[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S11561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Paul Sarbanes

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the 
Senate's finest Members, Senator Paul Sarbanes, who is retiring after 
30 years of service in this Chamber. Senator Sarbanes has served this 
Senate, his State, and our country with dignity, wit, and uncommon 
wisdom. He is simply one of the smartest, most principled people I have 
ever known. He is, quite simply, a class act.
  Paul Sarbanes has focused his energies on governance and effective 
legislating. This thoughtful approach has served him well, served his 
State well, and served this Chamber well. Paul Sarbanes never lost an 
election, and he is the longest serving Senator in the history of the 
State of Maryland.
  In the Senate, Paul Sarbanes served with great distinction as 
chairman and ranking member of the Banking and Joint Economic 
Committees and has long provided wise counsel on the Foreign Relations 
Committee.
  At the Banking Committee, he has been relentless in protecting 
consumers from unscrupulous financial acts. When the country was hit by 
scandals in the Enron and WorldCom cases, Paul Sarbanes acted to 
protect against further abuse and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is the result. 
That is an act that has stopped further abuse.
  Paul Sarbanes also fought for affordable housing, for adequate public 
transportation, for transparency at the Federal Reserve. In debating 
former Fed Chairmen and the current one, he has never let central 
bankers forget that they must pursue a dual mandate, with jobs for 
Americans on an equal footing with fighting inflation.
  It has been my honor and my privilege to serve with Senator Sarbanes 
on the Budget Committee. Few can match his understanding of economics 
and the interaction between the budget and the economy. His insightful 
and tenacious questioning, his even temper, and his humor have made 
being his colleague on the Budget Committee both rewarding and a 
pleasure.
  My favorite story about Paul Sarbanes is from his youth. Paul 
Sarbanes was an outstanding athlete. He was a great baseball player and 
a great basketball player. In fact, he was so good in baseball that he 
was chosen as a Maryland All Star. He was chosen to play shortstop on 
that team. When he showed up for the first practice, the manager 
directed him to second base. Paul Sarbarnes was a little surprised by 
that because he had been chosen to play shortstop. But he went out and 
played second base. He thought there might be some mistake. The next 
day, he came to the next practice and was again directed by the manager 
to play second base. At this point, Senator Sarbanes thought he should 
go to the manager and inquire why--since he had been chosen to play 
shortstop--he was playing second base. The manager looked him in the 
eye and said, ``Sarbanes, Kaline will be playing shortstop.'' Of 
course, the Kaline was Al Kaline, who became a Hall of Fame baseball 
player.
  That is some measure of the extraordinary athletic talent that Paul 
Sarbarnes had. It was not his athletic talent that so distinguished him 
in this body; it was his remarkable academic talent, his remarkable 
ability to deal with others.
  I think in my time in the Senate I have never dealt with a person of 
greater wisdom than Paul Sarbarnes.
  I wish Senator Sarbanes the very best in his retirement and whatever 
endeavors he will pursue. His wife, too, has become a special favorite 
to our family--so bright, so talented, and such a good partner with 
Paul Sarbarnes. I know they are deeply proud that their son has been 
elected to the Congress of the United States to represent a district in 
Maryland.
  Paul Sarbarnes has been a great colleague and a very dear friend to 
me. I will miss him and his service on the Budget Committee and in the 
Senate.
  I thank the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire is recognized 
for 15 minutes.
  Mr. GREGG. I thank the Chair.