[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 166 (Wednesday, December 15, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10288-S10297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTES TO RETIRING SENATORS


                              Bob Bennett

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I want to take a moment to honor a friend 
and colleague, Senator Bob Bennett, who will be moving on from the 
Senate after 18 years of service to the people of Utah.
  Bob has had a long and impressive career. Out of college, he served 
for several years in the Utah National Guard and worked as a 
congressional liaison for the Department of Transportation. Turning 
next to the private sector, he worked for 20 years in public relations 
and later in the technology field. He put that experience to good use 
once elected to the Senate, using his high-tech know-how to chair the 
Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem, serve on 
the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force, and work on issues from 
broadband infrastructure development to cyber security.
  Utah and North Dakota have many things in common. Both are largely

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rural States with unique needs that often go unrecognized by those who 
live in densely-populated areas. Senator Bennett should be proud that 
he has been a vocal and consistent supporter of funding for Utah's 
farmers and ranchers, veterans, rural health care institutions, 
military installations, and roads, highways, and mass-transit 
infrastructure. I know that Utah has many reasons to be grateful for 
what Bob Bennett's hard work on the Appropriations Committee has 
brought to the State over the years.
  During his time here, Senator Bennett and I have worked closely on a 
number of important issues, especially those related to our national 
defense. As an important member of the Senate ICBM Coalition, Senator 
Bennett has worked with me to ensure that our Nation preserves both its 
fleet of Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles and the 
infrastructure required to keep them operational for years into the 
future. Senator Bennett is also a member of the Senate Tanker Caucus, 
which has vocally and consistently pushed for the Department of Defense 
to quickly and fairly select and procure a next-generation aerial 
refueling tanker to replace the aging KC-135. His advocacy on this 
issue has been key in the work of the caucus.
  Finally, of course, and I think most importantly to Bob, he is a 
dedicated and outstanding family man. Though I know he will be missed 
here in the Senate, the new time he will have to spend with his wife 
Joyce and his six children will certainly be counted among his many 
blessings. My wife Lucy and I wish Bob and his family many happy years 
ahead.


                               Evan Bayh

  Mr. President, I rise today to honor my colleague from Indiana, 
Senator Evan Bayh, who is retiring from the Senate. Senator Bayh has 
been a strong voice for the people of Indiana , both in two terms as 
their Governor and 12 years as their Senator. He has brought a keen 
intellect and a commonsense perspective to the Senate that should make 
his fellow Hoosiers proud. Building on the Senate traditions he learned 
from his father, he has worked hard to build consensus across party 
lines to strengthen our country.
  It is clear to me that Senator Bayh never forgets his other job in 
life. As a father of twin boys, he often reminds his colleagues to 
consider the impact of our decisions on our children and the following 
generations.
  That is why I admire Senator Bayh's deeply held belief in fiscal 
responsibility. Senator Bayh played a key role in helping push for a 
fiscal commission to address our Nation's debt. He also urged that the 
long-term debt increase we passed earlier this year include a 
commitment to dealing with our debt.
  With his experience on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence 
and the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Bayh has been a 
respected voices on national security issues. He has used that position 
to make sure our troops are properly equipped and supplied while on 
duty and to reduce the financial burden on their families. He has also 
been a strong supporter for efforts to keep nuclear weapons out of the 
hands of dangerous states and terrorist groups.
  Senator Bayh also understands the importance of education as a source 
of opportunity to our people and a key investment in the ongoing 
prosperity of our country. As Governor of Indiana, Senator Bayh created 
the 21st Century Scholars Program, which offers a path to higher 
education at Indiana's State universities for at-risk students. Senator 
Bayh continued his strong support of education in the Senate, working 
to make college more affordable through new tax credits for qualified 
tuition expenses, higher student aid grants, and more affordable 
student loans.
  Senator Bayh has served the people of the State of Indiana with 
integrity. I will miss having him as a colleague in the Senate, but I 
also know that his wife Susan and his sons, Beau and Nick, will be 
excited to have him back home in Indiana. I wish him success in 
whatever he chooses to do in the next chapter of his life.


                            CHRISTOPHER DODD

  Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute and recognize the 
accomplishments of a colleague and friend who will be retiring from the 
U.S. Senate at the end of this term. Senator Christopher Dodd has 
represented Connecticut in Congress for 36 years, and has been an 
unrelenting advocate for his constituents and working-class Americans.
  Senator Dodd has led a very impressive career, and his dedication and 
love of public service is evident. After graduating from Providence 
College, he volunteered with the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic 
for 2 years. Upon returning to the United States, Dodd enlisted in the 
Army National Guard and later served in the U.S. Army Reserves. In 
1972, he earned a law degree from the University of Louisville School 
of Law, and practiced law before his election to the United States 
House of Representatives in 1975. In 1981, he became the youngest 
person to join the United States Senate in Connecticut history. Senator 
Dodd followed in the footsteps of his father, the late Senator Thomas 
Dodd, being elected to both Chambers of Congress.
  Since his election to Congress, Senator Dodd has served his State and 
the Nation admirably. He has been a true advocate for our children and 
their families, forming the Senate's first Children's Caucus. He was a 
champion and author of the Family and Medical Leave Act, which 
guarantees working Americans time off if they are ill or need to care 
for a sick family member or new child. In addition, he has consistently 
fought to improve and expand the Head Start program, a critical 
investment in our Nation's future. Due to his tremendous advocacy of 
the program, he was named Senator of the Decade by the National Head 
Start Association.
  Senator Dodd was also one of the key Senators who made passage of 
health care reform, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a 
reality. A close and personal friend of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, 
Senator Dodd worked tirelessly on health reform in the Senate Health, 
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and in the full Senate during 
Senator Kennedy's battle with brain cancer and after his passing. 
Senator Kennedy, who had been the leader in the Senate on reforming our 
health care system for several decades, would have been very proud of 
Senator Dodd and his relentless efforts to reform our Nation's health 
care system.
  The health care reform law that Senator Dodd helped to craft will 
expand health insurance coverage to approximately 32 million Americans 
and create some common-sense rules of the road for the health insurance 
industry in an effort to clamp down on abusive practices such as 
jacking up premiums or dropping coverage just when people need it most. 
It also builds on our current private, employer-based system by 
expanding coverage, controlling costs, and improving quality, 
competition and choices for consumers.
  Senator Dodd is chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban 
Affairs Committee. He has been instrumental in working to put our 
country back on sound economic footing. As we all remember too well, in 
the fall of 2008 we faced a financial crisis. Senator Dodd and I and 
other leaders from both Chambers were called to an emergency meeting in 
the United States Capitol as the Nation's economy teetered on the brink 
of collapse. At this meeting, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve and 
the Secretary of the Treasury from the previous administration told us 
they were taking over AIG the next morning. They believed if they did 
not, there would be a financial collapse. Those were very, very serious 
days.
  A few weeks later, the Bush administration proposed virtually 
unfettered authority for the Treasury Secretary to respond to the 
financial crisis. Senator Dodd, to his lasting credit, insisted on 
defining the Treasury's authority, subjecting it to strict oversight, 
and protecting the taxpayer. He played a key role in improving the 
legislation, culminating in non-stop negotiations into the middle of a 
Saturday night in October. When the history of the financial crisis is 
written, I expect Chris Dodd will be given great credit for responding 
to the crisis, helping to prevent a Great Depression, and improving the 
legislation. He played a central role, I believe, in shaping the 
response so that the ultimate cost to taxpayers will be far, far lower 
than originally expected.
  Senator Dodd also took the lead in writing landmark Wall Street 
reform legislation to help prevent another financial sector collapse. 
It will allow

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the government to shut down firms that threaten to crater our economy 
and ensure that the financial industry, not the taxpayer, is on the 
hook for any costs. Senator Dodd is owed great thanks for his 
leadership and hard work on these financial issues during a very 
difficult time for our Nation.
  These are just a few of the examples of the great work Senator Dodd 
has done for the country. I would like to close by saying that Senator 
Dodd's presence will certainly be missed in this Chamber. He has served 
the people of Connecticut faithfully, and I know that his many 
contributions will not be forgotten. It has been an honor for me to 
work with such a compassionate and dedicated Senator, and I wish him 
and his family the very best.


                             GEORGE LEMIEUX

  Mr. President, I want to take a moment to recognize our retiring 
colleague from Florida, Senator George LeMieux.
  Senator LeMieux came to the Senate in September of 2009, amid 
extraordinary economic conditions. When he took office, Floridians were 
facing historically high rates of unemployment--a trend too common 
across the country. And by November 2009, an estimated 45 percent of 
home mortgages in Florida were ``upside down,'' meaning affected 
Floridians owed more on their property than it was worth. Needless to 
say, there were significant economic challenges facing the incoming 
junior Senator from Florida.
  It takes uncommon character and dedication to accept appointment to 
public office, especially in these uncertain times. Senator LeMieux 
chose to confront our country's economic challenges by serving the 
people of Florida in the United States Senate.
  Since arriving in the Senate, Senator LeMieux has expressed his 
desire to address our unsustainable fiscal condition--a problem I agree 
will cripple our country without bipartisan compromise. If we are to 
address our fiscal challenges, we must work together to craft solutions 
to our economic challenges.
  In addition to historic economic and fiscal challenges, Senator 
LeMieux has confronted unexpected environmental challenges. Not long 
after Senator LeMieux arrived in the Senate, our country saw one of its 
greatest environmental disasters of all time. For 3 months, oil gushed 
into the Gulf of Mexico, causing extensive damage to marine life, 
coastline, and commerce. Senator LeMieux, along with his fellow gulf 
coast colleagues, worked to secure Federal relief to mitigate the 
effects of the spill on the coastal region.
  It is not easy to navigate the Federal disaster relief system, 
especially for a new Senator. I commend Senator LeMieux for his work to 
protect his fellow Floridians from the effects of the gulf oil spill.
  Despite our political differences, I respect Senator LeMieux's desire 
to make a difference in the lives of everyday Floridians. I have 
appreciated the opportunity to work with Senator LeMieux and thank him 
for his service to our country.


                             Carte Goodwin

  Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of a 
colleague who has left the Senate. Senator Carte Goodwin represented 
West Virginia admirably after the passing earlier this year of our dear 
friend and colleague, U.S. Senator Robert Byrd, who was the longest 
serving Senator in history. Senator Goodwin took the oath of office on 
July 20, 2010, and joined the U.S. Senate as the Chamber's youngest 
serving Member at the age of 36.
  Senator Goodwin has led a very impressive career. After graduating 
from Emory University School of Law in 1999, he clerked for Judge 
Robert King of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. In 2000, 
Senator Goodwin joined the family private practice of Goodwin & Goodwin 
and remained there until 2005, when he became the general counsel to 
West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin. After serving a full term for the 
Governor, Senator Goodwin returned to the family private practice 
before being selected by Governor Manchin to temporarily fill the 
vacated seat of the late Senator Byrd until the November 2010 
elections.
  Senator Goodwin's leadership became immediately evident in the Senate 
as his first vote cleared the way for an important extension of 
unemployment benefits to help those most in need during this tough 
economic time. He also introduced legislation in September, the Access 
to Button Cell Batteries Act of 2010, to protect children against the 
hazards associated with swallowing button cell batteries that can be 
found in everything from musical greeting cards to car keys.
  As chairman of the Budget Committee, it has been a pleasure to have 
Senator Goodwin serve on that committee, and see first-hand his 
commitment and dedication to his Mountain State constituents and the 
country. It is no wonder that Senator Goodwin was recently named to 
Time Magazine's list of ``40 Under 40--Rising Stars of U.S. Politics.''
  Senator Goodwin is a man of outstanding integrity, who has a 
relentless work ethic. He has set a fine example for our Nation's young 
politicians to follow. He has also been a true defender of West 
Virginia. His compassion and conviction will be missed in the U.S. 
Senate. I wish Senator Goodwin and his family great success, and many 
happy years ahead.


                             roland burris

  Mr. President, I want to take a moment to honor my colleague, Senator 
Roland Burris, who will be retiring from the Senate after serving 2 
years.
  Senator Burris has had a long and distinguished career as a public 
servant, both at the State and local levels. Upon graduation from 
Howard Law School in 1963, Senator Burris became the National Bank 
Examiner for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for the U.S. 
Department of the Treasury. In 1978, Senator Burris became the first 
African American to be elected to a statewide office when he was 
elected comptroller of the State of Illinois. Senator Burris continued 
to break barriers when elected as attorney general for the State of 
Illinois, becoming only the second African American ever to be elected 
to the office of State attorney general in the United States.
  Mr. Burris was appointed to fill President Obama's open Senate seat 
on December 30, 2008. In his nearly 2 years in the Senate, Mr. Burris 
has been active on the Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, 
as well as the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Whether it is fighting hard for Illinois' veterans or casting an 
important vote in favor of health care legislation, Senator Burris has 
done much with his limited time in the Senate. A lifelong resident of 
Illinois, there are very few people more invested in their State's 
future than Roland Burris.
  As he departs the U.S. Senate and heads off to future endeavors, 
there is no doubt that his beloved wife Berlean and his two children, 
Rolanda and Roland II, will be by his side. I wish Senator Burris lots 
of luck and happiness in the years ahead.


                             Arlen Specter

  Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute and recognize the 
achievements of a colleague who will be leaving the Senate at the end 
of this term. Senator Arlen Specter has represented Pennsylvania in the 
Senate for three decades, making him the longest-serving Senator in his 
State's history. During his tenure, he has been an unrelenting advocate 
for his constituents and working-class Americans.
  Senator Specter has had an impressive career in both the public and 
private sector. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, 
he served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1953. Following his 
service, he attended Yale Law School and worked as editor for the Yale 
Law School Journal. After graduating from law school, Senator Specter 
became an outstanding lawyer. As an aide to the Warren Commission, he 
investigated the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy. He 
also served as the district attorney in Philadelphia from 1966 to 1974, 
and practiced law as a private attorney before being elected to the 
U.S. Senate in 1980.
  In the Senate, Senator Specter and I found significant common ground, 
as his strong sense of integrity and moderate philosophy have been key 
in passing some of the this institution's most important legislation. 
During his time in Congress, the Senator will be remembered for 
presiding over historic

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U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings as chairman of the Judiciary 
Committee. While undergoing chemotherapy for advanced Hodgkin's 
disease, Senator Specter managed the intense confirmation proceedings 
for Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel Alito Jr. As a 
senior member of the Appropriations Committee, he led the fight to 
increase funding for the National Institutes of Health from $12 to $30 
billion to expand medical research to find cures for cancer, 
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other devastating and debilitating 
diseases. It is no wonder that Time Magazine listed him among the 10 
best Senators in 2006.
  Arlen Specter embodies what it means to be a good Senator--integrity, 
a strong work ethic, courage, dedication, and being true to one's 
convictions. Senator Specter has been a real champion for Pennsylvania 
and this country. His compassion, independence and voice of reason will 
be missed in the U.S. Senate. I have appreciated the opportunity to 
work with Senator Specter, and wish him and his family the very best.


                              Ted Kaufman

  Mr. President, I wish today to pay tribute to my distinguished 
colleague, Senator Ted Kaufman. Ted has retired after just 2 years as a 
United States Senator. He was appointed to this position in January 
2009 after Senator Joe Biden was elected as Vice President of the 
United States.
  Ted was an obvious choice to fill Joe's well-established shoes. He 
has a tremendous amount of experience on Capitol Hill, and there are 
few who understand the inner workings of the Senate as well as he does. 
Before being appointed to fill Delaware's vacant Senate seat, Ted 
served almost 20 years as Chief of Staff for Senator Biden. This 
experience served him well as Ted proved himself to be a strong and 
effective leader for Delaware.
  After only a month of Senate service, Ted introduced the Fraud 
Enforcement and Recovery Act, which increases the number of FBI agents 
and prosecutors available to prosecute individuals who committed fraud 
during the financial meltdown. This legislation became law May 20.
  In addition, Ted has been a tireless advocate for improving 
regulation and safety in the financial services market to help protect 
Americans from another devastating economic decline as a result of 
loose rules and abusive banking practices. He was also a strong 
proponent for renewing our country's focus on science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics research to help propel our country into 
the 21st century.
  Ted also established a unique tradition during his time in the 
Senate. Every week, he made it a priority to honor the lifelong 
services of Federal employees. All too often, the hard work of these 
public servants goes unrecognized, and I commend Ted for his efforts to 
honor these men and women.
  Even in retirement, Ted will continue serving the American people. He 
was recently named Chairman of the TARP Congressional Oversight Panel.
  There are few who could make such a tangible mark on public policy in 
such a short time. I thank Ted for his years of service and wish him 
all the best in the coming years.


                              Byron Dorgan

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I have been honored for the past 18-plus 
years to serve alongside Senator Byron Dorgan, who is preparing to 
leave the Senate after three distinguished terms. Senator Dorgan has 
been one of the most plain-spoken, energetic, and formidable forces in 
the U.S. Senate, and I will sorely miss his voice.
  Some might, at first, see relatively little in common between more 
urban, industrialized Michigan and more rural, agricultural North 
Dakota. But Senator Dorgan and I saw eye-to-eye on issue after issue--
problems that needed to be tackled, outrages that needed to be exposed.
  One of those problems is tax abuse. Senator Dorgan has been one of 
the Senate's most stalwart and active opponents of tax cheats who rob 
the Treasury of billions of dollars each year, while unloading their 
tax burden onto the backs of honest taxpayers. He introduced 
legislation, commissioned key GAO reports, and fought long and hard 
against tax breaks that encourage U.S. companies to ship jobs offshore, 
set up factories in other countries, and use phony offshore companies 
to dodge taxes. I remember one floor fight last year in which he led a 
successful effort to stop legislation that would have opened the 
floodgates to billions of dollars that U.S. companies had hoarded 
offshore and wanted to bring back home without paying the same tax rate 
as their competitors. I remember battles we fought to stop so-called 
``inverted'' corporations--companies that pretend to move their 
headquarters offshore as a method of dodging U.S. taxes--from 
participating in Federal contracts. I remember joining with him to 
request data exposing how U.S. companies have stopped bearing their 
share of the tax burden. I am going to miss his iron will and sharp wit 
in the ongoing battles to combat tax abuse.
  Senator Dorgan has also been an articulate and strenuous defender of 
American workers, benefitting working families not only in North Dakota 
and Michigan, but across the Nation. For years, he has fought for fair 
trade policies, insisting trade partners like South Korea and Japan, 
that export millions of autos to the United States, open their doors to 
U.S.-made autos. There may be no major auto factories in Senator 
Dorgan's home State, but that did not prevent him from exposing the 
hypocrisy and injustice of unequal market access and demanding change. 
I will miss his voice in the ongoing battles to pry open markets now 
shut to American goods.
  Senator Dorgan also fought for American working families when he 
helped author the Creating American Jobs and Ending Offshoring Act, a 
bill that sought to end the tax benefits given to employers that send 
jobs overseas, and instead reward the companies that invest in the 
United States. I am hopeful that the Senate may yet see the wisdom of 
his legislation and enact it into law. Senator Dorgan literally wrote 
the book on how corporate interests and political short-sightedness are 
hurting U.S. workers and the U.S. economy, and the Nation will continue 
to benefit from his work on this issue even after he has left the 
Senate.
  Similarly, as cochair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on 
China, Senator Dorgan has done much to shed light on human rights 
abuses in China and to illustrate how China has often failed to make 
good on its World Trade Organization commitments. I am a member of the 
commission, and my brother is Senator Dorgan's cochair, and we have 
both enjoyed the privilege of working with him in that forum.
  Finally, Senator Dorgan has been an essential voice in the Senate on 
reining in the excesses of Wall Street. As chairman of the Permanent 
Subcommittee on Investigations, which conducted a 2-year investigation 
into the financial crisis, I know personally how diligent, informed, 
and intense his efforts were to restore sanity to the U.S. financial 
system. He took it upon itself to organize Senators into a force for 
change and reform. When lobbyists claimed banks were the victims rather 
than the perpetrators of the crisis, that their executives had done 
nothing wrong, and their multi-million paychecks were justified, 
Senator Dorgan dug into the facts, educated himself on the most 
esoteric financial engineering, and took on the special interests. For 
example, he crafted an amendment to the Wall Street reform legislation 
to ban ``naked'' credit default swaps and worked with me to add my 
amendment banning synthetic asset-backed securities. Our joint 
amendment was unsuccessful, but time will show those types of high-
risk, empty bets do nothing to advance the real economy and much to 
direct dollars into the mindless casino that plagued the U.S. financial 
system.
  I will sorely miss Senator Dorgan's insight and determination in the 
ongoing battles to rein in Wall Street excess. The people of North 
Dakota are rightly proud of Senator Dorgan. He is a fighter, and he 
never stopped fighting for them. They have benefitted greatly from 
Senator Byron Dorgan's service. The people of our Nation have 
benefitted. I know the working families of my State have benefitted. I 
want to thank him for his service, for his energy, for his diligence, 
for his tenacity, and for his friendship. On a personal level, Barbara 
and I wish him and Kim and their family the best as they embark on this 
new path together.


                            blanche lincoln

  Mr. President, over the last 210 years, many pioneers and 
groundbreakers have passed through this Chamber.

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Today, I would like to pay tribute to one such groundbreaking Senator, 
one who will leave the Senate at the end of this session.
  When the people of Arkansas elected Blanche Lincoln to represent them 
in the Senate in 1998, she became the youngest woman ever elected to 
this body. After compiling an impressive list of accomplishments after 
joining the Senate, she became, in 2009, the first woman to chair the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. These accomplishments 
are just some of the highlights of an impressive career of Senate 
service.
  Senator Lincoln has been among the Senate's most passionate and 
effective voices in combating hunger, helping found the Senate Hunger 
Caucus to focus attention on an issue that affects far too many 
Americans. And she has been a tireless advocate for the working 
families of America's rural communities.
  I am especially grateful for the work Senator Lincoln has done this 
year in helping craft comprehensive financial reform. She was 
instrumental in ensuring that the bill we passed into law this year 
brought new transparency and safety to the largely unregulated world of 
derivatives trading. I know from hard experience that passing reform 
that Wall Street doesn't like is, to say the least, challenging. The 
financial system is more secure, and the people of Arkansas and the 
Nation are better off, because Senator Lincoln was willing to take on 
that challenge and able to overcome it so effectively. She will long be 
remembered as one of the architects of financial reform.
  Arkansas has given the Nation many accomplished public leaders, names 
such as Caraway, Fulbright, Bumpers, Pryor and Clinton. As she prepares 
to leave the Senate, Senator Lincoln can proudly join that list of 
Arkansans who have improved the lives of those in their State and this 
country. I have been proud to call her a friend and a colleague, and I 
know that, while she is leaving the Senate, her contributions to her 
country are far from over.


                               evan bayh

  Mr. President, I want to take a few moments today to congratulate 
Senator Bayh on a productive two terms in this body, and thank him for 
his service, in particular as a member of the Armed Services Committee 
and on issues of importance to both our States.
  As chairman of the Armed Services Committee, I have seen first hand 
the diligence Senator Bayh brought to his work on national security. He 
has been active on one of the greatest threats to our security, the 
proliferation of nuclear weapons and materials, seeking to support and 
extend the work of his Indiana colleague, Senator Lugar. He has been 
equally effective in working, on a bipartisan basis, to pass 
legislation seeking to hold the government of Iran accountable for its 
egregious human rights abuses. And he has been active in helping the 
committee carry out its oversight function, bringing his thoughtful 
approach to his role as chairman of the our Subcommittee on Readiness 
and Management Support over the last 2 years. The committee, the 
Senate, and the American people have greatly benefitted from Senator 
Bayh's efforts in these areas.
  Senator Bayh represents a State that is part of America's industrial 
heartland, and he has energetically sought to ensure that we pursue 
policies that do not damage the industrial economy. I would mention two 
such efforts in particular.
  In 2007, Senator Bayh, along with me and other members of the Auto 
Caucus, worked to ensure that negotiations on a free trade agreement 
with South Korea addressed the unfair and unbalanced way in which 
automotive imports are treated in South Korea. Barriers to entry make 
the South Korean market essentially closed to U.S.-made vehicles, while 
Korean automakers have found an open lucrative market in the United 
States. He, like I and many others, is deeply concerned about the 
impact of any potential trade agreement on the auto industry, and I 
have been privileged to stand with him on this issue.
  Senator Bayh also has been a leader in fighting against intellectual 
property theft by China and other nations. Manufacturers in both our 
States have been harmed by the ability of foreign companies to copy 
their products and reproduce them in violation of international 
standards, and by the inability or unwillingness of other nations to 
combat such piracy. Along with Senator Voinovich, Senator Bayh in 2007 
introduced the Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Act. This 
legislation would be an important safeguard protecting American 
companies from intellectual piracy.
  Whether the issue was defense of American companies' rights or 
defense of our Nation, Senator Evan Bayh has been a thoughtful, 
balanced and capable member of the U.S. Senate. The people of Indiana 
have gained much from his service. I will miss him as a colleague and a 
friend, and I wish him and his family the best of luck as he seeks to 
continue to serve his State and Nation.


                              bob bennett

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, it is always a bittersweet moment when the 
end of a session of Congress draws near and it becomes time for us to 
say goodbye to those of our colleagues who will be returning home at 
the end of the year. We know we will miss them when the next session of 
Congress begins not only for their many contributions to the day-to-day 
work of the Senate but for their friendship and the good advice they 
have provided to us for so long as we deliberated issue after issue on 
the Senate floor.
  I can't think of anyone who better fits that description than Bob 
Bennett. Bob was born in Utah, a member of a family who was very active 
in their community and the government. Bob was therefore blessed with 
some great role models early on in his life. He soon found he had a 
talent for business and a great understanding of the needs of 
businesspeople all over the State and around the Nation. Because of his 
insights and his ability to promote his good ideas and products, he 
took his company from a 4-person shop in 1984 to an $82 million company 
just a few years later with more than 700 newly created staff. With 
today's economy we can really appreciate that--that is a lot of jobs.
  From there he decided to take on the challenge of a run for the 
Senate. As we all know, that first run for the Senate is never easy as 
it takes more than the vote of a community to make it happen. You have 
to take your case to every corner of the entire State. That means 
putting a lot of miles on your car and getting to know people from 
every city, town, and neighborhood.
  It wasn't an easy bid for office that brought Bob to Washington. But, 
in the end, he proved to have what it takes to be a successful 
candidate. He had a vision for the future of Utah and the United 
States, a willingness to work hard, and a sense of humor. He took his 
job and the position he holds of Senator very seriously, but he was 
never one to take himself too seriously. In fact, he sees his job 
principally in terms of what he can do to help the people of Utah who 
elected him.
  That is why, when he arrived in Washington, he immediately 
established a reputation as one of the Senate's most influential and 
sought after conservatives. Like me, he learned at a very young age 
that it was better to be a workhorse than a showhorse because there is 
no limit to what you can do if you don't care who gets the credit. Bob 
never cared about getting his share of the credit; he was always too 
busy working on the next issue and helping to form another compromise 
agreement to make sure things continued to get done.
  Bob has left quite a legacy of achievement during his service in the 
Senate and a big pair of shoes for those who will follow him to fill. 
The media knows him not for an assortment of catchy one liners but for 
his ability to provide easily understood, readily accessible 
explanations about what was going on in the Senate--and why. No one has 
a better, clearer understanding of the inner workings of the Senate 
than Bob does. He has been such a valued resource, in fact, that many 
of us have sought him out more than a time or two just to get his take 
on things.
  One of the things I will most remember about Bob is his love of 
gadgets. He was the first Senator to drive a high-mileage, low-
emissions, gasoline-electric hybrid car. His interest stemmed from his 
awareness of the importance of conserving energy and the need to pursue 
solutions to our transportation problems that would make good and wise 
use of our resources.

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  He was also a leader in encouraging the Senate to tackle a very 
thorny issue--Social Security. Social Security is a lot like the 
weather: we all complain about it, we all know something needs to be 
done about it, and we are all sure we will know the right solution when 
it appears magically on the Senate doorstep. That wasn't what we should 
do, as Bob saw it. Then again, he was never one to shy away from 
getting the conversation started on just about anything.
  In addition, as fellow small businessmen, we both took a great 
interest in proposals that were offered by both sides that would have 
caused problems for other small businessmen who were trying to do what 
they do best--make a profit and create more jobs. Thanks to Bob, our 
small business community had a champion in the Senate who was willing 
to take a stand against efforts to make owning and running your own 
business more difficult than it already is.
  Those are just a few short snippets of Bob's record and the great 
success he has been able to achieve for his constituents and for our 
great Nation. During his service in the Senate, Bob was not only a part 
of our Nation's history, he helped to write a new chapter of it every 
day.
  Before I close, I want to thank Bob for the great gift of his 
friendship. It has meant a great deal to me ever since that first day 
that Diana and I drove our van into Washington from Wyoming, unsure of 
what the future held for us but excited to begin this great new 
adventure in our lives. Bob made a difference for us from the first 
time we met him and Joyce, and we will always be grateful for that. We 
are very proud of them both and the difference they have made over the 
years in our lives and so many more. Thanks to their efforts together, 
the future will be a lot better and a more hopeful place for our 
children and our grandchildren.
  I don't know what you have planned for the years to come, but one 
thing I am certain of--we haven't heard the last from you. That is a 
good thing. You have proven to be a great success at so many things. 
You have always been an important addition to our debates and 
deliberations, and you will be missed. It is good to know you will 
never be more than a phone call away.
  Good luck in all your future endeavors, my friend. Keep in touch with 
us, and we will keep in touch with you. God bless.


                               evan bayh

  Mr. President, soon the current session of Congress will be gaveled 
to a close. When that happens, it will also bring to a close the Senate 
careers of several of our colleagues. I know we will miss them and 
their spirited participation in our deliberations both in committee and 
on the floor.
  I have always said that every Member who comes to the Senate has 
something to teach us--a message that only they could bring. Evan Bayh, 
who will be retiring at the end of this session is such an individual. 
I will always remember him as the young Governor who was able to serve 
in the Senate without losing sight of his ideals and principles both as 
a Hoosier and a parent and devoted and loving father.
  Evan's career in politics began after he had clerked for a judge and 
practiced law for a while. An opportunity presented itself for him to 
run for office, and he did, winning an election that made him the 
secretary of state at the age of 30. In just 2 years he then became the 
youngest Governor in the Nation. He served in that capacity for 8 
years, during which he made a strong reputation for himself as someone 
who was able to get things done.
  Then, when term limits prohibited his run for reelection, he set his 
sights on a Senate seat and again found success. He ran a good 
campaign, took his case to the people, and they liked what they heard. 
They also knew him and what he stood for from his previous service to 
the State. They knew they could send him to Washington to the Senate, 
and he would champion what they believed in and fight for what was 
needed during his service there.
  During his Senate career, you could always find him in the political 
center looking for a compromise agreement that would benefit everyone 
involved. I have always thought he would agree that it is better to get 
a half of the loaf than none at all, especially when the available half 
was the part that was needed the most.
  We also agree on something else. When a Democratic win at the polls 
helped them to obtain control of the Senate, Bayh joined a breakfast 
group of Senators that was designed to get Republicans and Democrats 
more involved in a regular dialogue. He understood that by getting both 
groups to talk more and to get to know each other better in a context 
that was separate from our legislative duties, the Senate would be more 
productive and it would be easier to create and promote compromises 
between the two parties.
  Now that Evan's Senate career has come to a close, he will be able to 
do something he has always looked forward to--spend more time with his 
family.
  In the end, I think that is one of the things that Evan will always 
be known for--his great love of his own family and his understanding of 
the great love all of his constituents have for theirs. He believes 
everyone deserves their shot at the American dream, no matter their 
age, and the best way to do that is to be careful and cautious in our 
approach to any sweeping legislation and to ensure that we do 
everything we can so our children and grandchildren will have the same 
chance we have had to reach their goals and live their dreams.
  Diana joins me in sending our best wishes for a happy and healthy 
retirement to Evan and his wife Susan. We wish them the best. I don't 
know what Evan has planned for the future, but one thing I feel certain 
of--we haven't heard the last from him. Good luck in all your future 
endeavors and in whatever you decide to do. Keep in touch.


                             George LeMieux

  Mr. President, each year that brings a session of Congress to an end, 
it has long been a tradition for the Senate to take a moment to say 
goodbye to those who will not be returning in January for the beginning 
of the next session of Congress. One of those I know I will miss who 
will be heading home to Florida as his term concludes is George 
LeMieux.
  It may surprise a lot of people to learn what a powerful presence 
George has been in the Senate. Although he did not serve a full term of 
6 years, the months he has spent representing Florida have been very 
productive.
  Simply put, George is an impressive individual who understands the 
importance of the work we must do to control spending in the years to 
come and, if we fail to do that, the impact it will have on our Nation 
and our children as they try to pursue their goals and live the 
American dream.
  George grew up in Florida and, like me, he came to Washington, D.C., 
for his college studies. I graduated from George Washington University, 
and George graduated from Georgetown University. When he returned home 
to begin his career, his attendance at a high school reunion proved to 
be a turning point in his life when he met a former classmate named 
Meike who soon became his wife.
  Years later, when an individual of George's talents and abilities was 
needed to complete the Senate term of Mel Martinez, the Governor knew 
who would be the right person for the job--George LeMieux. Soon, George 
was on his way back to Washington, looking forward to the opportunity 
to use his knowledge, skills, abilities, and professional experience to 
serve the people of his home State.
  There were some eyebrows raised when he arrived. Some people thought 
he wasn't the best candidate for the job. Others thought he didn't have 
the background necessary to be a productive Senator. It didn't take him 
long before he proved them all wrong.
  George not only hit the ground running, but he proved to be a natural 
and effective legislator. I don't think I have ever seen anyone who has 
had such an impact on the Senate after such a short time in office.
  Over the past months, George has not only fulfilled his duties as a 
Senator, he has taken them to another level as he came up with good 
ideas for legislation, especially on the need to control spending and 
reduce the deficit which he has referred to as the ``single greatest 
threat'' to our future and the prosperity of our people.
  That is the kind of Senator that George has been--strong, spirited, 
focused, and determined to speak out about the consequences that will 
come

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from not being good stewards of our Nation's financial resources. His 
concern about our debt and the world we will leave behind for our 
children and grandchildren means even more to him today now that his 
Washington experience includes the addition of a fourth child--his 
first daughter.
  I don't know what the future holds for you, George, but I do know 
that we will all be watching with great interest and expectation. You 
have already established a reputation for hard work that has earned you 
the friendship of your colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Whatever 
you decide to do, I am sure you know you can count on us to support and 
encourage you as you begin the next great adventure of your life. I am 
hoping it will be as the elected Senator from Florida. You can 
certainly run on experience. You have done more in months than some do 
in a career.
  Diana joins in sending our best wishes to you and Meike. You have 
made a difference in just a few months, and we are sure there is more 
to come. Keep in touch when you return home. We will always be pleased 
to hear from you with your thoughts and suggestions about the 
legislation being considered by the Senate and what we can do to make 
it better.


                              TED KAUFMAN

  Mr. President, soon the gavel will bring to a close this session of 
Congress, and many of us will return home to be with our families for 
the holidays. Before we leave, it is one of the Senate's traditions to 
say a few words to express our appreciation to those who will no longer 
be serving in the Senate when we reconvene for the next session of 
Congress in January. One Senator I know I will miss in the months to 
come is Ted Kaufman.
  Ted isn't one of those who followed the typical road to the Senate. 
He came to be a part of our work after first making career stops as a 
college instructor, a political consultant, and a chief of staff for 
Joe Biden, whose seat he was appointed to fill when Senator Biden 
became our Nation's Vice President.
  Each stop along the way provided Ted with a different perspective 
about government and its effect on the people it was created to serve. 
The different roles he has played and his knowledge of and experience 
with the workings of the Senate made him a good choice to serve the 
remainder of Joe Biden's Senate term. When the Governor made the 
appointment, she cited Ted's knowledge of the Senate which he gained 
during his many years of service here that she believed would enable 
him to hit the ground running and be an ``effective Senator for 
Delaware from day one.'' She was right on both counts.
  Ted is one of only two Senators who holds a degree in engineering. 
Just as I have found being the Senate's only accountant has helped me 
during our debates on the budget and how to handle the deficit, Ted's 
understanding and appreciation of the sciences have given him some 
valuable insights into the importance of moving science and technology 
careers ``back in their rightful place in our economy.''
  As the ranking member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions, I share his concern about the need to encourage our young 
people to take a closer look at those fields and consider a career in 
one of them. Unless they do, we will continue to fall further and 
further behind in the number of science students we graduate. That will 
have an impact on our place in the world economy and our ability to 
attract the kind of jobs that will enable our workers to find jobs that 
are both challenging and rewarding.
  Although I do not know what the future holds for Ted as he leaves the 
Senate, I do know that he has taught in the past about government and 
the process of governing. His experience as a Senator would add a vital 
dimension to another round of those classes. I hope he considers 
sharing what he has learned with the next generation of our leaders--
and help to groom our future Senators. It will be yet another way for 
him to make a difference in the world.
  Good luck, Ted. Thanks for your willingness to serve. You can be very 
proud of the contribution you have made to the Senate and to the 
history of our country. Every day another chapter of our history is 
written in our Nation's Capitol and, as one of only 100 Senators, you 
have played a key role in that effort that has now been recorded and 
will not be forgotten.
  Our thanks also go to your wife Lynne, who has been a part of this 
and all your life's adventures. As we both know so well, serving in the 
Senate means a lot of late nights, trips back home with little notice, 
and a lot of other things we have to deal with because they come with 
the job. Fortunately our wives never complain because we could never do 
what we have to do without them. While I am thanking you for your 
service, I think Lynne also deserves a word of recognition for all she 
has done over the years to support your efforts. Together, you are a 
remarkable team, and that is why Delaware is so proud to claim both of 
you as their own.


                             ROLAND BURRIS

  Mr. President, soon the gavel will bring to a close this session of 
Congress, and many of us will return home to be with our families for 
the holidays. Before we leave, it is one of the Senate's traditions to 
say goodbye to those who will not be with us when we reconvene for the 
next session of Congress in January. One Senator I know I will miss in 
the months to come is Roland Burris.
  Roland is quite a remarkable individual--a man of many firsts who has 
never been one to shy away from any challenge. He was the first African 
American to win a statewide election in Illinois, for example, and for 
the past months he has been serving the people of that State as their 
Senator.
  Through the years, Roland has had a wide and varied career. He has 
been a lawyer, a lobbyist, a college instructor, the director of a 
civil rights nonprofit, a bank executive, and so much more. He has a 
great understanding of how government works from many different 
perspectives, and that knowledge has helped him to make an important 
contribution to the work of the Senate every day.
  One aspect of his character I will always remember is his great love 
of God and his willingness to share so much of himself and his faith in 
our Senate Prayer Breakfasts. He has always had something important to 
say, a word or an insight that had not been mentioned until he spoke 
and added something that needed to be said by him--and heard by us.
  I am always amazed to discover that no matter how many times I have 
read or reflected on a passage in the Bible, there is always someone 
who is able to offer a fresh insight, a new approach to the text that I 
had never heard or considered before. That is what made Roland such an 
important part of our Senate Prayer Breakfasts. On many occasions he 
was able to offer a personal perspective on the Bible that was gained 
from his unique life experience. His heartfelt dedication to the words 
of the Bible meant a great deal to me and to all those in attendance. 
Through these past 2 years, I have enjoyed listening to him speak about 
his faith and the source of strength and support it has been for him 
throughout his life.
  Now Roland will be returning home to Illinois in search of another 
mountain to climb, another adventure to enjoy. I have no idea what the 
future holds for him, but if his past is any indication, we haven't 
heard the last from him. He has always been a trailblazer in a number 
of fields, and I am certain he will continue to be all of that--and 
much, much more.
  Diana and I send our best wishes to Roland, his wife Berlean, and 
their children. Thank you for your willingness to serve. Life in the 
Senate has never been easy, and you have handled its pressures very 
well. God bless.


                              Jim Bunning

  Mr. President, it is always a bittersweet moment when we come to the 
end of a session of Congress. As the clock winds down on the final 
hours of our legislative activities, it also signals the time when 
several of our colleagues will be retiring and ending their years of 
service in the U.S. Senate. One of our colleagues who will be leaving 
at the end of this session is my good friend Jim Bunning of Kentucky. I 
know we will all miss him, his spirited presence in the Senate and the 
friendship he has shared with us through the years.
  Someday when he gets the urge I have no doubt that Jim will be able 
to write another book or two about his life that will sell countless 
copies all

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over the country. It can't miss. Jim has a truly remarkable story to 
tell about his life that has all the makings of a best seller. An old 
adage reminds us that it isn't the number of years in your life that is 
important, it is the life in your years. If that is the standard we are 
going to use, I can't think of anyone who has been able to fit more 
into every day of his life than Jim and I for one would enjoy reading 
all about it. This time Jim might think about writing about how playing 
baseball was a lot like politics--and how the bean balls he used to 
throw at batters became verbal fast balls that came with lightning 
speed right at other Senators and members of the media.
  I would imagine the first volume of this new series would be about 
Jim's years in baseball. There is definitely a lot still to be written 
about his Hall of Fame career and the outstanding results he was able 
to achieve that kept him in the Major Leagues for so many years.
  Jim's 17 year career in baseball began when he broke into the big 
leagues on July 20, 1955 with his first team, the Detroit Tigers. In 
the years that followed, he pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies, the 
Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers, notching 100 wins and 
1,000 strikeouts in both the American and National Leagues. When he 
retired he had the second highest number of career strikeouts in the 
history of major league baseball and two no-hitters, one of them the 
seventh perfect game in baseball history that he pitched on June 21, 
1964--Father's Day--which made the game that much more meaningful for 
him. He was then inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.
  For anyone else that would have been enough. A Hall of Fame career, 
after all, is the kind of thing that most people can only dream about--
but Jim was never one to be like most people. He had another career in 
mind, and it was time to get started on his other dream--making 
government work better for the people of Kentucky.
  Soon after he first tossed his cap into the political arena, Jim won 
an election to serve on the city council in Fort Thomas. He then ran 
for and won a seat in the Kentucky State Senate where he soon came to 
serve as its Republican leader. Then, when the opportunity presented 
itself, Jim ran for and won an election to the U.S. House of 
Representatives, where he served for 12 years.
  Fortunately, for the people of Kentucky and the Senate, Jim then ran 
for and won a seat in the Senate. At every level, it was Jim's 
willingness to work hard and his commitment to his country and his 
beloved Kentucky that not only got him noticed, but helped him to make 
progress on all fronts.
  Here in the Senate, Jim became the first Kentuckian in nearly 40 
years to serve on the Finance Committee. He also served on the Banking 
Committee, chaired that committee's Economic Policy Subcommittee, and 
then served on the Energy Committee which gave him a chance to work to 
make our Nation more energy independent.
  At every post he has held he has been a fighter--for a sound budget, 
one that would provide the funds that were needed for our national 
priorities, like our Armed Forces--especially those who were serving 
overseas. For 12 years in the House and 12 years in the Senate, Jim 
held true to the values and principles that had guided his life and 
served as his inner compass through all of his life's challenges and 
opportunities.
  Jim has had more great moments in his life than most other people 
could ever hope for. He has his victories on the mound during a Hall of 
Fame career to look back on. He had all those wins on election day to 
remember with pride. Still, there was one moment that still stands head 
and shoulders above them all--his marriage. That day when Mary said ``I 
do'' was the best moment of his life. She is a strong source of support 
for him and I am sure he has already said that whatever success has 
come into his life he owes to a large degree to Mary. Theirs has been a 
remarkable marriage, during which they raised nine children who have 
blessed them with an abundance of grandchildren and some great 
grandchildren, too.
  Just like the title of the movie so many of us enjoy during this time 
of year Jim is having a wonderful life. Each day, each week, each month 
and every year, he's played a full and active role in his community and 
his nation. As a baseball player he proved to be one of the best there 
ever was. As a Senator and a Representative, he showed a willingness to 
bring that same determination that had won him so many games on the 
mound to our deliberations on the Senate floor.
  I don't know what Jim is thinking of taking on next--but given his 
legacy of excellence that he continues to add to every day, I wouldn't 
be surprised to learn we haven't heard the last from him. That would 
suit me and so many who know him just fine. His is a voice that is 
still needed.
  That is why, in the months to come I hope I continue to hear from him 
with his thoughtful ideas and suggestions about the issues we will be 
taking up in the current Congress. I will miss hearing what he has to 
say--but if I know Jim--I have a hunch he will make his views known.
  Thanks, Jim, for your willingness to serve the people of Kentucky and 
the Nation. With both careers you have inspired countless people of all 
ages to pursue their goals and work to make their dreams a reality. 
Thanks most of all for your friendship. Diana and I wish you and Mary 
all the best that life has to offer. You have earned all of that and so 
much more. For all your life you have been leading the best way--by 
example--and living a life that has been nothing short of a great and 
grand adventure--just what life was always meant to be.


                             sam brownback

  Mr. President, if I could sum up the service of Sam Brownback in the 
Senate in just a few words, I would choose a phrase that is very 
familiar to the people of Wyoming and the West. Sam is an individual 
who says what he means and means what he says. That is why when he made 
a promise that he would step down after he had served 2 full terms in 
the Senate--he did it.
  Fortunately, as the classic old film reminds us, whenever a door is 
closed, somewhere, God opens a window and that window was Sam's 
opportunity to run for Governor. Now that he has been elected, the 
Senate's loss will be Kansas' gain as the people of that State will 
have the benefit of his leadership for many years to come.
  Here in the Senate, Sam followed a philosophy he calls ``pro-life, 
whole life.'' Simply put that means that the great respect we have for 
life doesn't end at birth, it continues throughout. If it sounds 
familiar I believe that is what our Founding Fathers meant when they 
spoke of ``life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'' as the great 
gifts that are given to us by our Creator that can never be taken away 
from us.
  Throughout the years, Sam has followed that philosophy wherever it 
has taken him as he has worked to support legislative initiatives that 
seemed to clearly follow from it. That is why you would find him 
working with members on both sides of the aisle to reach out to 
``everybody on the planet'' who was in need ``everywhere on the 
planet'' they could be found.
  Looking back, there is so much that Sam has accomplished that should 
serve as a great source of pride for him, his staff and the people of 
Kansas. He has taken a consistent stand for human rights whenever he 
was called to do so and this is another reason why his is a voice that 
will be missed in the Senate in the months to come.
  Through the years, I have never met anyone who had a stronger or more 
firmly aligned inner compass when it comes to doing what is right 
because it is right than Sam. In everything he does, his faith and his 
relationship with God have served to direct his efforts. That heartfelt 
approach of his has helped to keep his work in perfect alignment with 
his core values and the thinking of the people of Kansas who sent him 
to Washington to do what he thought was best to protect and preserve 
the American dream and keep it available for generations to come.
  Sam is someone we will always remember for the things he did and how 
well he did them. He is a natural leader who leads with actions--not 
words because he knows that is the only way to get the important things 
done--and done quickly.
  That philosophy showed itself in things like Sam's work to address 
the needs of the people of Africa. He did

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not have to do it--but because he did, countless lives were saved. If 
you asked him why he was working so hard to make a difference in a 
nation so far from home, he would probably say that is just another 
example of his philosophy that the whole world is his backyard and 
everyone, everywhere is his neighbor.
  I am certain that Sam is very familiar with the Parable from the 
Bible in which the Master expresses his appreciation for the good work 
of his servant. ``Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you 
were faithful in small matters, I will give you great 
responsibilities.''
  I mention that because Sam has done so very well in the Senate, it is 
as if the people of Kansas have now placed him in charge of great 
responsibilities as their Governor. I have no doubt that he is the 
right person at the right time for this difficult job the people of his 
State have now entrusted to his care.
  Sam has often told the story about a comment that was made to him by 
an older gentleman as he traveled throughout the State, listening to 
voters at the end of his campaign for Governor. The message he heard 
from this one voter was simple but it spoke volumes. ``Be a good 
governor,'' was all he said. It's good advice but easier expressed than 
done. Still, I have no doubt in the years to come Sam will be all of 
that and so much more.
  Diana joins in sending our best wishes to Sam and his special wife 
Mary. Together they make up a remarkable team and they can and should 
be very proud of all they have accomplished together.
  Thank you for your willingness to serve and most of all, thanks for 
your friendship. Although you won't be with us in the Senate Chamber 
next year, you will be just down the road in the Governor's office in 
Kansas. I hope you continue to let your thoughts and suggestions be 
known as we take up those issues that were such a source of great 
interest--and action--during your service here. Good luck in the months 
to come as you take on this new and very difficult challenge in your 
life. God bless.


                             arlen specter

  Mr. President, soon the current session of Congress will be gaveled 
to a close. When that happens it will also bring to an end the Senate 
careers of several of our colleagues. I know we will miss them and the 
contributions they have made over the years to the debates and 
deliberations they have participated in on the Senate floor and in 
committee.
  In the years to come I know I will miss Arlen Specter. He has been 
such a strong and active presence in the Senate for so many years and 
in so many ways the coming session of Congress won't be the same 
without him.
  His long and varied history as a public servant really began to take 
shape when he was asked to bring his skills and abilities to the Warren 
Commission's investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death 
of President John F. Kennedy. It was a difficult and challenging job, 
but Arlen proved to be well up to the task. After studying and 
surveying the evidence surrounding the President's murder, Arlen 
developed the ``single bullet theory'' that proved to be the key to the 
case that helped to explain what happened that day.
  In the years soon after, Arlen's understanding of the law and all the 
technicalities and the countless details that surround it made him an 
ideal candidate for the position of district attorney. In 1965 he ran 
for the position in Philadelphia and served there for 8 years.
  I have always believed that every life is a mixture of both success 
and disappointment. How we handle them both defines to a great extent 
the quality of our lives.
  That is why Arlen's unsuccessful reelection bid and a few 
disappointments after that may have slowed him down--but it didn't stop 
him. It was just a few years later that Arlen would run a successful 
campaign for the Senate. It was here that Arlen really found his niche 
as he was soon in the middle of a number of high profile battles in the 
Judiciary Committee that won him the notice of his colleagues for his 
in-depth knowledge of Senate procedure, the law and our Constitution.
  Arlen's reputation as a warrior has stayed with him over the years as 
he has faced a number of challenges in committee and on the floor--as 
well as a number of very difficult health issues in his life. He fought 
them all with the same strength and heartfelt determination that would 
make any fighter from Philadelphia proud.
  Although Arlen credits his successful return to health to his 
enjoyment of squash, a difficult sport that he says kept him strong and 
healthy enough to make it through each health crisis he faced, I credit 
his good health to his strong Philadelphia roots.
  As Arlen wrote in his book ``Never Give In,'' the key to so much of 
life is to ``keep working and keep fighting.'' That is the only way to 
ensure you will continue to make progress--or at least--make your 
presence felt in the war you are waging. That is how Arlen has lived 
his life as he has pursued each goal he set his sights on. In the end, 
as he wrote in his book ``The tougher the battle, the sweeter the 
victory.''
  Arlen has now served five terms for a total of 30 years in the 
Senate. He has survived countless battles at the ballot box and a 
wealth of health issues that would have convinced a lesser individual 
that the time had come to take it easy for a while. Not Arlen, however. 
He has always been someone who fought with all his heart for the things 
he believed in and as a result, he has known the sweetness of victory 
many, many times in his life.
  Arlen is not only the longest serving Senator in Pennsylvania's 
history he is also one of the most productive. He has left a remarkable 
legacy and shoes that will be very difficult for any future 
Pennsylvania Senator to fill. Together with his wife Joan they have 
been a team that has made a difference throughout their home state of 
Pennsylvania and the Nation.
  Thanks, Arlen, for your willingness to serve the people of your home 
State for so long and so well. Diana joins in sending our best wishes 
and our appreciation for your friendship to you both. I hope you will 
keep in touch with me and with all your colleagues in the years to 
come. Good luck. God bless.


                            Blanche Lincoln

  Mr. President, the final gavel will soon bring to a close the 111th 
Session of Congress. When it does, we will all return home to spend 
time with our friends and families to celebrate the holidays. We will 
also have a chance to meet with our constituents as we prepare for the 
challenges the New Year and a new session of Congress will bring.
  Before all of that occurs, we will have to say goodbye to several of 
our colleagues who will be returning home at the end of the year. We 
will miss them and the important presence they have been in our lives 
and our work over the past few years. One such Senator I know we will 
miss is Blanche Lincoln who will be returning home to her beloved 
Arkansas.
  During her service in the House and the Senate, Blanche was known for 
being one of the strongest voices for rural America. She understands 
that what works well in the big cities and towns back East doesn't 
always work so well in rural areas--like those in her State and mine.
  Blanche came by her knowledge and understanding of the difficulties 
and challenges inherent in rural life from the days of her childhood. 
She comes from a family that for seven generations has farmed rice, 
wheat, soybeans and cotton. She may be the only Senator who has walked 
a rice levee.
  Blanche is a woman of great faith, and she is very open about her 
personal relationship with Jesus Christ. ``When I talk to Him,'' she 
said, ``it's pretty informal. I just lay it out there and say it like 
it is.'' That is the kind of straight talk that the people she 
represents found so appealing. Simply put, what life is like on a daily 
basis for them has been the same for her.
  Although she takes great pride in her title as Senator, she has 
another that means just as much if not more to her--she's the mother of 
twin boys. She works hard at both jobs--raising her family and making 
sure she is prepared for every issue that comes to the floor.
  Because she was raised on a farm she has a great interest in what can 
be done to help support the farming community of Arkansas and the rest 
of the United States. That is what made her such an important part of 
the effort to draft a major farm policy overhaul. She was no stranger 
to the issue, having served as a subcommittee chair on

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agriculture. She did such a good job with those issues she was honored 
for her efforts with a ``Golden Plow'' award from the American Farm 
Bureau Federation.
  Her support for farmers across the country and her willingness to 
work in a bipartisan fashion to forge workable solutions to difficult 
problems reflect the kind of principles that have helped to guide and 
direct her during her service in the Senate and throughout her life. 
Another is the importance of family--her own--and families just like 
hers all over the country.
  Those aren't just my observations--they are common knowledge back in 
Arkansas. When Blanche won a seat in the House of Representatives 
everyone was certain that the sky was the limit for her. After she had 
served for 2 terms; however, she decided not to run for another when 
she learned she would soon be giving birth to twins. She decided to 
return home so she could take care of her family while she waited for 
another opportunity to serve the people of Arkansas to present itself--
which is exactly what happened.
  As her twins began to grow up, she was able to return to politics. 
She made a run for Dale Bumpers' seat when he retired and was elected 
by a margin of 13 percent. Her victory made her the youngest woman ever 
elected to the Senate, an expression of the great confidence and trust 
the people of her State had in her.
  For 12 years Blanche has worn the title of Senator with great pride 
not for her accomplishment, which was historic, but for the opportunity 
it gave her to make the world a better place for the people of 
Arkansas, the people of rural America, the citizens of our great Nation 
and, of course, for those twins of hers.
  I do not know what Blanche has planned for the days to come but I 
think I can predict with safety and certainty that we haven't heard the 
last from her--and that is a good thing.
  Keep in touch, Blanche. We will always be pleased to learn what you 
are doing and your thoughts on the latest issues before the Senate. 
Diana and I send our best wishes to you and all your family. God bless 
and keep all of you.

                          ____________________