[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 167 (Wednesday, December 21, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S14308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO SENATOR WILLIAM PROXMIRE

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a long-time friend and 
an esteemed colleague William Proxmire, who passed away last week at 
the age of 90. I had the privilege of serving with him in this body for 
8 years.
  Senator Proxmire retired from this Chamber 16 years ago, but he is 
still remembered for his staunch work ethic and his unique dedication 
to a set of closely held principles. His standards of conduct as a U.S. 
Senator are legendary. In 22 years of service, he attended more than 
10,000 rollcall votes--still a record in the Senate. In his last two 
campaigns for office, he declined all campaign donations--from anyone. 
During each race, he spent less than $200, all out of his own pocket, 
mostly to pay for postage and envelopes to return donations offered to 
him by his supporters. In both instances, he won by a landslide, a 
testament to the overwhelming support of his constituency in Wisconsin.
  I have always felt a special affinity for Senator Proxmire and the 
issues that he championed. He was one of the few Senators who served 
with both my father and me. And he dedicated a great deal of time and 
effort to an issue that both my father and I considered paramount to 
our Nation's future. Over 19 years, he made over 3,000 statements on 
the Floor in support of ratification of an international treaty 
outlawing genocide. My father, as Senator Proxmire put it, 
``contributed a special zeal to this effort,'' fighting for this issue 
even before he entered the Senate. In 1950, as a member of a special 
committee of the American Bar Association, my father was one of the 
first witnesses to appear before the Foreign Relations Committee in 
favor of a treaty condemning genocide. Senator Proxmire's efforts over 
the years to champion this issue meant a great deal to me. And I am 
particularly honored to have brokered a deal with Senator Jesse Helms 
in 1988 to finally commit the United States as a signatory to this 
treaty.
  I also had the privilege of serving with Senator Proxmire on the 
Banking Committee when he was the chairman of that body, and I can tell 
you, that he performed his duties with a unique commitment both to 
competition and the rights of the consumer. Early in his career, he 
passed the Truth-in-Lending Act, ensuring consumer access to 
information and forcing banks to compete openly and on equal terms. He 
also helped pass a bill deregulating the banking industry, which helped 
financial institutions offer better services at lower costs to 
consumers.
  Senator Proxmire is perhaps best remembered for his fervent devotion 
to slowing Government spending. He returned over $1 million of his 
staff budget to the Treasury. He refused to travel abroad at the 
expense of the taxpayers. And he developed the ``Golden Fleece'' award 
to expose government programs that he considered wasteful. He gave 
statements on the floor exposing studies that explored the effects of 
alcohol on fish, documented the body measurements of airline flight 
attendants, and examined why people fall in love. Each ``Golden 
Fleece'' not only illuminated Government programs that might be 
considered profligate, but reminded us of the humor and personality of 
this noble public servant.
  My wife Jackie and I offer our deepest condolences to his wife Helen, 
to his family, and to the people of Wisconsin and the citizens of our 
Nation, for the loss of such a dedicated public servant and an 
exceptional man.

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