaux has sought to make 
government work. He has won the respect and affection of his 
colleagues--and, time and again, their attention--with what Charlie 
Cook, in ``The Cook Report,'' described as ``his moderation, 
personality, manner and legislative style.'' In commenting on John's 
decision to retire, The Shreveport Times called him ``a Louisiana 
natural resource'' and ``the bridge-builder in an era of burning 
bridges.''

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