Congressional Record, Volume 156 Issue 166 (Wednesday, December 15, 2010)

[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.

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