[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9474-S9476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO SENATORS


                              Wayne Allard

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I wish Senator Allard well as he 
leaves the Senate, after 12 years here and 6 years in the other body. 
That is a long record of honorable service to the wonderful State of 
Colorado. During our time together in the Senate, I was very pleased to 
work with Senator Allard on a critical issue facing both our States: 
chronic wasting disease. I appreciated his commitment to fighting the 
spread of CWD, which was characteristic of his commitment to the people 
of Colorado throughout his time here. I wish him all the best as he 
leaves the Senate, and I thank him for his years of dedicated service 
to our country.


                              Larry Craig

  Mr. President, as Senator Craig retires from the Senate, I want to 
take a few moments to recognize him and thank him for his work on 
behalf of the people of Idaho. He devoted 18 years to serving the 
people of Idaho in the Senate, following 10 years of service in the 
House of Representatives. Senator Craig and I worked together in two 
very different, very important areas: protecting civil liberties and 
supporting America's dairy farmers. In both cases, he was dedicated to 
the best interests of the people of Idaho, and I am grateful for his 
efforts.
  Senator Craig was a key member of the group of six Senators--three 
Republicans and three Democrats, including myself--who worked together 
to try to strengthen the protections for Americans' privacy rights in 
the Patriot Act reauthorization that we considered in the Senate during 
the 109th Congress. His willingness to work across party lines on that 
issue was commendable, and it was a critical boost to our efforts. 
Senator Craig understands the importance of protecting Americans' 
freedoms, and I applaud his commitment to these issues.
  I also thank him for his consistent support of dairy farmers, another 
area where we frequently worked together. Senator Craig and I shared 
concerns about the impact of the Australia free trade agreement on 
dairy farmers, on the threat of unsafe importation of milk protein 
concentrates, and on nonfat milk price reporting errors.
  Once again on these issues, Senator Craig put the needs of the people 
of Idaho first, and reached across the aisle to protect hardworking 
dairy farmers. After 28 years of service in Congress, Senator Craig is 
retiring from the Senate, and I wish him all the best. His hard work 
and dedication have made a valuable contribution to the Senate and to 
the American people.


                             Pete Domenici

  Mr. President, today I thank Senator Domenici for his 36 years of 
service here in the Senate, longer than any New Mexican in the State's 
history. I have had the pleasure of serving with Senator Domenici on 
the Budget Committee, where his leadership has been a cornerstone of 
the committee's work for decades. I have always appreciated his 
willingness to listen to and accommodate different points of view 
through the years. I also thank him for his work on biennial budgeting, 
something I also strongly support and was proud to work on with him.
  Senator Domenici's commitment to mental health parity is well known 
and deserves special recognition. It is fitting that, on the eve of 
Senator Domenici's retirement, the Mental Health Parity Act of 2008, 
which he worked on with Senators Dodd, Kennedy and Enzi, should pass 
the Senate. I was pleased to cosponsor this bill and look forward to it 
being enacted.
  Finally, I thank Senator Domenici for his vote in support of the 
McCain-Feingold legislation when it passed the Senate in 2002. It was 
his support, along with 59 other Senators, that gave us that victory 
after a long fight to ban soft money. I will always remember and 
appreciate his support, and I wish him all the best as he retires from 
the Senate.


                              Chuck Hagel

  Mr. President, today I recognize the work of an outstanding 
colleague, Senator Chuck Hagel. As he leaves the Senate, there are many 
things he will be remembered for, and I will add a few to that long 
list. I have had the pleasure of serving with Senator Hagel on both the 
Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees, where I have seen what a 
thoughtful and dedicated public servant he truly is. He has been an 
outspoken and independent voice on foreign policy, and against the 
current Administration's reckless foreign policies, including the 
disastrous war in Iraq.
  In our time serving together in the Senate, we have worked on a 
number of bills relevant to our work on the Foreign Relations and 
Intelligence committees. Senator Hagel and I authored a bill to address 
the serious threat posed to our national security by gaps in our 
intelligence gathering. Building

[[Page S9475]]

on the work of the 9/11 Commission, our legislation would establish an 
independent commission to improve how the U.S. Government collects and 
analyzes information, so that we can head off emerging threats. Senator 
Hagel has brought critical attention to this issue, and I have no doubt 
he will continue to do so in the years ahead. I also appreciate Senator 
Hagel's commitment to strengthening our citizen diplomacy, which is so 
important to improving the image of the U.S. abroad. His support for my 
Global Services Fellowship Program Act, and past efforts on this issue, 
has been just one more example of Senator Hagel's willingness to reach 
across the aisle to work on issues important to our country.
  As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African 
Affairs, I particularly appreciate Senator Hagel's support for a more 
peaceful, secure, and prosperous Africa. He has supported efforts to 
help protect civilians and provide them with access to basic services. 
His voice has been one for political solutions to conflict, and for 
initiatives that would bring long-term stability to the continent.
  Senator Hagel has served the people of Nebraska, and America, with 
great dedication and skill. I will miss having him as a colleague, but 
I value his service and his friendship, and I wish him all the best as 
he leaves the Senate.


                              John Warner

  Mr. President, today I thank Senator John Warner for his service to 
our country. Through his five terms in the Senate, and before that as 
Secretary of the Navy, Senator Warner has been an outstanding public 
servant. In the Senate he has worked hard for our country, and for the 
people of Virginia. As chairman and now ranking member of the Senate 
Armed Services Committee, Senator Warner has been a leader on a wide 
range of issues affecting our national security, and he has always 
approached those issues with the utmost determination to do what is 
best for the Nation and the American people.
  Finally, I thank Senator Warner for his vote in support of the 
McCain-Feingold legislation when it passed the Senate in 2002. It was 
his support, along with 59 other Senators, that gave us that victory 
after a long fight to ban soft money. I appreciate his effort on this 
and so many issues, and I thank him for his dedicated public service 
over so many years.


                              WAYNE ALLARD

  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a great 
U.S. Senator and friend, Senator Wayne Allard. His strong political 
leadership will be greatly missed by the people of Colorado and the 
United States.
  I got to serve with Wayne on the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs Committee and the Senate Budget Committee. As fellow fiscal 
conservatives, we share many of the same values and concerns. One of 
his core beliefs, and mine, is that we must reduce wasteful government 
spending and work to balance the Federal budget. This is a philosophy 
that Wayne applied to every piece of legislation that came in front of 
him. It was important for him to do everything he could do as a public 
servant to save the taxpayers' money. I know that I could always count 
on Wayne to follow these principals and stay true to his conservative 
roots.
  As many of you know, Wayne had a successful career as a veterinarian 
before he came to Congress. With the help of his wife Joan, they built 
a successful veterinary practice in Loveland, CO, where they raised 
their two daughters, Christi and Cheryl. As a veterinarian and as a 
U.S. Senator, Wayne contributed more than most to the people of this 
country. He will be greatly missed by me here in the Senate, but I know 
he is looking forward to spending more time with his family back in 
Colorado. I wish Wayne the best of luck as he begins the next chapter 
of his life.


                              LARRY CRAIG

  Mr. President, I wish to join my fellow Senators to honor a colleague 
and a friend, Senator Larry Craig, who is departing the U.S. Senate at 
the close of this Congress. I have enjoyed working with Senator Craig 
over the last 20 years--first in the U.S. House of Representatives and 
later in the U.S. Senate.
  While in the Senate, I have had the great fortune of serving with 
Larry on the Senate Energy Committee. He is a revered advocate of 
energy, public lands, and rural community issues. The two of us have 
stood together on numerous issues--most notably energy--and I have 
always believed that we could achieve any task because I had his voice 
of reason and intellect by my side.
  Senator Craig has shown the ability to keep a close eye on issues 
that matter most to citizens back in Idaho, while also looking out for 
all Americans. Whether the issue of the day was rural schools, western 
ranchers, public water, innovative forms of energy, and yes, even 
wolves, Senator Craig has proven that he is up for any challenge.
  I would be mistaken to not mention the extraordinary work Senator 
Craig has done as a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. 
His work has been instrumental to ensure that all citizens who are part 
of our armed services--including servicemembers, family members and 
survivors of veterans--are provided the world-class care and benefits 
they have earned. I thank him for his relentless efforts to improve the 
lives of those who have worn the uniform.
  I thank the senior Senator from Idaho for his leadership and 
contributions to public service for the people of Idaho and all 
Americans. I honor Senator Larry Craig not only for his length of 
service but more importantly his quality of service. I wish him and his 
loved ones all the best of health for many years to come.


                             PETE DOMENICI

  Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a great U.S. Senator 
and friend, Senator Pete Domenici. His tireless work as New Mexico's 
longest serving Senator in history has greatly benefitted the people of 
his State and the United States of America. I am proud to have served 
with such a great statesman.
  During his time in the Senate, Pete has been instrumental in passing 
thousands of pieces of legislation on many different issues. However, I 
got the distinct honor of serving with him on the Senate Energy and 
Natural Resources Committee, where he serves as the ranking member and 
former chairman. Over the years, he has been instrumental in passing 
comprehensive energy legislation to help our Nation adapt to changing 
energy needs and demands. By working side by side with Pete on the 
committee, I have gotten to witness firsthand the hard work he puts 
into every piece of legislation that comes before him. He also has the 
ability to reach across the aisle to other Senators who routinely join 
him in passing bipartisan bills to benefit our country. I know that I 
can speak for all of my colleagues, when I say that Pete's absence will 
be felt by all of us.
  While I will greatly miss my friend's leadership on the Senate floor 
and in the Energy Committee, I know that he is looking forward to 
retirement and being able to spend some much-deserved time off with his 
wife Nancy and their family. I want to thank Pete for his contributions 
here in the Senate and wish him and his family well as they enter into 
a new chapter in their lives.


                              JOHN WARNER

  Mr. President, I would like to honor my friend from Virginia, Senator 
John Warner. John and I have been friends since I was elected to the 
Senate in 1998.
  As a true Virginian, John has dedicated his life to serving his 
country. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy beginning his 
long career of public service. After serving on active military duty in 
both World War II and the Korean war, John went on to serve in the 
Department of the Navy, and led the Department as Secretary from 1972-
1974.
  Elected in 1978, John is the second longest serving Senator from the 
Commonwealth of Virginia in the history of the Senate. John has served 
the people of Virginia well for 30 years and I know his family and the 
people of Virginia are proud to call him one of their own.
  John has a long list of accomplishments to show for the people of 
Virginia and the Nation. His leadership in the Senate will be missed 
and it has truly been an honor serving with him.
  I would like to thank John for his contributions to the Senate and 
wish him well as he opens a new chapter to his life.

[[Page S9476]]

                              CHUCK HAGEL

  Mr. President, today I pay tribute to my distinguished colleague from 
Nebraska, Senator Chuck Hagel, who will be retiring from the Senate at 
the conclusion of the 110th Congress.
  I have worked with Chuck since coming over to the Senate in 1998. I 
have also had the privilege of serving on the Senate Banking Committee 
with Chuck. He is a man of integrity and patriotism. Chuck has served 
his country proudly throughout the years, whether it be working as a 
staffer for Congressman John McCollister of Nebraska, as Deputy 
Administrator of the Veterans Administration, as U.S. Senator, or 
earning the Purple Heart while defending the freedoms we enjoy today. 
He has a servant's heart and the people of Nebraska should be proud to 
have been represented by a man of his character.
  I am honored to know him and to have worked with him. I would like to 
thank Chuck for his contributions to the Senate and to the country we 
both love. I wish him and his family the best in all of their future 
endeavors.

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