[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 28, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2715-S2716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I wish to say a few words about one of the 
Senate's most senior Members but one of the newest on this side of the 
aisle. I have known Senator Arlen Specter for many years. I have worked 
with him, learned from him, and admired him. He is truly a legal 
scholar.
  Anyone who has read his books--and I have--knows Senator Specter's 
life has been a struggle. From his days as the son of immigrants in 
Depression-era Kansas to the treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma, he has 
endured, while working as a full-time Senator. He has not had it easy, 
but he has fought hard.
  I consider it a privilege to work with Arlen Specter. He is a strong 
contributor to our caucus, a valuable Member of this body and, most 
importantly, a fine public servant for the people of Pennsylvania.
  It would not surprise anyone to learn that over 25 years Senator 
Specter and I have not always agreed on every issue. But I have never 
seen another Senator with a greater willingness to work in a bipartisan 
manner, put people over party, and to encourage others to search their 
hearts and to do what is right.
  Senator Specter has fought to end the partisanship in Washington as 
hard as he has fought for his constituents in Pennsylvania. He has 
often reminded us, in key times, including right here on the Senate 
floor, that we had to go in a direction he thought was important. He 
would tell us about that, that we were sent here to govern, not to 
demagogue.
  He has warned his former colleagues on the other side of the aisle 
not to let a strategy of obstructing obscure their responsibility to 
govern. That is a message with particular relevance with the issue 
before us this week. Without Senator Specter's courage to reach across 
the aisle, we would not have passed the economic recovery plan that is 
pulling our Nation out of recession and putting people back to work. 
Arlen Specter did not vote for it for political reasons; he supported 
it because he saw what the Great Depression did to his family. It 
forced the Specters to move from their home in Wichita to his aunt's 
home in Philadelphia. He did not want to see it slip up again and fall 
into a depression.
  Senator Specter then came over to our side of the aisle and helped us 
pass the historic health care reform law that will help so many 
Americans afford to live healthier lives. When the

[[Page S2716]]

anger of the townhall meetings consumed the country last summer, 
Senator Specter found himself on the frontline. He did not back up a 
step. He did not give in to the myths and misinformation and never lost 
his cool. As a senior member and former chairman of the Judiciary 
Committee, Senator Specter played a critical role in the historic 
confirmation of Justice Sotomayor. I know he will do an equally 
commendable job this summer when we work to replace Justice Stevens.
  I wish to thank my friend for his good counsel, his service to the 
good people of Pennsylvania, and all he does, both publicly and 
privately, for the Senate.
  The State of Pennsylvania, of course, is home to some of our 
Nations's most significant political history: the Declaration of 
Independence, the Constitution was drafted in Senator Specter's 
hometown of Philadelphia. He has recorded some history of his own. No 
Pennsylvanian has served that State in the Senate of the United States 
longer than he has.
  His moderate voice has been an asset to our diverse caucus, and I 
look forward to working with him for many years to come.

                          ____________________